Intel aims power-saving chipset at embedded apps

By Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor -- 10/16/2007

For embedded and communications applications requiring graphics, Intel Corp. unveiled today at its Intel Developer Forum Taiwan Fall 2007 in Taipei that it has extended lifecycle support for its Q35 Express chipset to allow a 50 percent power savings over the previous-generation Q965 Express chipset.

The chipset is aimed at low-power, small motherboard form factors for interactive clients, print imaging, digital security surveillance and network security applications, such as the 17x17cm Mini-ITX and features a 13.5-watt thermal design power. The

While the chipset debuted for desktop computers in August, the Q35 supports Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d), version 3.0 of Intel Active Management Technology (AMT) and the new Intel Rapid Recover Technology within Intel Matrix Storage Technology for data protection, the company specified.

Doug Davis, VP and general manager of Intel’s embedded and communications group reminded that embedded systems managers typically face the same risks and challenges associated with the enterprise, such as compromised security and system failures, which can be costly without remote management capabilities.

Intel says its silicon is meant to combat these problems by allowing control over end devices independent of the software applications.

The VT-d technology which provides advanced remote management capabilities for I/O devices and allows partitioning of I/O devices to virtual machines to distribute system resources and protect assets. Intel also notes that VT-d should improve performance by increasing the bandwidth and lowering latency attributed to software virtualization with industrial automation applications and network appliances two key segments that could benefit from this technology.

The Intel Q35 chipset also supports AMT technology, which is meant to allow enhanced hardware-based isolation and recovery for embedded systems that go offline, while the Rapid Recover Technology, 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.

In addition, the Q35 chipset is validated with two Intel Core2 Duo processors: the Intel Core2 Duo processor E6400 with Intel Virtualization Technology and the Intel Core2 Duo processor E4300. As well, it is 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 its future 45-nm processors, Intel added.

The Q35 chipset is available today in two versions of the I/O Controller Hub (Intel ICH9 / ICH9 DO) starting at $37.

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