Tech Link (Industry): Two Flagship Gigabyte Mainboards: GA-P55A-UD6 and GA-P55A-UD7

I have long lost interest with XbitLab's articles as I find them to be going the way of the dodo whenever they post articles. But, the same can be said to most tech sites I visit nowadays, so I guess it's probably me that's going the way of the dodo. Anyway, this post is ain't about me so if yer interested to see and pondering of getting a new board, this article might help you make up your mind.

Tech Link (Processor): New Member In Core 2 Duo Processor Family: Introducing CPUs with 1333MHz Bus

xbitlabs has a pretty good info on the new breed of processors from Intel. They have put it thru the test and come out good even with a sound beating and torture from the crew. Check it out...

Conclusion
Well, let’s sum up a few things now. Intel’s decision to equip their Core 2 Duo processors with faster 1333MHz bus support is regarded as another move towards higher performance of this processor family. It is partially true. As we have seen today, higher bus speed will obviously boost the performance in most applications. However, unfortunately, this boost will not be as significant as we hoped: it hardly ever gets beyond 3%. But, the changes in the bus frequency are not the only thing that determined the advantage of the new CPUs over their predecessors: different clock frequencies are another reason. For example, the nominal frequency of the top Core 2 Duo E6850 model has now risen to 3.0GHz, while before today the maximum frequency of the existing Core 2 Duo processors used to be only 2.93GHz. This also affects the performance, and together with the faster bus it brings in more confident victory of the top Core 2 Duo CPUs. In other words, the launch of the Core 2 Duo CPUs with 1333MHz bus will become another part of the progress CPUs on Core micro-architecture are making. Although we all wish that they were moving at a little bit faster pace towards the promising Penryn family.

Higher bus frequency is not the only nice thing about the new processors. They are based on the new G0 stepping of the Conroe core that boasts better frequency potential. As a result, the FSB Wall has been pushed farther back and the overclocking results have improved significantly. For example, our overclocking experiments revealed that the new processors can work at 3.6-3.8GHz with traditional air-cooling onboard. Therefore, Core 2 Duo E6850, 6750 and 6550 should become very popular among overclockers, especially since Intel is going to price them very affordably. According to the preliminary data, Core 2 Duo E6850 will sell for $266, Core 2 Duo E6750 - for $183, and Core 2 Duo E6550 – for $163. This attractive price tag will certainly help Intel stimulate the transition to systems with 1333MHz bus.

Source:New Member In Core 2 Duo Processor Family: Introducing CPUs with 1333MHz Bus

Tech Link (Memory): Intel Initiates Widespread DDR3 Memory Chips Validation Ahead of New Platform Launch.

Looks like chipzilla is making sure that all is smooth as marble by the time they launch a platform based on DDR3. It;s all good, check out the news from XBitLabs.

Intel Corp., the world’s largest supplier of x86 central processing units and supporting chipsets, has begun to publish details about next-generation DDR3 memory chips that are certified to be compatible with the company’s forthcoming core-logic sets. So far seven of the world’s top dynamic random access memory suppliers have received validation from Intel.

So far Elpida Memory, Hynix Semiconductor, Micron Technology, Qimonda AG, Nanya and Samsung Electronics have received validation of their DDR3 memory chips from Intel. The list of validated memory modules is currently located at Intel’s web-site, days before the company plans to release its new platforms that use the new type of DRAM.

So far Intel has validated 512Mb and 1Gb memory chips with 800MHz and 1066MHz clock-speeds as well as CL5 5-5, CL6 6-6, CL7 7-7 or even CL8 8-8 latency settings. Specifications of Intel-validated memory components seem to be very conservative, as initially the company’s P35 and G33 chipsets will only support PC3-8500 (DDR3 1066MHz) memory, while more advanced X38 core-logic is set to support PC3-10600 (DDR3 1333MHz) memory speed in the third quarter of the year.

DDR3 memory is designed to increase performance and lower power consumption of DDR2 memory utilized today. The new memory standard features relatively low operating voltage of 1.5V, 8-bit pre-fetch architecture (compared to 4-bit pre-fetch buffer with DDR2), on-die termination (ODT), power-saving modes known as PASR (partial array self refresh) and ASR (auto self refresh) and some other capabilities.

The DDR3 memory will be able to operate at up to 1600MHz, but in the exchange for enhanced latencies of CAS (column address strobe) 5 to 10 (compared to CAS 3-6 on DDR2). Even though CL7 latency setting is considerably higher compared to CL5 of DDR2 at the same frequency, improved pre-fetch and other technical advantages of DDR3 versus DDR2 may help the new memory type to be as fast or even faster compared to the previous-gen one.

