Intel unveils 3-Series chipset

 

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By Alun Williams

Posted on 5 Jun 2007 at 10:57

Intel has unveiled its 3-Series chipset at the Computex computer trade show. Formerly codenamed 'Bearlake', the chips will also run with Intel's upcoming 45nm 'Penryn' processors, which are expected later this year.

According to Intel, they will help provide 'consumer electronics-like video and sound quality' and will be the foundation for next-generation Intel Viiv and vPro processors, codenamed 'Salt Creek' and 'Weybridge' respectively.

'There is a tremendous amount of excitement and anticipation for our forthcoming 45nm Hi-K processors based on the Intel Core microarchitecture,' says Intel Corporation Executive Vice President Sean Maloney. 'The Intel 3 Series chipsets lay the foundation for an exciting, media-rich experience for today's systems and those that arrive later this year.'

As well as PCI Express 2.0 and Intel's Turbo Memory - designed to speed boot-up times by 20 per cent - the chipsets support DDR2 up to 800MHz. With DDR3 memory, data transfer speeds reach up to 1,333 MHz.

Within the Intel 3 Series, the G33 and G35 Express Chipsets provide integrated graphics. These support the High Definition Media Interface (HDMI) and include Intel's Clear Video Technology, which is intended to enhance video playback.

Intel claims that system builders will also be able to support HD DVD and Blu-ray disc playback with these chipsets at a lower cost than most discrete graphics cards. The G35 also has support MS DX10, designed to provide more realistic 3D applications.

For all the latest news and developments from Computex 2007 see: www.pcpro.co.uk/html/computex2007