Price Guides June 2005: Motherboards
by Kristopher Kubicki & Larry Barber on June 19, 2005 1:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Guides
NVIDIA managed to ship several more nForce4 SLI Intel Edition motherboards since we last mentioned them. There were some severe doubts about whether or not nForce4 for Intel was really going to take off, but it seems manufacturers have been able to adopt boards well enough. NVIDIA anticipates low priced SLI boards for everyone before the end of the year, but it looks like the price point will have to lower significantly for something like that to happen. These boards are dual core capable but also come with lots of features, which place them in good competition with 955X motherboards. A favorite of ours, the MSI P4N Diamond [RTPE: MS-7160-010] includes Creative's SoundBlaster Live chip. Then again, if you don't really plan on pursuing SLI but do want a dual core CPU, it's more cost effective to go the route of 945P.
As our recent roadmap revealed, Intel has virtually no plans to pursue 1066MHz front side bus. Thus, all of those 925XE motherboards that were released a few months ago with the faster bus speed over 925X serve no purpose to anyone. Abit's AA8-DuraMAX [RTPE: Abit AA8-Duramax] 925X motherboard is one of the cheapest boards around with excellent features (but it won't support any of those dual core Pentium D chips). Then again, your money is probably better spent on an AMD combo if you're in the market for a new CPU/motherboard.
There is little point in mentioning 915P motherboards as well, but we couldn't help but notice the Biostar I915P-A7 [RTPE: I915P-A7] fell to $80 shipped over the last few weeks. Again, you're better off spending the money on an AMD combo, but if your 915P motherboard died or something, the Biostar makes a decent replacement.
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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