cedled lifestream - tagged with intel

Best Bang Per Buck Gaming Processors for August 2009

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:53:00 -0700

Choosing the right processor (CPU) proves to be a daunting task. The deciding factor is usually games, since we don’t really need a very powerful processor for surfing and creating/viewing documents. Tom’s Hardware makes the task of picking the right CPU easier with their recommendations: Top Picks: Athlon 64 X2 5200+ [Brisbane, 65nm, 2.7GHz, AM2] (US$55) Dual-Core Pentium E5300 [Wolfdale-2M, 45nm, 2.6GHz, LGA 775] ($70) Athlon II X2 250 [Regor, 45nm, 2.8GHz, AM2+] ($80) Pentium Dual-Core E6300 [Wolfdale-2M, 45nm, 2.8GHz, LGA 775] ($80) Phenom II X2 545 [Callisto, 45nm, 3GHz, AM2+] ($90) Phenom II X3 710 [Heka, 45nm, 2.6GHz, AM3] ($100) Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition [Callisto, 45nm, 3.1GHz, AM3] ($100) Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition [Heka, 45nm, 2.8GHz, AM3] ($120) Core 2 Duo E7500 [Wolfdale-3M, 45nm, 2.93GHz, LGA 775] ($120) Phenom II X4 945 [Deneb, 45nm, 3GHz, AM3] ($170) Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition [Deneb, 45nm, 3.2GHz, AM3] ($190) Core 2 Quad Q9400 [Yorkfield, 45nm, 2.66Ghz, LGA 775] ($190) Core 2 Duo E8500 [Wolfdale, 45nm, 3.16GHz, LGA 775] ($190) Core 2 Quad Q9550 [Yorkfield, 45nm, 2.83GHz, LGA 775] ($220) Core i7 920 [Nehalem, 45nm, 2.66GHz, LGA 1366] ($280) Core i7 975 Extreme [Nehalem, 45nm, 3.33GHz, LGA 1366] ($1000) The budget processors picked were the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ and Dual-Core Pentium E5300, both having two cores, and a 2.7 or 2.6 GHz clock. These can be purchased for about $55 (X2 5200+) and $70 (E5300). In the other end of the scale, is the Core i7 975 Extreme, which features 3.33GHz, LGA 1366 socket, and a ridiculously high $1000 price tag. Only for the extremely rich. For the mid-priced processors, it would be a good idea to target the Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition or Core 2 Quad Q9400. These can be had for around $190. Whatever processor you choose, keep in mind that the chipset of the motherboard or mainboard would also play an essential role for determining the overall efficacy and performance of your new system. Happy choosing! [Source: Tom’s Hardware | Best Gaming CPUs For the Money: August ‘09] Technorati Tags: processor, gaming, cpu, best bang per buck

Shuttle XPC SX58H7 – Core i7 in a Mini PC

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:41:00 -0700

The Shuttle XPC SX58H7 Pro Station (around US$867) aims to bring the Small Form Factor PC to the extreme gamers, demand enthusiasts, and mainstream PC users. Features: Intel Core i7 processor support I.C.E Technology CPU heat-pipe Intel X58 and ICH10R chipsets 4 x 240pin DDR3 DIMM slots, 4GB per DIMM(Max 16GB), Triple channel DDR3 1066/1333/1600(OC)MHz support Realtek ALC888 7.1 channel High Definition Audio 2 x Realtek RTL8111C Gigabit LAN 3 x 3.0Gb/s bandwidth SATA (RAID 0,1,10,5) 2 x 3.0Gb/s bandwidth eSATA in back panel 1 x UltraDMA 133 channel master from JMicron JMB368 2 x PCI-E x16 slots 6 x USB 2.0 ports 500W power supply Dimensions: 325(L) x 208(W) x 189(H) mm Register Hardware gave the SX58H7 an 80% rating: “… you pay a premium of £200 for the privilege of building your Core i7 system in a small, compact, quiet chassis that's half the height of a regular mid-tower. That’s a high price to pay for a regular desktop PC but it’s worth considering as the end result is very smart and effective. LAN party gamers – yes, both of you – should form a queue here. … The Shuttle SX58H7 is brutally expensive but that’s a fact of life with Core i7 hardware. However, the price is offset by low noise levels, stylish design and excellent cooling.” [RegHardware | Shuttle XPC SX58H7 Core i7 mini desktop PC] Do you want something small, yet powerful enough to go side-by-side with its bigger desktop counterparts? The Shuttle SX58H7 could just be for you! (Of course, you have to pay the price to get it.) Technorati Tags: shuttle, sff, intel core i7, x58, barebone

Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 Overclocking

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:50:00 -0700

Tom’s Hardware built an Intel machine with an MSI Intel P45 motherboard and Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 processor, and then overclocked it up to 4.2 GHz. System Setup: 3.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 processor MSI P45D3 Neo-F motherboard 2 x 2GB DDR3-1600 Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D memory 300 GB Western Digital VelociRaptor SATA/300 16 MB Cache HDD Fortron Everest 1010, 1010 W power supply unit “Although the 4.26 GHz setting provided the most performance, the 3.9 GHz overclock turns out to be the winner of this efficiency analysis. The clock speed increase provides a nice speed bump when compared to the 3.33 GHz stock speed without bumping power consumption up to excessive levels. If you are looking to get the best performance paired with the lowest effective power consumption, the fastest possible speed without a voltage increase should be your goal.” [Tom’s Hardware | Overclocking Core 2 Duo: Power Versus Performance] Although an Intel Core i7 and/or AMD Phenom II based system would be the ideal setup for future-proofing your build, the Intel P45 and Core 2 Duo E8600 combo is still a great one to have, especially if you are into overclocking. Technorati Tags: intel, core 2 duo, e8600, p45, overclock

MSI Wind CS120 Nettop Reviewed

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:22:00 -0700

The MSI Wind CS120 ($320) is an Intel Atom-based small-form-factor nettop. Nettops are great desktop computers for light computing, such as web surfing, and word processing.

