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**Definition of a chip set:
In short it is a set of  chips that allow a system designer to build a
computer.  If we restrict the term  'chip' to that of a microchip then
technically any microcomputer  contains a chip set, even  one based of
7400-series logic alone.

In the context of this document, a chip set is defined as any group of
chips used to implement  an IBM or IBM-compatible PC/XT/AT/386/486/etc
system.

There are 2 main categories that these chips fall into:
1. Direct copies or re-implementations of Intel chips
2. Chip sets sold as a set of chips to implement an IBM-compatible 
   that differ in some way to those used in an IBM system, e.g. not 
   pin compatible.

An  example of  the former  would be  some early  chips built  by VLSI
Technology (at the time known as VTI, to implement a 286:
o  VL82C37A is a: 82C37A DMA controller
o  VL82C59A is a: 82C59A interrupt controller
o  VL82C54A is a: 82C54 timer
o  VL82C612 is a: 74LS612 memory mapper
o  VL82C84A is a: 82284 clock generator and ready interface
o  VL82C88  is a: 82288 bus controller

These are  all direct replacements  for the parts  used in an  IBM AT.
Many companies had compatible versions of these chips.

An early example of the latter is the Chips & Technology NEAT chip set:
o  82C211 CPU/Bus controller, 
o  82C212 Page/Interleave and EMS Memory controller, 
o  82C215 Data/Address buffer 
o  82C206 Integrated Peripherals Controller (IPC).

The description does not map directly to the parts used in the IBM AT.
Later chip sets are often even more integrated sometimes consisting of
just one chip, although two seems to be the most common.

The latter  is generally considered  the definition of a  chip set, and
the former is not generally  considered a chip set per-se. However when
looking  at   the  early  chip sets   this  distinction  can   be  very
slight. Because of this,  sets of chips  meeting the criteria  for (1.)
have been included where possible. 

**'chip set', 'chip-set' or 'chipset'?...
**What's not included:...
**Who made the first chip set?...
**Spelling errors/mistyped words...
**Info needed on:...
**A note on VESA support of 486 chipsets....
**Datasheets:...
*_IBM...
*ACC Micro...
*ALD...
*ALi...
*AMD . . . . . . . [no datasheets, some info]...
*Chips & Technologies...
*Contaq  . . . . . [no datasheets, some info]...
*Efar Microsystems [no datasheets, some info]...
*ETEQ...
*Faraday...
*Forex . . . . . . [List only, no datasheets found]...
*Intel...
**82496/491     Cache Controller / Cache RAM (for P5 Pentium) 03/22/93
***Notes:...
***Info:
The 82496 Cache Controller and multiple 82491 Cache SRAMs combine with
the Pentium processor  to form a CPU Cache chip  set designed for high
performance  servers  and   function-rich  desktops.  The  high  speed
interconnect between  the CPU and cache components  has been optimized
to  provide zero-wait  state operation.   This CPU  Cache chip  set is
fully compatible  with existing software,  and has new  data integrity
features for mission critical applications.

The 82496 cache controller implements the MESI write-back protocol for
full multiprocessing support. Dual  ported buffers and registers allow
the 82496  to concurrently  handle CPU bus,  memory bus,  and internal
cache operation for maximum performance.

The 82491. is a customized high-performance SRAM that supports 32, 64,
and 128-bit  wide memory bus widths,  16, 32, and 64  byte line sizes,
and optional sectoring.  The data path between the  CPU bus and memory
bus  is separated  by the  82491, allowing  the CPU  bus  to handshake
synchronously,  asynchronously,  or   with  a  strobed  protocol,  and
allowing concurrent CPU bus and memory bus operations.

***Configurations:...
***Features:...
**82497/492   Cache Controller / Cache RAM (for P54 Pentium)    <Nov94...
**82498/493   Cache Controller / Cache RAM (for P54 Pentium)    <Nov94
***Notes:...
***Info:...
***Configurations:...
***Features:...
**
**Later chipsets (basic spec):
**440 series:...
**450NX  (?)            06/29/98:...
**?????  (Profusion)    c:99...
**800 series...
*Headland/G2...
*HMC (Hulon Microelectronics)...
*Logicstar...
*Motorola...
*OPTi...
*PC CHIPS/Amptron/Atrend/ECS/Elpina/etc...
*SIS...
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*TI (Texas Instruments)...
*UMC...
*Unresearched:...
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*General Sources:...