Computex: HD 4700 availability and DDR3 Computex: A fanless HD 4770 from Gigabyte Computex: luxury mouse from Gigabyte Computex: P55 and SLI support Computex: P55 and P57 motherboards

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Computex: HD 4700 availability and DDR3   Posted on 12/06/2009 at 17:13 by Damien

	The problems of availability with the Radeon HD 4770 were of course brought up with all the manufacturers. Some weren’t giving much away and vaguely confirmed that these cards would arrive in a few days, while others told us they had no idea when AMD would be able to supply them in quantity again. One of AMDs partners even went as far as to say that TSMC had stopped production on these 40 nm lines so as to correct them as they are at the source of the problem. It seems unlikely that AMD will abandon this very competitive GPU but it is clear that the lack of stock looks like it’s an ongoing situation given the recent price cuts and the introduction of the Radeon HD 4730 to keep people happy in the meantime. It’s difficult to say when things will be back to normal. Lets hope for AMD that we won’t have to wait too long. Last week we also revealed our surprise at seeing a Radeon HD 4770 equipped with DDR3 from MSI. We did contact AMD about it but they haven’t replied yet. We did manage to talk to some of the partners however and they confirmed that these models had been approved by AMD. This in spite of the fact that the memory bandwidth will be more or less halved and that the GDDR5 bandwidth was the basis for the balance of the card. This somewhat explains AMD’s embarassed silence. This is a question that we raised when we tested the Radeon HD 4770 and for which AMD promised us a rapid response… which we never got. We now know why: AMD’s strategy is now to benefit from the very positive write ups for the Radeon HD 4770 so it can discretely sell cut down versions and fool the consumer. Of course the manufacturer could argue that the difference is not hidden and all you need do is verify whether your card has GDDR5 or DDR3. But in practice, the general public will not see the difference and PC manufacturers probably won’t say which version they are using. It’s a shame to see AMD employing such tactics for a product that was universally praised on release and that could easily have been renamed with a different number (moreover this was the pretext given for the new nomenclature for the Radeon HDs). Instead of being able to buy a Radeon HD 4770, knowing exactly what you’re getting, you’ll have to be prudent and avoid any models that don’t detail the type of memory used.

Computex: A fanless HD 4770 from Gigabyte   Posted on 12/06/2009 at 16:52 by Damien

	Gigabyte presented its latest version of its fanless SilentCell module that will be used on fanless GeForce 9800 GTs and Radeon HD 4770s. It is sturdy with three copper heatpipes and is quite long as designed to extend behind but also in front of the PCB via a special opening.

Computex: luxury mouse from Gigabyte   Posted on 12/06/2009 at 16:40 by Damien

	Gigabyte presented one of the first examples of a forthcoming luxury mouse that is relatively compact and light and that should be on the shelves this summer. Price not yet disclosed. We do know that it will be expensive however as it is made with materials like leather, gold and precious stones. Gigabyte moreover told us about the unexpected success of its mouse pad that resembles old style bottom end pads in terms of size and thickness, although the materials are different. Gigabyte says that gamers have been going for it because it’s a comfortable pad to use.

Computex: P55 and SLI support   Posted on 12/06/2009 at 16:30 by Damien

	Like for the X58, NVIDIA is putting into place a license for motheboard manufacturers to activate SLI support from a key inserted into the bios. This is an obligatory strategy for NVIDIA who, otherwise, would be deprived of SLI on what looks like being a very popular platform. NVIDIA had a stock P55 platform on show with SLI support on its stand. Support for the two 16x PCI Express ports is handled by the CPU and they are limited to 8 PCI Express lanes each when they are both being used. The first can however function with 16 PCI Express lanes if used on its own. When this is the case, the second port, limited to 8x in any case, makes way to make space on the PCB.