      Features:

Intel Atom 230 1.6GHz processor Intel 945GC / Intel ICH7 chipsets Gb LAN DDR-2 533MHz SDRAM, SO-DIMM 802.11 b/g wireless LAN (optional) 160GB HDD, Support two SATAII devices Slot-loading DVD Super-Multi drive 4-1n-1 card reader socket, SD/MMC/MS/XD card reader (optional) D-Sub VGA x 1, USB 2.0 × 6, Mic-in × 1, Headphone-out) × 1 Audio x 6 (7.1 channel) 65Watt Adapter Dimensions: 300mm(H) × 65mm(W) × 240mm(D) MS Windows XP Home

PC Magazine gave the Wind CS120 3 out of 5 stars:

"Cheap, quiet, and power efficient, the MSI fulfills the role of Web terminal, plus it runs Windows so you can use those old programs that you must still run. Just don't expect it to keep up with your "real" desktop or laptop." [ PCMag.com | MSI Wind CS120 ]

If you need a second (or third) PC that will be used mainly for web surfing, the Wind CS120 is a great nettop to consider. Other nice options are the Asus Eee Top (with built-in display), Asus Eee Box, and Apple Mac mini. By the way, you'd still need to purchase supporting peripherals for the Wind CS120, such as mouse, keyboard, and display.

IceRocket : msi wind cs120 nettop

Best Bang Per Buck Core i7 System Build

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:15:00 -0800

ExtremeTech builds a 'Bang for the Buck' based on the Intel Core i7 processor. The result was a combination of peripherals that give you the best value for your money.

      Specifications:



        Antec 300 case



          Antec Earthwatts 650 PSU





            ASUS P6T motherboard







              Intel Core i7 920 processor









                6GB (2x3 DIMMS) OCZ Gold DDR3 Triple-channel 1600MHz memory











                  Western Digital WD1001FALS Black Ed. 1TB HDD













                    Lite-On DH401S BD optical drive















                      AMD ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB graphics card

















                        Creative SoundBlaster Titanium sound card



















                          Logitech Wave keyboard





















                            Logitech G5 mouse























                              Dell S2409W Widescreen 1920x1080 LCD Monitor

























                                Creative GigaWorks T40 speakers



























                                  Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit operating system


















          "This Bang for the Buck turned out more expensive than past efforts, but it's also more forward-looking. ... Even if you're only upgrading, we can't recommend higher each part in this system as it is, in our estimation, the best you can get for your money. Choose wisely, but consider this a guide.
             " [ExtremeTech | Build a Bang for the Buck PC]































                                                            The total bill for this build was US$2040. Take note that the setup is not a 'budget value system', but a best value and performance for your money build. If you prefer a different component, such as an AMD processor (and appropriate mobo of course) or Nvidia graphics card, you can just change the specs to your liking, using the above components as a guide.

IceRocket : best bang per buck pc, intel core i7

Four X58 Motherboards for Core i7 Compared

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:44:00 -0800

ExtremeTech rounded up four motherboards based on the Intel X58/ICH10R chipset. The mainboards tested were the Asus P6T (US$260), ECS X58B-A ($250), EVGA X58 3X SLI ($300), and Gigabyte EX58-UD4P ($270).

        The test setup configuration was the following:





          Intel Core i7 920 processor





            6GB (3x2GB) OCZ PC3-10666 DDR3 memory







              Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 750GB SATA 3Gbps HDD









                AMD ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 graphics











                  Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit SP1 operating system









        "Take that ASUS P6T and build your Core i7 around it. Then overclock the bejeeszus out of it. You won't regret it." [ExtremeTech | X58 Motherboard Roundup]








                While the ASUS P6T was the top choice, ExtremeTech also liked the Gigabyte EX58-UD4P:









        "The Gigabyte EX58-UD4P, however, is a contender. It might not have overclocked as well as the P6T, but its feature set and its company reputation for support and stability go a long way toward a secondary recommendation." [ExtremeTech]









                  So, if you are planning to build a new system based on the Intel Core i7, and is highly interested in doing some serious overclocking, the Asus P6T motherboard would be on top of your list.

IceRocket : asus p6t, intel core i7, x58 motherboard

DIY NAS: Intel Atom and VIA C7 Platforms Tested

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:37:00 -0800

SmallNetBuilder built two DIY NAS systems using an MSI Wind PC and a VIA ARTiGO A2000 Barebone Storage Server. [article link]

      MSI Wind PC Specs:

Intel Atom 1.6 GHz processor MSI custom w/ Intel 945GC North Bridge, ICH7 South Bridge motherboard pqi 1 GB DDR2 533 SO-DIMM RAM Hitachi Deskstar HDS721680PLA380, 80GB 7200RPM 3.0 Gb/s SATA 8MB HDD Realtek 8111C (on board) Ethernet

      VIA ARTiGO A2000 Specs:

VIA 1.5GHz C7-D processor VIA custom w/ VIA VX800 Unified Digital Media IGP chipset motherboard Transcend 1 GB DDR2 667 SO-DIMM Hitachi Deskstar HDS721680PLA380, 80GB 7200RPM 3.0 Gb/s SATA 8MB HDD VIA VT6130 (on board) Ethernet

Both had the same operating system: Ubuntu Server 8.10 Operating system, + mdadm + Webmin, on 2 GB USB Flash drive.

