conroe and broadwater

[Eddie G]

Conroe (or Core Duo) is the new CPU coming out next month. Broadwater is a
chipset. Is Broadwater a chip on the Core Duo CPU? Or does it have to do
with a chip on the mobo?

Thanks!!

Eddie

 

[George Macdonald]

Conroe (or Core Duo) is the new CPU coming out next month. Broadwater is a
chipset. Is Broadwater a chip on the Core Duo CPU? Or does it have to do
with a chip on the mobo?

If it's a chipset it'll be a combination of two chips: 1) a Memory
Controller Hub which connects to the host CPU and has a memory controller
and PCI-E x16 (1 or 2 ?) interface for video; 2) an I/O Hub which contains
most of the other I/O functions of a system.

It's not unusual for I/O hub devices to cross generations of "chipsets" so
when Intel talks of a chipset, the key focus is on the MCH.

 

[Eddie G]

If it's a chipset it'll be a combination of two chips: 1) a Memory
Controller Hub which connects to the host CPU and has a memory controller
and PCI-E x16 (1 or 2 ?) interface for video; 2) an I/O Hub which contains
most of the other I/O functions of a system.

It's not unusual for I/O hub devices to cross generations of "chipsets" so
when Intel talks of a chipset, the key focus is on the MCH.

I'm not sure if you answered my question as I have no knowledge of this part
of computing (aside from the basics, although I didn't know that PCI-E
interface was on the MCH...I thought it was just a slot on the mobo) and
because of this I don't understand your answer. The chipset is the
Northbridge and Southbridge, right? What is the relationship between Core 2
Duo and Broadwater? Will the CPU run on a mob with OUT the Broadwater
chipset?

Thanks!!

Eddie

 

[George Macdonald]

I'm not sure if you answered my question as I have no knowledge of this part
of computing (aside from the basics, although I didn't know that PCI-E
interface was on the MCH...I thought it was just a slot on the mobo) and
because of this I don't understand your answer.

Well yes, it *is* a slot on the mbrd but it has to connect to somewhere -
for video that needs to be a fast connection for memory burst transfers,
therefore to the MCH.

The chipset is the
Northbridge and Southbridge, right? What is the relationship between Core 2
Duo and Broadwater? Will the CPU run on a mob with OUT the Broadwater
chipset?

Northbridge and southbridge are sort of obsolete terminology for desktop
chipsets... still used by Intel in their server chipsets though. Intel
uses MCH and ICH now - see the diagram here:
http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/975x/index.htm. If I'm not mistaken
The Core 2 CPU has been demoed on mbrds with a i975X chipset - Broadwater
is no doubt some new iteration on that familiar theme.

 

[Mark]

I'm not sure if you answered my question as I have no knowledge of this
part of computing (aside from the basics, although I didn't know that
PCI-E interface was on the MCH...I thought it was just a slot on the mobo)
and because of this I don't understand your answer. The chipset is the
Northbridge and Southbridge, right? What is the relationship between Core
2 Duo and Broadwater? Will the CPU run on a mob with OUT the Broadwater
chipset?

See for example

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2643

Apparently current chipsets are compatible with Conroe, but they need to
make an adjustment of the voltage regulator or something, so older versions
of the motherboard may not be. You just need to make sure that the
motherboard you are getting is a newer version that is Conroe compatible.

 

[Eddie G]

See for example

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2643

After reading the specs I am curious about the cooling. Does this mean case
fans won't be necessary?

 

[Mark]

After reading the specs I am curious about the cooling. Does this mean
case fans won't be necessary?

In some ways, the dependence on passive cooling means that case fans will be
even more important, although whether they are necessary depends on a lot of
factors including just how hot the ambient air temperature where you have
your computer will be. The good thing about case fans is that they can be
quite efficient even at low speeds, so they can be practically noiseless.