A:  Intel continues to turn out new chipsets designed to make optimum use of its Pentium 11 processor family.  Here's a brief overview of the key Pentium 11 chipsets.

- 44OLX This is the classic Pentium II chipset that supports motherboards with the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) and up to I GB of older EDO memory or 512MB of current SDRAM.  This chipset also wft the older PlIX4 1/0 controller.

-44OBX This newest chipset for the Pentium 11 family is designed exclusively to take advantage of SDRAM, AGP, and the n@er PIIX4E I/O controller.  Beyond this, there's basically no difference between it and the LX chipset.

- 440EX Designed for the low-end Pentium 11 Celeron processor, it supports AGP but not dual processing.  It's limited to 256MB of EDO RAM or SDRAM, and there is no ECC or parity error &-tmbon for memory The 440EX does work with the PlIX4E 1/0 controller.

-  - 44OGX This is the first chipset to support the Pentium II Xeon processor, complete with AGP, dual processor, and 2GB of SDRAM support.  Motherboards using die 44OGX nm at IDOMHZ and include the PlIX4E I/O controller.

- 45ONX This is the latest chipset for the Pentium 11 XeorL It handles up to 4 Xeon chips and 8GB of older EDO RAM on a IOOMHZ motherboard.  Strangely, the 45ONX does not support AGP and SDRAM or manageability features that mark other Pentiurn II  chipset

Obviously, there's lots more data at Intel's Web site.  Take a look at its chipset comparison chart at developer intel com/design/pcisets/tinecard.htm.
 
Q:    What is a Deschutes processor?
 
A:  Deschutes was Intel's code name for Pentium II processors  manufactured with the new, 0.25-micron process (the code name for  0.35-micron PII processors was Klamath). With the smaller-micron  process come a smaller die size, lower power consumption and less  heat, allowing higher clock speeds. All desktop Intel Pentium II
processors running at 333MHz or higher are Deschutes models. There are also mobile Deschutes processors for notebooks that run at 233MHz  and 266MHz. (See "Powerful Pentium IIs," May.)
 
Q:  Deschutes is supported by a new BX chipset-why is it important?
 
A: Intel's new BX chipset supports 100MHz bus operation and 100MHz  SDRAM (synchronous dynamic RAM). This should enable Intel to easily produce Deschutes processors with clock speeds of up to 500MHz; the practical maximum processor clock speed is typically five  times that of the system board bus speed. Also, Intel has produced a single BX chipset for both desktop and notebook systems. This common chipset should narrow the long-standing performance gap between  desktop and notebook PCs.
 
Q:  What's a Celeron chip?
 
A:  Intel's Celeron is a new Pentium II processor that lacks level 2 cache. It fits into a Slot One motherboard, but will compete against low-cost Socket 7 processors produced by Intel rivals AMD, National Semiconductor Corp./Cyrix Corp. and Integrated Device Technology (IDT) for the sub-$1,000 PC market. Initial versions of Celeron run at 266MHz. Our first tests with a 266MHz Celeron system indicated good  performance on component-level benchmarks, but lackluster performance (slightly slower than a 233MHz MMX-enabled Pentium)  on ordinary business applications. The app tests appear to underscore the importance of level 2 cache.
 
Q: What does MMX and MMX2 mean?
 
A: MMX is a set of 57 instructions-all dealing with multimedia tasks-that were added to the x86 instruction set in 1997. Think of them as a kind of shorthand, allowing one new instruction to take the place of many previous instructions. Intel promulgated the standard, but licensed the technology to its competitors. Virtually all computers now sold in the United States are MMX-enabled. Intel's MMX2, expected to make its debut with the Katmai processor in early 1999, adds more than 70 new  instructions.
 
Q: I've heard about a new 3D instruction set-what is it?

A: This is a technology being jointly developed by AMD, National/Cyrix  and IDT/Centaur Technology. Similar in concept to MMX, it adds 21  new instructions to these companies' x86-compatible processors. The  new instructions will speed 3D graphic functions in the microprocessor  itself. Because these three companies share only about 15 percent of  the market for x86 processors, it was unclear at first whether there  would be much support for the new 3D instructions among software vendors. However, Microsoft recently announced that its DirectX 6.0 technology will fully support the new 3D instruction set. DirectX 6.0 will first appear in NT 5.0.
 
