September 7, 2006 - September 18, 2006

:: 18-September-2006 (Monday)

OCW Exclusive INtro : SIS 771/966 Reference board
Posted by overclocker at 15:28



Before we bring your our analysis of the SiS 771/966 chipset, we give you a brief look at the mainboard in terms of chipset functions and the BIOS options available on the reference board in this world's exclusive introduction of SiS 771/966.

Read Introduction
Discuss in forum

USB Performance bug plague NV MCP410 SB (used with NV6100 NB)
Posted by overclocker at 12:30

Recently while doing a comparative performance tests of South bridges. We noticed that the performance of the USB seems to be lower than expected.

Using our Vantec enclosure with a IDE HDD, we hooked it up to the USB port of a 6100/410 board and did a HD TACH test. On an Intel ICH7, we usually get around 25MB/s while on other AM2 based chipsets, we get around 22-26MB/s depending on chipsets.

Surprisingly, the MCP410 gave us a shocking result of only 19MB/s. That is 5 to 6 MBps lower than today's South bridges.

If you own a board using the above chipsets, we would like to hear from you your results of your test.

:: 17-September-2006 (Sunday)

SiS 771 runs at 1.25GHz HT, DDR2-1000 at default voltages
Posted by overclocker at 11:19

Initial results shows that we are able to run the 4000+ at 2.5GHz (250x10) with HT set to 5x and memory setting is at 400. With that setting, that means that the board is stable at 1.25GHz Hypertransport and DDR is running at 500MHz or DDR2-1000 on the Corsair DDR2 module. This is all done at default voltages.

:: 16-September-2006 (Saturday)

SiS 771 is the coolest integrated chipset for AM2, max is 3W
Posted by overclocker at 8:30



We are still in the process of preparing the review of the SiS 771 reference board. While we were testing the board with External VGA, we found that the NB is very very cool. In fact, it is not even warm.

In a seperate test using the integrated video, we ran 3Dmark03, 05, 06 and it works without any problems since it is the first DX9 compliant chipset that is MS VISTA READY. The chipset still runs very cool.

Based on my sense of touch, the South bridge SiS 966 is mildly warm after rounds of benchmarks involving the south bridge. Looks like we probably have a good NB ready for use for desktops and probably also good for notebooks too. From the official specs, a max of 3W will be generated under load, that is far lower than the chipsets from NVIDIA, ULI, VIA and ATI.

With a multimeter, we measured the North bridge temperatre, it is ~ 39-40 deg with default heatsink (no fan on top). South bridge temperature temp is around 41 deg (with no heatsink). This is during benchmarking of DOOM3.


Discuss and Comments

:: 15-September-2006 (Friday)

OCW Exclusive : SIS 771/966 Reference board and upcoming SiS 771 Review
Posted by overclocker at 8:35



After many months of waiting, the SiS 771 makes its first appearance here on OCWorkbench.com.

The SiS771, a HyperTransportTM to PCI Express / MuTIOL® Bridge with SiS MirageTM3 GPU, integrates a high performance HyperTransportTM interface for AMD AthlonTM 64 processor family, 16 lanes of PCI Express interface, SiS MirageTM3 3D/2D/Video/MPEG graphics processor, and SiS MuTIOL® Technology, which connects with SiS966 MuTIOL® Media IO.

The integrated SiS MirageTM3 GPU features a DX9 Shader Model 2.0 dual pixel shading pipelines, a 128 bit 2D graphics engine, a Video Scaler/De-interlacer, a slice layer MPEG2 accelerator, Motion Compensation, and a High Definition Video Link (Muxed on PCI Express bus) to support the TV-out & HD digital flat panel. MirageTM3 GPU also features Fence instruction and a built-in DMA blit engine for Vista basic scheduling model to support Vista Aero. For cost-effective the PC system, the SiS771, adopting the UMA (Unified Memory Architecture), eliminates the need of the costly frame buffer memory by organizing the frame buffer into the system memory from
programming the system BIOS. SiS771 can support up to 256MB display memory from sharing system memory.

More Photos and Discussions

ATI R600, the next BIG thing
Posted by overclocker at 6:26

Next month, ATi will launch two cards X1650XT and X1950Pro. Right after that, we should be expecting a new card based on the R600 core.

From our friends who saw it, the size is like the 7900GX2. The length is 33cm and takes up the space of 3 PCIe slots. It uses a single GPU and require 200W with a 8 pin power connector.

Discuss

* OCW needs your participation. Just participate in the forum and send in news for posting.

ATi X1650XT and X1950Pro will be available on 17 October
Posted by overclocker at 5:49

We have received news that ATi will make available on retail channels its new products - X1950Pro and x1650XT.

