The i915 and i925 chipsets series don't recognize more than one CPU, thus are incompatible with dual core CPUs. So, Intel had to release new chipsets, the 945 and 955 series. Intel 955X is target to Pentium Extreme Edition, while Intel 955 is targeted to Pentium D and Intel 945 is targeted to the entry-level market.

Actually only Intel 955X chipset was officially released. This chipset works at 800 MHz or 1,066 MHz, supports dual channel DDR2 up to DDR2-667 memories and up to 8 GB, 7.1 high definition audio, four Serial ATA II at 300 MB/s supporting RAID (0, 1, 5 and 10), Active Management Tecnology, Flex Memory Technology (which allows DDR dual channel configuration with modules with different capacities), one x16 PCI Express slot (2 slots if using a bridge chip) and up to six x1 PCI Express slots.

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Figure 6: Intel 955X chipset.

So far what we know is that the forthcoming Intel 945G will have a new integrated graphics called GMA 950 (integrated graphics from Intel 915G is GMA 900), GMA standing for Graphics Media Accelerator.

• For more information on Intel 955X: http://developer.intel.com/products/chipsets/955x/index.htm