Besides the introduction of third-generation Core i processors, Intel also announced a series of 7-series motherboard chipset (codenamed Panther Point) to the optimal design for the new processor.
According to the roadmap to introduce new products, Intel has announced a series chipset motherboard (BMC) 7-series (codenamed Panther Point) support the processor (CPU) socket 1155 Ivy Bridge LGA in April / 2012 has through.
Accordingly, the desktop platform (PC Platform) has three new chipset Z75, Z77 and H77. Mobile platform with up to 4 chipset is HM75, HM76, HM77 and UM7. In addition, Intel also continues to "upgrade" the chipset used in the business environment, including Q77, Q75 and B75 to support Small Business Advantage technology, incorporating a range of remote management features and new security. However, within this article, we only mention the chipset support Ivy Bridge processors for the desktop platform.
Unlike the 6-series chipset (Cougar Point) is designed three different lines of H, P and Z directions to separate the user object, with the 7-series chipset (Panther Point), Intel launched two chipsets is the H direction to the upper segment and the Z line towards the mid-range segment strong support overclocking technology.
Table specification Intel announced that both the H and Z chipsets just online support FDI (Flexible Display Interface) allows integrated GPU on the image signal processor communication gateway on BMC has supported PCI Express 3.0 x16 managed by Ivy Bridge processors dedicated to discrete graphics. Point to note is that the H77 chipset does not support overclocking and Z75 processor does not support Smart Response Technology (SRT).
It should be noted that in the development cycle of new products Intel duo 7-series chipsets and processors Ivy Bridge tick cycle; miniature stage technologies to create and refine old microarchitecture (Refer to : 22nm Tri-Gate technology in processors Ivy Bridge). So, we can see that in addition to adding port high speed USB 3.0 connection, the chipset new Panther Point does not have many changes compared with the Cougar Point that focuses on improving performance, optimizing the technology, features support available.
Specifically Panther Point also supports 8 PCI Express 2.0 x1, 6 SATA Lane (2 SATA 3.0 and four SATA 2.0), up to 14 USB ports (10 USB 2.0 and four USB 3.0) and does not support the traditional PCI . The double line bandwidth for PCIe expansion card up to 5GT / s (compared to 2.5 GT / s PCIe 1.x) allows the NSX BMC make better use of additional bandwidth to some traffic Panther Point chipsets do not support such traditional PCI chip tuner PCIe to PCI Bridge Controller.
Hybrid graphics technology
Similar dual graphics technology from AMD and nVidia Optimus, Panther Point chipset also supports hybrid graphics technology with Virtu add of Lucidlogix to leverage the 3D processing power of a discrete graphics card (dGPU) technology and Quick Sync Video of integrated graphics (iGPU) in the rendering.
Virtu allows the user to combine integrated graphics and discrete graphics, depending on the type of application, the system will choose the appropriate graphics card (in the setup, configuration available) to optimize performance as well as power consumption. For example, for office applications, video slideshows or gaming entertainment gently, or convert video (Intel Quick Sync Video technology iGPU video conversion faster than discrete graphics), the system will use integrated graphics and automatically switch to discrete graphics for gaming "heavy" or applications that require high graphics processing capabilities. Also, Lucid Virtu could work well with both discrete graphics cards from AMD and nVidia.
Quick response technology
In addition to Smart Response, the Panther Point chipset supports two Rapid Start and Smart Connect technology to enhance the ability to meet, the availability of the system as well as ensure that user data has been updated through the cloud clouds.
Z77 and H77 also supports Smart Response Technology (SRT), the solution combines SSD and HDD storage to improve the speed of accessing data with a much lower investment cost compared to SSDs. SRT works on the principle of using SSDs as a place to store temporary data before sending them to the hard drive to end the session. Some Test Lab testing when comparing the performance of three storage solutions HDD, SDD and SRT for the data access rate of about 6.7 times faster SSD and SRT solution (Enhanced) also about 3.6 times faster than the traditional HDD.
Equipped with an SSD system compatible with the operating system, Rapid Start technology significantly improves the boot process as well as the transfer time from hibernate mode to a ready state. In addition, Rapid Start also helps to reduce system power consumption in Hybrid sleep mode (combination of two Hibernation and Sleep mode) is often used with desktop computers.
Smart Connect technology is designed for the "faithful" to the Internet, allows the computer to update the information on social networking sites, web applications or new email even when the computer is in sleep mode (sleep). Principle of operation of the Smart Connect is based on setting up the computer will "wake up" at predetermined time intervals to update new information and then continue back to sleep mode.
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