FR33E architecture from FIC

Traditionally at the analysis of the internal arrangement of computers and a choice of its optimal architecture, and also a set completing the most steadfast attention it is given to central processor units. Certainly, their types, the architecture, operating frequencies and operation features are the important parametres. Therefore the main attention of potential users is usually riveted on these parametres at creation and acquisition of demanded system.

Recognising the important role of processors in computer systems, it is impossible to ignore and other components, for example, motherboards. Motherboards, really, are one of the major components of modern computers. Their architecture is grounded on application of the newest electron technologies. Implementation of these processing techniques is carried out through used chips, design and production of these cards.

In release of motherboards tens the most different computer corporations, productions differing by scales now are engaged. Production of leaders is widely presented in the domestic market. It is well advertised and provided by due support. However it does not mean, that a product of less known corporations does not deserve any attention of potential users. Quite often thanks to a functional saturation and rather low price this production uses the deserved popularity (by the way, to it testifies, for example, that attention which was involved with earlier published articles devoted to inexpensive motherboards). It is necessary only at a choice correctly and precisely to estimate potential possibilities of similar products and correctly to take up a position area of their usage, of course, with the due analysis of requirements of solved tasks. And it, by the way, is fair in relation to not only cheap, but also to rather expensive products.

Considering and selecting inexpensive, basically budgetary systems, it is expedient to consider at a choice, that with development of solid-state technologies contrary to a prediction of some experts obvious growth of popularity of the various integrated solutions now is observed. It became a consequence of improvement of processing techniques and lowerings of the industrial costs linked to development and release of similar products which concern, for example, motherboards. Besides, popularity of federated systems was promoted also by perfection of an inner pattern of the main electronic parts and rise of their functional saturation. Among these components, the central place is occupied, of course, with processors and sets of system logic.

In connection with commercialising the production process 0,13 microns, 0,18 microns which have come in the stead , have been created the appropriate even more powerful processors possessing a number of specific features of power supplies and the interface. Among such features it is necessary to mark, for example, refusal of the specification 8.4 for VRM (Voltage Regulator Module — the unit of a voltage regulator which is built in structure of the motherboard). The given specification provides power supply of a kernel of the processor by a constant voltage which not dependent on the value of a current is consumed by this unit. The new VRM unit satisfying the specifications 8.5, carries out power supply of a kernel of the processor by the power which level linearly decreases with the growth of a current consumption depending on computing load on this unit. The given change of ideology of power supplies of the processor has allowed to simplify implementation of VRM unit and it is essential to lower thermal load on a processor chip, that as a result promoted rise of dependability and increase in a resource of operation of its kernel.

However it does not settle requirements of the processors fulfilled on processing technique of 0,13 microns, to electronic units of its surrounding. It is necessary to mark, that for the given processors in addition to new modes of power supplies levels of signals on processor bus FSB have decreased also.

Earlier released sets of system logic — the chip sets developed under the previous models of processors, were incapable to realise the specified requirements and to provide correct operation of the products fulfilled on processing technique of 0,13 microns.

As an example of such units it is possible to result the processors created on the basis of kernel Tualatin which high models of Intel Celeron concern, and also appropriate server and transportable processors of Intel of Pentium III (http://rudteam.narod.ru). For their support, together with the previous processors of the corporation of Intel (0,18 microns, Coppermine) and similar products from indirect manufacturers, in the architecture of a number the developed models of chip sets the corporations releasing similar production, have made necessary changes. Thus corrections have undergone basically the structures of chips which are responsible for link with the processor and named usually North Bridge.

For support of the products Intel corporation updated the chip sets i810 and i815 (i815 B-Step). As is known, these chip sets have found the widest application in the architecture of motherboards and use the deserved popularity.

Appropriate operations other manufacturers of sets of system logic such as have fulfilled also ALi corporations, SiS and VIA. Thus new modifications of chip sets and the motherboards created on their basis, as a rule, in the name have a letter "T". As an example of such products created by VIA corporation, it is possible to result widespread sets: VIA Apollo Pro133T, VIA Apollo Pro266T, VIA Apollo PLE133T (http://rudteam.narod.ru).

Specified rather cheap chip sets of VIA corporation are oriented to the architecture of motherboards with Socket 370 plug . They carry out support of processors of Intel Celeron and Intel of Pentiums III created on the basis of kernels Coppermine (0,18 microns) and Tualanin (0,13 microns), and also processors VIA C3 (VIA Cyrix III).

Last of the enumerated list of sets of system logic — chip set VIA Apollo PLE133T is interesting to that is a chip set with the integrated drawing. This chip set allows to create rather cheap motherboards, for example, such as FR33E from FIC corporation, oriented to development of inexpensive computer systems.

Chip set VIA Apollo PLE133T is as a matter of fact the central unit of this motherboard. It substantially defines potential possibilities of card FR33E, and, therefore, and all system of the computer. Rather efficient sites and components are built in structure of this set of system logic for implementation of basic functions of multimedia.

