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Now that I have your attention lets have a closer look at the video! You can see that the socket has now enlarged to compensate for the inbuilt memory controller which AMD thought of when they first started creating processors! What advantage Intel will have I’m not sure but i can imagine there will be no bottle neck between the memory and processor data transfer. I am also undecided whether I like the new memory configurations of asynchronous design. The double data rate is long gone! Lets put it that way!

The Intel Chipset x58 will be released by many vendors such as MSI, Asus and Gigabyte and should be released around last quarter of this year! w00t.

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x5 Now nvidias move to the Intel chipset has allowed the multi GPU support.

AMD can already run their version of SLI called Crossfire on competitors boards. Now Nvidia have joint suite Intel mainboards offer the best of both worlds. In my opinion allowing this multi GPU support by the two top graphics company’s is a brilliant move for compatability, futurproofing and allowing the end user to use Intel Chipsets but still have access to Nvidia, AMD based GPU.

Remember the x58 isn’t just another 755 socket its actually the Nehalem based Motherboard so it would be interesting to see some benchmarks on both sli, crossfire systems in the last quarter of 2008.

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As we all know Crysis is the second version of the Crytek engine. The game was originally called Far Cry if I remember correctly which was back then a brilliant graphics engine for out door environments. I know Crysis (Crytek Engine 2) has been out a couple of months now but I think this game is a perfect way of benchmarking your system in terms of gaming performance.

Over these last few months I have read all about Crysis and how its engine needs a large amount of computation i.e an expensive computer. For example a crossfire/ SLI system running either of the latest graphics offerings with an Intel core extreme processor could run Crysis in full detail around 40 FPS. Ok that sounds good but is it really worth it? For the highest settings!?

Dont be fooled, I then had the impression that the game is basically unplayable on dual core processors and systems with 8800 series Nvidia graphics but I found this was not the case. If your a mainstream gamer then high settings or the word Ultra High dont exists.  But! whats up with medium detail? If you enjoy games as much as me then  you will like the game play, graphics and physics but remember, treat the game as a benchmark! Think of it as an investment for your gaming future!

Benchmarking. Ok so We have a system running a AMD dual core processor 2g of ddr2 and a 8800GS Graphics Card, what will this system produce in terms of performance? Well Medium detail would suffice. The only issue is under intense game play or open areas of the island which usually mean struggling hardware. So we can easily  pin-point the issue and diagnose the P.C with a low clock speed processor please upgrade! Eventually this should evolve into a fast gaming p.c. able to run the likes of crysis in FULL/ MEGA HIGH detail not to mention future games which will probebly use the crytek 2 engine.

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Most of you enthusiast are probably aware of AMD secret weapon, well if your not then here’s the low down. AMD are well behind the processor race against Intel. Lets slightly changes the subject here, AMD were going to release a dual core Phenom back in May. This never occurred due to the aggressive pricing of their current Phenom three and four core processors. AMD are yet to release their 45nm process CPU’s these are not ready until lat quard of 08 may be start of 09. Intel would of already released their Nehalem based architecture.

AMD released some information regarding their Phenom processors and southbridge chipset. AMD needed to get back into the game with some competitive edge against Intel. The company will be releasing some new versions of the Phenom processor which are begged to be over-clocked.

The Southbridge SB700 and SB750 chips will support multiplier unlocking and can overclock the processor at any point, maybe not half way through a game of Crysis but within reason. The processors will be able to be over-clocked by 400mhz with the chips running at 2.8Ghz at default.

As previously stated AMD will need to bring out newer versions of the Phenom processor. This is because the processor must have a certain pin configuration for the over-clocking capabilities not to mention the matching Chipset!
For all those AMD Fans out there, the Mainboards with 780G 790FX and 790GX chipsets will allow users to over-clock via the Southbridge with BIOS setting. Some enthusiast boards will incorporate a hardware button for instant performance increases

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Computex is here again another year of fantastic goodies waiting for the enthusiast to indulge on. I might consider taking some time off work for next years show, why not, treat yourself! This is the best time of year for computer hardware followers. Computex will be answering all my un-answered questions relating to Intel’s Nehalem processors, Larrabee and Graphics architectures.
So what have I got for you all today? Well you guessed it! Nehalem! At Computex Intel have show cased numerous vendor motherboards using the new processor architecture. Below is a picture of the new desktop based motherboard.

The motherboards will be using the x58 tylersburgDT chipset. If you look at the image above you will notice the enlarged CPU socket and shrunk chipset. Lets not forget the actual reason I write about Nehalem so much, there is no memory controller and FSB in the chipset! This means no more over-clocking is needed! Finally the revolutionary change in the computer architecture! I have a feeling that L3 cache will not be needed even L2 cache in-fact? If the memory can ideally be the same clock as the processor and FSB follows then the bottle neck is redundant! But will memory prices increase? I assume so.

If you haven’t noticed already the motherboard only includes 3/4 slots! The symmetrical memory setups are a thing of the past. The majority of the Nehalem based motherboards use asymmetric memory channels. This means that the memory can be configured into three channels. The first channel can take two dims sockets and the remaining two channels can only use one socket each. Nehalem can organise the memory addressing, this allows overflow to the remaining single socket channel.

