Chaintech Launches nForce2 Mainboards

[First]

Well I'm here in the Netherlands covering a very interesting series of motherboards based on NVIDIA's nForce2 chipset. Without beating around the bush too much, here are the specs:

Chaintech Zenith Board:

Name: 7NJS
Chipset: nForce2 SPP + MCP-T
Specs: FireWire, Promise Serial ATA RAID (2 SATA connectors and 1 IDE RAID connector), CMI8738 sound, USB 2.0, DualNet (NV and 3Com LAN). Accessories are very interesting; for example, this board includes 3 rounded IDE cables. This is a nice (and unique among bundled motherboard accessories) feature to have before the space-saving SATA cables (and drives) arrive. SPDIF, FireWire/USB brackets, and everything else you'd expect to be included with a high-end motherboard is included with the 7NJS.

The 7NJS's suggested USD retail price is $188. While this might seem a bit high, Chaintech was good enough to develop a low-cost version that could become very very popular around here, dubbed the 7NJL1. This is part of Chaintech's Apogee series, which is basically Chaintech's price/performance motherboards. The 7NJL1's suggested USD retail price is $120-130 and is based on the nForce2 SPP + MCP-T. Some of the other features that are included with the 7NJL1 aren't clear at the moment, but I'll have confirmation about its features when I receive it for testing tomorrow morning.

Anyway, thought you guys would like to know about this particular product. Hum, I guess there was a reason for me to fly for 10 hours to see a motherboard launch.

 

[tuan121]

C-Media sound! Wht a waste of an Nforce board!

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: tuan121
C-Media sound! Wht a waste of an Nforce board!

hehe...

 

[CraigRT]

NForce2 = no big deal to me.
if there is a KT400A that'll be the chipset to get.

 

[NicColt]

>if there is a KT400A that'll be the chipset to get

Again... why would you say that?

The only difference will be an improved memory controller officially supporting DDR400.

 

[MatthewF01]

how about 1/6 divider?

i was about to buy the CT 7VJL KT333 board until i came across the issues ppl were having with it. i sat through that battle with chaintech to see the outcome, and now they have the DELUXE version based on KT400. The previous issues were fixed, but now we have a buggy KT400 chipset.

If they use KT400A, that boards gonna be a must-buy!

 

[GetInMyFatBelly]

Well, I'm in the Netherlands and wish I could have gone to the launch. It's near Gouda, like as in the cheese, right? What about the street availibility date? and what about the flexATX 7NIF1?
What? CMEDIA sound.
no Dolby Digital, what a waist of a nForce2 board, hopefully the flexATX version (7NIF1) will have DD, but I doubt it.

 

[lbmcleod]

when are you guys at anand gonna do a nForce 2 roundup?

 

[randomlinh]

when they actually become widely available I myself am waiting for asus to start putting their stuff on the shelves... that and hopefully the xp2400 will hit the $150 mark... yeah, i knwo, wishful thinking.