Epox brings Socket 754 and SLI together - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 26th Sep 2005, 18:07

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2005/09...x_ep-8npa_sli/

MrWillyWonka · 26th Sep 2005, 18:12

So we're going back to old technology?

Even so, I think its a fair idea for people not wanting to get rid of their processors. Saves you a fair bit I guess.

Tim S · 26th Sep 2005, 18:13

that's the idea - it is SLI for those who've not got a Socket 939 CPU and are considering the plump to PCI-Express/SLI

webbyman · 26th Sep 2005, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigz

that's the idea - it is SLI for those who've not got a Socket 939 CPU and are considering the plump to PCI-Express/SLI

eh?!

pointless if you ask me.

Da Dego · 26th Sep 2005, 21:23

I agree, webby.

I would want this...why? If you have a 754 processor, you'll already CPU limit any title that having SLI for would be a benefit...one PCIe 6800 and you're fine...Basically, if you're going to spend the money on all this stuff for SLI, why not upgrade your processor to something a bit bigger that offers dual channel ram?

This is a lot like the "2 6600gt's in the same card" idea...

Tim S · 26th Sep 2005, 21:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by webbyman

eh?!

pointless if you ask me.

If you've got a Socket 754 Athlon 64 you have literally no upgrade path because there are no 'official' PCI-Express chipsets supporting Socket 754. Epox have somehow managed to create an upgrade path for those Socket 754 owners so that they don't have to plump for a new CPU when upgrading.

neillyb · 26th Sep 2005, 21:45

****ing brilliant. I've got a 754 socket and, in my opinion, the fastest AGP card I can get. Now I can get a PCI-X GFX card with the option of going SLI and keep my CPU and RAM! Yuss!

There's a huge market for this I'd imagine, I'm surprised there hasn't been one released before. They're on to a winner with this board as far as I'm concerned.

Tim S · 26th Sep 2005, 21:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by neillyb

****ing brilliant. I've got a 754 socket and, in my opinion, the fastest AGP card I can get. Now I can get a PCI-X GFX card with the option of going SLI and keep my CPU and RAM! Yuss!

There's a huge market for this I'd imagine, I'm surprised there hasn't been one released before. They're on to a winner with this board as far as I'm concerned.

See, this is the exact type of person that this motherboard is aimed at...

MrWillyWonka · 26th Sep 2005, 21:59

bigz, "upgrade path" is the right word.

Basically you don't quite have the money to go the full blast to upgrade from an AGP S754 to PCI-e S939, so you take the mobo and graphics upgrade, then sometime in the future go for the mobo and processor upgrade.

This would spread out the costs a bit, but in the long run will it actually save money? You would need a mobo compatible with both S754 to S939, which I don't see happening.

kickarse · 26th Sep 2005, 22:06

It make sense to those who don't want to take out a second mortgage to fund their computing addiction.

Techno-Dann · 27th Sep 2005, 00:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Da Dego

This is a lot like the "2 6600gt's in the same card" idea...

I think it's more like the 6200 SLI- I mean "6600 LE SLI". It's for people who want the SLI name to impress their friends, but don't have the money for the real thing.

I just really hope that AOpen or someone comes out with a Pentium-M SLI (or Crossfire, I don't care) board. That would smash 3DMark records.

Sam0r · 27th Sep 2005, 00:57

I'd like to see a converter for S754 to S939, that fits in a S939 board, personally. Surely that would be more logical? I highly doubt it would work though.

Firehed · 27th Sep 2005, 18:10

ACtually, the vanilla NF4 supports 754 and 939 to my understanding. It's just that manufacturers know it's a waste to invest time in making a 754 version considering it's lifespan.

hitman012 · 26th Nov 2005, 23:04

I'm pretty sure that you're right. Foxconn made a Socket 754 motherboard that used nForce4 a while ago, IIRC.

Edit: The Foxconn NF4K8AB; that's the one.

frodo · 27th Nov 2005, 01:56

ive got an 8npaj, the non sli version

has pci-e (hence why i got it) so i could use my x800xl, tbh, i like it, but im upgrading it to s939 soon, as its processor limited....

tbh, the cost of upgrading to s939 is so low it makes little/bugger all difference now... plus the raw power is alot better over 754....

