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A chipset, PC chipset, or chip set refers to a group of integrated circuits, or chips, that are designed to work together. They are usually marketed as a single product.

Computers

In computing, the term chipset is commonly used to refer to a set of specialized chips on a computer's motherboard or an expansion card. In personal computers, the first chipset for the IBM PC AT was the NEAT chipset by Chips and Technologies for the Intel 80286 CPU.

Based on Intel Pentium-class microprocessors, the term chipset often refers to a specific pair of chips on the motherboard: the northbridge and the southbridge. The northbridge links the CPU to very high-speed devices, especially main memory and graphics controllers, and the southbridge connects to lower-speed peripheral buses (such as PCI or ISA). In many modern chipsets, the southbridge actually contains some on-chip integrated peripherals, such as Ethernet, USB, and audio devices.

A chipset is usually designed to work with a specific family of microprocessors. Because it controls communications between the processor and external devices, the chipset plays a crucial role in determining system performance.

The manufacturer of a chipset often is independent from the manufacturer of the motherboard. Current manufacturers of chipsets for X86 motherboards include NVIDIA, AMD, VIA Technologies, SiS, Intel and Broadcom. Apple computers and Unix workstations have traditionally used custom-designed chipsets. Some server manufacturers also develop custom chipsets for their products.

In the 1980s, Chips and Technologies, founded by Gordon Campbell, pioneered the manufacturing of chipsets for PC-compatible computers. Computer systems produced since then often share commonly used chipsets, even across widely disparate computing specialties. For example, the NCR 53C9x, a low-cost chipset implementing a SCSI interface to storage devices, could be found in Unix machines such as the MIPS Magnum, embedded devices, and personal computers.

In home computers, game consoles and arcade game hardware of the 1980s and 1990s, the term chipset was used for the custom audio and graphics chips. Examples include the Commodore Amiga's Original Chip Set or SEGA's System 16 chipset.

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 In [[home computer]]s, game consoles and arcade game hardware of the 1980s and 1990s, the term chipset was used for the custom [[Sound recording and reproduction|audio]] and [[graphics]] chips. Examples include the [[Commodore Amiga]]'s [[Original Amiga chipset|Original Chip Set]] or [[SEGA]]'s [[System 16]] chipset.
-== Some Comparison between Intel motherboard and AMD motherboard Chipset ==
-Traditionally in both AMD and Intel we have the processor and two chip chipset, we have the processor which is connected with north-bridge or memory controller hub and south-bridge or i/o
-controller hub which is directly connected with north-bridge.The north-bridge provided an interface between the main memory or ram and processor,these lanes between the north-bridge and the processor were traditionally called front side bus,the other function of north-bridge was that it acted as an interface between video and processor so your AGP slots PCI express, and on-board video was directly controlled by north-bridge.AMD in 2003 introduced Atholon 64 bit processor which in addition of introducing 64-bit computing also shifted the memory controller into the processor,so now the processor could directly talk to memory modules and lanes between the processor and the memory was called hyper-transport being like a super-fast highway.In 2008 Intel also shifted the memory controller from north-bridge right into the processor when it introduced its coreI series processors and the super-fast interconnect between the processor and memory modules was called quick-path.Now on new Intel motherboards the sole function of the north-bridge is to provide an interface for video.Now recently in some coreI series processor motherboards Intel has not only shifted the memory controller but also eliminated the entire north-bridge,the new design has only single chip connected to the processor called platform controller hub(PCH)which is basically a south bridge.NOW they have moved the video interface right into the processor , with this Intel will have built in video into the processor and also users can connects graphics cards through external slots.The south-bridge retains its functions,it provides an interface to audio ,controls Ethernet,serial,USB, SATA,Bios support PCI slots etc
 ==See also==