      The two DIY NAS setups were compared to the following:

NETGEAR ReadyNAS Pro (Intel E2160 Dual-Core) Thecus M3800 Stream Box (AMD LX800 Geode) Cisco/Linksys Media Hub (Marvell 88F5182 "Orion" Soc)

(A How To guide for setting up a DIY NAS using Ubuntu Server can be found at SmallNetBuilder: Build Your Own Atom-based NAS - Part 2)

      On Performance:

"I don't think I'm going to declare a clear winner here between the VIA C7 and Intel Atom. It looks that they are pretty evenly matched for performance and generally in the same class as the Geode LX800." [SmallNetBuilder]

"So if you're looking for a low-cost way to build a dual-drive NAS, you can choose a motherboard using an Intel Atom, VIA C7 or AMD Geode CPU and be pretty certain of getting better than 2X the performance you can get from any (current) off-the-shelf NAS." [SmallNetBuilder]

      On Ease and Flexibility of Setup:

"... the MSI Wind PC is clearly a more cost effective way to build a two-drive NAS capable of producing write and read speeds in the 30 - 40 MB/s range than the ARTiGO A2000. As I write this, you can pick one up for around $140, while the going rate for the A2000 is $299. I think that for the extra $150 or so, I can live with having to kludge in the second drive." [SmallNetBuilder]

      SmallNetBuilder's Rule of Thumb for Classifying NASes:



        Marvell Orion based NASes will generally produce throughput in the mid-to-high teen MB/s

NASes using the VIA C7, Intel Atom or AMD Geode will provide read/write performance in the 30 - 40 MB/s range

When you move up to NASes based on Intel Celeron or Dual-Core or Freescale MPC854XE, you can see speeds of at least 50 MB/s and more like 70 MB/s.

If you are looking to put a NAS on your network, a cost-effective way would be to use a system with the Intel Atom, VIA C7, or AMD Geode. You could go the barebone route, such as what SmallNetworkBuilder did, or build it from scratch, letting you choose the components individually, and have the personlized look of your future DIY NAS.

IceRocket : diy nas, intel atom, via c7

EVGA X58 SLI Motherboard Reviewed

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:54:00 -0800

The EVGA X58 SLI (US$299) is a motherboard for the Intel Core i7 processor based on the Intel X58 chipset. Features: Intel Core i7 Processors support Intel X58 Express Chipset with the ICH10R Southbridge Intel Turbo Boost Technology support 100% Solid State Capacitors 6 DIMM triple-channel DDR3 Enthusiast layout supporting 2-way, 3-way SLI and CrossFireX 1 x PCIe x16, 1 x PCIe x8/x16, 1 x PCIe x8, 1 x PCIe x1, 2 x PCI 2 x 32-bit PCI, support for PCI 2.1 10 SATA II 3.0GB/s ports (1 e-SATA) dual Gigabit LAN Firewire (1 external, 1 header) “In terms of integrated features, the X58 3X SLI has just about all you could want in a new X58 board, including both internal reset and power button switches, and a highly appreciated external clear CMOS switch peeking through its back IO panel. At $299 currently, the X58 3X SLI is right in the middle of the pack price-wise, as X58 boards go, which is still of course a little lofty due its recent introduction. As a total package however, with EVGA's cable and connector assortment that includes both 2-way and 3-way SLI connectors, the X58 3X SLI is definitely worth your short list consideration, if you're considering a migration to the Core i7 platform.” [HotHardware | EVGA X58 3X SLI Core i7 Motherboard] “What I can't ignore is that the potential of this motherboard is really good. The overall baseline performance is on par with the Intel reference board, but the board starts to really shine once you start overclocking. So in retrospect I'd say that the motherboard is a bit of a challenge and targeted at the die-hard enthusiast users out there who know what they are doing. It's a rough diamond in the works. … It's an excellent match for a delicious processor series. Next to being one of the most feature rich X58 products we tested so far, we do believe it has massive tweaking potential as well. If you'd buy this product right now, you'll likely will have to flash the BIOS a couple of times before it has reached it's fullest potential.” [Guru of 3D | EVGA X58 SLI review] This is definitely an enthusiast-targeted motherboard, with overclocking in mind. Ready to dip in the Core i7 waters? The EVGA X58 SLI should be in your shortlist. Technorati: evga x58 sli motherboard, intel core i7

Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P Motherboard Reviewed

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:01:00 -0800

The Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P motherboard (about US$150) is an Intel LGA775 mainboard that features:

        Intel LGA775 processor support


        Intel P45 Express / Intel ICH10R chipset


        4 DDR2 DIMM sockets (up to 16GB)


        2 PCI Express slots (1 PCI Express X16 slot running at full speed; 1 PCI E X16 slot running at X8; CrossFireX support)


        6 SATA 3Gbps ports (with support for SATA RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10)


        1 IDE ATA/133 port


        2 Gigabit LAN ports (2 Realtek 8111C controllers, 2 RJ45 jacks, teaming support)


        1 coax S/PDIF out


        1 optical S/PDIF out


        8 USB 2.0 ports


        2 IEEE 1394a ports


        6 color coded audio minijacks



      HardwareZone gave it a 4.5 out of 5 rating ('Excellent'):




          "... our overall experience with the board, from the fuss-free installation and BIOS update, to the testing and overclocking, has been generally positive. There were no problems encountered and the board worked flawlessly. This alone is worth the extra cost of the Gigabyte EP45-UD3P compared to other brands who may be more powerful but at the expense of user friendliness. However, since these are characteristics of Gigabyte's current generation of motherboards, one may even opt for the DS3R model mentioned earlier if the extra perks are not attractive enough." [HardwareZone | Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P]




      HotHardware gave it its Recommended award:




          "Gigabyte's EP45-UD3P performed well -- it placed right in line with other Intel and NVIDIA boards that we used for comparison -- but in general it was the best P45 board we've come across. ... If you're in the market for a new motherboard, but don't necessarily want to upgrade your entire set of hardware, you might consider the Gigabyte EP45-UD3P. It's got a complete list of components onboard and comes with a nice price tag, especially during the holiday season where everyone's looking to save a dollar or two." [HotHardware | Gigabyte EP45-UD3P]