Computex: P55 and P57 motherboards   Posted on 12/06/2009 at 14:33 by Damien

	Most motherboard manufacturers were displaying several models of their new P55 platform, designed for Lynnfield CPUs. Some were also displaying the P57, that is similar to the P55 except that it supports or rather is supposed to support Braidwood, the new Turbo Memory generation. Note however that in practice the difference between the P55 and P57 doesn’t seem to be clear. Asrock had 2 P55 motheboards on show: the P55 Extreme and the P55 Deluxe. We couldn’t work out what the difference was between the two models however, as they are the same except for a few components, notably on the power stage which seems sturdier on the P55 Deluxe. Asrock says that the P55 Deluxe will be delivered with a PCI express that will support USB 3.0. From left to right, the P55 Extreme and P55 Deluxe. Asus was of course there with many different models based on the P55 and P57 chipsets. A common point for the whole range, it supports 1 PCI Express 1-x port or 2 8x ports, as with the Lynnfield CPU. Also compatible with CrossFire X according to Asus, but not SLI. In terms of the P55 models we have the P7P55 range that is available as a high end version with the P7P55 Pro. It uses 10 phases to supply the CPU and introduces a simplified retention mechanism for the memory modules. The P7P55 is similar overall but with a revised design to reduce costs, especially at the power stage. This card is available in an LE version, identical but without eSATA. In terms of the P57 from Asus, it does not support Braidwood but rather Clarkdale CPUs as the P7P57 range has built in video outs instead that are more or less extensive depending on the model. From left to right, the P7P55 Pro, the P7P55 and the P7P57 Pro. DFI The first, the DK P55-T3eH8 has a built in 8 phase CPU power stage and 3 16x PCI Express ports, two 1x 16x or 2x 8x via the CPU and and the third 4x via the southbridge. CrossFire X is supported but not SLI. The second model the UT P55-T3eH10 is the top end model with a sturdier power stage, SLI support and a connector for an optional Braidwood module. From left to right, the DK P55-T3eH8 and the UT P55-T3eH10. ECS presented just one motherboard based on the P55 chipset, the P55H-A, from the Black Series family. A relatively basic card with two 16x PCI Express ports connected to the CPU an which function in 8x mode when used simultaneously. As yet ECS does not have any other versions in the pipeline. The P55H-A. Gigabyte presented no less than five P55 motherboards that have the particularity of supporting Braidwood, either directly on the PCB or via an optional module. And yes these are P55s even though this technology is supposed to be reserved for the P57. When questioned on this, Gigabye told us, smiling, that this wasn’t a mistake and that Intel wasn’t very happy. All the cards in this range will also support SATA III 6 GB/s via a special chip designed for the purpose as Intel chipsets do not yet support this technology. With regard to multi-GPUs, Gigabyte announced CrossFire X and SLI support for the whole range. At the top end of the range, the GA-EP55-UD5 has no less than a 24 phase CPU power stage, which allows a reduction in load on each. It remains to be seen if this power stage has any real use beyond impressing us with the number of phases. The other particularity of it is that it houses the Braidwood module directly on the PCB. There are three 16x PCI Express ports. The first two are connected to the CPU and are limited to 8x when used simultaneously. The third is 4x and is connected to the southbridge. The second model in the range, the GA-EP55-UD4 has a 12 phase power stage and a connector for an optional Braidwood module. There are 6 DIMM slots instead of 4 but the rest is the same. The GA-EP55-UD3R has one less 16x PCI Express connector. Or rather it has the 4x port connected to the southbridge but one less port connected to the CPU, leaving just one 16x and therefore avoiding the complex design that allows you to separate 16 PCI Express lanes into 2x 8x. Note that the GA-EP55-UD4P and GA-EP55-UD3R are similar to these two models except that they support Smart TPM. From left to right, the GA-EP55-UD5, the GA-EP55-UD4 and the GA-EP55-UD3R. MSI also brought along 3 different models. The P55-CD45 is the simplest possible entry level version of the P55 platform with just one 16x PCI Express port. Next there was the P55-GD65 and P55-GD80 which have either one 16x PCI Express port or two 8x ports for CrossFire X support, but not SLI. The P55-GD80 has one 16x port but cabled 4x and connected to the southbridge. The main difference between the two models lies in the quality of the components, especially the power stage. MSI insists on this on the double phase power stages designed for memory and a chipset that will allow more stable overclocking when voltages are increased. From left to right, the P55-CD45, the P55-GD65 and the P55-GD80.