NVIDIA’s First Core-Logic for Intel Processors Reviewed

The Media Investigates NVIDIA’s nForce4 SLI Intel Edition

by Yaroslav Lyssenko

[ 04/06/2005 | 03:57 PM ]

For years NVIDIA Corp. has been creating powerful and feature-rich core-logic for computers based on processor for Advanced Micro Devices, which sometimes gave users of AMD-powered machines advantages over those who use “Intel Inside” PCs. But the situation is going to change, as NVIDIA is beginning to roll-out its chipsets for Intel processors, bringing multi-GPU SLI technology as well as hardware-based firewall security, advanced storage solutions and Gigabit Ethernet networking.

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Here is what the media thinks about reference nForce4 SLI Intel Edition mainboards by NVIDIA Corp.

“Like the Intel 925XE chipset, the nForce4 SLI Intel Edition will support a 1066MHz front side bus (FSB) and dual channel DDR2. As you would expect, the socket is Intel’s latest, the LGA775. Additionally, the board supports NVIDIA’s RAID and ActiveArmor firewall. One of the biggest impacts of this announcement and launch is the availability of SLI to Intel users. Now, AMD and Intel fans can enjoy the highest gaming performance available,” writes Bjorn3d.com.

“Due to, perhaps, the need to design a memory controller for LGA775 processors, NVIDIA has resorted to a traditional two-chip northbridge/southbridge design that’s connected via a high-speed HyperTransport link. That’s in stark contrast to the single-chip models for AMD. The nForce4 SLI Intel Edition will support all LGA775 CPUs, including the recently-introduced dual-core Smithfield. However, purchasers of retail motherboards will need to ensure that the nForce4 SLI Intel Edition board they’re considering do indeed support the Pentium D and XE 840 models, as partners may elect to produce more than one model on this chipset,” informs Hexus.net.

“NVIDIA’s nForce 4 SLI Intel Edition performed very well throughout our battery of benchmarks. Whether our nForce 4 SLI Intel Edition’s system memory was clocked at DDR2-667 or DDR2-533 speeds, it performed on-par with, or slightly better than, a similarly equipped system that was outfitted with an enthusiast-class motherboard based on Intel’s i925XE chipset,” claims HotHardware.

“Official high-speed memory support is another addition. Intel’s 925XE officially supports up to DDR2 533Mhz but the nForce 4 goes one step higher to DDR2 667. There is also an emphasis on low latency DDR2 modules. NVIDIA has been working together with Corsair to validate high performance memory for the nForce 4 for Intel with timings of 4-4-4-4 and 3-2-2-2. There seems to also be an implication that the nForce 4 is the only current Pentium 4 core logic chipset that allows for 1T timing - neither the Gigabyte 925x board or the ABIT 925XE based boards that we have allow for 1T,” writes Neoseeker.

“Although I have only used this system during the past six days, I threw a lot at the SLI setup by using 16X antialiasing, high quality texture filtering, and resolutions up to 2048x1536 (in Half-Life 2 no less). The system has been stable and the end results are impressive. Hard-core gamers that prefer Intel processors need to look no further than NVIDIA’s nForce4 SLI to deliver the best gaming experience on the market today,” concludes nV News.

“Despite the fact we used an early production board, the product was rock solid and should translate into a very reliable product once 3rd party manufacturers put their boards out. Obviously many of the teething pains associated with the chipset and SLI have been worked out during the past several months over at the AMD SLI side of things and the end result is very good news for Intel fans,” concludes Viperlair.com.

• Bjorn3d.com: NVIDIA nForce4 SLI Intel Edition.
• Hexus.net: NVIDIA nForce4 SLI Intel Edition.
• HotHardware: NVIDIA nForce 4 SLI Intel Edition.
• Neoseeker: NVIDIA nForce 4 SLI for Intel.
• nV News: NVIDIA nForce4 SLI Intel Edition Preview.
• Viperlair.com: NVIDIA nForce 4 SLI - Intel Edition.