Posted on Monday, June 04 2007 @ 18:02 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
The first PCI Express 2.0 chipsets and graphics cards from NVIDIA
are expected to arrive this fall.
The new code-named MCP72 core-logic series will fully support new AMD Phenom processors based on AMD’s new micro-architecture that belong to the “Stars” family of chips. All versions of the MCP72 will support HyperTransport 3.0 processor bus as well as PCI Express 2.0 interconnection, which will be the key-features of the new array of chipsets.
Initially three versions of the new Nvidia nForce 7-series chipsets will be available: MCP72XE, MCP72P, MCP72 Ultra and MCP72V. Mass production of the first two will start in October, according to sources familiar with Nvidia’s plans, the schedule for MCP72 Ultra is undecided, whereas MCP72V will be produced only in 2008, in time for mass production of AMD’s new processors for mainstream and entry-level systems.
The most powerful flavour of the new core-logic series – MCP72XE – is projected to consist of two chips so that to support two PCI Express 2.0 x16 lanes for two (or more) add-on graphics cards and three PCIe 2.0 x1 lanes for other expansions. The enthusiast-oriented MCP72XE will also support memory modules with enhanced performance profiles (EPP), 1GbE network controller, six Serial ATA ports with RAID capabilities, two Parallel ATA drives, twelve USB 2.0 and other capabilities.
