nVidia has just introduced its first chipsets for the Intel platform to support Hybrid SLI: GeForce 9300 and GeForce 9400. Both chipsets feature on-board video with a DirectX 10 engine and are single-chip solutions. The only difference between them is the clock rate under their graphics engine run. On the table below we compare the basic specs from these two new chipsets.
EVGA has just launched nForce 790i SLI FTW mainboard, as its own name implies, it is based on the latest high-end chipset from nVidia for the Intel platform. What is new on nForce 790i compared to its predecessor, 780i, is the support for DDR3 memories and PCI Express 2.0 support generated by the chipset itself. This EVGA mainboard supports Intel 45-nm processors based on socket 775 and DDR3 memories up to 2,000 MHz (8 GB max), has three PCI Express x16 slots, two PCI Express x1 slots, two PCI slots, nine SATA-300 ports, tem USB 2.0 ports (six soldered on the rear panel and four available thru I/O brackets), two Gigabit Ethernet ports, two Firewire ports and it has other features like on-board CMOS clear, reset and power switches (which are quite convenient for overclockers), a POST (Power On Self Test) diagnostics display, advanced 8-phase voltage regulator, 100% solid state capacitors, 100% ferrite core chokes and BIOS for extended range voltage settings. It’s MSRP is of USD 339.99.
MSI has launched ‘P45-D8 Memory Lover’, a motherboard equipped with eight memory slots, four of them used by DDR2 memories (up to 16 GB) and the four remaining used by DDR3 memories (up to 8 GB). So you can use your DDR2 memories on this board and as soon as DDR3 price declines you can upgrade to this technology by just replacing the memories. P45-8D Memory Lover is also equipped with one PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot, one PCI Express x1 slot, three PCI slots, 8-channel high-definition audio and a heat-pipe installed on north bridge and south bridge chips. No word about pricing and availability.
AMD has just launched 790 GX chipset equipped with ATI Radeon HD 3300 graphics engine and supporting Advanced Clock Calibration (ACC), a technology that optimizes overclocking potential of Phenom processors. AMD 790 GX also supports Hybrid CrossFireX and CrossFireX, HyperTransport 3.0, Cool'nQuiet 2.0 and Unified Video Decoder (UVD) technologies. Paired with SB750 south bridge, 790 GX chipset supports 12 USB ports and six SATA-300 (RAID 0,1,5 and 10) ports.
Gigabyte has officially unveiled EP45-Extreme motherboard series targeted to overclocking enthusiasts. Two boards were launched within this new series: GA-EP45T-EXTREME e GA-EP45-EXTREME. The only difference between them is that the former supports only DDR3 up to 1,900 MHz, while the latter supports only DDR2 up to 1,600 MHz. Both boards are based on Intel P45 chipset (with Intel ICH10R south bridge), support FSB up to 1,600 MHz, two PCI Express x16 slots (one of them running a x8), one PCI Express x4 slot, one PCI Express x1 slot, three PCI slots, six SATA-300 ports, one IDE port, one floppy disk port, two Gigabit Ethernet ports and they support up to 12 USB 2.0 and three Firewire (IEEE1394a) ports.
On the audio section a Realtek ALC889A codec is used. It features a 106 dB signal-to-noise ratio, 7.1+2 channels (translation: besides the 8-channel surround sound, it features an extra stereo channel, usually used for audio streaming) and DTS Connect compatibility (i.e. Blu-Ray and HD-DVD audio compatibility).
Motherboards from EP45-Extreme series also have a myriad of overclocking options and a copper heat-pipe used for liquid and traditional cooling.
ASUS has just unveiled ROG Rampage Extreme, a motherboard targeted to overclocking enthusiasts based on Intel X48 chipset. This motherboard has a myriad of overclocking options that can be adjusted on-the-fly through a joystick-like control without entering the BIOS Setup. ROG Rampage Extreme also has a LCD POST display and comes with an add-on sound card called SupremeFX X-Fi based on an Analog Devices ADI2000B codec, which is connected to a PCI Express x1 slot. Its MSRP isn’t available yet. See the specs for this new ASUS motherboard below.
CPU Support: Intel Core 2 Extreme/Core 2 Quad/Core 2 Duo/Pentium D/Pentium 4/Celeron 400 Series/Celeron D Processor
FSB Support: up to 1,600 MHz
Chipsets: Intel X48/ICH9R
Socket: LGA 775
Memory: Four DDR3-DIMM sockets up to DDR3-2000 MHz (8 GB max.)
