integrated ethernet on nFoce?

[chang8317]

I was wondering,

When the Nvidia specs indicated that there would be an integrated 100mbit ethernet integrated onboard, did they mean that the southbridge had this capability but it was up to the motherboard makers to implement an ethernet controller? Or does it mean that all nForce boards will come with ethernet ports so that we do not have to purchase an ethernet card?

 

[tazdevl]

Up to the mobo manuf to implement it, but there is support. If you want it... A7N266E and MSI K7N420D have it. The Asus A7N266 does not.

 

[chang8317]

haha.. perfect, just what I was looking for. Thank.. Integrated Video/audio/ethernet.. this mobo should save a lot of money

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Not only money will be saved, but hassle with drivers as well. One driver does video/sound/lan. Pretty good if you ask me . I wouldn't count on the onboard video for impressive gaming, however. If you game, an extra few bucks invested in a better video board will result in much better performance.

 

[tazdevl]

No audio API's (EAX, A3D, Sensura)... don't expect good surround in CS. 5.1 doesn't mean squat if it isn't built into the game.

 

[rmcohen]

Yeah, the A7N266-E has onboard LAN, but Asus decided to use the Realtek network chip. I don't quite understand this, as the nVidia chipset has built in (native?) NIC support. Why did ASUS have to go to a third party? In addition, does this mean that the board will require drivers from more than one vendor? I thought the benefit of going with an nVidia chipset motherboard was that nVidia would provide one driver for all the parts.

 

[Jabberwock]

Although it probably doesnt mean much in terms of performance, the exclusion the the nForce's built in LAN with the Realtek replacement bugs the hell out of me, ESPECIALLY when the Asus is ludicrously overpriced.

Does all it take for the nforce to support other sound API's a simple driver upgrade? Will it EVER support other API's?

 

[suicideKing]

all those APIs won't be needed once games started being released in realtime DD 5.1... who needs crappy fake surround when you have DD 5.1!