DFI RD580

One of the most anticipated Socket 939 RD580 motherboards is the DFI. With the incredible success DFI has enjoyed with their nVidia nForce4 chipset Expert, SLI and Ultra motherboards, enthusiasts expect great things from the new DFI RD580.


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DFi was showing the final pre-production RD580 at their Taiwan offices. We are told the board improves on the performance of the current RDX200, which is based on the ATI RD480 chipset. It is also the only DFI dual x16 motherboard, since DFI decided not to produce an nVidia dual x16 SLI motherboard.

DFI is definitely using the ULi M1575 chipset on their new RD580 board, instead of the ATI SB450 used on the RDX200. This will provide full SATA2 3Gb/s support and competitive USB performance. Four additional SATA ports will be provided by the Silicon Image 3114 chip.


Click to enlarge.

DFI tells us the final layout has been released to production. This means retail boards should be available for purchase 10 days to two weeks after the March 1 RD580 launch. Pricing data was not available, but DFI expects their new RD580 to sell at about the same price as the current RDX200.

Index ABIT AT8-32X
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  • Beenthere - Saturday, March 4, 2006 - link

    For those silly enough to run out and buy an untested mobo, the ATI RD580 mobos don't seem to be readily available in the U.S. on March 1st as advertised. Today 3-4-06 I see only two e-tailers with a few of the Asus A8R32 and of course they are price gouging like usual. I don't see any of the Asus or other brands of RD580 mobos at Monarch, Mwave, or other larger e-tailers so it looks to me like some gray market mobos were shipped to the two e-tailers to be the first kids on the block to have them. ther's also no listing for the A8R32 on pricegrabber or Dealtime.

    I also see from the reviews that the A8R32 offers little performance advantage over the A8R-MVP and few of the voltage/BIOS issues have been resolved. With the foolish PCI slot locations and number on the RD580 chipset based Asus, Sapphire mobos it looks like these mobos are of little value to anyone. More not ready for prime time rushed to market crap for the sheep to buy.

    SOS, DD.
  • Ecmaster76 - Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - link

    Seriously though, when is the performance review coming (back) ?
  • DigitalFreak - Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - link

    I can't believe Asus would only put 1 PCI-E 1x slot on this board, and then place it so it's useless when a dual slot cooler video card is installed! Whomever designed this board should be smacked.
  • Palek - Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - link

    Wes, you say, "The Sapphire version is a virtual copy of the ATI Manta Reference design..."

    I seem to recall (I could be wrong though) that Sapphire designs most or all reference boards for ATi, and if that is the case here then the above sentence might require some rewriting.
  • breethon - Monday, February 27, 2006 - link

    Why all the hoopla when AMD is moving away from Socket 939? Is this "NEW" thing going to support the new 940s too? Otherwise, how can you support the idea for the cost?
  • Aelius - Monday, February 27, 2006 - link

    Did you even bother reader it?

    R580 is not just socket 939. It is also for socket AM2, in fact many mobo manufacturers are only bringing this chipset out for socket AM2 and are skipping 939.

    Personally I'm skipping AM2 altogeather and getting the best 939 system later this year when prices are much lower and laughing all the way to the next AMD socket generation after AM2. Should be in 2008.
  • Orbs - Monday, February 27, 2006 - link

    Since the RD580 is going to support AM2, it's definately a longer-term chipset. With all the recent hoopla regarding HDCP support, does the chipset itself need to be certified to enjoy HD output on Vista? If so, does the RD580 support it?
  • DanaGoyette - Monday, February 27, 2006 - link

    I want the Abit, but it's a shame the board is brown (brown is ugly). I want it in black like the Asus, with red or black slots. I can make the SATA external just by passing it through a PCI slot or a hole in the backplane.
  • Missing Ghost - Monday, February 27, 2006 - link

    That DFI board looks like the most perfect board ever!
  • ariafrost - Monday, February 27, 2006 - link

    Or can you not access the ABIT page (should be page 4) of this article? It just takes me to the "bottom line".

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