Intel X58
| Intel X58 I/O hub (IOH) | |
|---|---|
| CPU support |
Core i7 Gainestown Beckton |
| Socket support |
LGA1366 |
| Pricing | Unknown |
| TDP | Unknown |
| Process | 130nm[1] |
| Release | November 2008 |
| Southbridge | ICH10 |
| Predecessors | Intel X48 |
| Successor | Unknown |
The Intel X58 (codenamed Tylersburg) is an Intel chip designed to connect the Intel processors with Intel QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) interface to pereferial devices. Supported processors implement the Nehalem microarchitecture and therefore have an integrated memory controller (IMC), so the X58 does not have a memory interface. At present the supported processors are presented by [Intel Core i7|Core i7]][2], but the chip will also support future Nehalem-based Xeon and Itanium processors.
The QuickPath architecture differs considerably from earlier Intel architectures, and is much closer to AMD's HyperTransport architecture. As a result, the X58 does not have direct memory connection (whitch is now implemented by QPI and processor(s) memory interface). In other functions the role of the X58 is similar to the traditional northbridge: it communicates with the processor via the High Speed Interconnect, it communicates with the southbridge via DMI, and it communicates with high speed peripherals via PCI-E.
As the X58 is no more memory controller hub (MCH), since it has no memory interface, Intel use for it the term "I/O hub", which may add some confusion, since the similar term I/O controller hub (ICH) has traditionally been used to refer to the southbridge chips. So in the Intel documentation the southbridge chip is no seldom called now Legacy I/O Controller Hub.
Unlike the FSB, QPI is a point-to-point interface. The X58 has two QPIs and can directly connect to two processors on a multi-socket motherboard. When used with the Intel Core i7, the second QPI is unused. When used with the "Gainestown" DP processor (which has two QPIs) the X58 and the two processors are connected in a triangle. For MP processors such as "Beckton" with more than two QPIs, the X58 is connected to two processors, which in turn are connected in a "mesh" of QPIs to other processors. I/O for "remote" processors is relayed via the directly-connected processors.
X58 board manufacturers will be able to build SLI-compatible Intel chipset boards by submitting their designs to nVidia for validation. However, users wishing to run more than two Nvidia video cards in PCIe x16 will still need to purchase motherboards equipped with one or more nVidia nForce chipsets. It is still possible to run more than two video cards in an SLI-configuration at fewer PCIe lane widths.[3] The X58 chipset itself supports up to 36 PCI-Express 2.0 lanes, so it is possible to have two PCIe x16 slots and one PCIe x4 slot on the same motherboard.[2]
Known features
- QPI (Intel QuickPath Interconnect)[4]
- PCI Express 2.0
- ICH10-compatible DMI.
References
- ^ A couple of Core i7 motherboards compared
- ^ a b
"Nehalem and X58 show up in Taipei". bit-tech.net. May 30, 2008.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Hell Freezes Over: NVIDIA Announces Native SLI Support for the Intel X58 Chipset". AnandTech. August 28, 2008.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Nehalem desktop platform planning". HKEPC. January 3, 2008.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)
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