by Grigoriy Gubankov
09/29/2003 | 01:45 PM
Following the recent release of numerous new NVIDIA nForce3 chipsets for AMD Athlon 64-series of microprocessors, numerous mainboard makers showcased loads of their products based on NVIDIA’s core-logic for AMD64 CPUs at Computex Taipei 2003 last week. The solutions are designed for various types of end-users and provide different functionality. Since after massive success of the original nForce2-series a lot of end-users are interested in the next-generation nForce3-based solutions, we decided to publish some preliminary specifications of such mainboards for your convenience.
Certainly, the most lucrative, high-end and powerful mainboards for AMD Athlon 64 microprocessors this year will be NVIDIA nForce3 Pro 150 platforms supporting Socket 940 edition of the CPU, the Athlon 64 FX. Frankly speaking, the Athlon 64 FX chips as well as registered memory cost so lot that mainboard makers do not really want to produce them in quantities because there is a high risk about low demand for such CPUs as well as supporting products.
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Brand Name: | Gigabyte K8NNXP-940 | Leadtek WinFast K8NW | |||
Core-Logic: | NVIDIA nForce3 Pro 150 | ||||
PSB: | 800MHz 16-bit HT links | ||||
Memory: | Up to 3 GB of PC3200; | Up to 8 GB of PC3200; | |||
Expansion Slots: | 5 PCI; 1 AGP 8x | 5 PCI; 1 AGP Pro 8x | |||
| Integrated Graphics | None | ||||
Parallel ATA-100: | 2-channel ATA-33/66/100/133 integrated controller; 2-channel IDE RAID controller | 2-channel ATA-33/66/100/1/33 integrated controller | |||
Serial ATA-150: | 2-channel | 4-channel | |||
USB 2.0: | Up to 6 ports | ||||
FireWire (IEEE1394): | 3 ports | 2 ports | |||
LAN: | 10/100/1000Mb/s | 10/100Mb/s and 10/100/1000Mb/s (2 ports) | |||
Audio: | 6-channel AC'97 | 6-channel AC'97 (ALC658) | |||
Additional Features: | DualBIOS | Optional WLAN slot | |||
Form Factor: | ATX | ||||
Notes: | Revision 2 |
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Currently there is only one mainboard with Socket 940 supporting AMD Athlon 64 FX chips - the already well-known ASUS SK8N. In a number of weeks from now Gigabyte Technology and LeadTek Research will launch their K8NNXP-940 and WinFast K8NW products.
As you see, very few companies are going to offer something for the Socket 940 processors at this time based on NVIDIA nForce3 Pro 150 chipset. This is caused not only by the fact that Socket 940 CPUs are too expensive for mainstream users, but also because mainboard makers have to use a lot of third-party components on their nForce3 Pro 150-based platforms because this core-logic does not have all necessary controllers integrated.
A little bit less interesting from performance point of view, but a far more feature-rich and cost-effective platform will be based on NVIDIA nForce3 250Gb for Socket 754 processors. Such AMD Athlon 64 CPUs do not cost an arm and a leg, like their Socket 940 brethren, but still offer high performance and 64-bit support for future applications.
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Brand Name: | Gigabyte K8NNXP | BIOSTAR K8NHA GRAND | Shuttle AN51R | ||
Core-Logic: | NVIDIA nForce3 250Gb | ||||
PSB: | 800MHz 16-bit HT links | ||||
Memory: | Up to 3 GB of PC3200; | Up to 2 GB of PC3200; | Up to 4 GB of PC3200; | ||
Expansion Slots: | 5 PCI; 1 AGP 8x | 5 PCI; 1 CNR; 1 AGP 8x | 5 PCI; 1 AGP 8x | ||
| Integrated Graphics | None | ||||
Parallel ATA-100: | 2-channel ATA-33/66/100/133 integrated controller; 2-channel IDE RAID controller | 2-channel ATA-33/66/100/1/33 integrated controller | |||
Serial ATA-150: | 2-channel | None | |||
USB 2.0: | Up to 6 ports | ||||
FireWire (IEEE1394): | 3 ports | None | |||
LAN: | 10/100/1000Mb/s | ||||
Audio: | 6-channel AC'97 | 6-channel AC'97 (ALC655) | 8-channel AC'97 | ||
Additional Features: | DualBIOS | Optional WLAN slot | |||
Form Factor: | ATX | ||||
Notes: | Revision 2 |
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The nForce3 250Gb chip itself is not going to be inexpensive, hence, do not expect it to be adopted widely from the very start. As you see, only three mainboard companies plan to release platforms powered by this core-logic. But as NVIDIA ramps up production of nForce3 250 and 250Gb, I expect more makers to adopt these solutions, as their precies are likely to be lower eventually. However, this year AMD64 platforms will definitely not become affordable and all price drops mentioned here should be considered as minor ones.
