VIA KT880 - Bringing Dual Channel DRR400 and Native Serial ATA/RAID to the AMD Athlon XP Processor Platform

The VIA KT880 chipset delivers DualStream64™ dual channel DDR400 memory performance and the advanced connectivity of the VT8237R Plus South Bridge to the AMD Athlon XP processor platform. Building on the award-winning, market leading position of the VIA KT Series chipsets, the KT880 is designed and built to meet the demanding requirements of high bandwidth 3D gaming and digital media applications. The KT880 is paired with the acclaimed VT8237R Plus South Bridge to offer category-leading features like the new VIA DualStream64™ dual channel DDR400 memory controller, AGP 8X, 400MHz FSB, Native Serial ATA/RAID, in addition to VIA Vinyl Gold audio and Gigabit Ethernet when paired with VIA companion controllers.

Harnessing a host of intuitive technologies, the VIA DualStream64™ memory controller enables lightning fast access to dual 64-bit channels of DDR memory, optimizing system performance through an enhanced data prefetch protocol and improved memory branch predictions. Further performance enhancements include a larger on-chip branch table and a tighter read/write turn-around for improved clock timings.

Featuring the VIA DriveStation™ Controller Suite, the VIA VT8237R Plus South Bridge provides the most comprehensive support for high-performance integrated storage interface technologies available on the AMD Socket A platform. In addition to enabling high-speed 150MB/s dual channel connections to Serial ATA Hard Drives while retaining support for up to four Parallel ATA-133 devices, it combines exceptionally fast disk data transfer rates and optimal data integrity with easy installation and manageability through V-RAID, the first native RAID controller integrated into a South Bridge supporting multiple RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, and JBOD configurations. The VT8237R Plus also features the VIA Vinyl Multichannel Audio Suite for superlative 6-channel and 8-channel immersion audio. VIA's Advanced Connectivity Suite also offers a host of high-bandwidth connectivity options, including support for the VIA Velocity™ Gigabit Ethernet companion controller, integrated 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet and up to eight high-speed USB 2.0 ports.

The KT880 benefits from VIA's unique V-MAP (VIA Modular Architecture Platform) architecture that facilitates faster product development and speeds up time to market, and features the high-throughput V-Link interconnect running at speeds of up to 533MB/s between the North and South Bridge.

Features of VIA KT880

Benefits of VIA KT880

DualStream64
VIA DualStream64 is the world's most intelligent dual channel memory controller featuring revolutionary new intuitive technologies. The VIA DualStream64™ memory controller enables lightning fast access to dual 64-bit channels of DDR memory, optimizing system performance through an enhanced data prefetch protocol and improved memory branch predictions. Further performance enhancements include a larger on-chip branch table and a tighter read/write turn-around for improved clock timings.

Native Serial ATA/RAID Support
The VIA DriveStation™ Advanced Connectivity Suite with its native dual channel Serial ATA/RAID controller, provides direct support for two 150MB/s Serial ATA devices and its unique SATAlite™ interface expands support for two additional SATA devices. The V-RAID controller features native RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 0+1, ensuring optimum data integrity and system performance. The user friendly software interface enables easy disk array configuration.

VIA Vinyl Multichannel Audio Suite
Delivering rich, warm surround sound at resolutions as high as 24/96 through up to six- or eight-channel outputs, the VIA Vinyl Audio and VIA Vinyl Gold Audio enable crisp, clear performance, representing the highest levels of audio quality in a mainstream integrated or onboard solution.

Unified VIA Hyperion 4in1 Drivers
VIA's unified approach to drivers has been established for eight generations of chipsets, allowing end users to benefit from seamless hardware and software compatibility.

* RAID Level 0+1 requires four Serial ATA drives; support for the two additional drives can only be implemented with two external Serial ATA ports enabled through a SATALite PHY.

Block Diagram

Key Features

» Supports full range of AMD Athlon™ XP processors
» 400/333MHz FSB settings
» Supports up to 8GB Dual Channel DDR400/333/266
» Support for AGP 8X/4X
» Synchronous bus architecture
» V-Link 533MB/sec high bandwidth North/South Bridge interconnect
» Support for VIA Vinyl 6-channel & Vinyl Gold 8-channel Audio
» Serial ATA support for up to 4 devices
» Integrated V-RAID with RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1*, and JBOD (SATA) support
» Parallel ATA133/100/66 support for up to 4 devices
» Support for up to 8 USB 2.0/USB 1.1 ports, UHCI compliant
» Support for VIA Velocity Gigabit Ethernet companion controller & Integrated 10/100 Fast Ethernet
» Integrated MC'97 Modem
» Advanced power management capabilities including ACPI/OnNow
» 806-pin BGA North Bridge
» 539-pin BGA VT8237R Plus South Bridge

Resources

	VIA K7 Series chipset comparison chart / Download .pdf version
	VIA KT880 press release
	VIA KT880 product brochure
	DualStream64™ vs. Single Channel An informative article at VIA Arena outlining the benefits of DualStream64™ technology. » Learn more ...
	VIA KT880 image kit