What is up with Eaglelake?

[shadowofthesun]

I was prowling the internet the other day when I stumbled across This diagram at OCworkbench. It shows the Eaglelake Chipset destined for Q2 2008. However, what confuses me is the diagram itself, specifically the graphics card. I understand the Int DP/HDMI/DVI coming out of the Eaglelake northbridge, seeing as Eaglelake includes an IGP... however, it also states "Gen 2 Gfx Card". Not only is this card coming off of the northbridge, which is confusing in itself, but it is completely separate from the PCI-E 2.0 coming off the Southbridge. Is there an actual structural change to PCI-E 2.0 that would account for this change? Am I just misconstruing the diagram? I am very confused.

Thanks in advance for any claification.

 

[renethx]

A discrete graphics card is always connected to the NB that has a dedicated PCI Express x16 link for this purpose (if it were connected to SB, the communication with the processor/memory would be extremely slow as the connection speed between NB and SB is at most that of PCI Express x4, except for the NVIDIA SLI chipsets).

 

[tcsenter]

however, it also states "Gen 2 Gfx Card". Not only is this card coming off of the northbridge, which is confusing in itself, but it is completely separate from the PCI-E 2.0 coming off the Southbridge. Is there an actual structural change to PCI-E 2.0 that would account for this change? Am I just misconstruing the diagram?

The asterisk next to PCI Express denotes a registered trademark, not a side-note or annotation.

The illustration encompasses both 'G' and 'P' versions meaning with and without integrated graphics. 'G' versions will have integrated graphics with full support for DP/HDMI/DVI/VGA, and will also support an external "Gen 2 Gfx Card" interface via the Northbridge. 'P' versions will offer only external graphics interface via the Northbridge.

The ICH10 Southbridge brings additional PCI Express lanes for peripherals and add-in controllers.