Gigabyte has announced the launch of the G31 Series Motherboards based on the Intel G31 chipset. These motherboards use Gigabyte Dynamic Energy Saver technology, and deliver huge power savings and better power efficiency for the computers.
The company offers two models in this series - GA-EG31M-S2 and GA-EG31MF-S2. The former has Ultra Durable2 design for its CPU Voltage Regulator Module (VRM). This ensures better cooling, lower power loss and longer lifespan for computers in daily operation, and boosts system stability even under extreme conditions.
"Gigabyte Dynamic Energy Saver Series Motherboards are able to provide exceptional power savings of up to 70% improved power efficiency, without sacrificing computing performance, our entry model GA-EG31M-S2 is DES compliant," said Rajan Sharma, general manager (MB and VGA BU) of Gigabyte India.
According to a Gigabyte communique, these motherboards are compatible with high-end processors including Intel Core 2 multi-core and 45nm processors. The motherboards come equipped with dual Channel DDR2 800 memory.
These also have the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100 that supports Microsoft DirectX 9.0 and Windows Vista Aero experience, which improves realism and delivers excellent graphics performance.
Armed with the SATA specification, the bus bandwidth of the G31 Series is now doubled from 1.5Gb/s to 3Gb/s. The Native Command Queuing specification enables out-of-order execution of commands for efficient retrieval of data.
The Gigabit network interface delivers a high-speed LAN connection with data transfer rates - up to 1000Mb/s, gearing you up for the broadband and streaming video era. Also, supported is the
IEEE1394 Fire Wire interface from Texas Instruments (TI). With transfer speeds of up to 400Mb/s, this new generation interface enhances PC connectivity with consumer electronics audio/video (A/V) appliances, and storage peripherals.
Gigabyte GA-EG31M-S2 is priced at Rs.5500, and Gigabyte GA-EG31MF-S2 is priced at Rs.6000. They are distributed in India by Avnet, Ingram Micro and Redington.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Gigabyte Unveils New AMD AM2+ Platform MB
Gigabyte, a manufacturer of motherboards (MB) and graphics cards, has extended its line up of AMD 780G based motherboards to include the new ATX form factor. The new motherboard, Gigabyte GA-MA78G-DS3H, features the first DirectX 10 IGP (Integrated Graphics Processor) solution for the AM2+ platform.
Based on the AMD 780G chipset, the GA-MA78G-DS3H offers support for AM2 Athlon processors as well as the latest AM2+ Phenom processors with ultra-low latency, high bandwidth Hyper Transport 3.0 (5200MT/s) technology.
At the heart of the MB lies the ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics core, featuring support for DirectX 10, Shader Model 4.0 and OpenGL2.0. The new MB is able to boost the GPU frequency up to 950 MHz, delivering UMA graphics performance with a 3DMARK06 score of 2000 or higher, the company claimed.
The AMD 780G meets the HDCP specification for output protection management and security specifications of the latest Blu-Ray media format. Featuring support for ATI UVD (Universal Video Decoder) technology and ATI Avivo technology, the MB provides picture clarity at resolution up to Full HD 1080P for fine image quality and smooth playback. High-Definition multimedia support is carried throughout the Radeon HD 3200 outputs, which include not only D-Sub and DVI, but also HDMI to support numerous monitors.
The GA-MA78G-DS3H also provides an additional PCI-E 2.0 x16 graphics interface and a PCI-E2.0 x4 expansion slot to support the ATI Hybrid Graphics technology, allowing users to combine the power of their integrated ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics core by adding an additional discrete graphics card, for enhanced 3D gaming performance, productivity and power efficiency.
ATI SurroundVIew provides support for 4 or more monitors with the addition of a discrete graphics card, allowing users to maximize their productivity while ATI PowerPlay enables power-saving profiles to help reduce power consumption when the graphics processor is idle or in minimal use for reduced system temperatures and fan noise.
The motherboard is equipped with the built-in high-definition 7.1 + 2 channel Realtek ALC889A audio chip, whose 106dB signal-to-noise ratio reduces noise during signal transmission.
The GA-MA78G-DS3H also features a solid capacitor design for the CPU VRM, providing system stability and reliability.
Based on the AMD 780G chipset, the GA-MA78G-DS3H offers support for AM2 Athlon processors as well as the latest AM2+ Phenom processors with ultra-low latency, high bandwidth Hyper Transport 3.0 (5200MT/s) technology.
At the heart of the MB lies the ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics core, featuring support for DirectX 10, Shader Model 4.0 and OpenGL2.0. The new MB is able to boost the GPU frequency up to 950 MHz, delivering UMA graphics performance with a 3DMARK06 score of 2000 or higher, the company claimed.
The AMD 780G meets the HDCP specification for output protection management and security specifications of the latest Blu-Ray media format. Featuring support for ATI UVD (Universal Video Decoder) technology and ATI Avivo technology, the MB provides picture clarity at resolution up to Full HD 1080P for fine image quality and smooth playback. High-Definition multimedia support is carried throughout the Radeon HD 3200 outputs, which include not only D-Sub and DVI, but also HDMI to support numerous monitors.
