CES 2005: Chipsets, Motherboards, and Memory
by Wesley Fink on January 13, 2005 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Trade Shows
nVidia nForce4
nForce4 launched on October 19th. Now, some 3 months later, you can only find 3 or 4 nF4 boards for sale at New Egg - two expensive SLI boards, a Gigabyte based on the lower-end 4X version of the chipset, and a value Chaintech Ultra. Based on what was on display at CES, that is about to change as the nF4 floodgates open.DFI
DFI was displaying two of the more interesting nForce4 boards at CES, and they tell us that you will be able to buy either of their new nForce4 boards by late January.
The full-blown DFI LANParty version is based on the nVidia nForce4 SLI chipset and has the kinds of features that enthusiasts have come to expect from DFI. This includes memory voltage to 4.0V from a default 2.5V, which should handle any memory overclocks and any memory that you might have in mind for this nF4. vCore is a similarly wide range to 2.1V from the default 1.5V. The single-chip nF4 is cooled by a new super low noise, long-life "magnetic levitation" fan. Audio is provided by the HD version of the Realtek audio codec on a Karajan module for the best possible Signal-to-Noise ratio. Yes, it is nVidia SLI with an x16 PCIe that can be split to two x8 with switches and a bridge. You will also be happy to see both an additional x4 and an x1 PCIe slot.
Both motherboards use jumpers instead of a switchable card to enable the use of two PCIe graphics cards. In order to save costs, DFI told us that they used the simple, but proven, method of jumpers instead.
For those still in the AGP camp, DFI also had the nForce3 250 socket 939 LanParty on display, but not in final PCB.
MSI
MSI confirmed with us that they are canceling their plans for an "SLI"-like motherboard based on the nForce4 Ultra chipset after pressure from nVidia to drop the project. The MSI "semi-SLI" Ultra has been mentioned a few times in the past, but apparently, the newest NVIDIA drivers prevent this SLI hack from working. EPoX and DFI are both introducing boards using a very similar principle to MSI's DBS solution, but they both also face the threat of NVIDIA pulling the plug with next generation drivers.
Abit
Abit has been closely tied to VIA chipsets in their recent Athlon 64 offerings. This time around, it was a bit of a surprise to see both an nForce4 Ultra Abit, called the AN8, along with the expected Abit board based on the VIA chipset.
ASUS
Although there were only a few new products at ASUS, they were very excited to announce to us that they are working on a dual socket 940 solution to finally give MSI's Master series a run for its money.AMD's dual core socket 939 processors were also running in a back room on ASUS' A8N-SLI Deluxe motherboards - without modification. Although we had known for some time that dual core would only require a BIOS update on AMD motherboards (at worst), the knowledge that off-the-shelf motherboards running AMD's newest gave us a further boost of confidence for the future. This is also in stark contrast to Anand's report that Intel dual-core will not run on current 915/925 chipset motherboards.
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MarkM - Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - link
>For those still in the AGP camp, DFI also had the nForce3 250 socket 939 LanParty on display, but not in final PCB.Well, that is depressing, "not in final PCB?" I figure that means it's at least another moneht before I'll ever see it. I was really trying hard to wait for this board for my 939/AGP build, but everyone else may be talking about the "Athlon 128" before it finally materializes! :)
PrinceGaz - Friday, January 14, 2005 - link
I don't want SLI either, but the second x16 slot will work as a x1 in "single graphics-card mode", so you don't lose anything by going for the SLI capable board. The Asus SLI board effectively gives you three PCIe x1 slots then.It's probably worth holding off just slightly longer anyway because AMD's E0 revision A64 cores should be out soon, which as well as the SSE3 instructions, are expected to be manufactured using the latest strained-silicon process which further reduces power-consumption and increases overclocking potential.
sophus - Friday, January 14, 2005 - link
#5 I'm TRYING to wait for nforce4 non-SLI also.but only the gigabyte GA-K8NF-9 is available for about $150.is it wrong to want AMD + PCIe? late january couldn't come sooner...
I wanted a nice SLI rig but the initial prices are too steep for my liking.
geogecko - Friday, January 14, 2005 - link
#5. No, actually, there are two of us. Any word on when the A8N-E Premium will be available? This board looks perfect for the HTPC community, with the low profile chipset passive cooler.Where is it ASUS???
smn198 - Friday, January 14, 2005 - link
What do you think the chances are that once we have dual core, we will get 939 dual socket boards? I'd be interested!Swaid - Thursday, January 13, 2005 - link
#15If it's what I am assuming they are talking about, is that there is no need for a bearing surface since the whole fan housing is suspended in a magnetic field... Sure all other case fans are turned by an alternating magnetic field, but they are also not suspended by that same (maybe?) field. This would greatly reduce friction and cut down noise. It would be nice to see a diagram of this to know what they are specifically talking about. Sounds exactly what #16 said... Using MagLev technology (just on a smaller scale).
Decel - Thursday, January 13, 2005 - link
Actually, I believe that they're using MagLev..PrinceGaz - Thursday, January 13, 2005 - link
Hehe, I take my (virtual) hat off to DFI's marketing division for coming up with that magnetic-field nonsense. All fans regardless of their bearings effectively spin in a magnetic-field, that's what is making them spin.Its strange that when they say it "reduces friction, wear and tear, and heat generation", that they don't include the first thing someone might notice about a chipset fan-- noise. Instead they claim the fan operates more efficiently without any proof.
Don't get me wrong, I may buy a DFI mobo when I build my nForce4 box, but marketing bull like this really turns me off.
Momental - Thursday, January 13, 2005 - link
"the Fatal1ty AN8, based on the same nF4 ultra chipset, but geared toward top gaming with a price of over $300"Did I read that correctly??? ABit will be coming out with a motherboard that retails for THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS?? Umm.........yeah. What does it do besides make the most fantastic cup of Columbian coffee and amazing brownies?? I'm no cheapskate, by any means, but ya gotta be kiddin' me. That's some serious coin for a board.
Wesley Fink - Thursday, January 13, 2005 - link
#11 and #12 - We asked DFI your questions and they are answered in the Press release:"both nForce4 chipset based motherboards feature Japanese aluminum electrolytic capacitors, magnetic levitation north bridge cooling fan with fan speed control, and all aluminum heat sink on mosfets. The conductive polymer (electrolytic) aluminum solid capacitors provide high resistance to over-voltage and reverse voltage as compared with other capacitors, making them the ideal choice for overclocking and mission critical motherboards. To further provide maximum cooling on-board, both motherboards feature DFI’s first magnetic levitation chipset cooling fan that moves almost twice the air compared to standard chipset fans while producing extremely little noise. Thanks to magnetic levitation technology, the spinning fan blades “float” in a magnetic field and thereby dramatically reduces friction, wear and tear, and heat generation."
We have also corrected the description to the more accurate "Magnetic Levitation".