fbpx
Wikipedia

Southbridge (computing)

January 03, 2023

The southbridge is one of the two chips in the core logic chipset on a personal computer (PC) motherboard, the other being the northbridge. The southbridge typically implements the slower capabilities of the motherboard in a northbridge/southbridge chipset computer architecture. In systems with Intel chipsets, the southbridge is named I/O Controller Hub (ICH), while AMD has named its southbridge Fusion Controller Hub (FCH) since the introduction of its Fusion AMD Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) while moving the functions of the Northbridge onto the CPU die, hence making it similar in function to the Platform hub controller.

A typical north/southbridge layout
IBM T42 laptop motherboard with the following labels: CPU (central processing unit), NB (northbridge), GPU (graphics processing unit), and SB (southbridge)

The southbridge can usually be distinguished from the northbridge by not being directly connected to the CPU. Rather, the northbridge ties the southbridge to the CPU. Through the use of controller integrated channel circuitry, the northbridge can directly link signals from the I/O units to the CPU for data control and access.

Current status

Due to the push for system-on-chip (SoC) processors, modern devices increasingly have the northbridge integrated into the CPU die itself;[further explanation needed] examples are Intel's Sandy Bridge[1] and AMD's Fusion processors,[2] both released in 2011. The southbridge became redundant and it was replaced by the Platform Controller Hub (PCH) architecture introduced with the Intel 5 Series chipset in 2008 while AMD did the same with the release of their first APUs in 2011, naming the PCH the Fusion controller hub (FCH), which was only used on AMD's APUs until 2017 when it began to be used on AMD's Zen architecture while dropping the FCH name. On Intel platforms, all southbridge features and remaining I/O functions are managed by the PCH which is directly connected to the CPU via the Direct Media Interface (DMI).[3] Intel low power processor (Haswell-U and onward) and Ultra low power processor (Haswell-Y and onward) also integrated an on-package PCH. Based on its Chiplet design, AMD Ryzen processors also integrated some southbridge functions, such as some USB interface and some SATA/NVMe interface.[4]

Overview

A southbridge chipset handled many of a computer's I/O functions, such as USB, audio, the system BIOS, the ISA bus or the LPC bus, the low speed PCI/PCIe bus, the IOAPIC interrupt controller, the SATA storage, the historical PATA storage, and the NVMe storage.[5][6] Different combinations of Southbridge and Northbridge chips are possible,[7] but these two kinds of chips must be designed to work together;[8][9] there is no industry-wide standard for interoperability between different core logic chipset designs. In 1990s and early 2000s, the interface between a northbridge and southbridge was the PCI bus. The main bridging interfaces used now are DMI (Intel) and UMI (AMD).

Etymology

The name is derived from representing the architecture in the fashion of a map and was first described as such with the introduction of the PCI Local Bus Architecture in 1991. At Intel, the authors of the PCI specification viewed the PCI local bus as being at the very centre of the PC platform architecture (i.e., at the Equator).

The northbridge extends to the north of the PCI bus backbone in support of CPU, memory/cache, and other performance-critical capabilities. Likewise the southbridge extends to the south of the PCI bus backbone and bridges to less performance-critical I/O capabilities such as the disk interface, audio, etc.

The CPU is located at the top of the map at due north. The CPU is connected to the chipset via a fast bridge (the northbridge) located north of other system devices as drawn. The northbridge is connected to the rest of the chipset via a slow bridge (the southbridge) located south of other system devices as drawn.

Although the current PC platform architecture has replaced the PCI bus backbone with faster I/O backbones, the bridge naming convention remains.

Functionality

 
Diagram of an old motherboard, which supports many on-board peripheral functions as well as several expansion slots.

The functionality found in a contemporary southbridge includes:[9][6]

Optionally, a southbridge also includes support (onboard discrete chip or southbridge-integrated) for Ethernet, Wi-Fi, RAID, Thunderbolt, and Out-of-band management.

See also

References

  1. ^ Vatto, Kristian. "Why Ivy Bridge is still Quad-core?". Anandtech. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  2. ^ Stokes, Jon (11 November 2010). "With Fusion, AMD's devils are in the details". Arstechnica. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  3. ^ "Mobile Intel HM57 Express Chipset". Intel. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  4. ^ Hagedoorn, Hilbert. "AMD Ryzen 3000: New Block diagram about PCIe 4.0 on Matisse and X570 chipset". Guru3D.com. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  5. ^ "What is Southbridge?", Webopedia Computer Dictionary (word definition), 4 November 2002.
  6. ^ a b Mujtaba, Hassan (2019-09-13). "Intel Z490, H470 Motherboards For 10th Gen Comet Lake-S CPUs Leaked". Wccftech. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  7. ^ Chipset: Northbridge and Southbridge, Rigacci.
  8. ^ What is northbridge, southbridge, how northbridge, southbridge works, Edu soft max.
  9. ^ a b What is a chipset?, UK: Misco.

External links

  • "Motherboards & Core-Logic Chipsets: The Deep Stuff > What the North Bridge and South Bridge Do". InformIT. Retrieved November 18, 2010.

