Nowadays, DDR3 memory is slowly being the de facto standard of system RAM. One of the major hindrances of building an inexpensive AMD rig with DDR3 is the price of the motherboard. X-bit Labs took a close look at the Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P (US$80) mainboard: “According to the results of our test session, despite its modest price, this mainboard may become a good choice not only for inexpensive unpretentious platforms, but also for computer enthusiasts. It has adequate specifications meeting today’s needs, and flexible configuring options together with overall predictable behavior are just as good as those of more expensive Socket AM3 products. In other words, during our test session, we didn’t reveal any serious issues that could give anyone the reason to underestimate Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P. Especially, since it performs and overclocks just as good as Gigabyte MA790FXT-UD5P, for instance, that belongs to a much higher price range.” [X-bit Labs | Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P] Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P Specs: AMD socket AM3 processors support (Phenom II X4, Phenom II X3) AMD 770 / AMD SB710 chipsets 4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets, up to 16GB of system memory 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot 4 x PCI Express x1 slots 2 x PCI slots 1 x IDE 6 x SATA 3Gb/s,with SATA RAID 0, 1, 0+1 8 x USB 2.0 ports at back panel 1 x Gigabit LAN 7.1 HD Audio ATX form factor, 30.5 cm x 21.0 cm If you are looking to build a new AMD rig with a socket AM3 processor and DDR3 memory, it’s worth looking for the Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P. Technorati Tags: amd, socket am3, ddr3, 770, chipset
]]>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
]]>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
]]>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
]]>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
]]>HardwareZone compared 4 IGP motherboards for AMD AM2/AM2+ processors. The reviewed motherboards were:
AMD 780G chipset: Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H (US$80) AMD 740G chipset: Gigabyte GA-MA74GM-S2 ($54) NVIDIA GeForce 8300 mGPU chipset: Zotac GeForce 8300 ($85) NVIDIA GeForce 8100 mGPU: Zotac GeForce 8100 ($58)
"... it's hard to argue against the AMD 780G for either power/heat or its graphics prowess. ... On that same note, the AMD 740G is definitely not for the HTPC enthusiast. HD video playback suffered from the lack of dedicated hardware while the graphics performance was mediocre when compared to the 780G. It's likely to be cheaper than the 780G so that could be its selling point, though even then, we aren't too keen to recommend it - especially not for the HTPC seekers." [HardwareZone | AMD IGP Chipset and Motherboard Showdown]
"Between the Gigabyte 740G and the GeForce 8100, it's a tougher choice and frankly, both are not that appealing, but we'll have to say the GeForce 8100 does come out slightly better for both graphics performance and HD video playback. To conclude, we'll recommend paying more for the beefier chipsets like the GeForce 8300/8200 or the AMD 780G for low-cost HTPC fulfillments." [HardwareZone]
When building an HTPC (Home Theater PC), the best route as of now is either go for the GeForce 8300/8200 or the AMD 780G chipset. Also, if you intend to build a low-cost PC based on the AMD AM2/AM2+ processor, and have plans to add a discrete graphics card later (as the budget permits), the mentioned mainboards are a nice solution.
IceRocket : 740g, 780g, 8100, 8300, amd igp chipset
]]>HardwareZone compared 4 IGP motherboards for AMD AM2/AM2+ processors. The reviewed motherboards were:
AMD 780G chipset: Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H (US$80) AMD 740G chipset: Gigabyte GA-MA74GM-S2 ($54) NVIDIA GeForce 8300 mGPU chipset: Zotac GeForce 8300 ($85) NVIDIA GeForce 8100 mGPU: Zotac GeForce 8100 ($58)
"... it's hard to argue against the AMD 780G for either power/heat or its graphics prowess. ... On that same note, the AMD 740G is definitely not for the HTPC enthusiast. HD video playback suffered from the lack of dedicated hardware while the graphics performance was mediocre when compared to the 780G. It's likely to be cheaper than the 780G so that could be its selling point, though even then, we aren't too keen to recommend it - especially not for the HTPC seekers." [HardwareZone | AMD IGP Chipset and Motherboard Showdown]
"Between the Gigabyte 740G and the GeForce 8100, it's a tougher choice and frankly, both are not that appealing, but we'll have to say the GeForce 8100 does come out slightly better for both graphics performance and HD video playback. To conclude, we'll recommend paying more for the beefier chipsets like the GeForce 8300/8200 or the AMD 780G for low-cost HTPC fulfillments." [HardwareZone]
When building an HTPC (Home Theater PC), the best route as of now is either go for the GeForce 8300/8200 or the AMD 780G chipset. Also, if you intend to build a low-cost PC based on the AMD AM2/AM2+ processor, and have plans to add a discrete graphics card later (as the budget permits), the mentioned mainboards are a nice solution.
