Chipset: Difference between revisions

In a computer system, a '''chipset''' is a set of [[electronic components]] on one or more [[integrated circuit]]s that manages the [[data flow]] between the [[Central processing unit|processor]], [[computer memory|memory]] and [[peripheral]]s. The chipset is usually found on the [[motherboard]] of computers. Chipsets are usually designed to work with a specific family of [[microprocessor]]s. Because it controls communications between the processor and external devices, the chipset plays a crucial role in determining [[Computer performance|system performance]]. Sometimes the term "chipset" is used to describe a [[system on chip]] (SoC) used in a mobile phone.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.xda-developers.com/qualcomm-snapdragon-8-gen-3-review/ | title=Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 review: I finally don't feel the need to upgrade | date=20 January 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/21307/qualcomm-announces-snapdragon-8s-gen-3 | title=Qualcomm Announces Snapdragon 8s Gen 3: A Cheaper Chip for Premium Phones }}</ref>

[[File:IBM ThinkPad T42 Motherboard.jpg|thumb|Part of an IBM [[ThinkPad T42]] laptop motherboard showing the CPU, GPU, Northbridge (NB), and Southbridge (SB)]]

In [[home computer]]s, game consoles, and arcade hardware of the 1980s and 1990s, the term ''chipset'' was used for the custom [[Sound recording and reproduction|audio]] and [[graphics]] chips. Examples include the [[Original Amiga chipset]] and [[Sega]]'s [[System 16]] chipset.

In newer processors integration has further increased, primarily through the inclusion of the system's primary PCIe controller and integrated graphics directly on the CPU itself. As fewer functions are left un-handled by the processor, chipset vendors have condensed the remaining northbridge and southbridge functions into a single chip. Intel's version of this is the "[[Platform Controller Hub]]" (PCH) while AMD's version was called [[Fusion Controller Hub]] (FCH;). thisThe namePCH stoppedis beingstill usedcalled a chipset.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/motherboards/msi-z790-motherboards-reportedly-failing-with-cracked-pch-chipset-a-manufacturing-error-may-have-affected-a-few-hundred-units the| releasetitle=MSI ofZ790 themotherboards Zenreportedly architecturefailing with cracked PCH chipset — a manufacturing error may have affected a few hundred units (Updated), effectively| date=2 April 2024 }}</ref> This is an enhanced southbridge for the remaining peripherals—as traditional northbridge duties, such as memory controller, expansion bus (PCIe) interface and even on-board video controller, are integrated into the CPU die itself (the chipset often contains secondary PCIe connections though). However, the Platform Controller Hub was also integrated into the processor package as a second die for mobile variants of the [[Skylake (microarchitecture)|Skylake]] processors.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/7047/the-haswell-ultrabook-review-core-i74500u-tested/2 | title=The Haswell Ultrabook Review: Core i7-4500U Tested |first=Anand Lal |last=Shimpi |author-link=Anand Lal Shimpi |date=9 June 2013 |website=[[AnandTech]] |access-date=5 December 2022}}</ref> The northbridge to southbridge interconnect interfaces used now are [[Direct Media Interface|DMI]] ([[Intel]]) and [[UMI AMD|UMI]] ([[AMD]]).