Intel will introduce the 945GC chipset, which will support an FSB of up to 800MHz for the Core 2 Duo E4000 and Pentium E1000 CPU families, in the first quarter of 2007.

The 945GC series features a PCI Express (PCIe) x16 interface and is expected to attract more attentions than the existing 945GZ in the low-end segment, indicated the makers.

The addition of Intel's entry-level chipset offering is intended to ensure a sufficient supply of chipsets for its desktop CPUs in case ATI Technologies suspends its own supply of chipsets for Intel-based motherboards, the makers said. Before AMD's ATI acquisition was announced, Intel had less concern about a chipset shortage, thanks to capacity support from ATI, the makers added.

ATI has promised that supply of its RD600, RD500, RS600, RC410 and RC415 chipsets will not be suspended abruptly, said the makers, noting that the graphics-chip vendor has also engaged to continue its chipset supply for Intel CPU-based motherboards.

An earlier report indicated that ATI had removed the RD700, RS700 and RC710 chipsets from its chipset roadmap for Intel desktop processors. The three parts were originally scheduled to be released in the second half of 2007. Consequently, the RC610, which was set to be available in the first quarter of next year, may be the last ATI product supporting Intel-based motherboards, the makers found.

By: DocMemory
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