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Camino: Intel's next-generation chipset
Camino is the code-name for the next generation i820 chipset from Intel that may ultimately make obsolete many of the components found in the nearly new PCs sitting on many of our desks. The i820 made its official debut on Nov. 15th, 1999.
Here's the items in current PCs that are at risk:
- Memory. The i820 Camino chipset provides memory speeds of up to 1.6GB/sec, thanks to Direct RAMbus memory, a plan Intel first announced back in Dec. 1996. So say goodbye to your standard RAM, EDO, SIMMs and other current memory types.
In Intel's original plans for the i820, it said PC100 SDRAM DIMM memory modules would work in the CC820 (and compatible) motherboard -- called a "Desktop Board" in Intel's euphemistic parlance. The company, however, made an embarrassing discovery after selling several million dollars' worth of these SDRAM-compatible mainboards: the i820 chipset sometimes caused data corruption on systems equipped with SDRAM memory. The company decided, in May 2000 to pull this model off the market after discovering this serious flaw. Owners of these mainboards, however, got a bonus: Intel, recalling the defective boards, said it would replace them the more expensive RDRAM-equipped version.
In what is apparently a related issue, Intel's VC820 board only supports two RDRAM sockets -- reportedly, Intel also encountered data corruption problems when trying to get three memory slot configurations to work reliably. - CPUs. As mentioned above, the i820 supports a Front Side Bus speed of 133 MHz. Most of of today's CPUs are designed for 66MHz or 100 MHz operation -- only Intel's newest and fastest Pentium III models (with the 256K full-speed cache) are capable of 133MHz bus operation when coupled with a supporting "Desktop Board.
"It is expected that i820 configurations will be made available for the PGA (pin grid array) type of "Socket 370" processors that include the Celerons released in Jan. 1999. However, a picture on Intel's website clearly shows the i820 used in a Slot 1 CPU configuration as well. Therefore, if you're upgrading CPUs anytime soon and want to get one that will be compatible with Camino-class motherboards, you can choose either a Slot 1 or a Socket 370 processor. (There are also, it should be noted, adapter boards such as Abit's "Slotket," selling for about $10 that allow Socket 370 processors to be used in current Slot 1 boards, if desired.) - Motherboards. Does your motherboard support 133 MHz? Didn't think so.
- Graphics. The i820 supports AGP 4x, which will boost graphics performance, especially when large textures are used. But today's graphics cards are designed for AGP 1X (33MHz) or 2X (66MHz plus textures handled in system memory). That means your old PCI or AGP 1X graphics card is another candidate for upgrading.
- ISA cards. Desktop Boards based on the i820 are designed for PC99 spec compliance. That means no ISA slots, at least on the VC820 announced on Nov. 15th. Many older cards, such as modems and sound cards, won't even plug into these PC99 designs.
- Hard Drives. The i820 supports UDMA/66. Most of today's hard drives are designed for UDMA33 or lesser specs. That means a new hard drive for maximum performance.
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