Demand for DDR3 is expected to emerge towards the end of the year. According to market research firm iSuppli, DDR3 will account for 25% of total DRAM shipments by the end of 2008 and dominate the market by 2010.

Source:Intel Initiates Widespread DDR3 Memory Chips Validation Ahead of New Platform Launch.

Tech Link (Coolers) OCZ Vindicator: Scythe Ninja Clone or New Proprietary Design?

XbitLabs has a short article up about the giants in enthusiast community: OCZ and Scythe. XbitLabs author did a great job getting the messages straight from the horses mouth. Expand to check out what the conclusion is..

A few days ago we posted a review of the new cooling solution from OCZ Technology – OCZ Vindicator. If you have read the article you remember that we stressed several times the resemblance between this solution and another popular cooling product – Ninja cooler from Scythe Company. The same feedback comes from many users who have had a chance to compare these two solutions.

Today we were contacted by Scythe representative, Andreas Bunen, who provided us with the official statement regarding the above mentioned resemblance that confuses reviewers and users. Here it is:

"Scythe is a stock holder of the factory where we produce our coolers, and also the factory is a stock holder of the Scythe Taiwan office where we have a very tight relationship almost as close as a group company. Within this relationship we are acknowledged and aware of all shipments done from the factory. But OCZ is not one of them. With the above said, we are definitely sure that OCZ coolers are manufactured in another factory. The only components that are common between the two are the hex caps on the heat pipes, which are supplied outside of our cooler factory.

We also have not approved OCZ's design in any form or shape, nor did we receive any OEM request. Their products are just a simple copy of Ninja and we are currently being troubled by this untrue rumor."
As we see, Scythe Company denies any relation between Vindicator and Ninja claiming that OCZ has copied the design of their successful solution. Of course, we couldn’t help asking OCZ Technology to comment in return. Here is what Alex Mei, Executive VP and CMO of OPCZ Technology Group had to say:

"The OCZ Vindicator is in no way affiliated with the Scythe offering, and makes use of our own designed fin array to deliver another option for consumers. We make use of our own expertise in thermal design and have created an enlarged array providing more surface area. The Vindicator is produced at a completely separate manufacturing facility as the competitor offering, and done so to our own set of exacting standards. In the future you can expect many more enthusiast cooling solutions that will be increasingly differentiated, and even make use of patented technologies."
As this comment suggests, OCZ did use Ninja design as a basis having introduced slight modifications to it. Nevertheless, Scythe seems to be reacting very calmly to this matter. Both coolers are of similar efficiency and are currently selling at comparable prices.
You can read more on their practical performance in our review called OCZ Vindicator CPU Cooler Review: When the Copy is As Good As the Original.

Source:OCZ Vindicator: Scythe Ninja Clone or New Proprietary Design?
OCZ and Scythe Officials Argue

Tech Link (Processor): Core Micro-Architecture Comes to Celeron Processors: Conroe-L Preview

Hmmm, xbitlabs managed to get a Conroe-L and have posted an early benchmarks. I have posted a CPU-Z of my own Conroe-L way back in February so it would seem that XBit is pretty fast in getting these samples. Anyway, the author seems impressed about the processor so you should definitely need to check it out. Expand for more...

Conclusion
Well, it’s time to sum up what we have discussed today. When new processors codenamed Conroe-L come out this June, Intel will drive Core micro-architecture into the last untouched sphere – low-cost single-core CPUs. This is a pretty remarkable event, because this micro-architecture differs positively from the preceding NetBurst from multiple standpoints. The launch of Celeron processors on Conroe-L core will result into significant performance increase of the budget CPUs and simultaneous reduction of their TDP and power consumption.

It would be very pleasing for the end-users that the new Celeron processors will be selling at very attractive prices. Celeron 420 processor working at 1.6GHz will be offered for about $40, and the top single-core model on Core micro-architecture, Celeron 440 working at 2.0GHz frequency will be priced at around $60.

Unfortunately, despite all the advantages, the new Celeron processors will hardly be able to surprise overclocking fans. The maximum frequency these processors can hit with air cooling should be close to 3GHz, which seems a pretty modest result for CPUs on Core micro-architecture.

However, as you know this article is just a preview of the engineering sample of the upcoming product. In any case once Conroe-L is launched, we will return to this topic and maybe some of the conclusions made today will need to be revised.

Source:Core Micro-Architecture Comes to Celeron Processors: Conroe-L Preview