Leading motherboard vendors confirm support for the VIA PT880, taking advantage of the new DualStream64? memory controller and advanced storage and connectivity technologies including Serial ATA and V-RAID. VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions, today announced the VIA PT880 chipset, the latest addition to VIA's family of high-performance core-logic solutions for the Intel® Pentium® 4 processor, that has been selected by key motherboard vendors including ASUS, Gigabyte and MSI for their high end solutions. Featuring the revolutionary DualStream64? memory controller, an intuitive package of new dual channel DDR400 memory technologies, the VIA PT880 integrates support for 800MHz FSB, Hyper-Threading, AGP8X and a plethora of cutting-edge connectivity and storage technologies. The VIA PT880 introduces the revolutionary DualStream64 memory controller, providing lightening fast access to system memory to enable unparalleled performance in power-hungry 3D graphics and multimedia applications, so providing the optimum platform for today's most demanding PC enthusiasts and professionals. DualStream64 achieves impressive memory bandwidths of up to 4,800 MB/s by harnessing intuitive technologies such as an enhanced data prefetch protocol, improved memory branch prediction with a larger on-chip branch table, and tighter read/write turn-around for improved clock timings. Furthermore, with an asynchronous bus design and the new high throughput Ultra V-Link chipset interconnect enabling a 1066GB/s link with the VT8237 South Bridge, the PT880 allows maximum system flexibility and optimization options, as is often demanded by today's power users. In combination with the acclaimed VIA VT8237 South Bridge, the VIA PT880 offers the most complete range of storage, multimedia and connectivity features for the Intel Pentium 4 processor. In addition to enabling native support for two Serial ATA Hard Drives, as well as up to four IDE devices, it provides optimal data transfer rates and data integrity through V-RAID, a revolutionary integrated RAID controller with support for RAID Level 0, RAID Level 1, RAID 0+1, and JBOD configurations. Feature PT880 PT800 North Bridge Processor Support Intel® Pentium® 4 Intel® Pentium® 4 Hyper Threading Support Yes Yes Front Side Bus 800/533/400MHz 800/533/400MHz Memory Support Dual Channel
DDR400/333/266 w/ECC Single Channel
DDR400/333/266 w/ECC Max Memory 8.0GB 8.0GB AGP Support AGP 8X/4X AGP 8X/4X Bus Architecture Asynchronous Synchronous South Bridge VT8237 VT8237 North/South Bridge Link Ultra V-Link (1066MB/sec) 8X V-Link (533MB/sec) Integrated Audio VIA Vinyl? Audio integrated 5.1 surround sound VIA Vinyl? Gold 8-channel Audion (PCI) VIA Vinyl? Audio integrated 5.1 surround sound VIA Vinyl? Gold 8-channel Audion (PCI) Network VIA Velocity Gigabit Ethernet companion controller VIA integrated 10/100 Fast Ethernet VIA Velocity Gigabit Ethernet companion controller VIA integrated 10/100 Fast Ethernet Integrated Modem MC'97 MC'97 PCI Devices/Slots 6 slots Dual PCI-X bus support through VIA VPX2 I/O expansion bridge 6 slots SATA Dual Channel Serial ATA supports 2 SATA devices SATALite? interface for two additional SATA devices (4 total) Dual Channel Serial ATA supports 2 SATA devices SATALite? interface for two additional SATA devices (4 total) V-RAID RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 0+1 & JBOD (SATA) RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 0+1 & JBOD (SATA) PATA Dual Channel Parallel ATA133 (up to 4 devices) Dual Channel Parallel ATA133 (up to 4 devices) USB 8 ports 8 ports Super I/O LPC Super I/O LPC Super I/O IO APIC Yes Yes Power Management ACPI/APM/PCI/PM ACPI/APM/PCI/PM The VT8237 also features the VIA Vinyl Multichannel Audio Suite for superlative 6-channel and 8-channel immersion audio support, while VIA's Advanced Connectivity Suite offers a host of high-bandwidth connectivity options, including support for the VIA Gigabit Ethernet companion controller, integrated 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet and up to eight high-speed USB 2.0 ports. The VIA PT880 is part of VIA's unique Modular Architecture Platform (V-MAP) that reduces design times and shortens time-to-market for motherboard partners through pin-compatibility with VIA core-logic solutions, and allows motherboard partners to cover multiple market segments with a single design.