VIA K8T900 - Introducing Enhanced PCI Express Support to the AMD64 Platform

In the search for every higher frame rates for applications such as gaming, enthusiasts demand higher levels of connectivity, premium performance, while retaining stable operation and comprehensive compatibility. Designed to support a complete range of AMD Athlon™ 64, Athlon 64 FX, Opteron™, and Sempron™ processors the VIA K8T900 enables a high performance solution for the AMD platform with expanded connectivity to support new demands such as the latest Dual Graphic card configurations, and incorporates features aimed at delivering unparalleled performance for today's enthusiast community.

The VIA K8T900 features the exclusive VIA RapidFire™ technology which enables a dramatic increase in performance for all the latest high bandwidth graphics cards. By enhancing the VIA K8T900 PCI Express controller, VIA RapidFire technology is able to deliver enhanced PCI Express performance by achieving reductions in communication latency, improved signal quality, and reductions in overall power consumption

Optimized to work seamlessly with the latest PCI Express graphics cards, VIA K8T900 features highly flexibly PCI Express configurations including support for dual graphics card implementations with dual x8 PCI Express connectivity as well as a PCI Express x16 connection delivering up to 4GB/s of dedicated graphics bandwidth per direction. The VIA K8T900 also features four PCI Express x1 connections*, each providing 250MB/s per direction bandwidth to PCI Express peripheral devices such as Gigabit Ethernet and HDTV tuner cards.

The VIA K8T900 chipset has received PCI-Express certification, having successfully completed the rigorous testing procedures of the PCI-SIG Compliance Workshop.

The VIA K8T900 integrates VIA's Hyper8 technology supporting a 1GHz/16-bit HyperTransport processor-to-chipset link, that delivers up to 8GB/s of bandwidth to help ensure all AMD64 processor-based systems achieve their full performance potential. The VIA K8T900 chipset also utilizes asynchronous bus architecture, providing improved system optimization options to enable power users to squeeze the very most out of their systems.

For connectivity to the South Bridge the VIA K8T900 features a high bandwidth Ultra V-Link bus to allow communication between the chipset North and South bridges at a blazing 1GB/s. When combined with solutions such as the market-leading VIA VT8251 South Bridge and a broad array of VIA companion chips, the VIA K8T900 chipset provides the most comprehensive range of storage, multimedia and connectivity features available for the AMD64 processor platform today, including native Serial ATA and V-RAID, 6-channel or 8-channel VIA Vinyl Audio, and additional PCI Express connectivity.

Features of VIA K8T900

¹Please refer to AMD validated AMD64 Processor Compatible DDR Memory Modules

² 8-channel audio requires addition of VIA Vinyl Gold companion controller

Benefits of VIA K8T900

VIA Flex Express Architecture
The unique VIA Flex Express Architecture has been designed to allow the industry's most flexible implementations of core-logic chipsets supporting PCI Express. The VIA Flex Express architecture allows multiple device configurations, supporting up to five PCI Express devices across 20 PCI Express lanes with an amazing combined bandwidth of 5GB/s. The VIA K8T900 also enables highly flexible connection to the latest PCI Express graphic cards support a standard x16 PCI Express connection, or two x8 PCI Express connections to the latest dual graphic card configurations.

Advanced PCI Express Peripheral Support
VIA Flex Express Architecture enables connection of up to 4 high bandwidth PCI Express x1* peripheral devices directly through the North Bridge of the K8T900 chipset, ensuring low latency and wide memory access, as well as freeing up I/O bandwidth in the chipset's South Bridge, which increasingly deals with the heavy bandwidth requirements of multiple HDDs, optical drives and USB/1394 devices.

Asynchronous Bus Architecture
The VIA K8T900's asynchronous bus architecture enables power users to fully optimize their system settings for the ultimate PC gaming and entertainment experience, while maintaining platform stability.

Ultra V-Link Bus
Delivering data throughput speeds of up to 1066 MB/s from the VIA VT8251 South Bridge to the VIA K8T900 North Bridge, the Ultra V-Link interface delivers the necessary bandwidth and low latency required by today's increasingly demanding multimedia applications.

VIA Modular Architecture Platform
The VIA K8T900 is part of VIA's unique Modular Architecture Platform (V-MAP), which minimizes design times and time-to-market for motherboard partners through a flexible, pin-compatible design approach for VIA core-logic solutions. Motherboard partners are able to cover multiple market segments with fewer design resources, and also benefit from a single unified driver base.

Native Serial ATA/RAID Support
The VIA DriveStation™ Controller Suite with native four channel Serial ATA/RAID controller, provides direct support for four 3.0GBb/s Serial ATA devices. Additional support for 2 nd generation features such as NCQ, and command queue are also fully implemented. The V-RAID controller features native RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5 and JBOD, ensuring optimum data integrity and system performance. The user friendly V-RAID software interface enables easy disk array configuration and management.

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 suite includes support for VIA Vinyl HD audio, VIA Vinyl AC'97 audio, and VIA Vinyl Gold Audio, 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.

Block Diagram

Key Features

» Supports full range of AMD AMD Athlon 64 / Athlon 64 FX / Opteron / Sempron processors (939, 940 & 754-pin)
» Advanced VIA Flex Express Architecture
» PCI Express Dual x 8 Graphics / PCI Express x16 Graphics
» 4 PCI Express x1 high speed peripheral connections*
» VIA Hyper8 Technology with 1GHz/16-bit (per direction) HyperTransport processor-to-chipset link
» Asynchronous bus architecture
» Ultra V-Link 1066 MB/sec high bandwidth North/South Bridge interconnect
» Integrated VIA Vinyl HD Audio and support for Vinyl Gold Multichannel HD Audio Suite» Serial ATA support for up to 4 devices
» Integrated V-RAID with RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5 and JBOD (SATA) support
» Support for up to 4 SATA 3.0Gb/s devices
» 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 Gigabit Ethernet companion controller & Integrated 10/100 Fast Ethernet MAC
» Integrated MC'97 Modem
» Advanced power management capabilities including ACPI/OnNow
» 933-pin BGA North Bridge
» 645-pin BGA VT8251 South Bridge

*When configured for Dual x 8 PCI Express mode, there are 3 PCI Express x1 high speed peripheral connections available.

Resources

	VIA K8 Series chipset comparison chart / Download printer friendly .pdf version
	VIA K8T900 press release
	Catch the Flex Express! VIA's implementation of PCI express. » Learn more ...
	Hyper8™ Technology Achieving the full performance potential of the chipset. » Learn more ...
	VIA K8T890 image kit