Remarks on A64 and various platforms
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Different CPU and system platforms (940, 754, 939)
There are two main platforms, namely 754 and 939 sockets (we can skip the third one 940 for now). The 754 and 939 literally refer to the pin count of the CPU/socket, but ther are implications on system cost, performance, scalability into the future, ....
- I consider 754 for price/performance,
- I consider 939 for higher end, its scalability and future compatibility of motherboard features and CPU (price and yield) into the future.
- Both 754 and 939 have L2 cache size 512 KB or 1 MB, eventually to 2 MB (for 939).
- The total system bandwidth (memory + HT) is about two times that of XP system for 754, four times for 939.
- A major difference between 754 and 939 is the memory bus bandwidth. 128-bit dual channel memory bus for 939 and 64-bit for 754. Effective memory bandwidth of 939 is estimated to be 80+% higher than that of 754.
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Chipset
The current chipsets are NFORCE3 150 and K8T800, but will soon be replaced by NFORCE3 250 GB and VIA K8T800 PRO.
The newer chipsets are much better for
- richer features (such as more raid channels and 0+1, faster networking, built in firewall, bios tweak, ...)
- higher HT bus bandwidth (both data width and frequency)
- more HT device supports
- stability (bios, driver bug fixes)
- Both the K8T800 Pro and Nforce3 250 GB have working PCI/AGP lock
- The NFORCE3 250 GB supports both 754 and 939
- K8T800 PRO supports 939, not sure about 754
IMO, the K8T800 Pro from VIA and the NFORCE3 250 GB is a better choice than the 150, and will soon be available (May - June 04, I think).
So the current/soon-to-be (in April 04) possibilities are, IMO:
- motherboard w/ Nforce3 250 GB + 754 CPU (price performance)
- motherboard w/ Nforce3 250 GB + 939 CPU (more money for CPU ?)
- motherboard w/ VIA K8T800 Pro + 939 CPU (more money for CPU ?)
As of today (early May 04), both the chipsets K8T800 Pro and 250 GB (and the associated motherboard) seem to be head to head competitive with each other, will need to see more results about how each performs based on individual motherboard implementation, features, performance, OC friendness, ....
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