Q:  What new processors should we expect over the next few years?

A:  Expect new chips from AMD (K6 3D+) that will include the new 3D  instruction set and onboard level 2 cache. Cyrix will weigh in with its  new Cayenne chip, which is expected to be a Slot One rather than  Socket 7 design (Cyrix's new parent company, National Semiconductor,  has a cross-licensing agreement with Intel for Slot One technology). IDT will introduce new chips with enhanced floating-point units and   improved MMX performance, and possibly integrated level 2 cache as
well. Intel will introduce faster versions of Deschutes this year, followed by Katmai processors in 1999 that add MMX2 capability. Then comes  Merced, Intel's first 64-bit, non-x86 CPU, which was jointly developed  by Intel and Hewlett-Packard Co. It will run x86 instructions in  emulation. Intel officially calls Merced "Intel Architecture 64-bit" or "IA-64."

 Q:  How will PCs keep pace with all these new processors coming in the next few years?

 A:  Microsoft/Intel's proposed new PC99 standard calls for a minimum  300MHz Pentium II performance, 2X DVD-ROM drive, and  replacement of the ISA bus with PCI 2.2, USB and IEEE 1394. Also upcoming will be a new open-standard device connector from  Compaq/Intel/Microsoft called Device Bay. Similar in concept to PC Cards, Device Bay will consist of a connector slot in three standard  form factors (including two small enough for notebook computers). The back of each slot will contain connectors for USB and IEEE 1394. A   Device Bay peripheral can use either bus to provide hot-swappable operation. Typical Device Bay uses would be for additional hard drives,  DVD-ROM drives, backup and removable media devices, and so forth.  These changes should bring expandability to the outside of the case.     Future PCs will let you add almost any new capability without opening  the case. And "hot swappability" means you'll be able to simply plug these devices into their slots, and they'll work without rebooting. It's about time.
 
Check out these Web sites for more details on chips, chipsets and  motherboards:

                        http://www.cpu-central.com
                        CPU Central. News and information on current and upcoming x86
                        CPUs from Intel, AMD, Cyrix and IDT.

                        http://www.device-bay.org
                        Device Bay Homepage. Introduction to Device Bay, plus
                        specifications and FAQs regarding the upcoming device for
                        connecting peripherals to your PC.

                        http://developer.intel.com/design/litcentr
                        Intel's Literature Center. Application notes, datasheets, manuals,
                        performance briefs and spec updates on Intel processor product
                        families.

                        http://www.motherboards.org
                        Motherboard HomeWorld. Lots of info on motherboards, including
                        news and pricing. Links to reviews, manufacturers and another page
                        devoted to chipsets.

                        http://pcmech.pair.com/mbindex.htm
                        PC Mechanic's Motherboards site. Includes articles on motherboard
                        basics and installation, chipsets, and troubleshooting and buying tips.

                        http://www.sysopt.com/chipset.html
                        System Optimization-Chipset Information page. Utilities for
                        configuring, tuning and optimizing your chipset settings, plus specs
                        and comparisons of Intel chipsets.

                        http://www.sysopt.com/mboard.html
                        System Optimization-Motherboard Information page. Upcoming
                        motherboard releases, manuals, jumper settings and links to
                        motherboard manufacturers.

                        http://www.tomshardware.com/chipset.html
                        Tom's Hardware Guide-The Chipset Guide. Specs, features and
                        analysis of chipsets.
 
 Q:  What about the video chip itself?

A: Every card manufacturer claims to sell the latest and greatest chip. The  key differences among chips are usually related to the quality of their 3D-rendering engines. Many vendors make their own chips. ATI uses  its own RAGE chips and Number Nine Visual Technology makes the ticket to Ride chip. Some card manufacturers are chip neutral. Even Intel is getting into the picture with its i740 chip, which will work with Intel's Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP).
 
 

                                                                  SOURCE:  Zdnet and Computer Currents