X1650XT is based on RV560 and X1950Pro is based on the RV570. From what we heard, the X1650XT will have doubled the amt. of Pixel shaders compared to the X1650Pro.

As we have mentioned before, both cards can CrossFire using CrossFire bridge instead of the current cards that uses a Master/Slave configuration using an external cable connection.

Discuss

:: 14-September-2006 (Thursday)

Jetway HA01-SDGE NVIDIA nForceTM 550 SLI MCP Chipset Mainboard
Posted by overclocker at 9:25



Jetway HA01-SDGE NVIDIA nForceTM 550 SLI MCP Chipset Mainboard is based on the 550 SLI MCP chipset for AM2. It is the first that uses a 550 to support Dual 8x PCIe.

NVIDIA nForceTM 550 SLI MCP Chipset .
Support Socket AM2 64-bit Dual core AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 .
2 PCI Express x16 (16-LANE + 8-lANE @ Regular Mode;8-LANE + 8-LANE @ SLI Mode).
Support HTT 1000MHz.
Advanced 5-Phase PWM Design w / OC-CON Capacitors .
Dual Channel DDR2 800 Memory DIMMs Supported.
Support 4 Serial ATA2 Devices with RAID 0. 1 . 0+1 . 5
Support NV Firewall.
Gigabit LAN Supported.
Azalia 8 Channel Audio CODEC.
CPU Vcore 7-Shift / DeBUG Port / DIY POWER SWITCH.
ATX Form Factor.

GIGABYTE to Support Intel® vPro™ Technology
Posted by overclocker at 6:42

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards and other computing hardware solutions, today announced support for the Intel® vPro™ technology platform. Featuring the combination of the Intel® Q965 Express chipset and support for the Intel® Core™2 Duo processor, Intel’s next generation digital office platform offers remote out-of-band manageability, improved security and energy efficient performance.

Intel® vPro™ with Intel® Active Management Technology gives businesses the ability to remotely inventory, diagnose and repair PCs, helping to dramatically decrease the number of onsite repair visits and increase computer uptime. Additionally, vPro™ includes Intel® Virtualization Technology, a virtualized environment that runs outside of the main OS, which isolates and protects against viruses, worms and other threats as well as Intel® Matrix storage Technology which helps to ensure the safety of critical business data.

As an integral component of the vPro™ platform, the Intel® Q965 Express Chipset was designed for specifically for business applications and is a key ingredient of the Intel® Stable Image Platform Program. When combined with the Intel® Core™2 Duo processor this new chipset delivers the most advanced manageability, data protection, collaboration and stability capabilities to help address businesses’ top concerns in the areas of asset management, safer computing and support for energy efficient performance.

To see how Intel® vPro™ can benefit your small or medium business, please visit the GIGABYTE website at:
http://event.gigabyte.com.tw/redirect/vpro.htm.

:: 13-September-2006 (Wednesday)

OCW Review : LG KG320 1.3mpixel triband cameraphone
Posted by overclocker at 8:03



We reviewed the KG800 sometime ago and was impressed with its design. LG released another Chocolate phone, this time it is the LG KG320, an mass appeal small form factor bar type phone. The package comes with a nice leather like casing for the phone with opening for camera lens, USB cable for data connectivity, 2 batteries and a external charger for the battery.

Read Review

MS releases new security updates
Posted by overclocker at 5:32

The following bulletins have undergone a major revision increment.
Please see the appropriate bulletin for more details.

* MS06-042
* MS06-040

Bulletin Information:
=====================

* MS06-042

- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms06-042.mspx
- Reason for Revision: This Security Bulletin and Internet Explorer
6 Service Pack 1, Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 4, and
Internet Explorer 6 for Microsoft Windows Server 2003
security updates have been re-released to address a
vulnerability documented in the Vulnerability Details section
as Long URL Buffer Overflow - CVE-2006-3873. Customers using
these versions of Internet Explorer should apply the new
update immediately.
- Originally posted: August 8, 2006
- Updated: September 12, 2006
- Bulletin Severity Rating: Critical
- Version: 3.0

* MS06-040

- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms06-040.mspx
- Reason for Revision: The update has been revised and re-released
for Microsoft Windows 2003 and Microsoft Windows XP
Professional x64 Edition to address the issues identified in
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 921883.
- Originally posted: August 8, 2006
- Updated: September 12, 2006
- Bulletin Severity Rating: Critical
- Version: 2.0

:: 12-September-2006 (Tuesday)

ASRock 775Twins-HDTV R2.0 beta bios 1
Posted by overclocker at 10:47

We have put up the first beta bios for ASRock 775Twins-HDTV R2.0 Download from here.

