Intel

Intel


Q35

Targets: Computers & Peripherals, General Purpose, Imaging & Video, Industrial, Medical, Military & Aerospace, Security

The Intel Q35 Express chipset addresses key requirements of embedded computing designs for graphics, low-power consumption, noise reduction, manageability, data protection and security. When combined with Intel Core2 Duo processors, this platform targets interactive clients (i.e., point-of-sale terminals and interactive PCs), industrial control and automation, gaming, print imaging, and network security applications.

The updated Graphics Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) features a low-power graphics core with 13 watts thermal design power (TDP), providing a 50% power savings over the Intel Q965 Express chipset (28 watts TDP). The I/O Controller Hub (ICH) is available in two SKUs: the Intel ICH9 and Intel ICH9 DO (digital office). A 1333 MHz system bus is designed to support Intel processors on 45nm.

Twelve Hi-Speed USB 2.0 ports and external SATA (eSATA) port multiplier support on both the ICH SKUs provide design flexibility, while Intel Quiet System Technology regulates system and processor fan speeds for noise reduction. Additionally, the ICH9 DO supports Intel Active Management Technology1 (Intel AMT) 3.0 for advanced remote manageability and Intel Rapid Recover Technology for data protection.

When combined with an ADD2 or media expansion card, the Intel Q35 Express chipset enables dual-independent displays, while Intel Virtualization Technology2 for Directed I/O (Intel VT-d) improves I/O virtualization, system reliability and security. The chipset is suitable for designs using embedded operating systems like Microsoft Windows Embedded XP, Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista, Microsoft WePoS, and Linux.

The Intel AMT 3.0 (ICH9 DO only) is a hardware- and firmware-based solution, powered by the system's auxiliary power plane, providing around-the-clock availability to remotely monitor networked embedded systems. Enhanced hardware-based isolation and recovery through Zero Touch Configuration provide end-point access control, provisioning and configuring embedded systems via a remote, secure mechanism. Intel AMT stores hardware and software information in non-volatile memory. Built-in manageability provides out-of-band management capabilities, allowing remote discovery and healing of systems after operating system failures or when a system is powered down. Alerting and event logging features detect problems to reduce downtime, proactively blocking incoming threats, containing infected clients before they impact the network, and proactively notifying the user when critical software agents are removed.

Intel Rapid Recover Technology (ICH9 DO only), a new feature of Intel Matrix Storage Technology, provides a recovery point that can be used to recover data and return a system to operational status should a hard drive fail or if there is massive data corruption. The clone can also be mounted as a read-only volume to allow recovery of individual files.

Integrated into the chipset, Intel VT-d increases manageability of I/O-sensitive applications and provides additional security for I/O systems by allowing designers to logically partition I/O devices and assign them to specific virtual machines. Key features help manage shared I/O resources and support protected access to resources from multiple sources.