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Intel's G45 Chipset to Support DisplayPort and HDMI

Support is not native, but achieved via an add-in card

Apr 7, 2008 09:04 GMT  ·  By
Intel's ADD2 card will unlock extra digital ports for the G45 chipset
   Intel's ADD2 card will unlock extra digital ports for the G45 chipset

Intel is reportedly making the final adjustments before the G45 chipset finally starts shipping to the motherboard manufacturers. The new G45 Express (Eaglelake-G) and G43 Express desktop chipsets will both sport Intel's integrated Graphics Media Accelerator.

However, the chipsets' technical specifications show that the G45 family will only support the semi-obsolete DVI digital connector. However, more and more graphics enthusiasts are shifting to the faster HDMI and DisplayPort interfaces that can deliver sustained bandwidth rates, along with the HDCP digital rights management technology.

Users planning to snatch a G45-based motherboard (with the chipset branded as GMA X4500HD) will be able to enjoy the speedy HDMI / DisplayPort interconnects using an add-on card manufactured by the chip manufacturer. The ADD2 riser card unlocks extra connectivity options, and has been widely used in conjunction with the company's integrated chipsets in the past.

During the last week's Intel Developer Forum, the company showcased a four-port expansion card, that increased the connectivity options with two HDMI connectors and another pair of DisplayPort links. Given the fact that the chipset features an integrated HD video decoder that removes the need for an additional accelerator card, the ADD2 expansion slots could allow it to break into the home-theater PC market.

Beyond the hardware decoding capabilities, Intel's G45 chipset is alleged to come with a significant performance boost over the previous G35 series of chipsets. Intel's internal benchmarks using the standard 3DMark06 benchmarking software claim that the G45 series can deliver 1.7 times more horsepower than its predecessor.

The chip manufacturer plans to introduce the G45 series of chipsets shortly after it starts shipping the first units of the long-awaited P45 counterparts.

However, the P45 is currently delayed due to some rumored compatibility issues with the PCI-Express lanes. No exact date has been announced for its introduction as of the moment of writing.