NVIDIAs nForce

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NVIDIAs nForce

• Author Brandon Bell

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nForce A System Chipset

• Development of chipset is lagging in market
• Most chipsets still 0.25 micron technology
• CPUs and graphics cores down to 0.13 micron
• Chipsets require extensive testing to work with
  many different components (memory, CPU,etc)
• Traditionally acted as a connection point between
  the components within your PC

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New Chipset Architecture

• Standard Chipset layout
• North Bridge CPU, graphics card, memory
• South Bridge PCI Bus, network, sound
• nForce Chipset
• Integrated Graphics Processor (IGP)
• Media Communications Processor (MCP)

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Integrated Graphics Processor
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IGP Breakdown

• TwinBank Memory
• Up to 4.2GB/sec of bandwidth (2X current)
• Dual independent 64-bit buses
• Separate memory controllers
• For CPU and graphics core
• Dynamic Adaptive Speculative Pre-Processor
• L3 cache with instruction prefetch
• Up to 20 performance boost

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IGP Breakdown (cont.)

• GeForce2 GPU
• 175MHz core and two-pixel pipeline
• 350Mpixels/second
• external AGP 4X slot is also supported
• HyperTransport
• up to 800MB/sec between both processors
• three times more bandwidth than PCI bus

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Media Communications Processor
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MCP Breakdown

• Audio Processing Unit (APU)
• Used on Xbox
• Not dependent on CPU (like many sound cards)
• StreamThru
• Makes internet communication easier
• Gives lower pings

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StreamThru Technology

• PCI Bus not optimized to handle network traffic
• StreamThru gives priority to network traffic

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Final Thoughts

• Currently going into production
• Price 120 - 200 (for motherboard)
• AMD CPU support
• Possible future with Apple, Intel
• nForce targeted as a gaming platform
• Addresses graphics, sound, and CPU
• boasts increased performance at reduced cost
• Can be an integrated solution