The GA-MA78G-DS3H also provides an additional PCI-E 2.0 x16 graphics interface and a PCI-E2.0 x4 expansion slot to support the ATI Hybrid Graphics technology, allowing users to combine the power of their integrated ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics core by adding an additional discrete graphics card, for enhanced 3D gaming performance, productivity and power efficiency.
ATI SurroundVIew provides support for 4 or more monitors with the addition of a discrete graphics card, allowing users to maximize their productivity while ATI PowerPlay enables power-saving profiles to help reduce power consumption when the graphics processor is idle or in minimal use for reduced system temperatures and fan noise.
The motherboard is equipped with the built-in high-definition 7.1 + 2 channel Realtek ALC889A audio chip, whose 106dB signal-to-noise ratio reduces noise during signal transmission.
The GA-MA78G-DS3H also features a solid capacitor design for the CPU VRM, providing system stability and reliability.
Intel Offers Motherboards Targeting Kind of Use
ntel Corporation has launched 3 new motherboards, namely, Desktop Board DX48BT2 Extreme Series, Desktop Board DG35EC Classic Series and Desktop Board D945GCLF Essential Series.
The keyboards, individually aimed at the extreme gamer, the mainstream multi-media user, and the entry-level PC users, enable a number of features for today's PCs, such as - greater PC performance, clearer definition video and low-powered technologies.
Tom Rampone, vice president, Sales and Marketing Group, and general manager, Channel, Intel, says, "From ultimate gaming bliss, to crisp high definition, to the most-affordable internet-centric desktop, Intel continues to push the boundaries of world-class desktop offerings. As the demand for desktops across the board moves from strength to strength, we are also quickly moving towards more feature differentiation and innovation down our product roadmap."
According to the company, for extreme gaming performance, Desktop Board DX48BT2 Extreme Series board unleashes the fastest native 1600 MHz front side bus and memory support, providing powerful performance and extreme overclockability.
For mainstream users, who want to experience a new level of 3D and media crispiness, the Desktop Board DG35EC Classic Series board's built with sharpest performing integrated graphics, supported on Intel architecture, informs the manufacturer.
Belonging to an exciting new category of computers called Nettops - a new family of affordable desktop computing devices purpose-built for Internet-centric usage models - the Desktop Board D945GCLF is an affordable and unique motherboard, which integrates a single unit of computer with a microprocessor, chipset, motherboard, and heat sink, communicates Intel.
The keyboards, individually aimed at the extreme gamer, the mainstream multi-media user, and the entry-level PC users, enable a number of features for today's PCs, such as - greater PC performance, clearer definition video and low-powered technologies.
Tom Rampone, vice president, Sales and Marketing Group, and general manager, Channel, Intel, says, "From ultimate gaming bliss, to crisp high definition, to the most-affordable internet-centric desktop, Intel continues to push the boundaries of world-class desktop offerings. As the demand for desktops across the board moves from strength to strength, we are also quickly moving towards more feature differentiation and innovation down our product roadmap."
According to the company, for extreme gaming performance, Desktop Board DX48BT2 Extreme Series board unleashes the fastest native 1600 MHz front side bus and memory support, providing powerful performance and extreme overclockability.
For mainstream users, who want to experience a new level of 3D and media crispiness, the Desktop Board DG35EC Classic Series board's built with sharpest performing integrated graphics, supported on Intel architecture, informs the manufacturer.
Belonging to an exciting new category of computers called Nettops - a new family of affordable desktop computing devices purpose-built for Internet-centric usage models - the Desktop Board D945GCLF is an affordable and unique motherboard, which integrates a single unit of computer with a microprocessor, chipset, motherboard, and heat sink, communicates Intel.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
MSI K9A2 Platinum Spec Sheet
AMD CPUs including the Phenom X4 9750 and the Phenom X3 8750 CPUs that were just launched. MSI needs to update their spec sheet. Note, that for the latest CPUs you need to have the latest BIOS update to 1.4 from the MSI website. That’s one advantage of the AMD platform; a simple BIOS update may be all that is needed to install a new CPU. HyperTransport 3.0 is the latest version of the bus that AMD uses to communicate between the CPU and the chipset. The AMD 790FX chipset supports HT 3.0 for up to 5200 megabits/second bandwidth between the chipset and CPU. When an older chipset like the AMD 690G works with a newer CPU like the Phenom X3, HyperTransport is limited to the 2.0 specification as the chipset doesn’t have the speed of the CPU, but with the 790FX chipset this isn’t an issue as the chipset fully supports HTT3.0.
AMD video cards have a feature that NVIDIA video cards can’t do at the moment, they can put four cards in CrossFireX mode while NVIDIA has limited this to three. The 790FX chipset is the first one with support for four ATI cards in CrossFireX mode. The MSI K9A2 Platinum has four PCI Express x16 slots for that express purpose. Note, that the last PCI Express x16 slot may interfere with your FDD port as the heat sink of a HD3870 covers the port when installed. When four video cards are installed, the chipset operates the cards in x8 x8 x8 x8 mode.