Right with that said, Now lets move onto the server based motherboards (Skull trail 2 **COUGH**). Now you may have noticed the ram set-ups? The motherboard has 12 to 18 DIMM slots! You may think why an odd number? But the theory behind asymmetrical memory applies! Some simple math will put you all at ease. Two CPU x 3 channels x 3 DIMMS per channel, simple! Yet impressive!
Release is only months away, if my estimations are anything to go by! Start remortgaging your house its worth it!

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Intel will shortly be releasing their latest Motherboard chipset the P45 the descendant of the P35 chipset. The release will be announced along with the boards full specification at the Computex convention later this month.

The Motherboard comes with DDR2 memory controller, for a start this isn’t promising. We must understand the current processors and motherboards aren’t at any advantage point considering price to performance.

The points i would like to highlight are the cooling properties of the Motherboard. The DrMos technology provided by MSI’s version of the board creates more surface space for the C.P.U heat sink. This will be appraised by over clocker’s pushing their 45nm processors. The PCI-E slots have also been considered, the twin ports are easily capable of running two gx2 GPU’s . These benefits come from MSI’s slim line copper heat sink.

MSI have also decided to eliminate their traditional single-phase design. MSI have decided to use two phase electrical voltages. This offers the P45 two phases of electricity to allow more voltage and finer tuning to the memory and Northbridge.

Lastly, MSI have decided to use a water cooling option for their Northbridge. MSI claim to be the first 2 in 2 out water circulation loop built onto a motherboard. I would like to see how this board shapes up with the competition. Keep posted for motherboard updates!

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The p45 Intel ChipSet is the latest board created from MSI and other vendors. The motherboard will compete against Nvidia’s latest Chipset the 790i. I wont be comparing the differences between both boards but explaining how Intel are trying to hit back at Nvidia.

When Nvidia’s latest motherboard chipsets were released the high end versions came with EPP. EPP is a memory technology based on Nvidia and Corsair designs. EPP which stands for Enhanced performance profiles is a memory technology for PC’s designed by Nvidia. The technology was designed to overclock memory easier and is only a Corsair/ Nvidia based feature. The memory is said to be qualified for performance and stability in SLI gaming machines, ironically.

Now as I was mentioning earlier Intel have released DrMOS, I will give you one guess to what this actually encompasses. DrMOS is a total re-design of the MOSFET integrating Hi and LI-sided MOSFETS and a driver. This bundle of smart hardware/ software features delivers extra tools within the BIOS for overclocking possibilities, hmmm. Any who, I will post the features below!

memory-Z - This tool is very similar to CPU-Z except CPU-Z is a x86 based software application and so everytime the the BIOS needs to be changed a boot is required! This includes all functionality from the BIOS. cool.

Multi-step OS Booster - This helps n00b based overclockers, Multi-Step allows three modes; disabled, mode 1 and mode2. Mode 1 will load the os and then apply over Clocking setting. Mode 2 will apply slight over Clocking and then apply the OS after the OS has loaded the booster will then complete the OC.

Extreme Voltages - Due to balanced 2 phase memory chipsets power design, the system can be overclocked to extreme voltages. The motherboard allows 128 different levels of voltage.

There are more features such as ClockGen Tuner and Advanced Memory Timings, I will continue to contribute to this article and hopefully give viewers a look on both sides of the fence.

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I recenty created a mainstream/ enthusiast computer based on the Dual Core AMD processor, AM2+ board and the 8800 GS graphics interface. In theory the computer should perform brilliantly in all circumstances of computation. I then realised this was not the case.

Relating Issues:

• Half Life 2 based gaming crashes - Freezing once connection has been made to server (Multi-player)
• Other gaming - Crashes when entering Graphics mode, Resolutions not being found

Nvidia based

• GeForce Release 175WHGL Ver:175.16
• GeForce Release 169WHGL Ver:169.32

both drivers resulted in low 8bit color windows interface rendering. Lowest resolution could only be used in windows environment

**Solution: I will be updating the Abit AX78 drivers and using EVGA Nvidia 8800 GS driver. Also un-blocking half life 2 based Internet Protocol ports.

I will be posted BIOS, Window driver updates with version and target links.

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Its yet another Friday afternoon, the only thing keeping me going now is the bank holiday weekend! Over the last week I built a AM2 + based system using ATI’s chipset along with Nvidias Graphics. I’ve had many issues regarding this specification. I will be posting an article regarding the issues so users can help find fixes to similar problems! So Keep Visiting!

Over the past week I’ve seen some changes in hardware technology, I havn’t come across any news regarding Intels Larrabee and Nehalem architecture. But were I’m currently seeing movement is within the Graphics market of the main players ATI and Nvidia.

As we are all aware Nvidia have released their 9000 series cards including the GX2 back in the first quarter of 08. ATI are releasing their new graphics series soon and Nvidia had to counter act this move. You can read my last article ATI Radeon vs Nvidia GT200 for more information on the two manufacturers.

If any viewers would like an article mentioned or have any ideas for future posts then please leave a comment.

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