NForce3
The nForce3 (codename CK8 ) is a family of PC chipsets for AMD K8 the company Nvidia and AMD's K9 processors, which came in mid-2003 on the market.
Development
Unlike its predecessors, the nForce3 consists only of a single chip, which is mainly due to the fact that AMD has the memory controller on the K8 series integrated directly into the processor. This is an important function of the former North Bridge has disappeared and actually only the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) remained, which was then combined with the southbridge functions to a chip. Nvidia nForce3 therefore referred to as a MCP ( Media and Communications Processor ).
Models
There are the following options:
- NForce3 150
- NForce3 250
- NForce3 250Gb
- NForce3 Ultra
The nForce3 150 is the first option and came in mid-2003 on the market. The MCP functions based on the MCP -S nForce2, but there are some problems with the chipset: For example, although a Serial ATA controller is integrated, but it is not functional. In addition, the nForce3 150 the HT link to the processor runs only at 600 MHz instead of 800 MHz provided by AMD. Otherwise, it offers the usual features such as AGP 8x, Ultra-DMA/133-Controller with two channels, integrated 10/100-Mbit/s-Ethernet, eight USB 2.0 ports and an AC97 audio interface. The nForce3 250 was then essentially a bug-fixed version of the nForce3 150 and also provides two SATA ports and the full 800 MHz of HT links to the processor. A little later came the nForce3 250 Gb with Gigabit Ethernet and built-in firewall. With the introduction of Socket 939 Nvidia then presented the nForce3 Ultra, which complements the nForce3 250Gb an accelerated HT link to the processor (1000 MHz).