ATI RD580 supports socket AM2

WE JUST learned the rather surprising news that ATI's RD580 chipset can support AMD's upcoming socket AM2.

The only significant difference between socket 939 and AM2 CPUs is the memory support and you might remember that AMD chipsets have the memory controller inside the CPU, not on the Northbridge.

That's why ATI can make the support for both sockets with a single chip. We are not sure if ATI altered its chipset much to make this AM2 support capable but our impression is that it won't have to. It should work with the current ones.

There are two possible scenarios, either ATI planned support for socket AM2 CPUs all along and implemented the necessities in RD580 from day one. Or it is all up to the CPU.

We were wondering how ATI might develop AM2 support but it turns out that that the current chipset can do the job. Nvidia is very noisy about its AM2 support and is almost to announce a bunch of boards, many of them ready, just waiting for the CPUs.

ATI might rename its chipset but it should be based on the same chip. The board supporting AM2 capable RD580 chipset will be matched with the upcoming SB600 Southbridge. µ