Intel is expected to launch its "Springdale" chipset line for mainstream PCs on May 21, backing it up with several new Pentium 4 processors which use the 800-MHz front-side bus.

Three chipsets are scheduled: the Intel 865G, Intel 865P, and Intel 865PE. Widespread motherboard support for the Springdale lineup is expected.

Like the Canterwood chipset, the 865G will support up to 4 DIMMs (4 Gbytes) of either DDR333 or DDR400 memory. The chipset will support the ICH5-R soft RAID component, and includes an AGP8X connector, as well as support for gigabit Ethernet. The chipset also allows two Intel Digital Video Out connections to be muxed on the AGP port.

Intel rates the new "Extreme Graphics 2" core found within the Intel 865G at 1.18 times faster than the 845G core in SysMark, 1.99 times faster using the "demo4" benchmark in Quake III Arena at 1024x768, and 1.96 times faster using 3DMark 2001 SE.

Intel is also expected to release new versions of its Pentium 4 processors with a Pentium 4 bus, likely labeled with a "C" suffix to distinguish them from slower chips, sources said. The expected speed grades should include 2.8, 2.6, and 2.4-GHz offerings.

By: DocMemory
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