Intel unveils Q35 chipsets for embedded apps

Intel Corp. has unveiled at this week's Intel Developer Forum in Taiwan extended lifecycle support for the Intel Q35 Express chipset for embedded and communications applications requiring graphics. The Q35 chipset allows a 50 per cent power savings over the previous-generation Intel Q965 Express chipset. With a 13.5W thermal design power, the chipset is suitable for low-power, small motherboard form factors for interactive clients, print imaging, digital security surveillance and network security applications.

Debuting for desktop computers in August, the Intel Q35 chipset supports the newest Intel chipset technologies including Intel Virtualisation Technology for Directed I/O (Intel VT-d), version 3.0 of Intel Active Management Technology (Intel AMT) and the new Intel Rapid Recover Technology within Intel Matrix Storage Technology for data protection.

A new technology built into the Intel Q35 chipset is Intel VT-d, which provides advanced remote management capabilities for I/O devices. The technology enables partitioning of I/O devices to virtual machines to distribute system resources and protect assets. Intel VT-d will improve performance by increasing the bandwidth and lowering the latency attributed to software virtualisation, said the company. Key applications include industrial automation and network appliances.

The Intel Q35 chipset also supports the latest generation Intel AMT, which allows enhanced hardware-based isolation and recovery for embedded systems that go offline, and the Intel Rapid Recover Technology, which allows embedded devices to recover data and return the system to an operational status in the event of hard drive failure or massive data corruption.

The Intel Q35 chipset with extended life cycle support is validated with two Intel Core 2 Duo processors: the Intel Core 2 Duo processor E6400 with Intel Virtualisation Technology and the Intel Core 2 Duo processor E4300. It is also validated with two new processors supported for an extended lifecycle: the Intel Pentium Dual-Core processor E2160 and the Intel Celeron processor 440. The chipset may also be paired with future Intel 45-nm processors.

The Intel Q35 chipset is available for embedded customers in two versions of the I/O Controller Hub (Intel ICH9 / ICH9 DO) starting at Rs.1,496.59 ($37).

- Gina Roos
eeProductCenter