Specifications

CHAPTER 3
106
All About Motherboards
cool. With previous Intel chipsets, the memory controller was part of the North Bridge, but
the Core i7 processor contains the memory controller within the processor housing. This
new architecture for the Core i7 and the X58 chipset is shown in Figure 3-9. Notice that
memory connects directly to the processor rather than to the North Bridge.
PC I
slots
PC I
slots
PCIe link
PCIe link
Processor
PCIe
slot
Primary
PCIe slot
for video
card
Memory
controller
hub
(North Bridge)
I/O
controller
hub
(South Bridge)
PCIe
slot
PCIe
slot
PCI
slots
PCIe link
PCIe link
Memory bus
ATA bus
PCI bus
Drives
USB
Sound
FireWire
FSB
RAM
Figure 3-7 The chipset’s North Bridge and South Bridge control access to the processor for all components
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
South Bridge
X58 chipset
Figure 3-8 The X58 chipset uses heat sinks to stay cool
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
A+
220-701
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