Re-architect PC for a Front End Processor

[L3Guy]

Because of increasing heat and sound issues, I was wondering what kind of impact on a PC it would have to place the APG slot in the southbridge, move the hard drives to northbridge. This would create a platform where all the IO devices were attached to Southbridge, and core computing functions were on Northbridge. To attach Northbridge to southbridge, use something like fiberchannel or a Cu variant.
This would allow me to place the CPU in the basement, where cooling would be easier. Also may allow upgrades in a more modular fashion. In a way, this would create the equivalent of a FEP for the mainframe.

I would value your comments.

Doug

 

[AndyHui]

By moving IDE to the Northbridge, your IO devices are no longer all in the SouthBridge.

IDE devices are PCI devices. With the current chipset architectures, there is no PCI bus in the North Bridge.

By its very nature, the AGP is a high bandwidth device that must be as close as possible to the processor and RAM for maximum transfer performance and minimal latency. Transferring it to the Southbridge increases distance, latency and also reduces bandwidth available, as it has to fight with the PCI bus, IDE, USB, Multi-IO (PS/2, Serial, Parallel), AC97 and chipset LAN. Intel's HubLink, VIA's V-Link and SiS' MultIOL cannot handle the bandwidth wanted by AGP.

I don't see the relevance of moving the controllers to placing your CPU in the basement.

 

[Shalmanese]

the biggest problem would be latency and maintaining signal integrity

 

[CTho9305]

as andyhui said, AGP is MUCH higher bandwidth and lower latency (well it should be!) than IDE, so you want it close to the CPU, as in, on the northbridge.