Socket and chipset support CPUs targeted at the high-end desktop (HEDT) and enthusiast segments of the Intel product lineup: Core i7-branded and Xeon-branded processors from the Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge CPU architectures.
[1] The supported CPUs feature quad channel memory controllers, and a certain number of PCIe lanes, the chipset features additional PCIe lanes; it is designed to connect an Intel processor through a DMI 2.0 interface to peripheral devices.
The added pins allow for more PCI Express lanes and interconnects for server class processors.
[4][5][6] The X79 chipset does not support installing Windows XP in AHCI mode for Intel's Serial ATA controllers as Intel won't release AHCI drivers for 32-bit Windows XP.
For users that dual boot Windows XP with another operating system installed in AHCI mode, this means changing to IDE mode every time to boot into Windows XP and changing back to SATA to boot the other OS, or installing the other OS which supports AHCI also in IDE mode to prevent switching the setting in the BIOS each time.