January 03, 2023
southbridge, computing, southbridge, chips, core, logic, chipset, personal, computer, motherboard, other, being, northbridge, southbridge, typically, implements, slower, capabilities, motherboard, northbridge, southbridge, chipset, computer, architecture, syst. The southbridge is one of the two chips in the core logic chipset on a personal computer PC motherboard the other being the northbridge The southbridge typically implements the slower capabilities of the motherboard in a northbridge southbridge chipset computer architecture In systems with Intel chipsets the southbridge is named I O Controller Hub ICH while AMD has named its southbridge Fusion Controller Hub FCH since the introduction of its Fusion AMD Accelerated Processing Unit APU while moving the functions of the Northbridge onto the CPU die hence making it similar in function to the Platform hub controller A typical north southbridge layout IBM T42 laptop motherboard with the following labels CPU central processing unit NB northbridge GPU graphics processing unit and SB southbridge The southbridge can usually be distinguished from the northbridge by not being directly connected to the CPU Rather the northbridge ties the southbridge to the CPU Through the use of controller integrated channel circuitry the northbridge can directly link signals from the I O units to the CPU for data control and access Contents 1 Current status 2 Overview 3 Etymology 4 Functionality 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksCurrent status EditDue to the push for system on chip SoC processors modern devices increasingly have the northbridge integrated into the CPU die itself further explanation needed examples are Intel s Sandy Bridge 1 and AMD s Fusion processors 2 both released in 2011 The southbridge became redundant and it was replaced by the Platform Controller Hub PCH architecture introduced with the Intel 5 Series chipset in 2008 while AMD did the same with the release of their first APUs in 2011 naming the PCH the Fusion controller hub FCH which was only used on AMD s APUs until 2017 when it began to be used on AMD s Zen architecture while dropping the FCH name On Intel platforms all southbridge features and remaining I O functions are managed by the PCH which is directly connected to the CPU via the Direct Media Interface DMI 3 Intel low power processor Haswell U and onward and Ultra low power processor Haswell Y and onward also integrated an on package PCH Based on its Chiplet design AMD Ryzen processors also integrated some southbridge functions such as some USB interface and some SATA NVMe interface 4 Overview EditA southbridge chipset handled many of a computer s I O functions such as USB audio the system BIOS the ISA bus or the LPC bus the low speed PCI PCIe bus the IOAPIC interrupt controller the SATA storage the historical PATA storage and the NVMe storage 5 6 Different combinations of Southbridge and Northbridge chips are possible 7 but these two kinds of chips must be designed to work together 8 9 there is no industry wide standard for interoperability between different core logic chipset designs In 1990s and early 2000s the interface between a northbridge and southbridge was the PCI bus The main bridging interfaces used now are DMI Intel and UMI AMD Etymology EditThe name is derived from representing the architecture in the fashion of a map and was first described as such with the introduction of the PCI Local Bus Architecture in 1991 At Intel the authors of the PCI specification viewed the PCI local bus as being at the very centre of the PC platform architecture i e at the Equator The northbridge extends to the north of the PCI bus backbone in support of CPU memory cache and other performance critical capabilities Likewise the southbridge extends to the south of the PCI bus backbone and bridges to less performance critical I O capabilities such as the disk interface audio etc The CPU is located at the top of the map at due north The CPU is connected to the chipset via a fast bridge the northbridge located north of other system devices as drawn The northbridge is connected to the rest of the chipset via a slow bridge the southbridge located south of other system devices as drawn Although the current PC platform architecture has replaced the PCI bus backbone with faster I O backbones the bridge naming convention remains Functionality Edit Diagram of an old motherboard which supports many on board peripheral functions as well as several expansion slots The functionality found in a contemporary southbridge includes 9 6 PCI bus A south bridge may also include support for PCI X Low speed PCI Express PCIe interfaces usually for Ethernet and NVMe ISA bus or LPC bridge ISA slots are no longer provided on more recent motherboards The LPC bridge provides a data and control path to the super I O the normal attachment for the PS 2 keyboard and mouse parallel port serial port IR port and floppy controller SPI bus The SPI bus is a simple serial bus mostly used for firmware e g BIOS UEFI flash storage access SMBus controller DMA controller The 8237 DMA controller allows ISA or LPC devices direct access to main memory without needing help from the CPU PIC and I O APIC Mass storage interfaces such as SATA M 2 and historical PATA This typically allows attachment of hard drives or SSDs Real time clock Programmable interval timer High Precision Event Timer ACPI controller or APM controller Nonvolatile BIOS memory The system CMOS BIOS configuration memory assisted by battery supplemental power creates a limited non volatile storage area for BIOS configuration data Intel HD Audio or AC 97 sound interface USB interfaces Optionally a southbridge also includes support onboard discrete chip or southbridge integrated for Ethernet Wi Fi RAID Thunderbolt and Out of band management See also EditMemory controller Northbridge computing References Edit Vatto Kristian Why Ivy Bridge is still Quad core Anandtech Retrieved September 27 2015 Stokes Jon 11 November 2010 With Fusion AMD s devils are in the details Arstechnica Retrieved September 27 2015 Mobile Intel HM57 Express Chipset Intel Retrieved 2014 04 21 Hagedoorn Hilbert AMD Ryzen 3000 New Block diagram about PCIe 4 0 on Matisse and X570 chipset Guru3D com Retrieved 2020 06 12 What is Southbridge Webopedia Computer Dictionary word definition 4 November 2002 a b Mujtaba Hassan 2019 09 13 Intel Z490 H470 Motherboards For 10th Gen Comet Lake S CPUs Leaked Wccftech Retrieved 2020 10 30 Chipset Northbridge and Southbridge Rigacci What is northbridge southbridge how northbridge southbridge works Edu soft max a b What is a chipset UK Misco External links Edit Motherboards amp Core Logic Chipsets The Deep Stuff gt What the North Bridge and South Bridge Do InformIT Retrieved November 18 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Southbridge computing amp oldid 1122974956, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.