ECS announces dual-Intel/AMD-platform board

Addressing an old dream of power users to be able to share the same system between both Intel and AMD processors, Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) is showing a new Pentium 4 motherboard that makes this possible with just a converter card for an AMD K8 processor and DDR400 memory. The solution is codenamed PF88 and it is expected to be formally launched in April, according to senior manager of marketing at ECS Adam Chou. He also said that shipments should begin before May.

Both the P4 motherboard and K8 converter card use SiS northbridges, the SiS656 and SiS756 respectively. The motherboard supports up to 4 GB of dual-channel DDR2-667 memory. The SiS965 southbridge on the motherboard is used as part of both platforms. "It's also important to mention the solution is designed to support the x86 architecture 64-bit extensions as well as the upcoming dual-core technologies from Intel and AMD," Chou noted. The converter card uses a proprietary interface developed by ECS, according to the company. Details about the interface were not disclosed, except that the interface isn't based on PCI Express technology.

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