Direct Media Interface

Not to be confused with Desktop Management Interface.

In computing, Direct Media Interface (DMI) is Intel's proprietary link between the northbridge and southbridge on a computer motherboard. It was first used between the 9xx chipsets and the ICH6, released in 2004. Previous Intel chipsets had used the Hub Interface to perform the same function, and server chipsets use a similar interface called Enterprise Southbridge Interface (ESI).[1] While the "DMI" name dates back to ICH6, Intel mandates specific combinations of compatible devices, so the presence of a DMI interface does not guarantee by itself that a particular northbridge–southbridge combination is allowed.

DMI shares many characteristics with PCI Express, using multiple lanes and differential signaling to form a point-to-point link. Most implementations use a ×4 link, while some mobile systems (e.g. 915GMS, 945GMS/GSE/GU and the Atom N450) use a ×2 link, halving the bandwidth. The original implementation provides 10 Gbit/s (1.16 GB/s) in each direction using a ×4 link.

DMI 2.0, introduced in 2011, doubles the data transfer rate to 2 GB/s with a ×4 link. It is used to link an Intel CPU with the Intel Platform Controller Hub (PCH), which supersedes the historic implementation of a separate northbridge and southbridge.[2]:14

DMI 3.0, released in August 2015, allows the 8 GT/s transfer rate per lane, for a total of four lanes and 3.93 GB/s for the CPU–PCH link. It is used by two-chip variants of the Intel Skylake microprocessors, which are used in conjunction with Intel 100 Series chipsets;[3][4] some variants of Skylake will have the PCH integrated into the die, effectively following the system on a chip (SoC) design layout.[5] On 9 March 2015, Intel announced the Broadwell-based Xeon D as its first platform to fully incorporate the PCH in an SoC configuration.[6]

Implementations

Northbridge devices supporting a northbridge DMI are the Intel 915-series, 925-series, 945-series, 955-series, 965-series, 975-series, G31/33, P35, X38, X48, P45 and X58.

Processors supporting a northbridge DMI and, therefore, not using a separate northbridge, are the Intel Atom, Intel Core i3, Intel Core i5, and Intel Core i7 (8xx, 7xx and 6xx, but not 9xx). Processors supporting a northbridge DMI 2.0 and, therefore not using a separate northbridge, are the 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000 and 6000 series of the Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7.

Southbridge devices supporting a southbridge DMI are the ICH6, ICH7, ICH8, ICH9, ICH10, NM10, P55, H55, H57, Q57, PM55, HM55, HM57, QM57 and QS57.

PCH devices supporting DMI 2.0 are the Intel Z68, P67, H67, H61, Q67, Q65, B65, HM65, HM67, QM67, QS67, Z77, Z75, H77, Q77, Q75, B75, X79, HM75, HM76, HM77, UM77, QM77, QS77, Z87, H87, H81, Q87, Q85, B85, Z97, H97, X99 and H110.[7]

PCH devices supporting DMI 3.0 are the Intel Z170, H170, HM170, Q170, QM170, Q150, B150, C236, CM236 and C232.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Intel 5520 Chipset and Intel 5500 Chipset Datasheet" (PDF). Intel. March 2009. Retrieved 2014-11-06.
  2. ↑ "Desktop 3rd Generation Intel Core Processor Family, Desktop Intel Pentium Processor Family, and Desktop Intel Celeron Processor Family: Datasheet - Volume 1 of 2" (PDF). External Design Specification (EDS). Intel. November 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  3. ↑ Ian Cutress (2015-08-05). "The Skylake CPU Architecture – The Intel 6th Gen Skylake Review: Core i7-6700K and i5-6600K Tested". AnandTech. Retrieved 2015-08-06.
  4. ↑ Ian Cutress (2015-08-05). "Intel Skylake Z170 Motherboards: A Quick Look at 55+ New Products". AnandTech. Retrieved 2015-08-06.
  5. ↑ Gennadiy Shvets (2014-06-26). "More details on Skylake processors". cpu-world.com. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
  6. ↑ Cutress, Ian (9 March 2015). "Intel Xeon D Launched: 14nm Broadwell SoC for Enterprise". AnandTech. AnandTech. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "Intel H110 Chipset (Intel GL82H110 PCH)". Intel ARK (Product Specs). Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  8. ↑ "Intel Z170 Chipset (Intel GL82Z170 PCH)". Intel ARK (Product Specs). Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "Intel H170 Chipset (Intel GL82H170 PCH)". Intel ARK (Product Specs). Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  10. ↑ "Mobile Intel HM170 Chipset (Intel GL82HM170 PCH)". Intel ARK (Product Specs). Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  11. ↑ "Intel Q170 Chipset (Intel GL82Q170 PCH)". Intel ARK (Product Specs). Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  12. ↑ "Mobile Intel QM170 Chipset (Intel GL82QM170 PCH)". Intel ARK (Product Specs). Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  13. ↑ "Intel Q150 Chipset (Intel GL82Q150 PCH)". Intel ARK (Product Specs). Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  14. ↑ "Intel B150 Chipset (Intel GL82B150 PCH)". Intel ARK (Product Specs). Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  15. ↑ "Intel C236 Chipset (Intel GL82C236 PCH)". Intel ARK (Product Specs). Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  16. ↑ "Mobile Intel CM236 Chipset (Intel GL82CM236 PCH)". Intel ARK (Product Specs). Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  17. ↑ "Intel C232 Chipset (Intel GL82C232 PCH)". Intel ARK (Product Specs). Retrieved 28 January 2016.
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