IceRocket : 740g, 780g, 8100, 8300, amd igp chipset
]]>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
]]>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
]]>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
]]>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
]]>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
]]>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
]]>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 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
]]>Currently, there are two legitimate players competing for the Low-Power Energy Saving platform: the Intel Atom (with the Intel 945G chipset) and the Via Nano (with the Via CN896 chipset). Tom's Hardware compared the Atom and Nano, and mixed a non-production AMD Athlon 64 2000+ (with the AMD 780G chipset) as well.
"Intel's Atom has one definite advantage over the two other solutions-the power requirement stays within very controllable boundaries, which means that the delta between idle power and peak power is very small. If you know your performance requirements then you can be sure that Atom will be the lowest power solution, although not necessarily the most efficient one when more performance is required. The VIA device benefits from its integrated random number generator and hardware encryption support, which is both favorable for networking and security appliances." [Tom's Hardware | Atom, Athlon, or Nano? Energy-Savers Compared]
For best performance and best features, the VIA platform was the clear winner, but unfortunately, has a significantly higher peak power. Tom's Hardware suggests that desktop users should look at other options, such as a mainstream chipset paired with a low-end dual-core processor. Going this route could probably give you a compromise of low-power consumption, better efficiency, and some flexibility (you can change the processor since it is NOT soldered on to the motherboard).
Technorati : 780g, 945G, CN896, amd, athlon, atom, efficient, energy, intel, nano, via
]]>Currently, there are two legitimate players competing for the Low-Power Energy Saving platform: the Intel Atom (with the Intel 945G chipset) and the Via Nano (with the Via CN896 chipset). Tom's Hardware compared the Atom and Nano, and mixed a non-production AMD Athlon 64 2000+ (with the AMD 780G chipset) as well.
"Intel's Atom has one definite advantage over the two other solutions-the power requirement stays within very controllable boundaries, which means that the delta between idle power and peak power is very small. If you know your performance requirements then you can be sure that Atom will be the lowest power solution, although not necessarily the most efficient one when more performance is required. The VIA device benefits from its integrated random number generator and hardware encryption support, which is both favorable for networking and security appliances." [Tom's Hardware | Atom, Athlon, or Nano? Energy-Savers Compared]
For best performance and best features, the VIA platform was the clear winner, but unfortunately, has a significantly higher peak power. Tom's Hardware suggests that desktop users should look at other options, such as a mainstream chipset paired with a low-end dual-core processor. Going this route could probably give you a compromise of low-power consumption, better efficiency, and some flexibility (you can change the processor since it is NOT soldered on to the motherboard).
Technorati : 780g, 945G, CN896, amd, athlon, atom, efficient, energy, intel, nano, via
]]>With netbooks becoming popular nowadays, the desktop counterpart (known as the nettop) is also coming out of the shadows. We have pre-built nettops offered by different companies, but for the DIY crowd and/or enthusiasts, building your own is usually more rewarding.
