The i820 chipset is finally here, along with a motherboard that end users and systems integrators alike will want for the next level of Pentium III power: Intel's CC820. This board supports Pentium II and all current Pentium III processors. Future BIOS updates will enable the board to support higher-speed Pentium III's. Far beyond merely supporting faster processors, the CC820 introduces integrated next-generation technology that will enhance the performance of many different system components. The long-awaited AGP 4X specification is present, enabling AGP 4X graphics cards to access the chipset at dizzying data transfer rates. The board is also backwards compatible with graphics cards that use AGP 1X and 2X technology. In the area of hard drive performance, Ultra ATA-66 support is built into the CC820, allowing users to enjoy the latest and fastest IDE/ATA drives. With the new Instantly Available PC specification, users will be able to turn on their PCs just like any other electronic appliances, avoiding the lengthy wait while the system boots. This is accomplished by putting the PC in a sleep mode which draws virtually no power, but retains information about the pre-sleep state of the system, so that upon wake-up the desktop appears just as it was when last used.