      FiringSquad gave it a score of 91%:




          "... if you're looking for an inexpensive CrossFire-compatible motherboard based on Intel's P45 chipset, you owe it to yourself to check out Gigabyte's EP45-UD3P. The motherboard incorporates high-end features without resorting to the high-end price tag." [

                FiringSquad | Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P

            ]




      ExtremeTech gave it a 5 out of 5 rating, and its ExtremeTech Approved award:




          "The EP45-UD3P is simply a stunning, solid board full of features that comes at a fantastic price. It's a motherboard to seriously consider if you can't quite afford an X58-based board and a Core i7 CPU. ... In fact, it might even be safe to say it's the only board to consider. We know what's going into our next build.
            " [

                ExtremeTech | Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P

            ]




      So, if you are looking to build an Intel box using an LGA775 processor, the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P motherboard should be first on your list of things to buy.

IceRocket : gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P, intel lga775 motherboard

Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P Motherboard Reviewed

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:01:00 -0800

The Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P motherboard (about US$150) is an Intel LGA775 mainboard that features:

        Intel LGA775 processor support


        Intel P45 Express / Intel ICH10R chipset


        4 DDR2 DIMM sockets (up to 16GB)


        2 PCI Express slots (1 PCI Express X16 slot running at full speed; 1 PCI E X16 slot running at X8; CrossFireX support)


        6 SATA 3Gbps ports (with support for SATA RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10)


        1 IDE ATA/133 port


        2 Gigabit LAN ports (2 Realtek 8111C controllers, 2 RJ45 jacks, teaming support)


        1 coax S/PDIF out


        1 optical S/PDIF out


        8 USB 2.0 ports


        2 IEEE 1394a ports


        6 color coded audio minijacks



      HardwareZone gave it a 4.5 out of 5 rating ('Excellent'):




          "... our overall experience with the board, from the fuss-free installation and BIOS update, to the testing and overclocking, has been generally positive. There were no problems encountered and the board worked flawlessly. This alone is worth the extra cost of the Gigabyte EP45-UD3P compared to other brands who may be more powerful but at the expense of user friendliness. However, since these are characteristics of Gigabyte's current generation of motherboards, one may even opt for the DS3R model mentioned earlier if the extra perks are not attractive enough." [HardwareZone | Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P]




      HotHardware gave it its Recommended award:




          "Gigabyte's EP45-UD3P performed well -- it placed right in line with other Intel and NVIDIA boards that we used for comparison -- but in general it was the best P45 board we've come across. ... If you're in the market for a new motherboard, but don't necessarily want to upgrade your entire set of hardware, you might consider the Gigabyte EP45-UD3P. It's got a complete list of components onboard and comes with a nice price tag, especially during the holiday season where everyone's looking to save a dollar or two." [HotHardware | Gigabyte EP45-UD3P]




      FiringSquad gave it a score of 91%:




          "... if you're looking for an inexpensive CrossFire-compatible motherboard based on Intel's P45 chipset, you owe it to yourself to check out Gigabyte's EP45-UD3P. The motherboard incorporates high-end features without resorting to the high-end price tag." [

                FiringSquad | Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P

            ]




      ExtremeTech gave it a 5 out of 5 rating, and its ExtremeTech Approved award:




          "The EP45-UD3P is simply a stunning, solid board full of features that comes at a fantastic price. It's a motherboard to seriously consider if you can't quite afford an X58-based board and a Core i7 CPU. ... In fact, it might even be safe to say it's the only board to consider. We know what's going into our next build.
            " [

                ExtremeTech | Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P

            ]




      So, if you are looking to build an Intel box using an LGA775 processor, the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P motherboard should be first on your list of things to buy.

IceRocket : gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P, intel lga775 motherboard

ASUS P6T Deluxe X58 Mainboard Reviewed

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:08:00 -0800

The ASUS P6T Deluxe X58 (~US$309) is a motherboard which features the Intel X58 chipset. It has the following features:

LGA1366 socket (for Core i7 processors) Intel® X58 / ICH10R Up to 6.4GT/s System Bus 6 x DIMM, max. 12GB, DDR3 1600(O.C.) / 1333 / 1066 MHz, Triple channel memory architecture 3 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots (at x16/x16/x1 or x16/x8/x8 mode)1 x PCI Express x4 slot2 x PCI slots Supports NVIDIA 2-Way or Quad-GPU SLI Technology; Supports ATI CrossFireX Technology (SLI support may need driver update.) Dual Gigabit LAN controllers ADI AD2000B 8-channel High Definition Audio 2 x IEEE 1394a ports 14 x USB 2.0 ports

      On Performance:

"It's seriously one of the best motherboards we have ever had our hands on. Stability, speed, style, design, features... everything is just 99% right with this motherboard." [Guru3d]

"With the north bridge really acting as nothing more than a glorified PCI Express hub, the best X58 motherboards will stand out with improved overclocking support and performance as well as included extras and features. The ASUS P6T Deluxe excels in this area to a T: it offers a BIOS chock full of overclocking settings and memory tweaks and also was able to overclock faster right out of the box than Intel's own DX58SO 'Smackover' motherboard. It's hard to ask for more than that with identical-chipset motherboards. " [PC Perspective]

      On Features:

"... everything is and feels right from design, positioning of connectors, 2x Gigabit Ethernet, passive cooling, black PCB color, micro-switches, USB ports, digital audio connectivity... yeah it's just all bloody fantastic. So here we have seen a good example of what you can achieve when everything is right." [Guru3d]

"And how can we forget that this is the FIRST STANDARD MOTHERBOARD TO OFFICIALLY SUPPORT BOTH CROSSFIRE AND SLI to hit our test bench? ... the ASUS P6T Deluxe will have it and we are thrilled to have a true enthusiast platform at long last that will run BOTH multi-GPU solutions." [PC Perspective]

