Intel's USB 2.0 chipset

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By Alun Williams

Posted on 21 May 2002 at 17:35

Intel has introduced a new chipset with integrated support for USB 2.0 and surround-sound with enhanced 20-bit audio as well as on-chip graphic support.

Working with Pentium 4 processors, the Intel 845E and 845G chipsets features a 533MHz system bus for handling larger files - 'enabling richer digital media, gaming and broadband experiences' in the words of Intel.

A third chipset, the Intel 845GL, is designed for use in Celeron processor-based PCs with a 400MHz system bus. It works with Pentium 4-sized Celeron processors - in 428 pin socket sizes - featuring Intel's NetBurst architecture.

'With the introduction of these products,' said Louis Burns, general manager of Intel's Desktop Platforms Group, 'we are enabling stable, robust PCs that offer easier connections to digital devices as well as faster transfer and manipulation of digital photos, music and video.'

For the discriminating audiophile or gamer, the 845G chipset also works with discrete graphics components enabling you to override the system - dubbed Intel Extreme Graphics - with the latest and greatest graphics card. While the 845GL can only use the in-built graphics support, the 845E requires an external graphics card.

The integrated graphics support will help provide some flexibility in pricing for system builders - potentially saving around £100 on the need for a separate graphics card for latest Pentium 4 or Celeron systems.

The more functionality contained within the processing system, generally speaking, the more efficiently the computer will perform. For example, the processing power of the Pentium 4 will be available to carry the load of communicating through the USB ports on the motherboard. Six USB 2.0 ports are supported by the chipsets.

Advantages of USB 2.0 over today's more prevalent USB 1.1 involve the faster processing of high-bandwidth peripherals, such as scanners or CD burners. (Note that USB 2 uses the same software, cables and connectors as USB 1, meaning that old devices will still be compatible with the new version, though they will not be able to take advantage of the faster speed.)

Available immediately, pricing for the chipsets (based on batches of 1,000) is $46 for the 845G chipset (pictured), $41 for the 845E and $33 for the Intel 845GL chipset.