ASUS has just launched ROG Maximus II Formula, a motherboard targeted to gamers based on Intel P45 chipset. This motherboard comes with an add-on sound card called SupremeFX X-Fi based on an Analog Devices ADI2000B codec, which is connected to a PCI Express x1 slot. The ROG Maximus II Formula MSRP is USD 289. See the specs for this new ASUS motherboard below.
CPU Support: Intel Core 2 Extreme/Core 2 Quad/Core 2 Duo/Pentium D/Pentium 4/Celeron 400 Series/Celeron D Processor
FSB Support: up to 1,600 MHz
Chipsets: Intel P45/ICH10R
Socket: LGA 775
Memory: Four DDR2-DIMM sockets up to DDR2-1200 MHz (max. 16 GB)
Biostar releases the motherboard TPower I45, based on the Intel P45 chipset. It is designed to overclock and with 'Cooler Harbor’ Thermal noiseles solution. Check the specifications:
CPU Support: Intel Core2 Extreme/Core 2 Quad/Core 2 Duo/Pentium D/Pentium 4/Celeron 400 Series/Celeron D Processor
Gigabyte has released pictures and specifications of the new motherboard EP45 Extreme, based on Intel P45. Schedule to be launched by end of June, the new mobo supportsIntel Core 2 Multi Core and 45nm processors with FSB 1600 MHz.
It comes with cooling design Pure Copper thermal design featuring Water Cooling. The all pure copper design helps the cooler to efficiently remove the heat from motherboard by the Tower-like heat sink. The hybrid silent pipe features both heatpipe and water cooling technologies.
The mobo has some overclocking friendly features, as more voltage control options (CPU, NB, memory) and finer steps control (20 mV min.). It also provides an onboard quick switch, which power/reset. CIr CMOS buttons located directly on board.
It also has 2 PCI-E 2.0 x16 and PCI-E 2.0 x4 with Quad CrossFire.
VIA Technologies announced the EPIA PX5000EG Pico-ITX board, which features the extremely power efficient 500MHz VIA Eden ULV processor. The Pico-ITX form factor measures a mere 10cm x 7.2cm and includes both LVDS/DVI and VGA support, integrated 5.1 channel audio, fast 100/10 Ethernet, both IDE and S-ATA drive support and up to six USB ports and a COM port. Check more specifications:
Processor: VIA C7 1.0GHz NanoBGA2 Processor, VIA Eden ULV 500MHz NanoBGA2
Chipset: VIA VX700 Unified Digital Media IGP chipset
System Memory: 1 x DDR2 533 SODIMM socket up to 1GB
Onboard IDE: 1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 connector (2.0 mm 44-pin header)
Onboard Serial ATA: 1 x SATA connector
Onboard LAN: 1 x VIA VT6106S 10/100 Mbps Ethernet controller
Onboard Audio: VIA VT1708A High Definition Audio Codec
Biostar has launched a new motherboard series called TPower, indicated for demanding users. The TPower N750 features the 'Hybrid Space-Pipe', a 'revolution of cooling concept', says Biostar. The solution combined with 'Cooler Harbor' and 'V-Pipe' delivers an advanced thermal performance and noise level reduction.
CPU Support: Supports AMD Phenom Series/Athlon 64/X2/64/FX/Sempron Processors
TYAN Tempest S5396 is now qualified under the Intel Qualified Server Board (IQSB) program. The platform supports the latest multi-core Intel Xeon Processor 5400 Series up to 1333MHz front side bus, with up to 12MB of L2 cache. The S5393 also features FB-DIMM memory slots with a maximum capacity of 64 GB, PCI-E 2.0, PCI Express x16 slots, PCI Express x8 slot, PCI-X 64-bit 133Mhz slots and PCI 32-bit 33Mhz slot. Also featured on the S5393 are GbE LAN, SATA2, SAS ports and onboard XGI Z9S graphics controller. Server Management is supported with the optional addition of the SMDC M3295-2 or M3296 cards.
Abit has announced the A-S78H MD platform motherboard, supporting ATI Hybrid CrossFireX Technology. Based on the AMD 780G chipset, the mobo comes with ATI Radeon HD3200 Graphics and the SB700. It supports AMD AM2+/AM2 processors running HT3.0 up to 5200MT/s and a maximum of 8GB memory capacity for Dual Channel DDR2 1066 modules. It also features 1 x PCI-E X16, 1 x PCI-E X1, and 2 x PCI slots and audio 5.1-Channel HD.