The Guru of 3D gave the ASUS P6T Deluxe its Best Hardware Award:

"So let me close this verdict right here and now, I didn't have the time just yet to cover everything on this mainboard, but dang, it's close to being perfect. Have you ever heard me say that before in a review? Yeah, me neither. Extremely recommended. Best hardware award granted. Lovely." [Guru3d | ASUS P6T DeLuxe review]

PC Perspective gave the ASUS P6T Deluxe its Gold Award:

"Even with the high price, the ASUS P6T Deluxe looks to be a fantastic motherboard for early adopters of the Intel Core i7 processor by offering up a host of unique features as well as a BIOS that would make most enthusiast overclockers envious." [PC Perspective | ASUS P6T Deluxe X58 Motherboard Review ]

Early adopters will surely be thrilled with the ASUS P6T Deluxe motherboard, giving the freedom of choice for either Crossfire or SLI.

IceRocket : asus, p6t deluxe, x58 chipset

ASUS P6T Deluxe X58 Mainboard Reviewed

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:08:00 -0800

The ASUS P6T Deluxe X58 (~US$309) is a motherboard which features the Intel X58 chipset. It has the following features:

      On Performance:

"It's seriously one of the best motherboards we have ever had our hands on. Stability, speed, style, design, features... everything is just 99% right with this motherboard." [Guru3d]

      On Features:

The Guru of 3D gave the ASUS P6T Deluxe its Best Hardware Award:

PC Perspective gave the ASUS P6T Deluxe its Gold Award:

Early adopters will surely be thrilled with the ASUS P6T Deluxe motherboard, giving the freedom of choice for either Crossfire or SLI.

IceRocket : asus, p6t deluxe, x58 chipset

Intel Core i7 Processor and Intel X58 Express Chipset Reviewed

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:45:00 -0800

The new Intel Core i7 processor is based on the Nehalem microarchitecture that has 1366 pins instead of the usual 775. Partnered with the Core i7 processors, is the Intel X58 Express chipset which features the LGA 1366 socket.

      Intel Core i7 processor:

Codename: Bloomfield 4 cores 4 x 256KB L2 cache 8MB L3 cache Triple-channel DDR3 memory controller LGA 1366 socket (a.k.a Socket B) Core Frequencies - 3.2GHz (965), 2.93GHz (940), 2.66GHz (920) 130W Thermal Design Power Processor input voltage (VID) - 1.160v .045-micron manufacturing process MSRP - $999 (965), $562 (940), $284 (920)

      Intel X58 Express chipset:

X58 North Bridge PCI Express 2.0 graphics bus, support for Multi-card configurations: 1x16, 2x16, 4x8, or other combination ICH10 South Bridge 6 serial ATA ports, eSATA 12 x USB 2.0 ports Intel Gigabit LAN Connect Intel High Definition Audio Optional: Intel Matrix Storage Technology Optional: Intel Turbo Memory with User Pinning

Various sites took a good look at the Core i7 processors, and the X58 Express chipset as well:

"Intel's new Core i7 series of processors is a modern marvel of technology that brings previously inaccessible performance to the consumer. In areas where multi-threaded applications are dominant, heavy multi-tasking is the norm or multimedia encoding is the primary function, the move to a HyperThreaded Core i7 part is a no brainer. But Intel's biggest problem might not have anything to do with AMD or another outside source: the fact is that the Core 2 Quad processors are still fantastic performers, widely available and pretty damn cheap. Anyone that has a quad-core system will likely not find a compelling performance benefit to upgrade from it to a Core i7 unless they subscribe to one of the usage models mentioned above." [PCPerspective | Nehalem Revolution: Intel's Core i7 Processor Complete Review]

"Nope, no need to make this a long conclusion at all. Core i7 architecture rocks, and it rocks hard. At launch, Core i7 will be available in quad-core trim. An eight-core version is penciled in for next year and that too will have all its cores crammed into a single die. So the basis that Intel is laying down today is just the beginning. It's like little seeds planted to grow into something big. The one thing that Core i7 needs though are mainboards with a cheaper chipset. At launch you'll be forced to buy the X58 series main board, and they will likely start at 200-250 USD, which is far away from mainstream performance and pricing." [Guru3D | Intel Core i7 920 and 965 review]

"In a few instances, the Core 2 Extreme is able to come close clock-for-clock, but overall there is no denying the Core i7 represents a significant step up in performance. Even at this early stage, we were also impressed by the X58 Express chipset-based motherboards we tested. Throughout our entire battery of tests, which took place over the better part of week, we did not experience any instability whatsoever and everything we connected to the boards 'just worked'. ... Ultimately, we can't help but be impressed by the new Core i7 processors. The performance, power profile, and overclockability are all very good even at this early stage. Intel clearly has another strong product in their line-up that will undoubtedly appeal to PC enthusiasts and multimedia professionals alike." [HotHardware | Intel Core i7 Processors]

"If you're a gamer, Core i7 offers incremental improvements; you'll want to make sure you have a robust GPU platform to take advantage of the new CPU. However, for content creation authors, Core i7 will likely represent a significant increase in productivity. If you're heavily engaged in 3D content creation, video authoring or photo editing, even the lower-end Core i7's are good choices. ... The bottom line is that Intel has shipped a winning combination in a new chipset and CPU platform. It's early in the lifecycle for Core i7, so we'll be looking forward to what comes next. Meanwhile, you won't go wrong with a Core i7 system, if you've got the budget and application mix to take advantage of it." [ExtremeTech | Intel Core i7 Review]

