Adopted only by Intel's workstation products at the moment, Hyper-Threading allows one processor to work as a dual-processor set and requires specifically-supporting chipsets and operating systems (usually Windows NT and above) for full performance. Currently, Intel's new DDR333-based 845GE and 845PE chipsets are the only two products that can immediately support the technology.
To solve the problem, Intel and SiS are planning to either update product BIOS or launch new product versions to enable necessary support.
For Intel's current product lines, its 845E and 850E can be upgraded through BIOS update, while upgrading the rather popular 845G will require introducing an updated B version. SiS has decided to support the Hyper-Threading standard with new-version products. According to sources, SiS has started sampling B-versions of its SiS645DX and SiS648, and volume delivery is expected to begin next month. Meanwhile, to avoid incompatibility between the new 3.06GHz P4s and its current chipsets, SiS will also provide part of the layout design plans to its clients for necessary adjustment.
Though with the same number of pin counts as the present products, the new Hyper-Threading-based P4 requires adjustment in some of its pins and thus corresponding updates on motherboards, which means that the current Socket 478 P4 boards may not be able to fully support the future 3GHz-level P4 processors.
However, as board makers, foreseeing the issue, have already decided to introduce two product versions as well in the fourth quarter, consumers are expected to encounter little problem when making the purchase.
Source: DigiTimes