Nvidia extends nForce 3 Go family to ultra portables

Efficeon Inside

By Tony Smith • Get more from this author

Posted in Channel, 15th October 2003 09:13 GMT

Nvidia yesterday rolled out its latest chipset, the South Bridge-only nForce 3 Go 120, a low-end version of the nForce 3 Go 150 chipset launched last month.

And just as the 150 is targeted at a specific processor family - AMD's Mobile Athlon 64 - so the 120 is pitched at Transmeta's Efficeon chip, also formally launched yesterday.

The nForce 3 Go 120 connects to the Efficeon via a 1.6GBps low-voltage differential signalling HyperTransport link (as per the CPU) and supports the processor's LongRun power saving technology. It also features Nvidia's own PowerMizer power management system.

It provides an Ethernet controller for 10/100Mbps wired connections, plus HomePNA support and modem connectivity via the AC'97 six-channel, 20-bit sound system . It has single USB 2.0 and dual USB 1.1 controllers, together supporting up to six USB ports. S/P DIF Digital audio output is supported too, for stereo of Dolby AC-3. A PCI controller and a pair of dual-channel ATA-133 drive controllers completes the spec.

Fabbed at 150nm, the 120 is offered in a 22 x 22mm FBGA package, which Nvidia said makes the part particularly suitable for ultra-portable systems. ®