The IT8518E is a Super I/O (Input/Output) controller commonly used in laptops and other computing devices. It is manufactured by ITE Tech Inc., a company specializing in integrated circuits for various applications.
Key features and functions of the IT8518E IC include:
1. **System Management:** The IT8518E serves as a system management controller, providing monitoring and control functions for various hardware components in the laptop, including temperature sensors, fan speed control, and voltage monitoring.
2. **Embedded Controller:** It may function as an embedded controller, responsible for managing keyboard input, battery charging, and power management functions.
3. **Legacy I/O Support:** The IT8518E supports legacy I/O interfaces such as UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter), parallel ports, serial ports, and PS/2 ports.
4. **GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) Pins:** The IC includes GPIO pins that can be configured for various purposes, allowing interfacing with external devices and peripherals.
5. **Serial Flash Interface:** It provides support for interfacing with serial flash memory devices, typically used for storing BIOS firmware and other system configuration data.
6. **Low Power Consumption:** The IT8518E is designed for low power consumption, making it suitable for use in battery-powered devices such as laptops.
7. **System Management Bus (SMBus) Interface:** It may include an SMBus interface for communication with other system components such as temperature sensors, voltage regulators, and power management ICs.
Overall, the IT8518E plays a crucial role in system management and hardware interfacing in laptops, providing essential functions for monitoring, control, and legacy I/O support.