To facilitate the new Lynnfield architecture processors Intel has been working on the P55 chipset, this chipset will replace P45. So with a new processor series based on a new package, you need a new chipset for the motherboard. That is
P55 - it
supports both Lynnfield 45nm Nehalem family based quad-cores and IGP dual-core Nehalem codenamed based Clarkdale (32nm with native GPU) processors. Due to the fact that Lynnfield processors feature an integrated memory controller, like current Core i7 processors, and that they're outfitted with 16 lanes of embedded PCI Express connectivity, there's no need to pair the processors with a second chip (Southbridge). Instead, the processor will connect only to the P55 chip.
The chipset will also supports Integrated Clocking Buffer Through Mode, provides Thermal Sensor Data via SMBUS for discrete Fan Control Solutions and Intel Matrix Storage Technology 9.0.
The motherboard uses a 14-phase power circuit with standard solid-state capacitors. This board has a lot of overclocker-friendly features, such as on-board controls for clock-speeds, clear-CMOS, OC-Genie, a DIP switch to control voltages, and voltage-sensing points that make measuring voltages convenient. Apart from the Intel P55 chipset,
it uses an nVidia nForce 200 bridge chip that broadcasts 16 PCI-Express lanes (from the processor root complex) to 32 lanes on the PCI-E x16 slots.
The GD80 has a 14-phase Dr.MOS PWM design with
8 phases for the processor; that should be more than enough for overclocking and tweakin,
2 for VTT,
2 for memory and
2 for the P55 PCH (platform controller hub).
Also, it's good to see that the entire motherboard will be cooled passively. MSI applies their SuperPipe cooling that we know from the GD65, but this time it has a larger heatsink that has to cover the 8+2-phase VRM. MSI uses a really thick 8mm heatpipe for the best cooling efficiency. Also do you spot the lower passive (wide) heatsink? Stuffed under there is the nVidia nForce 200 bridge chip. This GD80 is fully SLi (2-way/3-way) compatible just like X58. CrossFire obviously will work with three cards as well, no questions asked there. We expect the
pricing of this motherboard to hover at roughly 250USD.
Izvor:
Guru3D