GSBUG Hardware Info SIG

1. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG August 14, 2003

2. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Agenda – August 14, 2003 • 7:00 – 7:05 Administration • 7:05 – 8:15 Featured Topics – Graphics Processors, Video Cards, and Monitors: 2003 Update • 8:15 – 8:30 Hardware News • 8:30 – 8:55 Random Access (Q&A) • 8:55 – 9:00 Recap, Preview, and Close

3. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Administration • Welcome! Please Sign In. • What the SIG is…and is not. • Is - a resource for computer users and potential computer users • Is NOT – a cheap way to get your computer built or repaired (contact the GSBUG Daytime Hardware SIG) • Logs – Random Access/Q&A (First Come…)

4. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Administration (continued): • Presentation materials will be posted at: http://gsbug.apcug.org/hwinfosig.htm • Prior presentation materials also posted.

5. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Graphics Processors, Cards… : 2003 Update • Graphics Processors – as implemented: • Discrete (separate chip), used on video cards with dedicated RAM • Discrete (separate chip), integrated onto the motherboard with dedicated or shared RAM (typically for servers or OEM) • Integrated into the motherboard’s Northbridge with dedicated or shared RAM

6. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Graphics Processors, Cards…: 2003 Upd (cont.) • Primary Processor Suppliers - Discrete: • 3Dlabs (Creative Labs) – Wildcat & Oxygen (proprietary) • ATI – RADEON and FireGL (mixed proprietary and merchant) • Matrox – Millennium and Parhelia (proprietary) • NVIDIA – GeForce and Quadro (“merchant”) • PowerVR/PURE Digital (Imagination Technologies) – KYRO (merchant)

7. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Graphics Processors, Cards…: 2003 Upd (cont.) • Primary Processor Suppliers – Discrete (continued): • S3 Graphics (VIA) – DeltaChrome (merchant) • SiS – SiS3xx series and Xabre (merchant) • Trident (Graphics Division now part of XGI) – BLADE family (merchant)

8. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Graphics Processors, Cards…: 2003 Upd (cont.) • Primary Processor Suppliers – Integrated (into the Northbridge) • ATI – RADEON IGP (Athlon and P4) • Intel – 845G and 865G series (P4 only) • NVIDIA – nForce IGP (Athlon only) • SiS – multiple (Athlon, P3, and P4) • VIA – ProSavage (Athlon, P3, and P4)

9. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Graphics Processors, Cards…: 2003 Upd (cont.) • Video Cards - interfaces • AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) • 32-bits wide, parallel bus • 266MHz (4X) or 533MHz (8X) • Up to 2.1GB/sec transfer rate • PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) • 32-bits wide, parallel bus • 33MHz • 132MB/sec transfer rate

10. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Graphics Processors, Cards…: 2003 Upd (cont.) • Video Cards – interfaces (continued) • PCI Express (formerly 3GIO) - coming in 2004 • Variable width, serial bus • Not measured in MHz – uses Gb/sec/pin/direction • Initially up to 2X transfer rate of AGP 8X

11. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Graphics Processors, Cards…: 2003 Upd (cont.) • Video Cards - Primary Suppliers • 3Dlabs – Oxygen and Wildcat series (workstation); Creative Labs (mainstream & gamer) coming? • ASUSTeK (ASUS) – NVIDIA-based (mainstream & gamer) • ATI – RADEON (mainstream & gamer) and FireGL (workstation); many “partners” for non-workstation cards • Gigabyte – ATI-based (mainstream & gamer) • Hercules – 3D Prophet series, ATI and KYRO-based (mainstream & gamer)

12. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Graphics Processors, Cards…: 2003 Upd (cont.) • Video Cards - Primary Suppliers (continued) • Leadtek - WinFast series, NVIDIA-based (mainstream, gamer) • Matrox – Parhelia and Millennium series (mainstream, gamer, and professional) • MicroStar (MSI) – NVIDIA-based (mainstream & gamer) • PNY – NVIDIA GeForce and Quadro based (mainstream, gamer, and workstation) • VideoLogic – Vivid! (KYRO-based, gamer) • VisionTek – Xtasy, ATI-based (mainstream & gamer)

13. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Graphics Processors, Cards…: 2003 Upd (cont.) • Video Cards – “L&G”, Mainstream & Gamer • ATI (and “Partners”) • RADEON 9800 Pro (256MB, DVI-I/VGA, TV-out) • All-in-Wonder 9800 Pro (128MB, TV Tuner, video capture) • Matrox • Parhelia (256MB, dual DVI-I, TV-out, triple-display capable) • NVIDIA (through multiple card manufacturers) • GeForce FX 5900 Ultra (256MB, DVI-I/VGA, TV-out)

14. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Graphics Processors, Cards…: 2003 Upd (cont.) • Video Cards – “L&G”, Workstation • 3Dlabs • Wildcat4 7210 (384MB, dual DVI-I, genlock & frame lock, AGP Pro 50, MSRP $2399) • ATI • FireGL X2-256 (256MB, dual DVI-I, AGP 8X, MSRP $999) • PNY (NVIDIA) • Quadro FX 3000G (256MB, dual DVI-I, genlock & frame lock, AGP 8X, MSRP $2899?) • Benchmarks - www.specbench.org/gpc/opc.data/vp71/summary.html

15. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Graphics Processors, Cards…: 2003 Upd (cont.) • Monitors • CRTs (cathode ray tubes) = standard “monitors” • LCD (liquid crystal display) = flat panel monitors • Analog (VGA – 15-pin, D-sub) • Digital (DVI-D) • Dual input (VGA and DVI-D)

16. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Graphics Processors, Cards…: 2003 Upd (cont.) • CRT Monitors – Primary Suppliers • AOC - mainstream • Eizo – high-end mainstream & professional, expensive • Hitachi – mainstream through professional • Iiyama – mainstream through professional • KDS – mainstream • NEC-Mitsubishi – mainstream through professional • Panasonic – mainstream

17. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Graphics Processors, Cards…: 2003 Upd (cont.) • CRT Monitors – Primary Suppliers (continued) • Philips – mainstream • Samsung – mainstream • Sony – mainstream through professional • ViewSonic – mainstream through professional

18. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Graphics Processors, Cards…: 2003 Upd (cont.) • LCD Displays – Primary Suppliers • Eizo – mainstream analog & dual input • KDS/Radius – mainstream analog • NEC-Mitsubishi – mainstream analog & dual input • Samsung – mainstream analog & dual input • Sony – mainstream analog & dual input • ViewSonic – mainstream analog & dual input • NOTE: Virtually all CRT manufacturers also “produce” LCD displays.

19. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News • Processors • AMD released the Opteron Model 246 2-way-capable processor (2.0GHz) – simple line extension. • Intel released a 3.06GHz Xeon processor w/ 1MB L3 cache – first non-MP model with L3 cache. The L3 cache is “inclusive”, i.e., the contents of the L2 cache are duplicated in L3. • Core Logic (chipsets) • ALi announced the M1683 Northbridge for Pentium 4 processors – supports 800MHz FSB, PC3200 (DDR 400, single channel) DDR SDRAM, and AGP 8X graphics.

20. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News (continued) • Core Logic (chipsets) (continued) • SiS announced the SiS755 “Northbridge” for AMD Opteron and Athlon 64 processors – supports AGP 8X. [Spec says Athlon 64, press release says Athlon 64 and Opteron.] • VIA announced that the K8T400M (VT8385) “Northbridge” for AMD Opteron processors has been renamed the K8T800.

21. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News (continued) • System RAM • Rambus announced XDR DRAM for next-generation applications – up to 12.8GB/sec sustained data rate. Co-announced with Toshiba and Elpida who will start shipping chips in late 2004. • Motherboards – nothing new • Graphics Processors & Cards • ATI announced the All-in-Wonder 9600 PRO – no spec available, presumably 128MB, AGP 8X. Mainstream version of All-in-Wonder 9800 PRO.

22. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News (continued) • Graphics Processors & Cards (continued) • ATI released the FireGL X2-256 and FireGL T2-128 workstation graphics cards. X2-256 (new top of the line) – based on FGL 9800 VPU, 256MB RAM, AGP 8X, MSRP $999 – SPEC Viewperf 7.1 leader for DX and Light. T2-128 (entry level) – based on FGL 9600 VPU, 128MB RAM, AGP 8X, MSRP $379. • NVIDIA/PNY released the Quadro FX 3000 and 3000G workstation graphics cards. FX 3000 – 256MB RAM, AGP 8X, MSRP $2295; FX 3000G – adds genlock and frame lock to FX 3000 (first for NVIDIA), MSRP $2995. 256-bit mem; virtually no diff in SPEC Viewperf 7.1.

23. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News (continued) • Hard Drives – nothing new • Hard Drive Controllers – nothing new • Other Drives • ASUS announced a 52x32x52 CD-RW drive (CRW-5232A) and a 4X/2.4X, dual-mode DVD writer (DRW-0402P/D) - both internal, ATAPI. • Lite-On announced the LDW-401S DVD writer – 4x4x12 (DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-ROM) x 40x24x40 (CD-R, CD-RW, CD-ROM); internal, ATAPI. Highest speed to date for DVD+RW and CD-R/RW/ROM in a single drive.

24. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News (continued) • Other Drives (continued) • Plextor released the PX-708A dual-mode DVD writer – internal, ATAPI. First drive to support 8X DVD+R/ 4X DVD+RW. Tied with Lite-On for fastest DVD+RW and CD functions (40x24x40). • TDK released the DED+440 dual-mode, external DVD writer – USB 2.0 & 1394 interfaces. • Toshiba released the SD-R5112 4X/2X “DVD Multi” drive – internal, ATAPI. • Sound processors & cards – nothing new

25. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News (continued) • Modems & NICs – nothing new • Chassis & power supplies – nothing new

26. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Random Access

27. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Recap, Preview, and Close • Recap • Preview • Featured Topic for September 11, 2003 – Sound Processors, Sound Cards, and Speakers: 2003 Update • Close (please police up the area)