Nottheking · 28th Nov 2005, 20:57

To me, this appears to be yet another niche motherboard. In reality, knowing how both SLi is largely pointless to get right off if you're getting anything less than the seriously high-end video cards, (I'd put the floor at perhaps the 7800GT right now, POSSIBLY making an exception for the 6800ultra in some situations) and also how the latest video cards have a tendency to be "bottlenecked" with anything less than a high-end Athlon64, (ANY Pentium 4, curiously enough, seems to not cut it in the most extreme cases, though hopefuly this is a fluke in benchmarks that doesn't translate in this case) you'd likely need to have an Athlon64 3700+, the max the socket will fit, right off the bat, and at that rate, and with you planning on going SLi, it really fails to make sense to get that motherboard, which will likely cost at least some $75US, as well as a pair of high-end nVidia cards, without giving your CPU some serious overhaul.

That said, there ARE some people who can benefit from this; those, for instance, who had a pair of 6800GTs from the previous generation, and looking to swap in a pair of 7800GTX 512s, while not letting their old cards go to waste, but know of a socket 754 machine that could use them. Also, people using a single PCI-e video card with their socket 754 machine, and looking to partake in SLi might be relieved to see that replacing their Athlon64 with what would likely be at least a 4000+ or X2-3800+ won't be necessary. It might even be viable for those with AGP, particularly in cases where you're looking to leap up from what is quickly becoming an outdated card like the GeForce 6600 to something truly powerful.

26th Sep 2005, 18:07	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Epox brings Socket 754 and SLI together http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2005/09...x_ep-8npa_sli/ __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

26th Sep 2005, 18:12	#2
MrWillyWonka . Moderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southampton, Hants Posts: 5,746	So we're going back to old technology? Even so, I think its a fair idea for people not wanting to get rid of their processors. Saves you a fair bit I guess. __________________ Project Red - HL2 - PSOne LCD S-Video Guide Main Rig: Asus Striker Extreme, Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 OC'd to 2.65GHz, 4GB Corsair XMS, 8800GTS in SLI, 36 & 74GB Raptors

26th Sep 2005, 18:13	#3
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	that's the idea - it is SLI for those who've not got a Socket 939 CPU and are considering the plump to PCI-Express/SLI __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

26th Sep 2005, 21:23	#5
Da Dego Brett Thomas Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cleveland, OH USA Posts: 3,906	I agree, webby. I would want this...why? If you have a 754 processor, you'll already CPU limit any title that having SLI for would be a benefit...one PCIe 6800 and you're fine...Basically, if you're going to spend the money on all this stuff for SLI, why not upgrade your processor to something a bit bigger that offers dual channel ram? This is a lot like the "2 6600gt's in the same card" idea... __________________ "Frankly that seems overkill. iluvtrees2 arguing with spec is the intellectual equivalent of a bunny rabbit taking on a pissed-off lion." - Nexxo Last edited by Da Dego; 26th Sep 2005 at 21:31.

26th Sep 2005, 21:45	#7
neillyb Multimodder Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Falkirk, Scotland Posts: 102	****ing brilliant. I've got a 754 socket and, in my opinion, the fastest AGP card I can get. Now I can get a PCI-X GFX card with the option of going SLI and keep my CPU and RAM! Yuss! There's a huge market for this I'd imagine, I'm surprised there hasn't been one released before. They're on to a winner with this board as far as I'm concerned. __________________ www.gumpcom.com - LAN Parties in Scotland \|AMD FX-60\|\|Gainward Bliss 8800GTS 640MB\|\|SeaGate 160GB HDD / 2 x 320 GB SATA Seagate things I think \|\|OCZ Platinum 2 x 1GB PC3200 RAM\|\| MSI K8N Diamond Plus motherboard \|

