Specifications

Intel® Server Board S3420GPRX TPS Functional Architecture
Revision 1.1
Intel order number E92065-001
23
 SMBus Host Interface
 SPI Interface
 LPC interface to IBMC
 JTAG interface
 LAN interface
 ACPI interface
3.3.1 Digital Media Interface
Digital Media Interface (DMI) is the chip-to-chip connection between the processor and chipset.
This high-speed interface integrates advanced priority-based servicing allowing concurrent
traffic and true isochronous transfer capabilities. Base functionality is completely software-
transparent, permitting current and legacy software to operate normally.
3.3.2 PCI Express* Interface
Intel
®
3420 Chipset PCH provides up to 8 PCI Express Root Ports, supporting the PCI Express
Base Specification, Revision 2.0. Each Root Port supports 2.5 GB/s bandwidth in each direction
(5 GB/s concurrent). PCI Express Root Ports 1-4 can be statically configured as four x1 Ports or
bundled together to form one x 4 port. Ports 5 and 6 can only be used as two x 1 port.
3.3.3 Serial ATA Support
The Intel
®
3420 Chipset has two integrated SATA host controllers that support independent
DMA operation on up to six ports and supports data transfer rates of up to 3.0 GB/s (300 MB/s).
The SATA controller contains two modes of operation – a legacy mode using I/O space and an
AHCI mode using memory space.
Software that uses legacy mode does not have AHCI capabilities. The Intel
®
3420 Chipset
supports the Serial ATA Specification, Revision 1.0a. It also supports several optional sections
of the Serial ATA II: Extensions to Serial ATA 1.0 Specification, Revision 1.0 (AHCI support is
required for some elements).
Note : Only SATA port 3, 4, 5 on S3420GPRX support SGPIO and Hot-Swap Backplane HDD
Activity LED function
3.3.3.1 Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI)
The Intel
®
3420 Chipset provides hardware support for Advanced Host Controller Interface
(AHCI), a new programming interface for SATA host controllers. Platforms supporting AHCI may
take advantage of performance features such as no master/slave designation for SATA
devices—each device is treated as a master—and hardware assisted native command queuing.
AHCI also provides usability enhancements such as Hot-Plug. AHCI requires appropriate
software support (for example, an AHCI driver) and for some features, hardware support in the
SATA device or additional platform hardware.
3.3.3.2 Intel
®
Matrix Storage Technology
The Intel
®
3420 Chipset provides support for Intel
®
Matrix Storage Technology, providing both
AHCI (see above for details on AHCI) and integrated RAID functionality. The industry leading