GSBUG Hardware Info SIG

1. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG August 8, 2002

2. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Agenda – August 8, 2002 • 7:00 – 7:05 Administration • 7:05 – 8:15 Featured Topic – Sound Processors, Sound Cards, and Speakers • 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 – an information resource for computer users and potential computer users • Is NOT – a way to get your computer built or repaired (contact the GSBUG Daytime Hardware SIG) • Log – 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 are also posted.

5. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Sound Processors, Sound Cards, and Speakers • These materials ONLY address mainstream, non-professional “components” used in or with IBM-compatible PCs.

6. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Sound Processors, Sound Cards…(continued) • Sound (Audio) Processors: • Discrete (separate chip) • Integrated (into the motherboard’s single-chip chipset or Southbridge) • Codec (compression/decompression) – software or hardware-assisted algorithms to compress and decompress files (e.g., audio files)

7. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Sound Processors, Sound Cards…(continued) • Primary Sound Processor Suppliers - Discrete • C-Media (CMI) (www.cmedia.com.tw) • Creative Technology (Creative Labs, E-mu/Ensoniq) (www.americas.creative.com) • Crystal/Cirrus Logic (www.crystal.com) • ESS Technology (Canyon3D, Allegro, Maestro) (www.esstech.com) • ForteMedia (www.fortemedia.com) • Philips (ThunderBird)

8. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Sound Processors, Sound Cards…(continued) • Primary Sound Processor Suppliers – Integrated (into the motherboard chipset) • ALi (Acer Labs) – all current chipsets • Intel – all current chipsets • NVIDIA – all current chipsets; Audio Processor (APU) • SiS – all current chipsets • VIA – all current chipsets • NOTE: All integrated solutions provide an AC97 interface and require an external Codec.

9. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Sound Processors, Sound Cards…(continued) • Sound Cards – “Identifiable” Suppliers • Creative Labs – “Sound Blaster” products, latest is the “Audigy” (Creative) • Guillemot – Muse, Fortissimo, Theater (C-Media, Crystal) • Jaton – SonicWave (ForteMedia) • Philips – Acoustic Edge (Philips) • Voyetra Turtle Beach – Santa Cruz (Crystal) • Use a PCI card!

10. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Sound Processors, Sound Cards…(continued) • Speakers • Sky’s the limit – we’ll just note mainstream PC speaker suppliers having products generally available in the US.

11. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Sound Processors, Sound Cards…(continued) • Speakers – Primary “Identifiable” Suppliers • Altec Lansing (www.alteclansing.com) • Creative Labs (Creative Inspire, Cambridge SoundWorks) • Harman Kardon/JBL (www.harmanmultimedia.com) • JAZZ (J-S) (www.jazzspeakers.com) • Klipsch (ProMedia) (www.klipsch.com) • Logitech (www.logitech.com) • MidiLand (MLi) (www.midiland.com) • Yamaha (www.yamaha.com)

12. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News • Processors – nothing new • Core Logic (chipsets) • NVIDIA announced the nForce2 for AMD Athlon/Duron – dual memory channels (up to DDR400), AGP 8X, GeForce4 MX graphics, ATA/133, 1394/USB 2.0 support, DualNet; August shipments • SiS announced the R658 Northbridge – first non-Intel RAMBUS chipset. P4 400/533MHz FSB, dual channel PC800/1066 RDRAM support (max 4GB), AGP 8X.

13. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News • Core Logic (chipsets) (continued) • VIA announced the P4X400 (VT8754) Northbridge and VT8235 Southbridge – P4 400/533MHz FSB, DDR to DDR400 (max 32GB), AGP 8X, ATA/133, 10/100 Ethernet MAC, 1394 and USB 2.0 support. • System RAM – nothing new • Motherboards • NVIDIA nForce2- based boards announced by ASUS (A7N8X), Leadtek (K7NCR18x), MSI (K7N2), and others. • Unreleased VIA KT400-based boards announced by ASUS (A7V8X) and MSI (KT4 Ultra).

14. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News (continued) • Graphics processors & cards • ATI release several processors and associated cards: • RADEON 9000 (R250) VPU – for partner cards • RADEON 9000 Pro (R250) VPU and RADEON 9000 Pro card (275/275, 64MB, dual 400MHz DACs) • RADEON 9700 Pro (R300) VPU and RADEON 9700 Pro card (325/310, 128MB, AGP 8X, dual 400MHz DACs, requires extra power – floppy 4-pin connector provided on-card) • Fire GL X1 card (based on RADEON 9700 VPU) – 256MB, AGP 8X, dual 400MHz DACs, AGP Pro 50 slot required. • Trident (www.tridentmicro.com) released the XP4 graphics processor - 3 versions, up to 300MHz core, 250MHz/128-bit memory interface.

15. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News (continued) • Hard Drives • Western Digital’s “Drivezilla” spec released, drives now shipping – 200GB, ATA/100, 7200 rpm, 736Mb/sec internal transfer (highest ever achieved), only 2MB cache; lists for $399. • Hard Drive Controllers – nothing new • Other Drives • TDK released the veloCD 48x16/24x48 CD-RW (ATAPI, internal) – requires 24X media for 24X re-write

16. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News (continued) • Other Drives (continued) • Yamaha released the CRWF1 44x24x44 CD-RW (ATAPI, internal?) w/ “DiscT@2” laser labeling system (“burns graphics and text on any CD, eliminating the need for labels”). • Sound processors & cards – nothing new • Modems & NICs – nothing new • Chassis & power supplies – nothing new

17. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Recap, Preview, and Close • Recap • Preview • Featured Topic for September 10, 2002 – Other Components (Modems, NICs, Chassis, Power Supplies, HFAs, Fans, Keyboards, and Mice) • Close (please police up the area)