Northbridge/Southbridge chipset architecture designs

In North/Southbridge(controller HUB)chipset architecture designs,
The Northbridge is the chip or chips that connect a CPU to memory, the PCI bus, Level 2 cache and AGP activities. The Northbridge chips communicate with the CPU through the FSB.The NorthBridge is nearer to the CPU(Processor).

The Northbridge is also called as GMCH [Graphic Memory controller Hub]

The Southbridge is the chip that controls all of the computers I/O functions, such as USB, audio, serial, the system BIOS, the ISA bus, the interrupt controller and the IDE channels. In other words, all of the functions of a processor except memory, PCI and AGP.

The Southbridge is also called as IOCH [Input Output controller Hub]

The Northbridge chip is one of two chips that control the functions of the chipset. The other is the Southbridge. The Northbridge can consist of more than one discrete chip while the Southbridge is typically only one discrete chip.

.-..