• Concurrent PCI
• Universal Serial Bus
• Intel 430 PCIset Family
• Intel 430HX and 430VX PCIset Architecture
• The Intel PCIset Advantage
• Sampling and Availability

New Intel 430HX and 430VX PCIsets Deliver Concurrent PCI and USB for Pentium® Processor-Based Business and Home PCs
On February 12, 1996 Intel Corporation introduced the new Intel 430 PCIset family of PCI chip sets -- the 430HX for Pentium® processor-based business PCs and the 430VX for Pentium processor-based home and small business PCs. In addition to enhanced PCI throughput and overall system performance, these products offer increased scalability and upgradability through Intel's new Concurrent PCI and support of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) industry initiative.

"With this introduction, Intel not only provides complete, top-to-bottom chip set solutions for OEMs and motherboard manufacturers, but we are now helping our customers by providing matching features for their market segment-specific product lines." said Ronald J. Smith, vice president and general manager of Intel's PCI Components Division.

"The Intel 430HX and 430VX PCIsets signify an important evolution in chip sets. We're optimizing two separate chip sets for different market segments: the 430HX for the business PC market segment which demands reliability and high performance, and the 430VX for the home and small business PC market segment which requires maximum multi-media capability and price/value," said Smith. "By doing this, OEMs and motherboard manufacturers are able to fine-tune the price/performance of their systems and boards and optimize their product designs for their targeted audiences." He also noted that these Intel 430 PCIsets are the first to deliver on the promise of USB by offering the first in a series of Intel PCIsets that supports this significant, new technology and are part of Intel's USB technology platform.

"We believe that Universal Serial Bus represents a major forward step in the PC's evolution and it will have a significant impact on the market," said Ozzie Osborne, vice president and director of systems strategy, IBM PC Company. "IBM intends to take the lead in delivering this new capability to our customers. By working closely with Intel and utilizing their new 430HX and 430VX PCIsets, we will be able to offer compelling USB-enabled platforms to both the business and home markets."

Concurrent PCI
The Intel 430HX and 430VX PCIsets are the first PCI chip sets to support Intel's new Concurrent PCI processing architecture. Concurrent PCI maximizes system performance with simultaneous activity on the CPU, PCI and ISA buses. With a Multi-Transactional Timer, Enhanced Write Performance, a Passive Release mechanism and support for PCI 2.1-compliant PCI Delayed Transaction, Concurrent PCI provides increased bandwidth, improves video and audio performance, and improves processing of host-based applications.

Universal Serial Bus
Universal Serial Bus (USB) capability is included in the Intel 430HX and 430VX PCIsets. "Enabling USB is going to have a profound impact on personal computers. Once end-users see the power, performance, and the true plug-and-play capability, and much simplified PC peripheral connectivity that USB delivers, we believe they will demand USB as a standard system feature," said Eric Mentzer, marketing director of Intel's PCI Components Division.

USB's robust serial interface supports low- and medium-speed transfers which can be either isochronous or asynchronous.

Intel 430 PCIset Family
The Intel 430HX PCIset is targeted for OEMs and motherboard manufacturers designing Pentium processor systems aimed at the business market segment. "What's important to OEMs designing systems for the business market segment is optimal price/performance, compatibility, reliability and improved connectivity. The Intel 430HX PCIset delivers up to ten percent better performance than today's business solutions," said Mentzer. "With a single, feature-rich system and data control device in Ball Grid Array (BGA) packaging, we're also delivering a higher level of integration and quality than previous chip sets."

Mentzer added, "OEMs designing systems for the home market will find the Intel 430VX provides great price/performance, an upgradeable, snazzy set of features, enhanced multi-media capabilities and compatibility with office needs. By using SDRAM as a differentiation option with the Intel 430VX PCIset, OEMs can deliver the highest performance Pentium processors systems. OEMs also benefit from the Intel 430VX PCIset's traditional Plastic Quad Flat Packaging (PQFP) and flexible configuration design options."

Intel 430HX and 430VX PCIset Architecture
The Intel 430HX PCIset is comprised of two components: the 82439HX System Controller in a 324 BGA package; and the 82371SB PCI ISA IDE Accelerator (PIIX3) in a 208-pin PQFP. Use of BGA packaging permits OEMs and motherboard manufacturers to achieve a more compact design or integrate additional features without increasing the size of the motherboard.

The Intel 430VX PCIset consists of four components: the 82437VX System Controller in a 208-pin QFP, two 82438VX Data Path Units in 100-pin QFP packages, and the 82371SB PCI ISA IDE Xcelerator (PIIX3) in a 208-pin QFP package.

The Intel 430HX and 430VX PCIsets include a host-PCI bridge that provides functions such as a 64-bit host bus interface, a 32-bit PCI interface, a 64-bit main memory interface, a write-back second-level cache interface, a host and PCI address decoder and bus arbiter.

The 82371SB provides the bridge between the PCI bus and the ISA expansion bus and also serves as the PCI Bus Master IDE controller. It integrates functions found in ISA-based PC systems with a fast local-bus interface plus serves as a PCI USB host controller interface and as the interface for two USB ports.

The Intel 430VX PCIset includes an option for Intel's Shared Memory Buffer Architecture (SMBA) that OEMs may elect to use in ultra-cost sensitive PCs. SMBA permits sharing part of system memory with the graphics controller. Additionally, the Intel 430VX PCIset's System Controller supports SDRAM, providing OEMs further system design differentiation options.

The Intel PCIset Advantage
Intel's PCI Components Division is responsible for the advanced architecture of the award-winning Intel 430FX PCIset for the Pentium processor, the Intel 450GX and 450KX PCIsets for the Pentium Pro processor, and the newest members, the Intel 430HX and 430VX PCIsets for the Pentium processor. Intel has taken a leadership role in promoting PCI standards throughout the industry and has invested heavily in the PCI chip sets' design evolution, technology and development.

Sampling and Availability
Sample quantities of the Intel 430HX and 43VX PCIsets are available now. Production quantities for the Intel 430HX PCIset are also available now, with the Intel 430VX PCIset availability scheduled for the end of March. In 10,000-unit quantities, the Intel 430HX PCI set (with BGA Packaging) costs $37.50 (U.S.). In 10,000-unit quantities, the Intel 430VX PCIset (with QFP) costs $33.00 (U.S.).

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