NVIDIA kills ULi chipset's SLI support

[WalkingDead]

1st cut off the supply of Uli south bridge for ATI chipset, now Nvidia will disable SLI support on the Uli chipsets. I'm sure Nvidia will kill off Crossfire support too in the later driver "updates". Then eventially shut down Uli altogether.


ripped from ocworkbench:

NVIDIA disabled ULi's SLI Patch

SLI patch was probably the last secret weapon of ULi before it got acquired by NVIDIA earlier this year. It is now confirmed that the SLI patch function on the Uli 1697 will no longer work with Forceware 81.98 and later.

This came as a rude shock to users as NVIDIA acquired ULI and most would expect NV to continue to support ULI and allow it to penetrate the entry level SLI market. Apparently, NVIDIA isn't too happy about the SLI patch and terminated it. Forceware 81.98 and later has a new code that will detect the SLI patch and disable two cards to run in SLI mode. Forceware 81.98 will still work in SLI with ULi 1697 boards.

Some of our readers have bought the ASrock board and a pair of 7600GT and are utterly disappointed by this action. Our users definitely hope that NVIDIA will reverse its decision.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: WalkingDead
1st cut off the supply of Uli south bridge for ATI chipset, now Nvidia will disable SLI support on the Uli chipsets. I'm sure Nvidia will kill off Crossfire support too in the later driver "updates". Then eventially shut down Uli altogether.


ripped from ocworkbench:

NVIDIA disabled ULi's SLI Patch

SLI patch was probably the last secret weapon of ULi before it got acquired by NVIDIA earlier this year. It is now confirmed that the SLI patch function on the Uli 1697 will no longer work with Forceware 81.98 and later.

This came as a rude shock to users as NVIDIA acquired ULI and most would expect NV to continue to support ULI and allow it to penetrate the entry level SLI market. Apparently, NVIDIA isn't too happy about the SLI patch and terminated it. Forceware 81.98 and later has a new code that will detect the SLI patch and disable two cards to run in SLI mode. Forceware 81.98 will still work in SLI with ULi 1697 boards.

Some of our readers have bought the ASrock board and a pair of 7600GT and are utterly disappointed by this action. Our users definitely hope that NVIDIA will reverse its decision.

NVidia owns the company....not much anybody can do...

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: WalkingDead
1st cut off the supply of Uli south bridge for ATI chipset, now Nvidia will disable SLI support on the Uli chipsets. I'm sure Nvidia will kill off Crossfire support too in the later driver "updates". Then eventially shut down Uli altogether.


ripped from ocworkbench:

NVIDIA disabled ULi's SLI Patch

SLI patch was probably the last secret weapon of ULi before it got acquired by NVIDIA earlier this year. It is now confirmed that the SLI patch function on the Uli 1697 will no longer work with Forceware 81.98 and later.

This came as a rude shock to users as NVIDIA acquired ULI and most would expect NV to continue to support ULI and allow it to penetrate the entry level SLI market. Apparently, NVIDIA isn't too happy about the SLI patch and terminated it. Forceware 81.98 and later has a new code that will detect the SLI patch and disable two cards to run in SLI mode. Forceware 81.98 will still work in SLI with ULi 1697 boards.

Some of our readers have bought the ASrock board and a pair of 7600GT and are utterly disappointed by this action. Our users definitely hope that NVIDIA will reverse its decision.

NVidia owns the company....not much anybody can do...

Ohhh... really? We can boycott Nvidia and those who have SLi on M1697 can find some hacked drivers.

 

[Googer]

http://www.nvidia.com/object/uli_02202006.html



NVIDIA Completes Acquisition of ULi Electronics

For further information, contact:

Bryan Del Rizzo
NVIDIA Corporation
(408) 486-2772
bdelrizzo@nvidia.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SANTA CLARA, CA?FEBRUARY 21, 2006?NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA), the worldwide leader in programmable graphics processor technologies, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of ULi Electronics, Inc., a leading developer of core logic technology.

The acquisition represents the Company?s ongoing investment in its platform solution strategy and is expected to strengthen its sales, marketing, and customer engineering presence in Taiwan and China.

About NVIDIA
NVIDIA Corporation is the worldwide leader in programmable graphics processor technologies. The Company creates innovative, industry-changing products for computing, consumer electronics, and mobile devices. NVIDIA is headquartered in Santa Clara, California and has offices throughout Asia, Europe, and the Americas. For more information, visit www.nvidia.com

Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, our investments in programmable graphics processor technologies and the impact of our acquisition of ULi Electronics, Inc. are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, manufacturing delays or defects, software bugs, difficulties in the development of new and enhanced products, the impact of technological development, the impact of competition including competitive products and pricing alternatives, not realizing the anticipated benefits of the acquisition, loss of sales and marketing employees in Taiwan and China, loss of customers post acquisition and other risks detailed from time to time in the reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its Form 10-Q for its quarter ended October 30, 2005. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

 

[jwalker46]

Given all the bugs in nVidia's recent Linux drivers, the Asrock mobo's were great news. The 939SLI32 is a neat board. With this news, though....pffffft. My next build will have an Intel cpu.

 

[dguy6789]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: WalkingDead
1st cut off the supply of Uli south bridge for ATI chipset, now Nvidia will disable SLI support on the Uli chipsets. I'm sure Nvidia will kill off Crossfire support too in the later driver "updates". Then eventially shut down Uli altogether.


ripped from ocworkbench:

NVIDIA disabled ULi's SLI Patch

SLI patch was probably the last secret weapon of ULi before it got acquired by NVIDIA earlier this year. It is now confirmed that the SLI patch function on the Uli 1697 will no longer work with Forceware 81.98 and later.

This came as a rude shock to users as NVIDIA acquired ULI and most would expect NV to continue to support ULI and allow it to penetrate the entry level SLI market. Apparently, NVIDIA isn't too happy about the SLI patch and terminated it. Forceware 81.98 and later has a new code that will detect the SLI patch and disable two cards to run in SLI mode. Forceware 81.98 will still work in SLI with ULi 1697 boards.

Some of our readers have bought the ASrock board and a pair of 7600GT and are utterly disappointed by this action. Our users definitely hope that NVIDIA will reverse its decision.

NVidia owns the company....not much anybody can do...

Ohhh... really? We can boycott Nvidia and those who have SLi on M1697 can find some hacked drivers.

Unfortunately, PC enthusiasts such as the ones on these forums and others total less than 5% of the total market. We, who buy high end parts are not worth anything to nVidia. nVidia makes money in the 6200 and FX5200 level cards. They do not make much of anything at the 6600GT level and higher when speaking in terms of profit and expectation of sales. They simply offer those cards as options, but do not expect them to influence their income in any real way.

 

[Ike0069]

This is unreal. I don't understand what NVidia is trying to do here. Seems my next VC purchase will ATI, and a non-NVidia/Uli chipset MB.
However I see no reason to jump to Intel based on this.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Ike0069
This is unreal. I don't understand what NVidia is trying to do here. Seems my next VC purchase will ATI, and a non-NVidia/Uli chipset MB.
However I see no reason to jump to Intel based on this.

Don't forget there is always VIA, who has been making some decent chipsets lately.