The most popular processor currently available is the Intel Atom 230. It features:
1.6GHz Clock frequency 533 Bus frequency 512KB L2 cache 1 core / 2 threads SSE3 SIMD instruction set 64-bit extensions 45nm manufacturing process 4 watts TDP 1.1125V Core voltage
You can get the Intel D945GCLF Mini-ITX mainboard that features the Atom 230. Another Intel offering is the Atom 330 processor:
dual-core version of the Atom 230 1.6GHz Clock / 533MHz Bus 2 x 512KB L2 cache 2 Cores / 4 threads 8W TDP 1.1625V Core voltage
If you'd want the Atom 330 processor, you can get it with the Intel D945GCLF2 mainboard. Via also has a low-processor offering, which is the Via Nano L2100:
1.8GHz clock 800MHz Bus 1024KB L2 cache 1 core / 1 thread 65nm manufacturing process 25W TDP 1.2V Core voltage
Currently, I believe a production mainboard for the Via (Isaiah) Nano L2100 is not yet available, although it probably would be before the end of 2008. X-bit Labs did a performance comparison of the three mentioned low-power processors:
"... Overall, we can say that highly integrated solutions from Intel and VIA that never consume over 70W of power and offer pretty sufficient performance for a wide range of tasks a home user would ever need to work with. New generation of low-power platforms not only work with Internet applications in Windows Vista OS, but are also powerful enough for more resource-demanding tasks, such as office applications and HD video playback (with a few limitations)." [X-bit Labs | The Battle of Low-Power Processors: Best Choice for a Nettop ]
Choosing the right processor will definitely depend on your priorities. The Atom 230 is the one to choose for low cost and low power consumption. Performance-per-watt would go to the Atom 330, but the Via Nano is also looking good with its 1.8GHz clock, 1024KB L2 cache, dual DDR2 support, and 800MHz bus. Mini-ITX cases are available, and usually come with a 180W or so PSU. Do check what the form-factors of HDD (2.5 or 3.5) and ODD (regular or slim-type) the case accepts. You don't want to be stuck with a 3.5" hard drive, only to find out that the case you bought only accepts a mobile 2.5" HDD. You can also use a micro-ATX case, or even a regular ATX case if you wish. This could be a workaround if the mini-ITX cases that you find cannot accomodate a 3.5" HDD, or a full size optical drive. The trade off, however, is a bigger case footprint, when compared to a mini-ITX case.
Possible uses for a nettop:
simple web browsing and document-editing PC standalone BitTorrent PC file backup server NAS
Though the primary use for a nettop PC would probably be a secondary low-power consumption PC for web browsing and simple document editing, you can use it for your own specific purpose. Happy building!
Technorati : atom, compare, consumption, intel, isaiah, itx, low, mini, nano, nettop, power, via
]]>With netbooks becoming popular nowadays, the desktop counterpart (known as the nettop) is also coming out of the shadows. We have pre-built nettops offered by different companies, but for the DIY crowd and/or enthusiasts, building your own is usually more rewarding.
