Intel® Core™2 Processor with Viiv™ Technology

When you want a sensational high-definition (HD) experience, look no further than PCs with Intel® Core™2 processor with Viiv™ technology. Built on the latest hafnium-infused 45nm dual- and quad-core processors, these systems give you performance for HD audio and video and your most demanding applications.
The cutting edge is now. Every PC with an Intel Core 2 processor with Viiv technology is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo or Intel Core 2 Quad processor to give you the performance to run demanding applications and manage your HD entertainment.
The Intel Core 2 processor with Viiv technology includes the latest Intel chipsets with most everything you need to build a multimedia PC for HD content. Experience stunning sound from movies and music with up to 7.1 surround sound capabilities enabled by Intel® High Definition Audio (Intel® HD Audio). Get full 1080P video playback for movie clips, media streams, and the latest generation of HD video cameras with optional Intel® Clear Video Technology. And explore the Internet with 1GB-capable broadband Ethernet to quickly access high-definition content. The possibilities are endless.

Make the leap into compelling game realism and life-like effects, enabling a cost-effective PC solution with built-in Intel® Graphics Technology.

Intel Graphics Technology supports the latest Microsoft DirectX* and 3D features such as Microsoft Shader Model 3.0* to enable stunning visual effects in games, such as object deformation, motion blurs, and complex animations with realistic shading, lighting, and textures.³

These 3D features are supported by the latest Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator (Intel® GMA) software drivers.

• View the Intel® Graphics Technology game compatibility list

• With the dramatic improvements in Intel® Graphics Technology and Intel® processors, it's no longer necessary for most users to buy expensive add-on graphics cards. Users can pocket the difference, or spend the extra money instead on system enhancements like a more powerful CPU.

  Intel Graphics Technology is an especially smart choice if you're looking for a value platform for Microsoft Windows Vista, because you get a great built-in graphics adapter capable of the full Microsoft Windows Vista experience.¹ Plus, this cost-effective solution is ideal if you're a mainstream PC user who needs broad, modern feature support.

  Intel's solution allows the PC to connect to the latest digital display interfaces, including the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). HDMI carries uncompressed HD video and uncompressed multi-channel audio in a single cable.◊

  Intel Graphics Technology powers the next generation of PC display technology. When you buy a PC with Intel Graphics, you get a cost-effective solution with the performance you need.

INTEL DX58SO MOTHERBOARD

codename.

This new chipset will use the same ICH10(R) "South bridge chipset" as the Intel P45 (Eaglelake) chipsets, but the X58 chipset overall obviously will be drastically different.

• The X58 Express will use the new LGA1366 socket (also known as Socket B).
• No more memory controller
• Intel QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) the interconnect between the Core i7 processor and the X58 Express.

There's another feature about the X58 chipset that will appeal the enthusiast crowds like myself as well. This will be the first (besides Skulltrail) non NVIDIA chipset based mainboard which supports SLI and Crossfire making THE choice of weaponry for future high-end upgrades as you are no longer limited towards an NVIDIA supporting SLI chipset of for that matter a Crossfire bound infrastructure.

But to get SLI support activated, the mainbord series has to be submitted (by manufacturer) and certified by NVIDIA, after which they'll open up support through their drivers. To get multi-card graphics cards support Intel obviously had to include support for at least two x16 PCI Express 2.0 slots with the option for four x8 slots to support quad-graphics cards (CrossfireX).

All in all, plenty of stuff to talk about. Over the next pages we'll take a brief look at the chipset architecture, then a photo shoot and then obviously a test or two to get these geek juices flowing.