Editing NForce

{{lowercase}}
{{short description|Motherboard chipset}}
{{Infobox chipset
|Image = Nforce.png
|Table_name = [[Nvidia]] nForce
|CPU =
|Socket =
|Date = 2001
|Predecessor =
|Successor = [[nForce2]]
}}

'''nForce''' is a [[motherboard]] [[chipset]] created by [[Nvidia]] originally for [[AMD]] [[Athlon]] and [[Duron]], with later revisions also supporting contemporary [[Intel]] processors. The chipset shipped in 3 varieties; '''220''', '''415''', and '''420'''. 220 and 420 are very similar with each having the integrated [[Graphics processing unit|GPU]], but the 220 only has a single channel of memory available whereas 420 has the 128-bit '''TwinBank''' design. The 415 variant again has the dual-channel memory interface, but has no integrated graphics.

==Innovations==

===Dual channel & GeForce2 MX IGP===
The nForce chipset introduced a dual-channel memory controller to the mainstream motherboard market, doubling theoretical throughput, and offering very competitive performance most especially in workstation class [[Benchmark (computing)|benchmarks]]. This dual-channel design was deemed necessary largely because of the added integrated [[GeForce 2 Series|GeForce 2 MX]] class video hardware. For the relatively fast integrated graphics processor (IGP) to have adequate memory bandwidth it needed more than to simply share a single memory channel with the Athlon XP CPU.

===Ethernet and DASP===
Nvidia also touted both their built-in [[Ethernet]] controller, and a new memory prefetch mechanism called the '''Dynamic Adaptive Speculative Pre-Processor''' (DASP). The Nvidia-built Ethernet controller was supposedly capable of reducing CPU overhead while being also very fast. The DASP unit helped reduce memory latency for the main CPU by prefetching often needed data, or data that the DASP predicted the CPU would need.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andrawes |first=Mike |title=NVIDIA nForce Computex 2001 Preview |url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/781/5 |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=www.anandtech.com}}</ref> Many considered it somewhat an advanced Level 3 [[cache memory|cache]] device.{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}}

===nForce APU (SoundStorm) ===
{{main|SoundStorm}}

Nvidia debuted their advanced NVAPU audio solution, branded '''SoundStorm''', on the nForce MCP-D southbridge chip. It is the same as the audio processor in the [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] chipset<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Stéphane Kauffmann |date=2002-02-04 |title=Everything There Is To Know About the Xbox: Technology, Games, Accessories and What's At Stake |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/xbox,421-7.html |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=Tom's Hardware |language=en}}</ref> and supports many hardware-accelerated 2D/3D audio channels and advanced [[Head-related transfer function|HRTF]] 3D [[audio spatialization]] provided largely by [[Sensaura]]. It also has a built-in processor for encoding computer audio into a [[Dolby Digital|Dolby Digital Live]] signal for external receivers to decode into a 5.1-channel audio spread. With its hardware acceleration, the difference in CPU usage when running popular multimedia applications was as much as 10-20%, potentially allowing faster performance in programs that are limited by the system CPU.

==Performance and problems==
The original nForce chipset was let down by patchy driver support and less than optimal hardware design. Performance of the dual-channel memory controller and "DASP" did not greatly surpass the [[VIA Technologies]] KT266A chipset that was usually as fast and cheaper. The optimized [[AT Attachment|parallel ATA]] driver support was introduced and then withdrawn after hardware incompatibilities showed up, and the much heralded [[SoundStorm]] audio was seen to crackle under heavily loaded scenarios. In fact, the ATA driver would remain an issue at least into the life of [[nForce4]] where it was still known to cause problems with some [[hard drive]]s and [[optical drive]]s {{Citation needed|date=October 2013}}.

==See also==
* [[Comparison of Nvidia chipsets]]
* [[Xbox technical specifications]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.nvidia.com/page/mobo.html Nvidia's nForce product page]
* [http://www.nvidia.com/object/nppa.html NVIDIA nForce Platform Processors]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060703065728/http://www.nvidia.com/page/technology_vista_mcp.html Nvidia - Windows Vista Capable nForce MCPs]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20020523023631/http://www.nforcershq.com/ nForcersHQ]}}: nForce chipset community forum/website
* [http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=1484 Anandtech: Nvidia nForce Computex 2001 Preview]
* [http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=1535 Anandtech: Nvidia's nForce 420/220: It's finally here]

{{Nvidia chipsets}}

[[Category:Nvidia chipsets]]

[[zh:NVIDIA nForce]]