AMD first removed the memory controller from the chipset and moved it to the processor. It was implemented in 2003 with the release of Socket 754. Intel has followed this idea in 2008, releasing the LGA 1366 interface.
In the platform LGA 1156 Intel went even further, moving the primary graphics controller (PCIe 2.0) to the CPU, and then releasing the dual-core LGA 1156 processors with integrated graphics engine, previously found in the "budget" North of the bridges.
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Previously the memory controller was located in the motherboard chipset. The exchange of data between the processor and memory came as the processor communicates with the chipset, chipset - memory (as if through an intermediary) .
If the memory controller built into the CPU, data exchange between CPU and RAM occurs directly and faster, and it is certainly a plus.
AMD have the memory controller embedded in the processor for a long time - since the first Athlon 64 (single core) .
Intel started to apply in the processors integrated memory controller recently, starting with a series of Core i3 - i7.
Before (the processors are socket 775, Core 2 Duo and Quad) it the old fashioned way was in the motherboard chipset.
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Chipset (chipset) - this is the chipset, previously consisting mainly of North and South bridges. Now in the latest models of motherboards is no North bridge (since removed and controller PCI-e x16 and the memory controller is directly on the processor chip). The chipset is actually a single bridge responsible for the SATA and PCI devices. North bridge (Northbridge) is a set of logic that ensures the data exchange between the processor and memory via the system bus (FSB) between the processor and the graphics card. At the moment, and the bridge remained only on platforms LGA1366 (X58 chipset) and is responsible only for communication processor-graphics card (s).
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Motherboard supports RAM as much as CPU supports, taking into account limitations of slots, ranks, etc.
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