The most popular processor currently available is the Intel Atom 230. It features:
1.6GHz Clock frequency 533 Bus frequency 512KB L2 cache 1 core / 2 threads SSE3 SIMD instruction set 64-bit extensions 45nm manufacturing process 4 watts TDP 1.1125V Core voltage
You can get the Intel D945GCLF Mini-ITX mainboard that features the Atom 230. Another Intel offering is the Atom 330 processor:
dual-core version of the Atom 230 1.6GHz Clock / 533MHz Bus 2 x 512KB L2 cache 2 Cores / 4 threads 8W TDP 1.1625V Core voltage
If you'd want the Atom 330 processor, you can get it with the Intel D945GCLF2 mainboard. Via also has a low-processor offering, which is the Via Nano L2100:
1.8GHz clock 800MHz Bus 1024KB L2 cache 1 core / 1 thread 65nm manufacturing process 25W TDP 1.2V Core voltage
Currently, I believe a production mainboard for the Via (Isaiah) Nano L2100 is not yet available, although it probably would be before the end of 2008. X-bit Labs did a performance comparison of the three mentioned low-power processors:
"... Overall, we can say that highly integrated solutions from Intel and VIA that never consume over 70W of power and offer pretty sufficient performance for a wide range of tasks a home user would ever need to work with. New generation of low-power platforms not only work with Internet applications in Windows Vista OS, but are also powerful enough for more resource-demanding tasks, such as office applications and HD video playback (with a few limitations)." [X-bit Labs | The Battle of Low-Power Processors: Best Choice for a Nettop ]
Choosing the right processor will definitely depend on your priorities. The Atom 230 is the one to choose for low cost and low power consumption. Performance-per-watt would go to the Atom 330, but the Via Nano is also looking good with its 1.8GHz clock, 1024KB L2 cache, dual DDR2 support, and 800MHz bus. Mini-ITX cases are available, and usually come with a 180W or so PSU. Do check what the form-factors of HDD (2.5 or 3.5) and ODD (regular or slim-type) the case accepts. You don't want to be stuck with a 3.5" hard drive, only to find out that the case you bought only accepts a mobile 2.5" HDD. You can also use a micro-ATX case, or even a regular ATX case if you wish. This could be a workaround if the mini-ITX cases that you find cannot accomodate a 3.5" HDD, or a full size optical drive. The trade off, however, is a bigger case footprint, when compared to a mini-ITX case.
Possible uses for a nettop:
simple web browsing and document-editing PC standalone BitTorrent PC file backup server NAS
Though the primary use for a nettop PC would probably be a secondary low-power consumption PC for web browsing and simple document editing, you can use it for your own specific purpose. Happy building!
Technorati : atom, compare, consumption, intel, isaiah, itx, low, mini, nano, nettop, power, via
]]>The AMD 790GX is an integrated graphics chipset that has the following features:
HT 3.0/5,200 MT/s Processor Interface PCI Express 2.0/26 lanes/2x8 Graphics support RV610 integrated core (same with AMD 780G) DirectX 10.1 / OpenGL 2.1 700 MHz Graphics Clock DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI, VGA Display Outputs Hybrid CrossFireX, CrossFireX Multi-GPU support SB750 Southbridge (AMD 780G uses SB700) A-Link Xpress (4 x PCIe 1.1) Interconnect RAID 0, 1, 10, 5 support (AMD 780G lacked RAID 5)
Tom's Hardware compared the Gigabyte MA790GP-DS4H (790GX) with the Gigabyte MA78GPM-D2SH (780G) and ASUS M3N78 PRO (GeForce 8300) motherboards:
"... The SB750 is AMD's real strength here. Otherwise, we'd probably go for the inexpensive 780G with a Radeon HD 3870 or 4850. But with ACC and RAID 5 support wrapped up into AMD's new southbridge, the company finally has a platform to tie the assets it acquired from ATI into its own processor lineup. Naturally, it helps that the onboard RV610 core is now running at 700 MHz and aided by side-port memory. The main story here is ACC and what AMD is doing to make its processors more attractive in the face of a formidable opponent." [Tom's Hardware | AMD 790GX: RV610 For Enthusiasts?]
AnandTech previewed the 790GX:
"The 790GX Northbridge is actually a 780G that has its stock core clock speed increased from 500MHz to 700MHz along with a graphics core name change from Radeon HD 3200 to HD 3300. Sideport Memory, now called Performance Cache, is a "requested" feature on the boards that improves IG performance about 5% on average, sometimes less, sometimes more. The SB750 Southbridge is basically a SB700 with RAID 5 operation and the new ACC interface. Mix the two parts, stir, and you have the highest performing integrated graphics solution on the market today." [AnandTech | AMD 790GX - The Introduction]
The bottom line is that if you are decided with going with the AMD chipset route for your system build, the 790GX is the right choice if you need RAID 5, and are interested in some overclocking (thanks to the Advanced Clock Calibration).
Technorati : 780g, 790gx, 8300, amd, chipset, graphics, igp, integrated, nvidia, overclock, review, test
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