The Register®

Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/12/intel_readies_945pl/

Intel readies mainstream discrete dual-core chipset

What, no integrated graphics?

By Tony Smith

Posted in PCs, 12th July 2005 10:23 GMT

Intel will begin sampling its latest integrated chipset for desktop systems at the end of the month, but its next mainstream release will be a discrete chipset, according to motherboard makers.

Sources cited [1] by DigiTimes today claim the 945PL will ship in September for low-end dual-core Pentium D-based systems. They say the chipset will operate both 533MHz and 800MHz frontside bus speeds, and support dual-channel 533MHz DDR 2 memory, along with 400MHz DDR.

It's a surprising launch, given the way integrated chipsets have come to dominate the graphics chip market, particularly at the low- to mid-range. The likes of ATI and Nvidia are fighting back with low-cost cards, but it's hard to compete with graphics engines built into the chipset.

Still, there's obviously demand for such a product, or Intel wouldn't be planning to supply it. Presumably the sweet spot lies just below today's 945P and above the integrated 945G.

The launch of the 945GZ [2] is expected to ship later this year - possibly even early 2006 - and target dual-core Celeron D chips. It contains Intel's GMA 950 graphics engine, and supports single-channel 533MHz DDR2 and 400MHz DDR memory. Like the 945PL, it will operate both 533MHz and 800MHz FSBs. ®

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