X-bit labs

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

High End Chipsets Head-to-Head Comparison. Intel 975X Express vs. Nvidia nForce4 SLI 16x Intel Edition

Legion Hardware has compared two latest high-end chipsets for Intel Pentium processors. Intel 975X Express chipset has been put to head-to-head comparison with the Nvidia nForce4 SLI 16x Intel Edition.

The Intel 975X Express chipset is designed for the Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 955 dual-core processor which features 4MB L2 cache (2MB per core), 1066MHz processor system bus, Hyper-Threading technology and virtualization technology. An important feature of the latest chipset from Intel is support for multi-GPU technology, which is limited to ATI CrossFire.

Nvidia nForce4 SLI 16x Intel Edition chipset utilizes the company’s new system platform processors (the company refers its memory controller hubs as SPPs) and media and communication processors (MCPs), each of which sports 16 or more PCI Express lanes and connects to each other using high-speed “dedicated proprietary connection”. The new nForce4 SLI 16x inherited I/O capabilities of the first-generation nForce4 chipsets, which are among the world’s most feature-rich platform logic. Just as the name suggests this core-logic allows to install a pair or Nvidia graphics cards to take full advantage of Nvidia SLI multi-GPU technology.

The author compared core-logics in a series of synthetics, real-world and gaming benchmarks.

“There is realistically no difference in performance between the original nForce4 SLI chipset and the newer more expensive nForce4 x16 SLI chipset. The same can be said for the 955X and 975X chipsets, both deliver the same level of performance. Though the 975X does support CrossFire technology which is something. If Intel is to be the manufacturer of choice and you are not fussed about multi-GPU technology then the choice of either the 975X Express or the nForce4 x16 SLI chipset still remains. Out of the two I would go with an nForce 4 x16 SLI motherboard, but given your choices are limited to the ASUS P5N32-SLI Deluxe you may want to consider a standard SLI board,” concludes the author.

• Legion Hardware: Intel 975X Express vs. Nvidia nForce4 X16 SLI.

Laptop with Dual-Core Processor Reviewed. Extreme Rockdirect Notebook Investigated

Both most influential makers of x86 microprocessors – Advanced Micro Devices and Intel Corp. – started to introduce dual-core microprocessors for desktop, server and workstation computers. Sometimes the second core brought significant performance increases in applications developed for multi-processor systems, in some cases single-core chips that work on higher clock-speeds could claim victory over dual-core microprocessors.

Intel recently unveiled its dedicated dual-core notebook chip Core Duo, whereas AMD is expected to follow with dual-core Turion 64. But does multi-core matter in laptops?

UK-based high-performance system maker Rockdirect back in mid-2005 released its extreme desktop replacement (DTR) notebook based on AMD Athlon 64 X2 microprocessor aiming the product at gamers seeking high performance.

Hexus.net has managed to take a look at the Rockdirect Xtreme 64 DTR notebook featuring AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ microprocessor, 2GB of PC3200 DDR memory running in dual channel mode, a pair of 100GB Hitachi 7200rpm hard disk drives and Nvidia GeForce Go 6800 Ultra graphics chip. The notebook comes equipped with 17” WSXGA+ display with X-Glass technology and native resolution of 1680x1050.

“Think carefully about what you want a laptop to do. If it’s huge power on all fronts, rivalling decent desktop PCs, then the Rockdirect laptop fully deserves its Xtreme name, because once outfitted with a GeForce Go 7800 256MB card there’s not much available that will outmuscle it. Does the near-£2500 Rockdirect Xtreme 64 4800+ offer decent value for money? Probably not. Does it offer performance in spades? Yes, yes, and yes. A product for the niche market that requires power above all else,” concludes Hexus.net.

• Hexus.net: Rockdirect Xtreme 64 4800+ DTR.