CES 2005: Chipsets, Motherboards, and Memory
by Wesley Fink on January 13, 2005 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Trade Shows
With the death of Comdex in 2004, the computer press had every expectation that CES would fill the void. That expectation turned out to be overly optimistic as many major players in the chipset, motherboard and memory markets did not even make an appearance at CES this year. Those who did sport a booth or suite at the Las Vegas extravaganza had little new to show - although we did finally see some products that had been expected for many months. At least this year, CES was nothing like Computex in Taipei, or even the defunct Comdex.
There were a few new items, but not the kind of "blow-your-mind" excess that we see at Computex. Since Las Vegas is the city that has turned sin into cash and gaudy excess into class, we really expected more in the computer arena. Yes, this is still the week that CES shares Las Vegas with the Adult Film industry convention, so you get a picture of this strange mixture of pornography and Consumer Electronics that makes this city a bizarre place to land just after New Year's each year. Somehow, the Porno Academy Awards seem a better fit to the texture of Vegas than Consumer Electronics, but both are fixtures in this neon oasis.
The taxi drivers are still some of the rudest that you will find anywhere with their constant complaining that computer people are cheap. Everyone in Vegas seems to believe that separating visitors from their dollars is their only reason to exist, and for too many in Vegas, good service is a foreign concept. We even overheard a Hotel store clerk complaining loudly that Bill Gates was cheap. He told the story that Gates came in the Hotel shop for a few items that came to $84 and "complained about the price - a man with the money he has!" What totally escaped the clerk was that that $84 probably bought goods truly worth about $5, based on the fact that I paid $5 for 5 bandaids in the same shop. Instead, the Vegas mindset seems to be "if you have the money, I deserve a big chunk of it."
While the overall depth in the computer arena was not impressive, it is not to say that there weren't some very interesting and exciting products at a few booths and suites. SLI was hot on the breath of every chipset and board maker, and there were even a few unique developments in the memory market.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
22 Comments
View All Comments
SlinkyDink - Thursday, January 13, 2005 - link
"The single-chip nF4 is cooled by a new super low noise, long-life magnetic induction fan."Is "magnetic induction" just a fancy way to say typical? Isnt all ordinary fans powered by magnetic motors?
gordon151 - Thursday, January 13, 2005 - link
Aren't they afraid that motherboard will fall =/?shinotenshi - Thursday, January 13, 2005 - link
Hey wesley dont forget to test the thermalright xp-120 on the dfi-sli motherboard when you get it in for testingbupkus - Thursday, January 13, 2005 - link
"More please," about the new MicroATX IGP releases using ATI chipsets. We have a number of desktops using the ASUS A7N266-VM/AA that we may want to upgrade.Avalon - Thursday, January 13, 2005 - link
Holy voltages batman! DFI for the win. I can't believe their nf3 board still isn't in final production yet, but their nf4 board is. I don't need PCI express. I've already got a softmodded and highly overclockable 6800NU. I can't get a $200 PCI-e card that will be anywhere near as good.:(
Wesley Fink - Thursday, January 13, 2005 - link
#3 - We have a DFI SLI on the way and we will post a First Look as soon as we get our hands on the board. DFI assures us you will be able to buy the board by the end of January.#4 and #5 - Maybe the best indication that the nForce4 are starting to hit the market in volume is that we just received nForce4 boards for review from both Foxconn and ECS.
$6 - The taxi drivers seem to get ruder each year, and I'm a decent tipper. Anand had the same experience. I have to confess that I did have one taxi driver who was terrific. He must have been left over from '99.
Filibuster - Thursday, January 13, 2005 - link
>DFI will own the enthusiast market in very near future.I knew DFI has been coming along well lately but when I read your comment I sort of laughed until I read the article.
Hot damn DFI! That SLI board looks great.
>Damn this was lame. Am I the only one waiting for an Nforce4 939 board without the SLI from Asus?
I found it interesting that the Vegas taxi drivers are rude now. In 99 for Comdex they were all really great to me.
Oh... Asus?
Sammy911 - Thursday, January 13, 2005 - link
Damn this was lame. Am I the only one waiting for an Nforce4 939 board without the SLI from Asus?Zebo - Thursday, January 13, 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. "Forgot. ANAND pics please.. I've been though 4, yes four, 939 boards waiting for this!!!!
Zebo - Thursday, January 13, 2005 - link
DFI yummy:)DFI will own the enthusiast market in very near future.
4V vdimm OMG!! 2.1 Vcore ROTF all you preteners and so called "tier one" board makers better take notice.