"Unlike the Core 2 Quads, which still consisted of two dual-core CPUs, the Core i7 is a native quad-core processor. On the whole, the new processors are more efficient, although the system does draw more power at the platform level than the previous generation. ... The new CPUs will only work on expensive boards based on Intel's current high-end chipset, the X58. Also, it runs exclusively with DDR3 memory, which isn't exactly cheap either. The new LGA1366 socket requires a new cooler, and water cooling solutions may become a much less attractive option due to the CPUs' built-in performance limiting features. It is up to the motherboard makers to prove their creativity and come up with solutions to this challenge." [Tom's Hardware | Intel's Core i7]

"the cost of switching over to the Core i7 platform would require a substantial investment. The Core i7-965 Extreme Edition at just under US$1000 may be relatively cheap compared to the Core 2 Extreme QX9770 (~US$1500) but the added cost of changing the entire platform (LGA1366 compatible motherboard and suitable 1.6V DDR3 memory) will give users some pause. ... Considering the general enthusiast point of view, we're not entirely sold on it yet, but with an eye towards the future, it's probably the best single modular architecture Intel could come up with that would suit the home, workstation and server segments needs now and in the near future." [HardwareZone | Changing for the Future - Intel's Core i7]

"Unlike Conroe, Intel's latest microarchitecture delivers an evolutionary rather than revolutionary performance increase over its predecessor, although in some apps it has the potential to deliver performance that's truly groundbreaking. Core i7 is without a doubt the finest processor Intel's ever produced and we don't see AMD delivering anything that's performance competitive with this CPU in the near future. ... the only downside is we wish Intel offered a lower cost alternative to X58 at launch. As it stands now, the Core i7 CPU we're recommending most, the Core i7-920, will probably end up selling for about the same price as the X58 motherboard underneath it. The cost of upgrading to the Core i7 platform is probably going to keep a lot of enthusiasts on a budget from upgrading today, and that's a shame in our opinion, as it's certainly a fun platform to play with. Turbo Mode in particular is a really exciting feature." [FiringSquad | Intel Core i7 (Nehalem) Performance Preview]

"the Core i7 has proven to be extremely powerful, as it easily put away the Core 2 Quad Q9650 in almost every test we ran. ... the slowest processor in the Core i7 range (920) was able to defeat over and over the Core 2 Quad Q9650 which runs at a higher clock speed (3GHz) and before this day was one of the best CPUs money could buy. ... Overall the new Core i7 architecture has certainly impressed us, living up to all expectations. The future continues to look bright for Intel as we expect many more processors based on the Bloomfield core to be released, while the prospect of 32nm Westmere processors by 2010 has got us licking our lips. If we can make one prediction is that you won't regret investing money in the new Intel LGA1366 platform." [TechSpot | Intel Core i7 920, 940 and 965 Extreme Edition review]

"Intel's new processor seems to owe very little to Core 2 yet it behaves like Core 2 on steroids. At any given clock speed, you get more performance out of Core i7. On the downside, it also demands more power. ... Core i7 takes over where Core 2 tails off and it delivers an impressive level of performance while raising clock speeds by only a small amount. The move away from the antique frontside bus is welcome and the Turbo Mode looks promising, but the power saving features seem to need some development." [RegHardware | Intel Core i7 'Nehalem' processor and X58 chipset]

"A decent system with a Core 2 Duo processor at 3.0 GHz will give you roughly the same amount of performance as this Core i7 did, except in the situations where you get CPU bound of course (lower resolution). The reality is that enthusiast consumers have high-end gear, thus typically work and game in a resolution above 1600x1200. And that's where your GPU is a bottleneck, and the CPU hardy has an effect. That role can obviously change with faster graphics cards released in the future, but right now it's the reality. ... In all honesty we have to say, our feelings towards the Intel DX58SO are a bit of mixed bag, even if it is a reference mainboard, we'll even advise you to at the very least carefully look at other X58 board partners." [Guru3d | Intel X58 Extreme DX58SO motherboard review]

"And summing up the results of our today's test session we have to admit that this experience left pretty ambiguous impression. ... If this review had been discussing server processors and not desktop ones, the conclusions could have been not just more optimistic, but almost ecstatic. However, we first met Nehalem in its desktop incarnation, so its most important advantages cannot really show their best. ... However, we don't want you to think that we didn't like the new Core i7 processor we have just tested. The new CPU and the new platform based on Intel X58 Express chipset are undoubtedly excellent products. New Core i7 are indisputably better in most aspects than Core 2 Quad CPUs of comparable price." [X-bit Labs | Intel Core i7 Review]

If you are already using an Intel Core 2 Quad processor, I'd say just wait until more motherboard chipsets that will support LGA 13366 are introduced. Chances are, changing your present setup won't exactly be cost effective. If you are building a new system, on the other hand, there's no reason not to go the Core i7 path.

IceRocket : core i7, intel, lga 1366, socket b, x58

Intel Core i7 Processor and Intel X58 Express Chipset Reviewed

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:45:00 -0800

      Intel Core i7 processor:

      Intel X58 Express chipset:

Various sites took a good look at the Core i7 processors, and the X58 Express chipset as well:

IceRocket : core i7, intel, lga 1366, socket b, x58

5 Mainstream Quad-Core Processors Compared

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 04:02:00 -0700

X-bit Labs recently compared five mainstream processors: four Core 2 Quads from Intel, and one Phenom X4 from AMD.

