The chipsets like Intel p965 and Intel p35 do not possess native IDE support , motherboard producers try to correct this deficiency using discrete controllers, integrated to the motherboard.
As is known, in the second quarter 2008 , Intel will release the chipset intel series eaglelake, which will be equipped with the south bridges series ICH10. . Let us try to talk about the most obvious changes in this chipsets functionality .
We already mentioned the support of (PCI express x8 + PCI express x8) , in addition to PCI express 2.0 support. It is Known also that eaglelake chipset will support DDR 3-1333 memory . The support of DDR-2 in this case will not be rejected - compatibility is preserved .
Some serious changes are planned for the south bridges series ICH10. First , they will forgo the support of system bus PCI, giving preference to more progressive PCI express. Naturally, IDE support will not be provided . The principal periphery interface connection will become USB; therefore PS/2 and LPT will for sure disappear from the motherboard forever.
The serial ATA interface will continue its evolutionary development. If the south bridges series ICH9, used on motherboard chipset intel p35, support the ports multiplier ( command based ) , then the south bridges ICH10 will propose support to the serial ATA ports multiplier ( fIS-based ). Although both multipliers types allow to connect to one port serial ATA up to 15 hard disks, the first is capable to work only with one hard disk at the specific moment . However, the second allow to use simultaneously several hard disks: