Price Guides June 2005: Motherboards
by Kristopher Kubicki & Larry Barber on June 19, 2005 1:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Guides
It has been a few years in the making, but it looks like Intel's products have given enthusiasts a bit more to look forward to recently with the Pentium D 820, 830 and 840. Unfortunately, unlike the AMD route, cheap dual core processors are offset by extremely expensive 945P and 955X motherboards. As expected, the differences between 955X and 945P are very minute, so don't expect Intel's Memory Pipeline Technology featured on 955X to really justify the $80 premium for boards. On the other hand, there are some very good 955X boards; including ASUS's P5WD2 Premium WiFi-TV [RTPE: ASUS 955X P5WD2]. Although pricey, the P5WD2 Premium WiFi-TV bundles a WiFi-TV PCI card that runs on 802.11a. The additional Analog, DVB-T and FM radio inputs also make this one of the most feature packed boards we have seen yet. Wesley has a full review of this board in roundups to come, but we thought we would give it a mention before then.
Spending nearly $300 on a motherboard doesn't make a lot of sense to most people. If you are looking for a board for your Pentium D 820 and don't want to break the bank, Gigabyte has a few choices including their GA-81945P-G motherboard. This board doesn't support dual PCIe x16 slots, but it does provide the same features you would find in 925X while providing dual core support. Pentium Ds are great buys, but don't lose focus on the price advantage they have over AMD's X2 processors. The Gigabyte GA-8I1945P-G [RTPE: GA-8I945P-G] offers Gigabit Ethernet, SATA II and RealTek audio; definitely a great buy for being one of the cheapest 945P boards on the market. Don't forget to check out the nForce4 Intel motherboards on the next page as well.
We should throw a bit of warning out there for anyone who anticipates to buy one of these 945P or 955X motherboards; Digital Rights Management (DRM). DRM is one of those scary words that tends to kick up a lot of emotions, but whether or not it's warranted is a different story entirely. The new Intel motherboards we just mentioned utilize a technology called DTCP-IP or Digital Transmission Copy Protection over IP. The specification, which ahs been around for almost 2 years now, identifies your computer by a fingerprint combination including your processor ID code and motherboard ID and allows sanctioned content to traverse your computers network. The content can then be deleted but not retransmitted off the machine. DTCP-IP can be disabled in the BIOS.
Whether or not this technology even works is something that has yet to be demonstrated, since no content providers have any services that use DTCP-IP yet. Some argue that even though the technology is optional, it will probably become mandatory down the line - and since when did it become the job of the computer hardware to decide whether I am allowed to copy or share something? Palladium/TCPA conspiracy theories aside, DTCP-IP does hint of something more ominous to come. However, don't expect IP-TV feeds from AOL/TW or HBO anytime soon without some DRM infrastructure in place. Our advice? Turn off DTCP-IP in the BIOS... If the big media providers start offering content like IP-TV, then turn it back on. If you don't want DTCP-IP or don't want to support it, buy an AMD motherboard before they inevitably adopt the DRM as well. Personally, I would love to have four simultaneous 1080p streams on my desktop, but we all know that won't happen without some level of DRM extending beyond the OS.
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fishy - Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - link
Another vote for an AMD motherboard roundup...
Prices, I know, thank's.
Live - Monday, June 20, 2005 - link
I agree with 6 and 7 about needing more roundups of AMD motherboards. Even the motherboards that have been reviewed evolve with new revisions and bios updates. So at least the past medal winners would warrant a new test against what the competitor’s have come up with.And sound measurements should be a big part in both testing and final score. Passive NB cooling or at least the ability to exchange the cooler for a third party solution is a must for many users. Imagine a motherboard that wouldn’t let you change your CPU cooler from the standard one. Wouldn’t score very well in a review I would bet. Yet in the last nforce4 roundup it wasn’t even mentioned that most of the motherboards had NB coolers that was very loud and which can’t be exchanged because the graphic card hangs over it.
Nothing wrong with these price guides tough.
yacoub - Monday, June 20, 2005 - link
Actually that first one should probably be "Why" because bundling ridiculous components/peripherals with a motherboard to jack up the price is ludicrous. Just like how dumb it is when GPUs come with a "software bundle". That's fine as long as you sell the same card WITHOUT that crap for a better price for those of us who have different taste in games, or as is generally the case, already have the 6-month-old games that are offered.yacoub - Monday, June 20, 2005 - link
what the F is WiFi-TV on a motherboard.and
who the F would pay $300 for a stupid motherboard.
Those are the first two things that came to mind looking at Intel's list.
