Intel X58
Encyclopedia
The Intel X58 is an Intel
chip designed to connect Intel processors with Intel QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) interface to peripheral devices. Supported processors implement the Nehalem microarchitecture and therefore have an integrated memory controller (IMC), so the X58 does not have a memory interface. Initially supported processors were the Core i7, but the chip also supported Nehalem-based Xeon
processors.
architecture. Except for the lack of a memory interface, the X58 is similar to the traditional northbridge
: it communicates with the processor(s) via the high bandwidth QuickPath Interconnect, it communicates with the southbridge
via Direct Media Interface
(DMI), and it communicates with high bandwidth peripherals via PCI Express
(PCIe).
The X58 is not a memory controller hub (MCH), because it has no memory interface, so Intel calls it an I/O hub. This should not be confused with the similar term I/O controller hub (ICH
) which has traditionally been used to refer to the southbridge
chips. Intel documentation now refers to the southbridge as the Legacy I/O Controller Hub.
The X58 has 40 PCIe lanes that are arranged in two ×16 links, DMI link and "spare"-based link. When used with the ICH10 I/O Controller Hub with ×4 DMI connection the "spare" supports a separate ×4 PCIe connection. Future southbridge chips DMI may support a wider DMI.
Each X58 QuickPath Interconnect uses 21 unidirectional differential pairs in each direction, for a total of 84 pins per QPI. At the highest bandwidth, each QPI can transfer up to 12.8 GB/s usable in each direction simultaneously using the QPI protocol. The protocol transfers information in units of 80 bits (called "flits") which contain 8 bits of error correction, 8 bits of QPI routing information, and 64 bits of data.
X58 PCIe ports support full PCIe 2.0 bandwidth (e.g., up to 8GB/s per ×16 link) and each ×16 link may be divided into total 16 lanes in any combination of ×8, ×4, ×2 or ×1 ports. They also support all features of line-reserved wiring, which means that in the combinations of (×16 + ×1/×8) slots, often used on the motherboards, not only ×1 or ×8 cards may be installed into the ×1/×8 slot, but ×4 cards should work as well (if not disallowed by the motherboard BIOS.)
Unlike the front-side bus (FSB), QPI is a point-to-point interface and supports not only processor-chipset interface, but also processor-to-processor connection and chip-to-chip connection. The X58 has two QPIs and can directly connect to two processors on a multi-socket motherboard or form a ring-like connection (processor 1 to X58 to processor 2 back to processor 1). When used with the Intel Core i7, the second QPI is usually unused (though, in principle, the second X58 might be daisy-chained on the board).
When used with the "Gainestown" DP processor, which will have two QPIs, the X58 and the two processors may be connected in a triangle or ring. For MP processors such as "Beckton" with more than two QPIs, the X58 is either connected to two processors, which in turn are connected in a "mesh" of QPIs to other processors or attached "in pairs" to two different processors. I/O for "remote" processors is relayed via the inter-processors QPI.
X58 board manufacturers can build SLI
-compatible Intel chipset boards by submitting their designs to nVidia
for validation. However, users wishing to run more than two Nvidia video cards in PCIe
×16 will still need to purchase motherboards equipped with one or more nVidia nForce chipsets
. It is still possible to run more than two video cards in an SLI
-configuration at fewer PCIe
lane widths. The X58 chipset itself supports up to 36 PCI-Express 2.0 lanes, so it is possible to have two PCIe ×16 slots and one PCIe ×4 slot on the same motherboard.
Intel Corporation
Intel Corporation is an American multinational semiconductor chip maker corporation headquartered in Santa Clara, California, United States and the world's largest semiconductor chip maker, based on revenue. It is the inventor of the x86 series of microprocessors, the processors found in most...
chip designed to connect Intel processors with Intel QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) interface to peripheral devices. Supported processors implement the Nehalem microarchitecture and therefore have an integrated memory controller (IMC), so the X58 does not have a memory interface. Initially supported processors were the Core i7, but the chip also supported Nehalem-based Xeon
Xeon
The Xeon is a brand of multiprocessing- or multi-socket-capable x86 microprocessors from Intel Corporation targeted at the non-consumer server, workstation and embedded system markets.-Overview:...
processors.
Description
The QuickPath architecture differs considerably from earlier Intel architectures, and is much closer to AMD's HyperTransportHyperTransport
HyperTransport , formerly known as Lightning Data Transport , is a technology for interconnection of computer processors. It is a bidirectional serial/parallel high-bandwidth, low-latency point-to-point link that was introduced on April 2, 2001...
architecture. Except for the lack of a memory interface, the X58 is similar to the traditional northbridge
Northbridge (computing)
The northbridge has historically been one of the two chips in the core logic chipset on a PC motherboard, the other being the southbridge. Increasingly these functions have migrated to the CPU chip itself, beginning with memory and graphics controllers. For Intel Sandy Bridge and AMD Fusion...
: it communicates with the processor(s) via the high bandwidth QuickPath Interconnect, it communicates with the southbridge
Southbridge (computing)
The southbridge is one of the two chips in the core logic chipset on a personal computer motherboard, the other being the northbridge. The southbridge typically implements the slower capabilities of the motherboard in a northbridge/southbridge chipset computer architecture. In Intel chipset...
via Direct Media Interface
Direct Media Interface
The Direct Media Interface is the link between an Intel northbridge and an Intel southbridge on a computer motherboard. It was first used between the 9xx chipsets and the ICH6, released in 2004. Previous chipsets had used the Hub Interface to perform the same function. Server chipsets use a...
