What Chip is this? NV10-1-A3

[Gouhan]

Hello All...
When I was looking at the PCB on my 8800GTS I saw that the IC on the left of the GPU is labeled "NV10-1-A3" It's very small and is only passively cooled. I'm not sure what this chip does. ANybody have any clues. I first thought, "hey 90nm GeForce1" but then why on earth would there be a GeForce1 on the PCB?

Anyway, any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[NocturnDragon]

Hello All...
When I was looking at the PCB on my 8800GTS I saw that the IC on the left of the GPU is labeled "NV10-1-A3" It's very small and is only passively cooled. I'm not sure what this chip does. ANybody have any clues. I first thought, "hey 90nm GeForce1" but then why on earth would there be a GeForce1 on the PCB?

Anyway, any feedback would be appreciated.

It's NVIO-1-A3 not NV10-1-A3.

 

[fellix]

This small chip contains two 400MHz DACs, two dual-link TMDS transmitters, TV out and probably some more I/O functions.

 

[anjulpa]

Stupid question, but where can one find out more of such detail?

Anjul

 

[Gouhan]

Oh thanks,
Makes sense now.
Written so small and my eye sight isn't the best in the evening.
but great anyway. Maybe putting that on a separate chip is what makes the GFX core clock so well.
650MHz on the GTS Not bad for such a large die and big process

 

[Thorburn]

Rys covers it in the architecture article: http://www.beyond3d.com/reviews/nvidia/g80-arch/index.php?p=03

You can also see dual SLI connectors that feed in to NVIO (pictured below), NVIDIA's brand new I/O processor for handling signal input and output to their next generation of GPUs. NVIO marshalls and is responsible for all data that enters the GPU over an interface that isn't PCI Express, and everything that outputs the chip that isn't going back to the host. In short, it's not only responsible for SLI, but the dual-link DVI outputs (HDCP-protected), all analogue output (component HDTV, VGA, etc) and input from external video sources.