Intel‘s Bearlake chipset will use the new ICH9 circuit for handling I/O functions and according to sources it is now done with the development of the latest ICH circuit. Intel has already started working on the next model, namely ICH10 and both of these southbridges will offer some really interesting features. According to information posted by IOPanel.net both circuits will lack both PS/2 and LPT ports and instead focus on USB and FireWire connections. The new ICH circuits will come with 10Gb Ethernet controllers but also technology for relieving the processor during file and data transfers. The fact that it will now use DDR3 is of course a big step forward, but there will still be DDR2 support with these circuits.
The thing that really tops it all off is that Intel, according to unconfirmed information, claims that performance will improve up to 15% with these new circuits and Conroe processors. We should perhaps have that pinch of salt ready, but it sure sounds promising.
