VIA PT880 Ultra - The Perfect Stepping-Stone Solution for System Integrators and PC Enthusiasts

Based on VIA's innovative Flex Express Architecture, the VIA PT880 Ultra chipset provides the ultimate transition solution, offering support for PCI Express and AGP graphics, as well as DDR and DDR2 memory, all on the same motherboard. Compatible with the latest Intel® processors, the VIA PT880 Ultra chipset includes support for 1066MHz FSB and Hyper-Threading Technology.

Featuring VIA's revolutionary Universal Graphics Interface (UGI), the VIA PT880 Ultra enables support for the latest generation of PCI Express Graphic cards as well as existing AGP 3.0 graphics cards, providing OEMs, SIs, and end-users much needed flexibility during the transition period. Furthermore, motherboards based on the VIA PT880 Ultra support VIA DualGFX Express, by running both AGP and PCI-Express graphics cards simultaneously, providing the ability to connect to as many as four separate displays.

By harnessing the advanced VIA StepUp memory controller technology, motherboards based on the VIA PT880 Ultra can support either DDR or DDR2 memory modules on the same motherboard, providing users the flexibility to use whatever memory standard best suits their requirements.

The VIA PT880 Ultra features a high bandwidth Ultra V-Link bus to allow communication between the chipset's North and South bridges at a blazing 1GB/s. When combined with solutions such as the market-leading VIA VT8237R Plus South Bridge and a broad array of VIA companion chips, the VIA PT880 Ultra provides a comprehensive range of storage, multimedia and connectivity features, including native Serial ATA and V-RAID, 6-channel or 8-channel VIA Vinyl Audio, VIA Velocity™ Gigabit Ethernet, USB2.0, and 1394.

The VIA PT880 Ultra chipset has received PCI-Express certification, having successfully completed the rigorous testing procedures of the PCI-SIG Compliance Workshop.

Features of VIA PT880 Ultra

Benefits of VIA PT880 Ultra

VIA Universal Graphics Interface
The unique VIA Universal Graphics Interface allows connection of both AGP and PCI Express graphics cards on the same motherboard, truly bridging the gap between the two standards. Furthermore, users can enable advanced VIA DualGFX Express technology by running AGP and PCI Express graphics cards simultaneously, opening up a new expanse of user options.

VIA DualGFX Express
For users requiring powerful multitasking capabilities, VIA's unique DualGFX Express technology allows two PCI Express graphics cards to be implemented on a single motherboard, supporting any brand of graphics card. With the ability to run two high-performance graphics cards simultaneously, user can easily connect to two, three, or even four monitors with no substantial hit on performance. To learn more about applications that benefit from DualGFX Express and how to set up a multi-display DualGFX Express system, please go here.

VIA StepUp Memory Support
The VIA PT880 Ultra integrates VIA's StepUp memory technology for lightning fast access to system memory and optimum system performance. VIA's StepUp memory technology enables support for DDR1 and DDR2 memory standards giving maximum flexibility.

Native Serial ATA/RAID Support
The VIA VT8237R Plus South Bridge features a native Serial ATA/RAID controller, providing direct support for two 150MB/s Serial ATA devices, and an additional two (for a total of four SATA devices) in combination with the SATAlite™ interface. The integrated V-RAID controller supports native RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1* and JBOD, ensuring optimum data integrity and system performance, while 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 and VIA Vinyl Gold Audio enable crisp, clear performance, representing the highest levels of audio quality in a mainstream integrated or onboard solution.

Ultra V-Link Bus
Delivering data throughput speeds of up to 1066 MB/s from the VIA VT8237R Plus South Bridge to the VIA PT880 Ultra 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 PT880 Ultra chipset 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.

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

Resources

	VIA P4 Series chipset comparison chart / Download .pdf version
	VIA PT-Series press release
	VIA Dual GFX™ An outline of the advantages of AGP and PCI Express graphics compatibility. » Learn more ...
	Catch the Flex Express! VIA's implementation of PCI express. » Learn more ...
	VIA PT880 Ultra image kit