      Phenom X4 9950 Specs:

Codename: Agena 2.6GHz Clock Frequency 2000MHZ Bus Frequency 4 x [64KB +64KB] L1 cache 4 x 512KB L2 cache 2MB L3 cache AM2+ socket 65nm production process 125/140 W TDP Retail price: $174

      Core 2 Quad Q6600 Specs:

Codename: Kentsfield 2.4GHz Clock Frequency 1067MHZ Bus Frequency 4 x [32KB +32KB] L1 cache 4 x 4MB L2 cache no L3 cache LGA775 socket 65nm production process 95 W TDP Retail price: $183

      Core 2 Quad Q8200 Specs:

Codename: Yorkfield 2.33GHz Clock Frequency 1333MHZ Bus Frequency 4 x [32KB +32KB] L1 cache 4 x 2MB L2 cache no L3 cache LGA775 socket 45nm production process 95 W TDP Retail price: $193

      Core 2 Quad Q9300 Specs:

Codename: Yorkfield 2.5GHz Clock Frequency 1333MHZ Bus Frequency 4 x [32KB +32KB] L1 cache 4 x 3MB L2 cache no L3 cache LGA775 socket 45nm production process 95 W TDP Retail price: $266

      Core 2 Quad Q9400 Specs:

Codename: Yorkfield 2.66GHz Clock Frequency 1333MHZ Bus Frequency 4 x [32KB +32KB] L1 cache 4 x 3MB L2 cache no L3 cache LGA775 socket 45nm production process 95 W TDP Retail price: $266

"One of the best choices among low-cost quad-core processors is still the old 65nm Core 2 Quad Q6600. Intel has dropped its price so significantly lately that is remains in the spotlight despite its age and relatively high power consumption. Especially since in some applications such as 3D games, for instance, it manages to perform as fast as a more expensive Core 2 Quad Q9300 thanks to large L2 cache. Its overclocking potential is also pretty encouraging. It doesn't require a specific mainboard: you can almost always push its frequency 1.5 times up with just an efficient cooler." [X-bit Labs | Comparative Tests of Inexpensive Quad-Core Processors]

"... the only drawback of Core 2 Quad Q6600 is its relatively high heat dissipation and power consumption, which makes it unfit for quiet and low-power systems. The new Core 2 Quad Q8200 will suit much better for them. Despite much smaller L2 cache, this CPU is pretty fast and outperforms the fastest processor of Intel's competitor - AMD Phenom X4 9950. As a result, Phenom X4 family may be of interest only to those users who want to get a quad-core processor real cheap, but are ready to put up with low overclocking potential, low performance and high power consumption." [X-bit Labs]

AMD fans don't have much of a choice right now, having only the Phenom X4 9950 (or the 2.2GHz X4 9550) as their choices. Intel fans, however, can choose between the Core 2 Quad Q6600 (good performance and overclocking potential) or the Q8200 (for low heat and power consumption).

IceRocket : 9950, amd, intel, q6600, q8200, q9300, q9400, quad, x4

Nvidia GeForce 9400 / 9300 IGP Chipset Reviewed

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:21:00 -0700

Nvidia GeForce 9400/9300 MGPU (code named the MCP7A) is an IGP chipset solution for the Intel platform, which directly competes with the chipsets from Intel. The chipset features are as follows:

Intel Core 2 Family, Pentium D, Pentium 4, Celeron D, Celeron 1333 Mhz FSB Dual-channel DDR2-800 / DDR3-1333 Memory Interface DirectX 10 Support 16 Graphics Cores 580/1400 MHz (9400) or 450/1200 MHz (9300) Core/Shader Clocks 3.6 Billion/second Texture Fill Rate 128-bit Max. HDR Precision 2048 × 1536 Max. Analog Resolution 2560 × 1600 Max Digital Resolution GeForce Boost Technology HybridPower Technology NVIDIA PureVideo HD With full HD decode (1080i/p) PCI-Express 2.0 support 10/100/1000 Networking HDA (Azalia) audio 7.1 LPCM HD Audio Support

Guru3D tested the ECS GF9300T-A-V1.0 motherboard:

"... the GF9300 based mainboards will be a flexible solution, and not just for the budget minded. It performs as fast as any modern mainboard, you can make it a gaming rig, you can use it excellently for HTPC and if it floats your boat, it's a nice NET PC as well. I also think it's lovely we can use the integrated GPU, if not utilized for graphics, for CUDA, transcoding, PhysX and whatever new applications we'll see in the future... if you're looking for a competitive IGP solution, and a versatile and flexible mainboard that's not too expensive... this should be ranking at the top of your list. Definitely recommended." [Guru3D.com| NVIDIA GF9300 (ECS GF9300TA) mainboard review]

AnandTech had comparisons IGP boards - Nvidia 9400 / 9300 / 8300 / 8200, AMD 790GX / 780G, Intel G45 / G35:

"Everyone likes a clean victory; while NVIDIA has the opportunity to obtain just that with the GeForce 9300, there are a handful of lingering issues that cause them to hit just wide of the bullseye... if these problems are quickly addressed, the GeForce 9300 is as close to perfect as you're going to get for now... The GeForce 9300 is leaps and bounds ahead of Intel's G45, but that's not really a tremendous accomplishment. What NVIDIA has done however is effectively bring 780G-class performance to the Intel platform, which is better than nothing." [AnandTech | The IGP Chronicles Part 3: NVIDIA's GeForce 9300]

HotHardware.com tested two 9300 motherboards - Zotac GeForce 9300 and Asus P5N7A-VM - and compared it with mainboards with the Intel G45:

"In comparison to Intel's G45 chipset, the GeForce 9300 generally performs on roughly the same level in productivity applications, with a slight edge going to the G45 where its increased memory bandwidth comes into play. In any GPU intensive situation, however, the GeForce 9300 is simply on a different level than the G45. In the game tests, for example, the GeForce 9300 was up to 4.4X faster than the G45. ... If you're thinking about building a low-cost, low-power Intel-based rig or an HTPC anytime in the near future, do yourself a favor and check out the GeForce 9300 or GeForce 9400." [HotHardware.com | NVIDIA GeForce 9300 and 9400 Motherboard GPUs]

PC Perspective took a look at three motherboards - the MSI P7NGM-Digital (9300), Zotac GF9300-A-E, and ASUS P5N7A-VM (9300) - and compared it to an Intel DG45ID (G45 chipset):

