For AMD users: Next mobo upgraded

[perdomot]

I was surprised to find out that the two features I'm interested in, USB 3.0 and SATA 6G, are already included in the current mobos available from Gigabyte and was debating whether the new 8xx mobos will include enough features to merit upgrading or should I wait for someone to make an add-in card to give me those features if I choose not to get one of the available mobos?

 

[chucky2]

800 series due out in April/May...probably have to wait until April to hear about it with any accuracy.

From the stuff leaking so far, I'm honestly underwhelmed, and my brother and I are both waiting on it to determine upgrade path.

IMHO, AMD should have pulled out all the stops to get a DirectX 11 part in there to seriously one-up Intel. That would have stuck Intel in a hard position to compete in the low to medium segment. It will be even worse if what ends up happening is the 800 series Northbridge launches with the existing 700 series Southbridge, and the 800 series Southbridge follows at a later date.

Chuck

 

[lopri]

I agree with Chuck for the most part. I think AMD's focus with the 800 series chipsets may lie on the upgrade path to Bulldozer. After all, 790FX already provides more PCIe lanes than X58. (Although there is a rumor that 890FX will have total 48 lanes for x16/x16/x16 configuration)

It'd be fantastic if 890G sported HD 5000-class IGP, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. Bitstreaming may make it in, though, and that should be enough to keep Intel IGPs in check. But the reality is that AMD needs more than that to compete against Intel.

However, I don't think AMD will reuse SB710/SB750 for the new chipsets. As a matter of fact, the new south bridge may see the biggest improvement over current ones. (SATA 6.0 Gbps, native gigabit, faster interconnect to north bridge)

 

[chucky2]

For sure 800 series Southbridge will be better than 700 series (that's a large part why he and I are waiting), however, I would not put it past AMD/mobo makers looking to get out first to release with 700 series Southbridge if 800 series Southbridge ends up being considerably late. Not saying that will happen, but, it could.

As for 5000 class of IGP, IMHO, they've already F'd up by calling 785G a 4200....especially when one considers that 790GX is 3300, and it's faster.

They should have called 785G something like 3250 (since 780G is 3200), and saved 4xxx for the 800 series Northbridge.

I know why they did the 4200 naming, I just don't consider what it brought to the table enough to warrant it's number, especially reaching 4xxx level....

Chuck

 

[perdomot]

Thanks for the info. An add-in card to provide the USB/SATA functionality is looking better right now. The IGP on my 785G mobo is connected to a 17in monitor and window 7 has to turn off Aero when I play video full screen on it. Doesn't sound like the new IGP will be much better.

 

[lopri]

What CPU is paired with your 785G?

 

[perdomot]

An X3 720BE at 3.4Ghz

 

[lopri]

Windows turning Aero off has to do with the player and the content (read: DRM'ed). I could play DRM-stripped Blu-Ray contents on 780G/785G on 2560x1600 desktop with Aero enabled.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Thanks for the info. An add-in card to provide the USB/SATA functionality is looking better right now. The IGP on my 785G mobo is connected to a 17in monitor and window 7 has to turn off Aero when I play video full screen on it. Doesn't sound like the new IGP will be much better.

Windows turning Aero off has to do with the player and the content (read: DRM'ed). I could play DRM-stripped Blu-Ray contents on 780G/785G on 2560x1600 desktop with Aero enabled.

What Lopri said.

I've been fighting the 'Aero Thang' & HD with WinV, and Win7 RC for nearly three years --- and I am not trying to do BR. I never missed an opportunity to whine about it to the 'powers that be'.

It can be done with the proper combination of video drivers, codecs and OS support. It's annoying but you can get it to work.

... or should I wait for someone to make an add-in card to give me those features if I choose not to get one of the available mobos?

Someone could make a lot of $$$ by building a combined SATA/USB 3 controller card but I imagine if this is your plan you should count on needing an individual card for each function.

And I sure could use a SATA '3' controller card with 3 external ports ...




--

 

[perdomot]

You are right because WMP doesn't have the issue but VLC player which is my default player and iTunes do cause the issue. Fortunately, its not necessary for me to use the onboard video as my HDTV is connected to the video card and is my main viewer for video.

 

[chucky2]

Check out the following link:

OCWorkbench: http://en.ocworkbench.com/tech/gigabyte-reveals-its-amd-890gx-mainboard-ga-890gpa-ud3h-with-usb3-and-sata3-6gbps-support/

So it looks like the 800 series Southbridge will make the release date, however, no native USB 3.0 support, it's delivered by an NEC chip (thankfully NEC, and not some 3rd tier like VIA).

Unfortunately, the board supports 12 USB 2.0, but, only 2 USB 3.0. Doesn't say where those 2 ports are though: Are they on the back and not easily accessible? Front? Really only two? Not massively limiting, but, it would be nice to have so two front and two rear supported.

So it sounds like the 900 series of chipsets from AMD (whenever those will be dreamed up) will finally include USB 3.0 natively.

Chuck

 

[chucky2]

Another thing is that if those pics are representative of the final board, Gigabyte is going with the Realtek 8111B PCIe LAN chip...so, not integrate LAN apperantly. Does that mean no integrated LAN? Or that's just what Gigabyte is doing?

Another tidbit for this board at least is it's got a ALC892 audio codec on it, instead of the ALC889, so it looks like an upgrade to the audio codec. Not sure what that brings, I couldn't find a feature breakdown between the two....

Chuck

 

[perdomot]

Thanks for the link and info. I like the look of that mobo and will want to get it when its available. Didn't see a release date on the link. Any idea of when it comes out?

 

[chucky2]

There are no publicially available hard and fast dates for the release of 800 series products that I'm aware of, but the leaked understanding is that it should be in the April/May timeframe. 890FX may release before 890GX though, who knows how they'll stage it to the public...

Chuck