Tujan - Monday, June 20, 2005 - link
As for having any"unanounced" DRM. (DRM is DRM or DRM is NOT DRM). There certainly was no anouncement of DTCP-IP. And only here Anandtech said so.Intel had not said so.For something to add to the mix in addition to look at this article in TomsHardware.com (Hi Tomshardware.com).
Toms Hardware Guide: , What's next for DVD ? Blu-ray and HD-DVD
battle for your home theater.
http://www.tomshardware.com/business/20050616/inde...
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"" DTCP-IP does hint of something more ominous to come. However, don't expect IP-TV feeds from AOL/TW or HBO anytime soon without some DRM infrastructure in place. Our advice? Turn off DTCP-IP in the """
Whats confusing about this is that of the question: Does everybody have to be a content'' provider ? Big market on 'providing content ahead. Get your DRM,DTCP-IP here etc. Anandtech did a little about detailing what this was about.Would much rather have my attention dealing with VO-IP ,Video Vo-IP (wich incodently ,lollipop),or an accesory technology that benifits ME(or you). Dont think that 'any broadcast is worth the time,it takes to worry about wether or not I(you or me) is a pirate.
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For most of this,the DMCA,and a computers 'encryption diapers are suppose to be for 'everybody ?
Get your encrypted diapers here.Changes for everybody.You stink em we replace em. And 'count on paying for 'clean encrypted diapers.Yeah.So wheres the Federation when you need it.? Im 40 years old,I need my clean encrypted diapers.
(c)DMCA.Somebody one of these times is going to rock right into this.And it is going to pay well.Game over.
...............
Maybe Anandtech could get another tab up their with digital content protection.Wouldn't bother me the least.Think game performance is not going to keep our attention span that long.
BTW Buy one of these fine motherboards from one of Anantechs sponsors.
geogecko - Sunday, June 19, 2005 - link
#6 Agreed. It's been a while, and as stated, there are over 40 S939 MB out there, it's time for another roundup.One suggestion, can we include noise parameters in the MB tests? Some of those little beast fans can ruin a MB choice for someone building an HTPC.
I just recently received the new A8N-SLI Premium from ASUS, and couldn't be more happy about the 0dBA noise factor...
justly - Sunday, June 19, 2005 - link
Personally I would rather see more motherboard reviews than a price guide. Anyone can search for the best price but readers need to know how the products stack up, and fit their needs.I know I can't expect every board to be reviewed, but IMO more motherboard reviews, and more variety when it comes to target markets and chipsets would prove much more usefull to readers than just a price list.
bersl2 - Sunday, June 19, 2005 - link
#4: Read the relevant Intel press release. They said "no *unannounced* DRM"; this has been "announced" for quite some time.As far as hardware enforcement, Macrovision is bad enough. If you want to implement that kind of filth, you can do it in your proprietary OS and applications. I prefer to have the final say over my purchased hardware and my data, licensed or personal, and I will fight for your ability to do so, but if you don't want that, so be it.
I still think anybody who will have knowingly consented to hardware DRM is either insane, irresponsible, or downright evil. Maybe I just don't understand the need for some people to be constrained...
Tujan - Sunday, June 19, 2005 - link
The"" Asus Xpress 2-- p5RD1-V Deluxe.""listed in your chart for Intel (ATI motherboards),that version the 'Deluxe,has an onboard Phillips TV chip for the chipset.It is only selling in Europe though.For some reason.So the vendor is also only selling the p5RD1-V.Dont know how this could be somehow linked to the DTCP-IP and 'Broadcast 'Flag in our country.Probably has to do with the type of signaling (NTS) we use here.Dont know.Wouldn't expect anybody to do all that reading to figure it out.Would be a hot ticket though.That DTCP-IP ,wonder how come Intel did all that rambling about 'not having DRM''in their products.Without mentioning what everybody could finally notice from your story.Could be in fact that usage of 'DRM - IS NOT''defined as DTCP.
And with this:
""Some argue that even though the technology is optional, it will probably become mandatory down the line - and since when did it become the job of the computer hardware to decide whether I am allowed to copy or share something?""....this is writers cramp.
Just the reason DRM is mentioned as every defining moment for a copyright agenda...I still think its most about bankers hours.
Wonder what that Asus had for a play in all of this.Why that Deluxe wouldn't be sold in U.S.Certainly would've been a winner.Though dont think it will run dual-core Intels.
Think you could all the m-atxs you could find,or cant...
And is that ATI catalyst Control Panel a communist or something.?
Have a descent summer.
KristopherKubicki - Sunday, June 19, 2005 - link
Hey Ryan,A refurb got stuck in there -- the page should update in a few min without that link.
Kristopher