26th Sep 2005, 21:59	#9
MrWillyWonka . Moderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southampton, Hants Posts: 5,746	bigz, "upgrade path" is the right word. Basically you don't quite have the money to go the full blast to upgrade from an AGP S754 to PCI-e S939, so you take the mobo and graphics upgrade, then sometime in the future go for the mobo and processor upgrade. This would spread out the costs a bit, but in the long run will it actually save money? You would need a mobo compatible with both S754 to S939, which I don't see happening. __________________ Project Red - HL2 - PSOne LCD S-Video Guide Main Rig: Asus Striker Extreme, Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 OC'd to 2.65GHz, 4GB Corsair XMS, 8800GTS in SLI, 36 & 74GB Raptors

26th Sep 2005, 22:06	#10
kickarse Ultramodder Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Holyoke, MA Posts: 1,281	It make sense to those who don't want to take out a second mortgage to fund their computing addiction. __________________ Top 5 Listening to Now - A Second To Last - Dying Against Your Will Rock Kills Kid - Paralyzed Zero State Reflex - I'm Splintering Hot Hot Heat - Middle of No Where - www.nerges.net

27th Sep 2005, 00:57	#12
Sam0r Hater of Seagate Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 1,894	I'd like to see a converter for S754 to S939, that fits in a S939 board, personally. Surely that would be more logical? I highly doubt it would work though. __________________ Lenovo 3000 N200 - C2D 1.6 - 2gb DDR533 - 120gb HD Xbox Live Gamertag: Sam00r \| My Blog Type Thing

27th Sep 2005, 18:10	#13
Firehed Why not? I own a domain to match. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An hour north of Boston Posts: 12,576	ACtually, the vanilla NF4 supports 754 and 939 to my understanding. It's just that manufacturers know it's a waste to invest time in making a 754 version considering it's lifespan. __________________ hire me @ eric-stern.com - web developer and php ninja pics @ my smugmug :: Twitter @firehed :: blog @ firehed.net 40D\|580EXII\|285HV\|AB800\|70-200f/4LIS\|17-50f/2.8\|150f/2.8Macro\|50f/1.8 MacPro @ 8x2.8GHz, 10GB FBDDR2, 3TB HD :: MBP @ 2x2.2GHz, 4GB DDR2, 320GB HD

26th Nov 2005, 23:04	#14
hitman012 What is a Dremel!? Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bristol / London Posts: 4,811	I'm pretty sure that you're right. Foxconn made a Socket 754 motherboard that used nForce4 a while ago, IIRC. Edit: The Foxconn NF4K8AB; that's the one. __________________ "Nothing is more practical than a good theory" - Kurt Lewin

27th Nov 2005, 01:56	#15
frodo Ultramodder Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Guildford, Surrey, UK Posts: 1,095	ive got an 8npaj, the non sli version has pci-e (hence why i got it) so i could use my x800xl, tbh, i like it, but im upgrading it to s939 soon, as its processor limited.... tbh, the cost of upgrading to s939 is so low it makes little/bugger all difference now... plus the raw power is alot better over 754....

28th Nov 2005, 20:57	#16
Nottheking Multimodder Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 91	To me, this appears to be yet another niche motherboard. In reality, knowing how both SLi is largely pointless to get right off if you're getting anything less than the seriously high-end video cards, (I'd put the floor at perhaps the 7800GT right now, POSSIBLY making an exception for the 6800ultra in some situations) and also how the latest video cards have a tendency to be "bottlenecked" with anything less than a high-end Athlon64, (ANY Pentium 4, curiously enough, seems to not cut it in the most extreme cases, though hopefuly this is a fluke in benchmarks that doesn't translate in this case) you'd likely need to have an Athlon64 3700+, the max the socket will fit, right off the bat, and at that rate, and with you planning on going SLi, it really fails to make sense to get that motherboard, which will likely cost at least some $75US, as well as a pair of high-end nVidia cards, without giving your CPU some serious overhaul. That said, there ARE some people who can benefit from this; those, for instance, who had a pair of 6800GTs from the previous generation, and looking to swap in a pair of 7800GTX 512s, while not letting their old cards go to waste, but know of a socket 754 machine that could use them. Also, people using a single PCI-e video card with their socket 754 machine, and looking to partake in SLi might be relieved to see that replacing their Athlon64 with what would likely be at least a 4000+ or X2-3800+ won't be necessary. It might even be viable for those with AGP, particularly in cases where you're looking to leap up from what is quickly becoming an outdated card like the GeForce 6600 to something truly powerful.