Chipsets, The Digital Home, and PC Structures
If the other article on Silicon Photonics was too heavy for you then this is a casual update on how Intel believe it should be played over the next 12 monthsIntel has noted the shift within the home towards a digital trend. This Christmas within the consumer market, digital cameras have overtaken SLR and normal 35mm cameras. This convergence between the analogue home and the digital interface requires a method of bridging the ‘Digital Divide’ and Intel aims to deliver the technology.
In 2004 Grantsdale offers several feature sets which are targeted at the digital home. Following is just a sampling of the upcoming technologies. PCI – Express 16X. The next generation of Integrated graphics will offer dual independent displays – so it can be watched on different displays – TV and TFT for example. They also have the DX9 Integrated technology with PS 2.0 (Pixel Shader 2.0) ‘inside’. With Granstdale we will see dual channel DDR2 – 533 Bus technologies. This will come in two core speeds: 400 and 500 Mhz. Intel has facilitated high definition audio with Azalia audio technology. Wireless networking will come as standard on the chipset, reducing end-user cost.
The advantages of these new technologies and the integration are numerous. Intel believes the market has spread into four main segments – the Creativity PC, the Space Constrained PC, the Entertainment PC, and the Portable Notebook. In our terms this is – PC Powerhouse, SFF Systems, HTPC Systems, and Laptops (both Desktop replacement and Centrino ‘marketing’ initiative.)
People want to take their mobile communications with them – the convergence of mobile technology – GPRS, WiFi and the laptop computer means that you can have connectivity on the move.
Intel has several schemes in place which will help the deployment of their ‘vision’. They have the Intel ‘MyRoom’ Program for the ‘SFF’ systems, featuring the new BTX form factor. The BTX form factor addresses some of the key complaints with modern PC’s, introducing a cooler, quieter enclosure. The HTPC segment has an ‘EPC’ design guide which helps set out guidelines.
Entertainment PC.
Intel has set out the guidelines for the EPC they believe that people will need to do:
- PVR
- DVD Archives
- Video Scaling
- Remote Pictures, Music, Video
The local applications on the PC are:
- HD/DVD Playback
- Gaming
- My Music
- My Pictures
- My Videos
Hopefully with this deployment we will see some HTPC that will be worth investing in, since the general consensus at the moment is that HTPC is nowhere near ready.
The core uses for the system will have to be:
- PVR
- HD/DVD Playback
- Remote Note Application
- Gaming
- CE Quality Audio
The extended feature set is:
- DVD Audio
- DVD Archives
- Dual Tuner PVR
- ATSC HD Tuner
- Video Scaling
The ideal application configuration would be being able to re-route video to a remote system – your ‘mobile’ top unit for viewing. This is currently offered through some third party software solutions, but Intel plans to make it standard.