"NVIDIA's new GeForce 9400 and 9300 chipsets are a breath of fresh air in a world of integrated Intel platforms that have underperformed. With the exceptions of synthetic memory performance and some nagging issues with the tested motherboards BIOS, the GF9300 chipset was a success from every angle. The graphics performance is without a doubt a level of magnitude improvement over the G45 chipset and added benefits like CUDA, Hybrid SLI and the coming onslaught of multimedia applications accelerated by GPUs make motherboards based on the NVIDIA GeForce 9400/9300 chipsets an easy choice." [pcper.com | NVIDIA GeForce 9400/9300 Chipset Review: IGP for Intel ]

As soon as the Nvidia 9300 and 9400 motherboards are available in the retail market, builders will have a choice of IGP motherboards when building a rig based on the Intel processor. Judging from the above reviews, the Nvidia 9400/9300 MGPU is the better way to go.

IceRocket : 9300, 9400, g45, geforce, igp, intel, mgpu, nvidia

Nvidia GeForce 9400 / 9300 IGP Chipset Reviewed

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:21:00 -0700

Nvidia GeForce 9400/9300 MGPU (code named the MCP7A) is an IGP chipset solution for the Intel platform, which directly competes with the chipsets from Intel. The chipset features are as follows:

Guru3D tested the ECS GF9300T-A-V1.0 motherboard:

AnandTech had comparisons IGP boards - Nvidia 9400 / 9300 / 8300 / 8200, AMD 790GX / 780G, Intel G45 / G35:

HotHardware.com tested two 9300 motherboards - Zotac GeForce 9300 and Asus P5N7A-VM - and compared it with mainboards with the Intel G45:

PC Perspective took a look at three motherboards - the MSI P7NGM-Digital (9300), Zotac GF9300-A-E, and ASUS P5N7A-VM (9300) - and compared it to an Intel DG45ID (G45 chipset):

IceRocket : 9300, 9400, g45, geforce, igp, intel, mgpu, nvidia

Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 Processor Reviewed

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:19:00 -0700

The Intel 2 Core Duo E8600 (US$266) has the following features:

3.33GHz Clock Speed with dual processing cores (dual-core) 1333MHz front-side bus 10.0 fixed clock multiplier 6MB unified L2 cache 45nm technology 107mm2 die size, 410M transistors SSE4 instructions Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology (EIST) Intel 64 Technology Intel Virtualization Technology (VT) Supports Execute Disable Bit (XD) LGA-775 socket interface Intel Trusted Execution Technology 0.850v - 1.3625v Core Voltage 65W Max TDP

"... If you're the type of user who spends a lot of time with video encoding and other apps like Photoshop and Premiere and not so much gaming, a dual-core CPU like the E8600 probably won't do despite its 3.33GHz clock speed. ... Gamers however that don't dabble with these apps would be well served by the E8600. It has an enormous amount of headroom for overclocking, blazing clock speed, and consumes less power than comparably priced quad-core CPUs from AMD and Intel. ... If it were my money though I'd probably save the cash and get an E8400. Based on today's Newegg pricing, going from an E8600 to an E8400 would save $105." [FiringSquad | Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 Review ]

      The E8600 is a nice dual-core processor with good clock speed and overclocking potential. As FiringSquad suggests, maybe an E8400 (3.0GHz) will suffice, if you really don't need the 3.33GHz clock speed.

IceRocket : core 2, duo, e8400, e8600, intel

Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 Processor Reviewed

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:19:00 -0700

The Intel 2 Core Duo E8600 (US$266) has the following features:

      The E8600 is a nice dual-core processor with good clock speed and overclocking potential. As FiringSquad suggests, maybe an E8400 (3.0GHz) will suffice, if you really don't need the 3.33GHz clock speed.

IceRocket : core 2, duo, e8400, e8600, intel

Shuttle X27 Small Form Factor Reviewed

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:31:00 -0700

The Shuttle slim PC X27 (~US$190 barebones with Intel Atom 230 processor) is a mini PC that has the following features:

Mini ITX Form Factor Intel Atom 230 CPU Intel 945GC + ICH7 chipset 1 x 240 pin DDR2 DIMM Slots, 2GB per DIMM (Max 2GB) Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics Realtek ALC662 5.1 Channel High Definition audio 10MB/s,100MB/s,1GB/s LAN 1 x UltraDMA100 IDE channel Master 2 x On-board SATA connector 3 x 4pin fan connectors 1 x Serial port 1 x D-sub port 1 x DVI port 4 x USB 2.0 ports 1 x 2.5' bay 1 x Slim ODD bay dimensions: 250(L)x185(W)x70(H) mm

Tom's Hardware tested a Shuttle X2700 ($429), a fully-configured X27 (the X27 barebones plus 2GB of DDR2-667 memory, 80 GB hard drive, 8x DVD burner, optional wireless connectivity, and Foresight Linux OS):

"At just under $200, the X27 barebones is actually a fair deal considering you can finish it up for a bit north of $300. That is, of course, if you're willing to use the miniature machine as an online terminal in the kitchen or as an Internet portal in the living room. But to charge $429 for a fully configured X2700 is a bit much when you can piece together a fully capable Athlon X2 4050e-based machine with a Radeon HD 4670 for $10 less." [Tom's Hardware | Shuttle's X27]

As Tom's Hardware believes, the X27 is more likely aimed at people who'd buy a Dell Studio Hybrid or Eee Box. If you are looking to build a mini PC for net browsing and other simple tasks, the X27 is a sexy beast. If you are more of a DIY person, you can also try building your own nettop. It may not be as small as the Shuttle X27, but can give you more flexibility in choosing the form factors of the HDD and ODD you'll be adding.

IceRocket : sff, shuttle, small form factor, x27, x2700