---
title: Chipset
description: 
published: true
date: 2023-10-15T14:29:39.629Z
tags: 
editor: markdown
dateCreated: 2021-11-13T11:56:47.463Z
---

# Virtual chipsets

Just as with physical computers, virtual machines are built around a central chipset or machine type.

These virtual chipsets are routinely updated. If no version of a chipset is defined, it is the latest that will be used. 

There are three main chipsets, `i440fx`, `Q35` and the more recent `virt`. 

## Comparison

|  | `i440fx` | `Q35` | `virt` |
| :- | :-: | :-: | :-: |
| *Firmware* | [SeaBIOS](/virt/vm/firmware#seabios) / [OVMF](/virt/vm/firmware#ovmf) | [SeaBIOS](/virt/vm/firmware#seabios) / [OVMF](/virt/vm/firmware#ovmf) | Modified [OVMF](/virt/vm/firmware#ovmf) / [RHF](/virt/vm/firmware#rust-hypervisor-firmware)  |
| *PS/2 devices* | **Yes** | **Yes** | No | 
| *USB Controller* | **Yes** | **Yes** | No | 
| *SATA Controller* | No | **Yes** | No |
| *IDE Controller* | **Yes** | No | No |
| *Floppy Controller* | **Yes** | No | No |
| *TPM Support* | No | **Yes** | No? |
| *PCI-Express Bus* | No | **Yes** | **Yes** |
| *PCI Bus* | **Yes** | No? | No? |
| *Virtual Function I/O* | No | **Yes** | **Yes** |

> The *`i440fx` and `Q35` chipsets are currently supported by Phyllome OS. Early support for the `virt` model is expected for the Beta version*
{.is-info}

## Available chipsets for virtual machines

### i440fx

The `i440fx` virtual chipset is a legacy chipset, compatible with PCI.

```
<domain type='kvm'>
[...]
  <os firmware="efi">
    <type arch="x86_64" machine="pc-i440fx">hvm</type>
  </os>
[...]
</domain>
```

There are revisions of the `i440fx` chipset, such as `pc-i440fx-10.1`. If left undefined, the latest locally available version will be used.

### Q35

The `Q35` virtual chipset is based on a modern chipset, compatible with PCI-Express.

```
<domain type='kvm'>
[...]
  <os firmware="efi">
    <type arch="x86_64" machine="pc-q35">hvm</type>
  </os>
[...]
</domain>
```

There are also revisions for the `Q35` chipset. If left undefined, the latest locally available version will be used.

> Did you know that the Open Virtual Machine Firmware (OVMF), which is based on [TianoCore](https://www.tianocore.org/), is the default firmware for EFI-based virtual machines? Its configuration utility can be accessed using the <kbd>Esc</kbd> key.
{.is-info}

![uefi_tianocore_first-screen.png](/assets/tianocore/uefi_tianocore_first-screen.png)

*The TianoCore splash screen*

### virt

The `virt` virtual chipset is the most modern chipset, compatible with PCI-Express. It only supports [virtio-devices](/virt/vm/virtio).

## Resources

* [Official documentation](https://wiki.qemu.org/Features/Q35) on Q35 
- [QEMU machine types and compatibility blog post](https://people.redhat.com/~cohuck/2022/01/05/qemu-machine-types.html), by Cornelia Huck
---

*[**Go to parent page**](https://wiki.phyllo.me/)*