Desktop Chipsets

* RAID Level 0+1 requires four Serial ATA drives; support for the two additional drives can only be implemented with two external Serial ATA ports enabled through a SATALite PHY.

VIA Modular Architecture Platform
The VIA PT880 Ultra chipset is part of VIA's unique Modular Architecture Platform (V-MAP), which minimizes design times and time-to-market for motherboard partners through a flexible, pin-compatible design approach for VIA core-logic solutions. Motherboard partners are able to cover multiple market segments with fewer design resources, and also benefit from a single unified driver base.

Unified VIA Hyperion 4in1 Drivers
VIA's unified approach to drivers has been established for eight generations of chipsets, allowing end users to benefit from seamless hardware and software compatibility.

Ultra V-Link Bus
Delivering data throughput speeds of up to 1066 MB/s from the VIA VT8237R Plus South Bridge to the VIA PT880 Ultra North Bridge, the Ultra V-Link interface delivers the necessary bandwidth and low latency required by today's increasingly demanding multimedia applications.

VIA Vinyl Multichannel Audio Suite
Delivering rich, warm surround sound at resolutions as high as 24/96 through up to six or eight-channel outputs, the VIA Vinyl Audio and VIA Vinyl Gold Audio enable crisp, clear performance, representing the highest levels of audio quality in a mainstream integrated or onboard solution.

Native Serial ATA/RAID Support
The VIA VT8237R Plus South Bridge features a native Serial ATA/RAID controller, providing direct support for two 150MB/s Serial ATA devices, and an additional two (for a total of four SATA devices) in combination with the SATAlite interface. The integrated V-RAID controller supports native RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1* and JBOD, ensuring optimum data integrity and system performance, while the user-friendly V-RAID software interface enables easy disk array configuration and management.

VIA StepUp Memory Support
The VIA PT880 Ultra integrates VIA's StepUp memory technology for lightning fast access to system memory and optimum system performance. VIA's StepUp memory technology enables support for DDR1 and DDR2 memory standards giving maximum flexibility.

VIA DualGFX Express
For users requiring powerful multitasking capabilities, VIA's unique DualGFX Express technology allows two PCI Express graphics cards to be implemented on a single motherboard, supporting any brand of graphics card. With the ability to run two high-performance graphics cards simultaneously, user can easily connect to two, three, or even four monitors with no substantial hit on performance. To learn more about applications that benefit from DualGFX Express and how to set up a multi-display DualGFX Express system, .

VIA Universal Graphics Interface
The unique VIA Universal Graphics Interface allows connection of both AGP and PCI Express graphics cards on the same motherboard, truly bridging the gap between the two standards. Furthermore, users can enable advanced VIA DualGFX Express technology by running AGP and PCI Express graphics cards simultaneously, opening up a new expanse of user options.

ACPI/APM/PCI/PM

I/O APIC / LPC Super I/0

8 ports

ATA133 (up to 4 devices)

RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 0+1* & JBOD (SATA)

2 x SATA 150 devices
SATALite interface for two additional SATA devices 4 total)

6 slots
Dual PCI-X bus support through VIA VPX2 I/O expansion bridge

MC'97

VIA Velocity Gigabit Ethernet companion controller
VIA integrated 10/100 Fast Ethernet

VIA Vinyl 6-channel Audio (AC'97 integrated)
VIA Vinyl Gold 8-channel Audio (PCI companion controller)

Ultra V-Link (1066MB/sec)

4GB

Asynchronous

VIA Universal Graphics Interface
  ? AGP 3.0 (AGP8X)
  ? PCI Express

VIA StepUp Technology for dual 64-bit channel memory with co-layout support
  ? DDR2 533/400
  ? DDR 400/33/266

1066/800/533MHz

Yes

The VIA PT880 Ultra chipset has received , having successfully completed the rigorous testing procedures of the PCI-SIG Compliance Workshop.

The VIA PT880 Ultra features a high bandwidth Ultra V-Link bus to allow communication between the chipset's North and South bridges at a blazing 1GB/s. When combined with solutions such as the market-leading VIA VT8237R Plus South Bridge and a broad array of VIA companion chips, the VIA PT880 Ultra provides a comprehensive range of storage, multimedia and connectivity features, including native Serial ATA and V-RAID, 6-channel or 8-channel VIA Vinyl Audio, VIA Velocity Gigabit Ethernet, USB2.0, and 1394.

By harnessing the advanced VIA StepUp memory controller technology, motherboards based on the VIA PT880 Ultra can support either DDR or DDR2 memory modules on the same motherboard, providing users the flexibility to use whatever memory standard best suits their requirements.

Featuring VIA's revolutionary Universal Graphics Interface (UGI), the VIA PT880 Ultra enables support for the latest generation of PCI Express Graphic cards as well as existing AGP 3.0 graphics cards, providing OEMs, SIs, and end-users much needed flexibility during the transition period. Furthermore, motherboards based on the VIA PT880 Ultra support VIA DualGFX Express, by running both AGP and PCI-Express graphics cards simultaneously, providing the ability to connect to as many as four separate displays.