AMD selling Athlon Kabinis

[cbn]

There is no need, you could add a Aspeed discrete video solution for next to nothing in the mb in case you want a Server AM1, basicly what everyones does with the Avotons MBs. BUT Avotons are FAR better equiped for server use, they are also expensive.

Yes, I've seen the Aspeed chips before on Server boards.

But I don't think we would see that sort of thing on AM1 boards for at least two reasons:

1. Unlike Avotons, most AM1s will come with iGPUs.

2. Avoton is BGA, so if the processor attached to the board doesn't have iGPU the manufacturer must implement some workaround.

 

[Shivansps]

The mayor problem is the limited number of server uses and limited pci-e lanes. considering Kabini has ECC support, there is not even a single AM1 or soldered Kabini server board, not even 1, there has to be a reason for it.

 

[cbn]

considering Kabini has ECC support, there is not even a single AM1 or soldered Kabini server board, not even 1, there has to be a reason for it.

Yep, there used to be a server kabini called "Kyoto". (It was never used in any product).

Unfortunately "Kyoto" (being based on the Kabini die) also suffered from having only two SATA ports.

Interestingly enough prior these 28nm small cores, the 40nm bobcat APUs had separate PCHs that allowed up to six SATA ports. But Bobcat did not have ECC functionality like Jaguar does.

 

[Abwx]

Smaller boards are "chic", didn't you get the memo.

I think that it s at the retail level that prices are uplifted, Asus AM1 ITX
was 29€ at launch and now it s almost 34€ thanks to its overclocking capabilities, on the other hand the Asrock AM1B ITX is no more than 30€, yet it has two added controlers wich provide 2 other USB3 and SATA 3 ports and is overclocking capable, so it is clear that manufacturers are not the culprits for such anti consumers pricings.

 

[cbn]

I think that it s at the retail level that prices are uplifted, Asus AM1 ITX
was 29€ at launch and now it s almost 34€ thanks to its overclocking capabilities, on the other hand the Asrock AM1B ITX is no more than 30€, yet it has two added controlers wich provide 2 other USB3 and SATA 3 ports and is overclocking capable, so it is clear that manufacturers are not the culprits for such anti consumers pricings.

Sounds like a supply and demand issue for the ASUS vs. ASRock. (re: both have overclocking, but ASUS is the one increasing in price)

P.S. Here were the AM1 launch prices at Newegg:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2377334

Both ASUS boards were among the most expensive since day 1.

...And if you compare the ASUS Mini-ITX in post #4 to your ASRock Mini-ITX board there is about $10 price difference. That price difference has remained largely the same.

If there is one board that has dropped the most since launch it is the ASUS Micro-ATX (which has overclocking and ECC RAM capability) by nearly $10.

 

[cbn]

I suppose the next question to ask then is, what is the purpose of an iGPU-less quad core that isn't very good for gaming? We might see some of these used in linux-router builds, perhaps, or for networked storage, where a video card need only be used to set it up.

I have read that it is possible for some motherboards to boot without an iGPU (or video card) provided the BIOS is written with that in mind.

So hopefully the ECC capable ASUS AM1M-A is capable of booting without an video card if an Athlon x4 AM1 is installed. Then like you have mentioned, any video card could be installed for set-up and then removed later on for 24/7 headless operation.

 

[Shivansps]

every MB should be able to boot without an gpu, but them again whats the point? NAS? i cant figure out what kind of server those Kabini Quad whould be good at.

 

[cbn]

With a $38 price difference between Athlon x4/AM1 and G1820/H81 at the Mini-ITX level (assuming the 2.2 GHz Athlon x4 550 ends up at $35) I think there are two major categories beginning to appear for Athlon x 4 550 and Athlon x4 530:

1. A low power server usage with the ECC capable uATX ASUS AM1M-A. This assuming the board has a BIOS capable of booting a Athlon x 4 550/530 without a video card.

2. A Mini-ITX gamer usage that is bounded in value by the higher capability of the Celeron G1820 (which actually has a fairly compentent iGPU).

For usage #2 (Gamer), I think to increase value there needs to be some BOM lowering components like soldered on RAM (on some AM1 boards) otherwise the total system price using new components can be too close together with the Intel G1820

So maybe we need more integrated AM1 value boards for budget gamers (This using 4GB soldered on low cost mobile ram since there is no longer a high bandwidth memory requirement for an iGPU). Then keep boards like the ASUS AM1M-A for the higher end with discrete RAM sockets for either ECC or higher speed DDR3.

 

[Shivansps]

But whats the use? thats the thing, because if its home nas/fileserver there is no need for a quad or ECC... in thats case i gona pickup the next cheap thing with GB lan i come across like this thing http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813135322

 

[cbn]

But whats the use? thats the thing, because if its home nas/fileserver there is no need for a quad or ECC.

Apparently Plex can use quad core, but it depends on the Codec:

https://forums.plex.tv/index.php/topic/47689-multicore-support/

 

[cbn]

Regarding more integrated value oriented AM1 boards (with the cheaper mobile type RAM soldered on), I figure the Semprons could probably make use of that also. (re: The Semprons have slowered clocked iGPUs that would be less demanding on memory bandwidth).