More PCI Express Graphics

The most exciting graphics card at Computex is NVIDIA's NV45, but there were also some other cards that drew our attention.

ATI had PCI Express boards spread out all over the show floor, with the PCI Express Radeon X600 XT showing up at Gigabyte's booth:


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The X600 XT is basically a PCI Express version of the Radeon 9600XT with a higher memory clock (740MHz vs. 600MHz). We will have more details on the X600 in an upcoming article.

ASUS also had a X600 XT solution at their booth:

As well as a dual-DVI PCI Express X800 card:

Remember that the PCI Express X800 is based off of a slightly different chip than the AGP X800, known internally as the R423 (R420 is the AGP version).

NVIDIA's NV45 Not launched, but everywhere: Intel's 9xx Chipsets
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  • SKiller - Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - link

    #13

    Except that BTX boards wouldn't fit in an ATX case even if they were on the "right" side. The connector layout and a number of other things are different. I think this may in fact help avoid confusion as you'll instantly be able to tell the difference.
  • Bozo Galora - Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - link


    Good article, scooped everyone else, you rascal you.
  • jliechty - Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - link

    #17 - that's a feature of some Gigabyte motherboards. The second ("dual") BIOS chip is a backup in case the first one is damaged by a failed flashing attempt or a virus.

    #15, #19 - Those things have me interested also. Can't wait to find out what they're there for. :-)
  • Khronus - Monday, May 31, 2004 - link

    As for the NV45 only requiring 1 power connector, that's simply because PCI-X allows for more power to be drawn over the bus than AGP does.
  • jcastro - Monday, May 31, 2004 - link

    What are those golden fingers on the SiS motherboard solutions for? My initial thoughts were that you could plug these mobos into some expansion slot, but that would be unrealistic now wouldn't it? But how awesome would that be? If you haven't noticed them before they are on the top left of the first picture and at the bottom left on the second picture, just right beside the PCI 32-bit slots. Someone tell me what's up with this? Thanks. - John
  • shabby - Monday, May 31, 2004 - link

    So the nv40 refresh gets a 50mhz faster clock? Pffft.
  • jsco - Monday, May 31, 2004 - link

    on the "intel's 9xx chipsets in the flesh" page in the first picture:

    there are two bios chips, and one of them is labeled dual bios. what is a dual bios?

    what is connected to the green slot and has a heat pipe connected to it?
  • Monkeyboy0076 - Monday, May 31, 2004 - link

    I was kinda disappointed to see the moldy old parallel connector still on these new motherboards. I haven't used one of those for over 2 years, and I'm glad for it. I really wouldn't mind getting that large pink connector off of my motherboard
  • nitromullet - Monday, May 31, 2004 - link

    In the top picture of the NV45, what is the connector directly above the heat sink fan?
  • Pumpkinierre - Monday, May 31, 2004 - link

    Just favours left handers with case windows. I pity those mobo makers. With all the different sockets, DRAM types, PCI-E/AGPs and peripherals, its a wonder they are not all getting treated for schizophrenia!

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