Chipset; Overview; Direct Media Interface (Dmi); Pci Express Interface - Dell External OEMR R310 Technical Manual

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9 Chipset

9.1

Overview

The R310 planar incorporates the Intel 3420 as PCH chipset. The Intel 3420 is a highly integrated I/O
controller. The following high-level features are supported by the chipset.
9.2

Direct Media Interface (DMI)

Direct Media Interface (DMI) is the chip-to-chip connection between the processor and Intel 3420 chipset.
This high-speed interface integrates advanced priority-based servicing allowing for concurrent traffic and
true isochronous transfer capabilities. Base functionality is completely software-transparent, permitting
current and legacy software to operate normally.
9.3

PCI Express Interface

The Intel 3420 provides up to 8 PCI Express Root Ports, supporting the PCI Express Base Specification,
Revision 2.0. Each Root Port supports 2.5 GB/s bandwidth in each direction (5 GB/s concurrent). PCI Express
Root Ports 1-4 can be statically configured as four x1 Ports or ganged together to form one x4 port. Ports 5
and 6 can only be used as two x1 ports.
9.4

SATA Interface

The Intel 3420 has two integrated SATA host controllers that support independent DMA operation on up to
six ports and supports data transfer rates of up to 3.0 GB/s (300MB/s). The SATA controller contains two
modes of operation – a legacy mode using I/O space, and an AHCI mode using memory space. Software that
uses legacy mode will not have AHCI capabilities.
The Intel 3420 supports the Serial ATA Specification, Revision 1.0a. The Intel 3420 also supports several
optional sections of the Serial ATA II: Extensions to Serial ATA 1.0 Specification, Revision 1.0 (AHCI support
is required for some elements).
9.5

AHCI

The Intel 3420 provides hardware support for Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI), a new
programming interface for SATA host controllers. Platforms supporting AHCI may take advantage of
performance features such as no master/slave designation for SATA devices—each device is treated as a
master—and hardware-assisted native command queuing. AHCI also provides usability enhancements such as
Hot-Plug. AHCI requires appropriate software support (e.g., an AHCI driver) and for some features, hardware
support in the SATA device or additional platform hardware.
9.6

Intel Rapid Storage Technology

The Intel 3420 provides support for Intel
details on AHCI) and integrated RAID functionality. The industry-leading RAID capability provides high-
performance RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 functionality on up to 6 SATA ports of Intel 3420. Matrix RAID support is
provided to allow multiple RAID levels to be combined on a single set of hard drives, such as RAID 0 and RAID
1 on two disks. Other RAID features include hot spare support, SMART alerting, and RAID 0 auto replace.
Software components include an Option ROM for pre-boot configuration and boot functionality, a Microsoft
Windows compatible driver, and a user interface for configuration and management of the RAID capability of
Intel 3420.
Dell PowerEdge R310 Technical Guide
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Rapid Storage Technology, providing both AHCI (see above for
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