HARDWARE FIREWALL? Intel's New Chipsets to Improve Core 2 Performance

[Kiran.dks]

Intel's New Chipsets to Improve Core 2 Performance, Bring Hardware Firewall.
Intel May Scrap Support for PS2 and LPT Legacy Ports in New Core-Logic Sets

Intel Corp., the world’s leading supplier of core-logic sets which controls over the half of the market, plans to release new chipsets that will bring advanced functionality to end-users, but may scrap the support for legacy PS/2 and LPT ports, which will catalyze end-users to acquire new peripherals when migrating to new personal computers (PCs).

Intel’s forthcoming chipsets code-named Bearlake X and Bearlake Q chipsets, according to a news-story published by IO Panel web-site citing sources close to Intel’s Israeli center, will boost performance of Intel Core 2 processors by 15% compared to its speed on mainboards using current-generation core-logic sets. This seems to be logical, as the new core-logic sets will support 1066MHz memory and higher-speed processor system bus, which, along with performance of forthcoming Conroe chips, should definitely improve performance of PCs.

The code-named Bearlake-X chipset that will replace the Intel 975X from the top in the Q3 2007 will support PCI Express 2.0 bus with higher – 5.0GHz – clock-speed compared to current 2.5GHz, two PCI Express x16 lanes, dual-channel PC2-6400 (DDR2 800MHz) and PC3-10600 (DDR3 1333MHz) memory. Other members of the Bearlake family will also support central processing units (CPUs) with 1333MHz PSB, but they may not necessarily support multi-GPU capabilities as well as PC3-10600 (DDR3 1333MHz) memory, limiting maximum memory speed to PC3-8500 (DDR3 1066MHz),

The Bearlake chipsets will feature ICH9 input/output controllers (I/O controllers), which are also referred to as south bridges, will provide improved network controller that will rely on microprocessor less than predecessors, support hardware-based firewall, but will lack PS2 and LPT ports used today to connect keyboards, mice, printers, scanners and some other peripherals. Meanwhile, the ICH10 will include Wi-Fi controller, which is currently recommended for advanced platforms by Intel.

News Source: XBit

[gxsaurav]

well, if they scrap support for PS/2 port, no need to worry. there are PS/2 to USB convertars available in the market anyway

[navjotjsingh]

And what about scraping of LPT ports? BTW do we have any softwares which will use this much processor performance to the max?

Originally Posted by navjotjsingh

And what about scraping of LPT ports? BTW do we have any softwares which will use this much processor performance to the max?

OverClocking!.