CPU
Supports 64-bit AMD® Phenom FX / Phenom processor (Socket AM2+)
Supports Phenom FX CPU: FX-82
Supports Phenom CPU: 9700, 9600, 9500 & 8000 Series
Supports 64-bit AMD® Athlon 64FX / Athlon 64 X2 / Athlon 64 processor (Socket AM2)
Supports Athlon 64 CPU: 3500+, 3800+
Supports Athlon 64FX CPU: FX-62
Supports Athlon 64 X2 CPU: 3800+, 4000+, 4200, 4400+, 4600+, 4800+, 5000+, 5200+, 5400+, 6000+, 6400+
Chipset
AMD 790FX (AMD RD790) Chipset
HyperTransport connection to AMD Phenom/Athlon processor
HyperTransport supporting speed up to 2.6GHz (5200mt/s)
Supports 4 PCI-E x 16, & 1 PCI-E X 1
ATI SB600 Chipset
Supports SATAII controllers for four drives
Supports single channel Ultra DMA 66/100/133 master mode EIDE controller
ACPI & PC2001 compliant enhanced power management
Supports Hi-Speed (USB2.0) controller 480 mbsec transfer rate up to 10 ports
Main Memory
Supports 4 240-pin DDR2 SDRAMs up to 8GB memory size
Supports Dual Channel DDR2 800/1066 DDR2 SDRAM
Supports 1.8v DDR2 SDRAM DIMM
Example: Kingston HyperX DDR2-800 PC-6400 operates at 2.0V, 4-4-4-12. For more information about specification of high performance memory modules, please check with your Memory Manufactures for more details.
Slots
Four PCI Express X16 slots , support ATI CrossFire Technology (PCI Express Bus Specification v2.0 compliant)
{Slot configurations: Dual CrossFire (16X+16X), Triple CrossFire (16X+8X+8X), Quad CrossFire (8X+8X+8X+8X)}
One PCI Express X1 slot
Two 32-bit PCI slots (3.3v/5v PCI Bus Master slots)
On Board IDE/SATA
An IDE controller on the ATI SB600 chipset provides IDE HDD/CD-ROM with PIO, Bus Master and Ultra DMA133/100/66 operation modes.
Can connect up to 2 IDE devices
SB600 supports 4 SATA II ports (SATA1-4). Transfer rate is up to 300MB/s.
Supports up to 4 SATA
RAID 0 or 1, 0+1 is supported
RAID function` work w/ SATA/SATAII HDDs
Promise T3 controller supports 2 SATAII (SATA5/6)(SAS ready) & 2eSATA ports
RAID 0, 1, or 0+1 is supported
RAID function work with SATA/eSATA HDDs
BIOS
The mainboard BIOS provides "Plug & Play" BIOS which detects the peripheral devices and expansion cards of the board automatically.
The mainboard provides a Desktop Management Interface (DMI) function which records your mainboard specifications.
Supports boot from LAN, USB Device 1.1 & 2.0 and SATA HDD
Audio
8 Channel software audio codec Realtek ALC888
Compliance with Azalia v1.0 spec.
Flexible 8-channel audio with jack sensing
LAN
Realtek® 8111B LAN chip
Supports 10Mb/s, 100Mb/s and 1000Mb/s
Compliance with PCI-Express v1.0a
IEEE1394
VIA VT6308P controller
Support up to 2 IEEE 1394 ports (rear x 1 / front x 1)
Transfer rate up to 400 mbps.
On-Board Peripherals
1 floppy port supports 1 FDD with 360K, 720K, 1.2M, 1.44M and 2.88Mbytes
1 serial port (supported by pin-out)
1 audio jack (5-in-1), coaxial/fibre SPDIF out
10 USB 2.0 ports (Rear x 4 / Front x 6)
1 RJ45 LAN jack
2 eSATA ports
2 IEEE 1394 a connectors (Rear x 1/ Front x 1)
1 CD-in pinheader
Dimension
12 in (L) x 9.75 in(W) ATX Form Factor
Mounting
9 mounting holes
MSI K9A2 Platinum Review
Intel motherboards dominate the market since their CPUs also dominate the market. Their main rival in the consumer business AMD has continued to struggle with their business mainly due to the inability of their CPUs to compete with their Intel counterparts, with the announcement that they lost $300 million USD in their last quarter. AMD has continued to have a market among the mainstream CPU market as their CPUs are competitive with the mainstream Intel CPUs while AMD competes well with the Intel mainstream CPUs. MSI is still a major player in the motherboard market with motherboards being a small portion of their lineup that includes graphics cards, barebones systems, notebook computers and more. They have mostly been ignored by this site due to some issues. I’m reviewing the MSI K9A2 Platinum Edition motherboard today based on AMD’s 790FX chipset.
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