Around the time that the Pentium III processor was introduced, Intel's Xeon line diverged from its line of desktop processors, which at the time was using the Pentium branding.
Contents
- Dual processor P6 based Xeon chipsets
- Four processor P6 based Xeon chipsets
- Eight processor P6 based Xeon chipset
- Dual processor NetBurst based Xeon chipsets
- Dual processor Core based Xeon chipsets
- Four processor Core based Xeon chipsets
- Single processor Nehalem based Xeon chipsets
- Dual processor Nehalem based Xeon chipsets
- Single processor Sandy Bridge based Xeon chipsets
- Dual processor Sandy Bridge based Xeon chipsets
- Dual processor GladdenSandy Bridge EPEN based Xeon chipsets
- Single processor Ivy Bridge based Xeon chipsets
- Single processor Haswell based Xeon chipsets
- Single processor Skylake based Xeon chipsets
- References
The divergence was implemented by using different sockets; since then, the sockets for Xeon chips have tended to remain constant across several generations of implementation.
The chipsets contain a 'memory controller hub' and an 'I/O controller hub', which tend to be called 'north bridge' and 'south bridge' respectively. The memory controller hub connects to the processors, memory, high-speed I/O such as PCI Express, and to the I/O controller hub by a proprietary link. The I/O controller hub on the other hand, connects to lower-speed I/O, such as hard discs, PCI slots, USB and Ethernet.
Dual processor P6-based Xeon chipsets
Intel's initial preferred chipset for Pentium III Xeon was the 840.
Four processor P6-based Xeon chipsets
The Pentium III Xeon bus protocol allowed four processors on the same bus, so the 440GX AGPset could be used in four-CPU systems; the limit of 2GB of main memory remained. These support Slot 2.
There was also the 450NX PCIset, which consisted of several chips: a single 82451NX Memory and IO Bridge Controller roughly analogous to the North Bridge, up to two 82454NX PCI Expander Bridges which converted the protocol used by 451NX to two 32-bit PCI33 or one 64-bit PCI33 bus, along with up to two memory cards each equipped with one 82452NX RAS/CAS Generator chip and two 82453NX Data Path Multiplexer chips. It supported PIIX3 and PIIX4E south bridges, and EDO DRAM.
Eight processor P6-based Xeon chipset
In August 1999 Intel began shipping the Profusion PCIset. The chipset was based on technology developed by the Corollary company, which Intel acquired. It supported up to 8 Pentium III Xeon processors on two busses and maintained cache coherency between them. Profusion supported up to 32 GB of memory. It saw some limited competition from the NEC Aqua II chipset. Another minor player in the eight-way space was Axil Computer's NX801, which was used in an 8-way (two buses) Pentium Pro design, commercialized by Data General as their AV-8600 computer.
Dual processor NetBurst-based Xeon chipsets
E7500 corresponded to the first Northwood-based Pentium4 Xeons, E7501 is essentially identical but supports faster FSB and memory. The E7320, E7520 and E7525 chipsets correspond to Prescott-based Pentium4 Xeons, and differ mainly in their PCI Express support. These support Socket 604.
Note that the 82870P2 chips mentioned above were initially designed for the Intel 870 chipset for Itanium 2, and that the summary page of the E7320 datasheet incorrectly claims three PCI Express interfaces.
Dual processor Core-based Xeon chipsets
These chipsets use a 'dual independent bus' design, in which each socket has its own connection to the chipset. These support LGA 771.
Four processor Core-based Xeon chipsets
This chipset uses four independent buses, and is used by the Tigerton and Dunnington processors.
Single processor Nehalem-based Xeon chipsets
The 3450 chipset is also compatible with an Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i3 processor.
Dual processor Nehalem-based Xeon chipsets
The Nehalem-based Xeons for dual-socket systems, initially launched as the Xeon 55xx series, feature a very different system structure: the memory controllers are on the CPU, and the CPUs can communicate with one another as peers without going via the chipset. This means that the 5500 and 5520 (initial codename Tylersburg-EP) chipsets are essentially QPI to PCI Express interfaces; the 5520 is more intended for graphical workstations and the 5500 for servers that do not need vast amounts of PCI Express connectivity
Single processor Sandy Bridge-based Xeon chipsets
The Intel C200 series chipsets that support the Intel Xeon E3-1200 CPU family.
Dual processor Sandy Bridge-based Xeon chipsets
The Intel C600 series chipsets support the Intel Xeon E5-2600 CPU family. Common to all C600 variants are the following features:
Some chipset variants have additional mass storage interfaces:
Dual processor Gladden/Sandy Bridge-EP/EN-based Xeon chipsets
The Intel Communications 8900 series chipsets that support the Gladden Intel Xeon E3-11xx or Sandy Bridge-EP/EN Intel Xeon E5-2xxx CPU families.
Single processor Ivy Bridge-based Xeon chipsets
The Intel C200 series chipsets that support the Intel Xeon E3-1200v2 CPU family.
Single processor Haswell-based Xeon chipsets
The Intel C220 series chipsets support the Intel Xeon E3-1200v3 CPU family.
Single processor Skylake-based Xeon chipsets
The Intel C230 series chipsets support the Intel Xeon E3-1200v5 CPU family.
Both, the C232 and the C236 support the LGA 1151 socket.