(DMI), and it communicates with high bandwidth peripherals via PCI Express
PCI Express
PCI Express , officially abbreviated as PCIe, is a computer expansion card standard designed to replace the older PCI, PCI-X, and AGP bus standards...
(PCIe).
The X58 is not a memory controller hub (MCH), because it has no memory interface, so Intel calls it an I/O hub. This should not be confused with the similar term I/O controller hub (ICH
I/O Controller Hub
I/O Controller Hub , also known as Intel 82801, is an Intel southbridge on motherboards with Intel chipsets . As with any other southbridge, the ICH is used to connect and control peripheral devices.- ICH :...
) which has traditionally been used to refer to the southbridge
Southbridge (computing)
The southbridge is one of the two chips in the core logic chipset on a personal computer motherboard, the other being the northbridge. The southbridge typically implements the slower capabilities of the motherboard in a northbridge/southbridge chipset computer architecture. In Intel chipset...
chips. Intel documentation now refers to the southbridge as the Legacy I/O Controller Hub.
The X58 has 40 PCIe lanes that are arranged in two ×16 links, DMI link and "spare"-based link. When used with the ICH10 I/O Controller Hub with ×4 DMI connection the "spare" supports a separate ×4 PCIe connection. Future southbridge chips DMI may support a wider DMI.
Each X58 QuickPath Interconnect uses 21 unidirectional differential pairs in each direction, for a total of 84 pins per QPI. At the highest bandwidth, each QPI can transfer up to 12.8 GB/s usable in each direction simultaneously using the QPI protocol. The protocol transfers information in units of 80 bits (called "flits") which contain 8 bits of error correction, 8 bits of QPI routing information, and 64 bits of data.
X58 PCIe ports support full PCIe 2.0 bandwidth (e.g., up to 8GB/s per ×16 link) and each ×16 link may be divided into total 16 lanes in any combination of ×8, ×4, ×2 or ×1 ports. They also support all features of line-reserved wiring, which means that in the combinations of (×16 + ×1/×8) slots, often used on the motherboards, not only ×1 or ×8 cards may be installed into the ×1/×8 slot, but ×4 cards should work as well (if not disallowed by the motherboard BIOS.)
Unlike the front-side bus (FSB), QPI is a point-to-point interface and supports not only processor-chipset interface, but also processor-to-processor connection and chip-to-chip connection. The X58 has two QPIs and can directly connect to two processors on a multi-socket motherboard or form a ring-like connection (processor 1 to X58 to processor 2 back to processor 1). When used with the Intel Core i7, the second QPI is usually unused (though, in principle, the second X58 might be daisy-chained on the board).
When used with the "Gainestown" DP processor, which will have two QPIs, the X58 and the two processors may be connected in a triangle or ring. For MP processors such as "Beckton" with more than two QPIs, the X58 is either connected to two processors, which in turn are connected in a "mesh" of QPIs to other processors or attached "in pairs" to two different processors. I/O for "remote" processors is relayed via the inter-processors QPI.
X58 board manufacturers can build SLI
Scalable Link Interface
Scalable Link Interface is a brand name for a multi-GPU solution developed by NVIDIA for linking two or more video cards together to produce a single output...
-compatible Intel chipset boards by submitting their designs to nVidia
NVIDIA
Nvidia is an American global technology company based in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia is best known for its graphics processors . Nvidia and chief rival AMD Graphics Techonologies have dominated the high performance GPU market, pushing other manufacturers to smaller, niche roles...
for validation. However, users wishing to run more than two Nvidia video cards in PCIe
PCI Express
PCI Express , officially abbreviated as PCIe, is a computer expansion card standard designed to replace the older PCI, PCI-X, and AGP bus standards...
×16 will still need to purchase motherboards equipped with one or more nVidia nForce chipsets
Comparison of Nvidia chipsets
- nForce :- nForce2 :- nForce3 :- For AMD processors :- For Intel processors :- nForce 500 Series :- For AMD processors :- For Intel processors :- For AMD processors :- For Intel processors :- nForce 900 :- nForce Professional :...
. It is still possible to run more than two video cards in an SLI
Scalable Link Interface
Scalable Link Interface is a brand name for a multi-GPU solution developed by NVIDIA for linking two or more video cards together to produce a single output...
-configuration at fewer PCIe
PCI Express
PCI Express , officially abbreviated as PCIe, is a computer expansion card standard designed to replace the older PCI, PCI-X, and AGP bus standards...
lane widths. The X58 chipset itself supports up to 36 PCI-Express 2.0 lanes, so it is possible to have two PCIe ×16 slots and one PCIe ×4 slot on the same motherboard.
Interfaces
- QPI (Intel QuickPath Interconnect)
- PCI Express 2.0
- ICH10-compatible DMIDirect Media InterfaceThe Direct Media Interface is the link between an Intel northbridge and an Intel southbridge on a computer motherboard. It was first used between the 9xx chipsets and the ICH6, released in 2004. Previous chipsets had used the Hub Interface to perform the same function. Server chipsets use a...
.