Probably the least interesting for hardcore enthusiasts Socket 754 mainboards based on NVIDIA nForce3 150 platform processors are expected to gain the highest popularity among general end-users interested in innovations. Since Socket 754 processors are considerably cheaper than the Socket 940 chips, mainboard makers even are not afraid of incorporating NVIDIA's nForce3 150 core-logic with insufficient I/O features - the demand for such products is expected to be high enough and their risks are lower.
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Brand Name: | Shuttle AN50R | Gigabyte K8N Pro | Jetway N3KA | EPoX 8KDA |
Core-Logic: | NVIDIA nForce3 150 | |||
PSB: | 800MHz 16-bit HT links | |||
Memory: | Up to 3 GB of PC3200; | Up to 3 GB of PC3200; | Up to 2 GB of PC3200; | Up to 3 GB of PC3200; |
Expansion Slots: | 5 PCI; 1 AGP 8x | |||
| Integrated Graphics | None | |||
Parallel ATA-100: | 2-channel ATA-33/66/100/133 integrated controller | 2-channel ATA-33/66/100/1/33 integrated controller; 2-channel IDE RAID controller | 2-channel ATA-33/66/100/1/33 integrated controller | |
Serial ATA-150: | 2-channel | None | ||
USB 2.0: | Up to 6 ports | |||
FireWire (IEEE1394): | 3 ports | None | ||
LAN: | 10/100/1000Mb/s | 10/100Mb/s | ||
Audio: | 6-channel AC'97 | 6-channel AC'97 (ALC658) | 6-channel AC'97 | |
Additional Features: | DualBIOS | POST codes indicator | ||
Form Factor: | ATX | |||
Notes: |
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As you see, there are about 12 mainboards powered by NVIDIA nForce3 150 chipset thate are planned for release this year. There may be even more products since there will be solutions with less functions at lower price points.
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Brand Name: | AOpen AK89 Max | AOpen MK89-1394 | Soltek SL-K8AN-LR | ABIT KN8 | |
Core-Logic: | NVIDIA nForce3 150 | ||||
PSB: | 800MHz 16-bit HT links | ||||
Memory: | Up to 3 GB of PC3200; | Up to 2 GB of PC3200; | Up to 3 GB of PC3200; | ||
Expansion Slots: | 5 PCI; 1 AGP 8x | 3 PCI; 1 AGP 8x | 5 PCI; 1 AGP 8x | ||
| Integrated Graphics | None | ||||
Parallel ATA-100: | 2-channel ATA-33/66/100/133 integrated controller | 2-channel ATA-33/66/100/1/33 integrated controller | 2-channel ATA-33/66/100/1/33 integrated controller; 1-channel IDE RAID controller | 2-channel ATA-33/66/100/1/33 integrated controller | |
Serial ATA-150: | 4-channel | None | 3-channel | None | |
USB 2.0: | Up to 6 ports | ||||
FireWire (IEEE1394): | 3 ports | None | |||
LAN: | 10/100/1000Mb/s | 10/100Mb/s | |||
Audio: | 6-channel AC'97 | ||||
Additional Features: | Hercules PCI, SilentTek |
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Form Factor: | ATX | MicroATX | ATX | ||
Notes: |
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As you see, among Socket 754 mainboards based on the cost-effective version of the nForce3 there are both very conservative products, such as ABIT KN8, as well as really powerful solutions, such as Chaintech NZF3 150.
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Brand Name: | BIOSTAR K8NHA Pro | BIOSTAR K8NHA-M | Leadtek Winfast K8N | Chaintech NZF3 150 | |
Core-Logic: | NVIDIA nForce3 150 | ||||
PSB: | 800MHz 16-bit HT links | ||||
Memory: | Up to 3 GB of PC3200; | Up to 2 GB of PC3200; | Up to 3 GB of PC3200; | ||
Expansion Slots: | 5 PCI; 1 AGP 8x | 3 PCI; 1 AGP 8x | 5 PCI; 1 AGP 8x | ||
| Integrated Graphics | None | ||||
Parallel ATA-100: | 2-channel ATA-33/66/100/133 integrated controller; 2-channel IDE RAID controller | 2-channel ATA-33/66/100/1/33 integrated controller | 2-channel ATA-33/66/100/1/33 integrated controller | ||
Serial ATA-150: | 2-channel | None | 4-channel | ||
USB 2.0: | Up to 6 ports | ||||
FireWire (IEEE1394): | 2 ports | 3 ports | |||
LAN: | 10/100/1000Mb/s | 10/100Mb/s | 10/100Mb/s and 10/100/1000Mb/s (2 ports) | 10/100/1000Mb/s | |
Audio: | 6-channel AC'97 (ALC655) | 6-channel AC'97 | 6-channel AC'97 (ALC658) | 8-channel AC'97 | |
Additional Features: | Oprional WLAN slot |
| X-Wall data security (for PRO version) | RadEX cooling, CBOX3, proprietary CMR slot | |
Form Factor: | ATX | MicroATX | ATX | ||
Notes: |
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To sum up, a lot of mainboard makers support both NVIDIA nForce3 as well as AMD Athlon 64-series of microprocessors. Obviously, they see some bright future for this pair. Time will tell if they are right.