Intel plans to introduce five versions of its ICH7 south-bridge chip for its Smithfield dual-core platform, according to sources at Taiwan motherboard makers. In addition to the ICH7 for standard PCs, there will be an ICH7 DH for entertainment PCs, an ICH7 DO for digital-office devices, an ICH7 DE for digital-enterprise applications and an ICH7 R for RAID storage applications, the sources noted.
The ICH7 DO and ICH7 DE will feature support for Intel Active Management Technology (iAMT), while the ICH7 DH, ICH7 DE and ICH7 R will support Matrix Storage Technology, according to the sources. To pair with the ICH7 south-bridge chips, Intel will introduce three north-bridge chips, the Glenwood, Lakeport P and Lakeport G, the sources added. Taiwan makers are expected to start developing motherboards supporting the dual-core platform by the end of this year, when samples of Intel"s new north- and south-bridge chips are available, the sources noted.