OCW Exclusive Review : ECS 945GTY-M MoDT 945GT S479 mainboard
Posted by overclocker at 7:25



The ECS 945GTY-M is ECS's first entry product to the MoDT market. The growing trend of HTPC has proven that notebook processors like Yonah and Merom are suitable replacements of desktop CPUs which runs hot and require more power.

In our tests, we paired up the board with a Intel® Core™ Duo processor T2300 65 nm 2MB L2 1.66 GHz 667 MHz 31W. This processor is the lowest clock speed of the Yonah series of processor. Although it is meant for notebooks, the performance is pretty good, comparable to a AM2 4000+ in some benchmarks. With the packaged heatsink/fan mounted, I can hardly hear a noise from the system. Furthermore, the CPU temperature is also lower compared to desktop CPUs.

Read Review

:: 11-September-2006 (Monday)

ATI RS690 boards to be available on Nov 2006
Posted by overclocker at 11:45

According to our usual sources of information, one of the first tier company is slated to retail AM2 boards based on the RS690 by Novemeber.

For those who are unfamiliar with this chip, you can read our preview posted before. It is the first chipset to incorporate an integrated video of levels parallelling the performance of a X700LE. It will pair up with SB600 south bridge.

Discuss

:: 10-September-2006 (Sunday)

Intel E6XXX CPU pricing info
Posted by overclocker at 14:44

Intel E6XXX CPU pricing info

E6300

E6600

E6700

X6800

5 more days to win the ASRock ConRoeXFire-eSATA2, ConRoe945G-DVI and 775Dual-VSTA
Posted by overclocker at 13:34

The contest ends on 15 SEPTEMBER. If you have not participated, Hurry and submit your entries now.

ASROCK & OCWORKBENCH Survey/Contest

We will be giving away 3 pieces of CONROE boards to lucky winners of this contest starting from 24 August to 15 September 2006.
ASRock ConRoeXFire-eSATA2
ASRock ConRoe945G-DVI
ASRock 775Dual-VSTA

To participate, members of the forum will have to answer the following questions and has at least 20 postings by 15 September.

For question 1 and 2, please find the answers from ASRock Windows Vista Classroom: http://www.asrock.com/news/vista.html

Q1. To support the Windows Vista OS which scheduled to be announced year end, what are the basic requirements for integrated and discrete motherboard?
A, Direct X 9.0
B, WDDM driver.
C, all of the above
D, none of the above

Q2. If you want to install Windows Vista OS, but are using AC’97 audio codec, what situation will happen?
A, If you are using AC’97 audio codec, and want to install Windows Vista™ 64-bit version, the AC’97 audio codec of your system will be de-functioned, and there will be no sound coming out of your system.
B, If you are using AC’97 audio codec, and want to install Windows Vista™ 32-bit version, the AC’97 audio codec of 5.1 channels or 7.1 channels will not be able to fully function as they are, but 2 channels only.
C, all of the above
D, none of the above


Q3. Suggest methods to improve on existing and new ASRock products. e.g packaging etc.

Q4. What sort of ASRock products you would like us to review in future? Tell us why.

Q5. In which areas do you think OCW can improve on. Let us know if you are able to help (Optional)

Winners will be notified via email.Users will have to foot the shipping cost approx 20-25USD depending on different countries.
Please send in your answers through PM (Private Message) on OCWFORUMS.COM to bluetooth. The format shall be
Username :
Address :
Post Code :
Country :
Telephone :
A1) ....
A2) ....
A3) ....
A4) ....
A5) ....

:: 8-September-2006 (Friday)

Vista RC1 installation
Posted by overclocker at 12:51

Having issues installing the public Vista RC1. Post it here

OCW Exclusive Intro : ECS 945GTY-M Yonah/Merom MoDT S479 mATX mainboard
Posted by overclocker at 7:24



You are probably aware that this is a mobile on desktop mainboard which seats the S479 Yonah and Merom processor. Let's take a quick look at what this board got to offer with this introduction. (benchmarks will be posted in the full review).

Read Intro

:: 7-September-2006 (Thursday)

OCW Exclusive Review : Gigabyte 3D Rocket II Cooler
Posted by overclocker at 8:22



3D Rocket II uses axial flow fin, along with its bigger in size, it creates larger wind flow than 3D Rocket I’s central flow fin. Because of the fin, with the same fan speed, 3D Rocket II creates 3 times larger wind flow, and much lower noise...

Read Review

Intel Merom T7600 Benchmarks on abit IL-90MV
Posted by overclocker at 8:20



Our editor has prepared a simple benchmark article on the T7600 processor running on the abit IL-90MV mainboard.

See article