Chip set VIA Apollo PLE133T is oriented to systems with usage of processors with Socket 370 plug . It can be products of type of Intel Celeron, Intel of Pentium III, VIA Cyrix, including models 0,13 microns created on processing technique , for example, such, as processors from Intel with kernel Tualatin.

Fig. 1. The architecture of the computer with chip set VIA Apollo PLE133T

Chip set VIA Apollo PLE133T is calculated for operation with frequency of the bus of processor FSB 66, 100 and 133 MHz. It supports I/O buffer Host interface, synchronous and pseudo-synchronous functional modes of buses, memory PC66/PC100/PC133 SDRAM in size to 1 Gbytes, CAS-before-RAS or self refresh, specification AGP v.1.0 etc .

As a prototype of chip set VIA Apollo PLE133T earlier developed and released sets of system logic VIA Apollo PM601, VIA Apollo ProMedia and VIA Apollo PLE133 have served. As a chip set basis, by the way, as well as for its predecessors, chip North Bridge VT8601 which is a part of specified sets of the system logic has served. However the new version of given chip North Bridge VT8601T on matching with the predecessor has undergone a number of changes. First of all, the 64-bit graphics kernel known as Trident Blade3D has been improved. Besides, modifications have undergone also resources of decoding DVD and a number of other built in structures of chip North Bridge VT8601T.

Complete with the products which basis is made by chips of chip set VIA Apollo PLE133T, drivers under DirectX and OpenGL ICD are delivered. Unfortunately, as a part of a graphics part of chip North Bridge of the given set of system logic there is no hardware implementation T&L though are supported anisotropic filtering, and also a compression of textures DXT1/DXT2. Well and it is finite, in addition to the processors of type P6 created on processing technique of 0,18 microns, in new modification of a chip set support of models 0,13 of a micron is entered .

Video processing resources are integrated into North Bridge VT8601T architecture — Trident Blade3D AGP 2X 64 bits Single Cycle 2D/3D Graphics Engine. The given graphics resources are characterised by following properties: support from 2 to 8 Mb Frame Buffer, Real Time DVD MPEG-2 and AC-3 Playback, the video processor, I2C Serial Interface, the integrated 24-bit 230 MHz True Color RAMDAC, the permission to 1600ґ1200, a text mode of 80 or 132 columns at 25/30/43/60 strings, DirectX 6 and OpenGL ICD API. Productivity of the built in graphics resources is characterised by following parametres: 1 M polygons in a second and 100 M pikselov/with, 30 frames/with of playback DVD at 9,8 Мбит/c MPEG-2 video c 30 % headroom, decoding Host Based AC-3 at loading of the processor of 8 %. Support is carried out: CRT, LCD or TV.

Chip set VIA Apollo PLE133T has the built in resources of input/output: 10/100 Base-T Ethernet controller, AC ’ 97 audio, MC ’ 97 modem, Super I/O, IOAPIC, hardware monitoring, two ports UltraDMA/100/66/33 EIDE, four ports USB, Advanced Power Management and permanently delete. d

It is necessary to underline, that possibilities of input/output are defined by type of used chip South Bridge in which quality in the architecture of motherboard FR33E of FIC corporation chip VT82С686B is used.

Fig. 2. FIC corporation Motherboard FR33E

Fig. 3. Motherboard FR33E plugs

Processors: with Socket 370 plug Intel of Pentium III 533-1000 MHz, Intel Celeron of 433 MHz and above, including models with kernel Tualatin, VIA Cyrix III 733A-933 MHz and above, including the models created on processing technique of 0,13 microns.

Chip set: VIA Apollo PLE133T (North Bridge VT8601T, South Bridge VT82С686B).

Dynamic storage: to 1 Gbytes in 2 DIMM (164 pin., 3,3) PC100/PC133 SDRAM, frequency of the bus of memory of 66/100/133 MHz (HostCLK, HCLK-33M, HCLK+33M, By Auto).

BIOS: Award BIOS.

Video: the resources of video processing integrated into a chip set — Trident Blade3D AGP 2X 64 bits Single Cycle 2D/3D Graphics Engine.

Audio: AC ' 97 Audio, codec Avance Logic ALC201A

Input/output resources (I/O): 2 ports IDE (to 4 arrangements Ultra DMA 100/66/33), 2 PS/2 plugs for keyboard and mouse hooking up, 1 floppy-port, 1 parallel port (standard/EPP/ECP), 1 serial port UART (+1 additional), 2 ports USB (+2 additional.), Line-Out, Line-In, Mic-In, MIDI/GAME, 1 port IR, 1 RJ45 LAN.

Slots: 2 PCI, 1 ISA, 1 AMR.

Forms the factor: MicroATX (244x192 mm).

Article continuation>>

To pass to razrelu Motherboards and chip sets