Intel talks up 'Eaglelake' DX10 chipset GPU tech

Confirms Q2 debut

By Tony Smith • Get more from this author

7th March 2008 12:09 GMT

Intel this week confirmed its 'Eaglelake' chipsets - the P45, P43, G45, G43, Q45 and Q43 - are indeed scheduled to debut in Q2. The integrated parts will incorporate the new GMA X4500 HD graphics engine.

Actually, the G43 will use the GMA X4500, while the Q45, the Q43 and the unmentioned G41 - it's due late this year or early next - will include the more basic GMA 4500. Intel didn't go into much detail about the differences between the two GPU cores.

We can say that the X4500 HD will support HD decode acceleration at 1080i and 1080p resolutions. It'll also support HDMI, DVI and DisplayPort output with HDCP copy-protection technology.

It's believed that the 4500 lacks the on-board HD video decode and won't support HDMI. The X4500 can handle all the port types, but will also rely on the CPU for MPEG 2, H.264 and VC-1 - the key HD codecs - decoding.

All the integrated chipsets will support DirectX 10, Intel confirmed.

All the Eaglelake chipsets support PCI Express 2.0, but the G41 is expected to only go as far as PCIe 1.1. They also support dual-channel DDR 2 and DDR 3, with two slots per channel on the P45, P43, G45, Q45 and Q43, but only one with the others. They all support the 1333MHz frontside bus speed.