First desktop motherboard supported by LinuxBIOS: GIGABYTE M57SLI-S4

The GIGABYTE M57SLI-S4 is the first-ever desktop motherboardsupported by a Free & Open Source BIOS, thanks to AMD engineer Yinghai Lu who released GPL-licensed code last month. This state-of-the-artmotherboard is based on the NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI chipset and AMD'slatest Socket AM2.
This motherboard can be obtained today from many retail and onlinestores and the source code for the BIOS can be downloaded from the LinuxBIOS SVN server.
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Nforce 650I SLI - 680I LT SLI - 680 SLI review benchmark and overclocking

NVIDIA is historically known for its graphics card, this company also developed for several years chipsets. Since the first chipset nForce dedicated to Athlon processors, division chipsets of NVIDIA made big jump,.
In the beginning, the chipsets nForce were exclusively dedicated for AMD processors . Nvidia succeeded in taking INTEL license in 2005 , which allowed them to propose chipsets compatible with intel processors . The chipsets nForce for INTEL processors do not have for the moment big success as those intended for AMD platform . It should be noted that the first nForce 4 for INTEL was a full disaster, ( is was not fully compatible with intel processors ), whereas nForce 590i SLI corrected the situation , but as u already know this chipset was coupled with the arrival of Core 2 Duo and this chipset showed poor overclocking potential for such processor .
In order to correct this situation, NVIDIA released the nForce 680i, chipset launched at the end of 2006. This chipset as u already know has various problems with Serial-ATA, but this was corrected later , the price of motherboards was very high ( about 300 euros ).

This article is a must-have for everyone because of directly compares nforce 650/680 with Intel's 965/975 chipsets

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Alienware Area-51 7500 Gaming System

Today in the hothardware labs, we have the Alienware Area-51 7500, which features Alienware's signature, unique aesthetics and some of the most powerful hardware available today.
The Area-51 7500 can be configured to be one hell of a gaming system, one that most of us can only dream about. The Cyborg Green-colored monster (this system is BIG and HEAVY) that we received was shipped in a black box with Alienware logos on it.

What would a high-end PC be without the latest and greatest video cards? It wouldn't be much to brag about, right? Well, no worries here. The picture below highlights the presence of not one but two NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX video cards in SLI mode. It doesn't get much later and greater than that right now. Considering the size of those cards, it's a good thing the Alienware P2 chassis is an extended ATX case. You can see that the cards actually go beyond the motherboard.

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Ultimate Overclocked PC only needs 500W power supply

First INQpressions Overclocked Kentsfield, Nforce 680i, dual Nvidia 8800GTX SLI, Evercool water cooler
UNTIL AMD'S QuadFather is out in numbers (and, for many apps, even after that), Intel Kentsfield or officially, Core 2 Extreme QX6700, rules the roost in the PC desktop space. Combine it with the performance driven Nvidia Nforce 680i based mainboard and dual 8800GTX cards running in SLI, say 2GB of Corsair, OCZ or Geil low-latency high bandwidth memory at DDR2 1066 levels, add the usual hard disks, DVD and, well, cool the CPU with some watery stuff so that it doesn't get really hot when fragging enemy soldiers or compressing those HD DVDs and you have the ultimate Xmas 2006 PC present.

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Important message regarding memory and the EVGA 680i motherboard

NVIDIA has investigated end user reports of high performance DIMM failures on the NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI-based platforms. During this process we have been in close contact with DIMM manufacturers and the DRAM manufacturers they rely on to understand the failure scenario. By working with our community, we believe that the observed failure is a breakdown of the silicon in the DRAM caused by the prolonged application of 2.4V on the voltage rails of the DIMMs.

NVIDIA’s own internal testing has observed this failure on multiple motherboards using different chipsets (both NVIDIA and non-NVIDIA chipsets). This issue is not directly related to motherboards using the NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI MCP or other chipsets.

If you are using this type of memory and are experiencing this issue, NVIDIA recommends contacting your memory manufacturer or system manufacturer for additional information and warranty information.

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Rock SLI Xtreme SL Pro laptop reviewed

Close your eyes and picture two 7950GTX graphics cards, an SLI motherboard, a dual core AMD processor, RAID SATA hard disks, 20" widescreen TFT and DVD writer, then squeeze all that into a laptop - you'll probably be thinking we're crazy... well rock has done just that!

Just a quick note, I wanted to add more of text and pictures of this laptop to my blog, but it seems that folks from Driverheaven are paranoid, and have copy-protected everythink on their web (from paragraphs to pictures). So there's isn't an easy way to include most of text or pictures. So head over there and read all about it
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Inno3D I-Chill introduces Passive Cooling solution with AC Accelero S2M S1M

Hong Kong 5th March, 2007 Press release – Inno3D® i-Chill series are excited to introduce noiseless passive cooling solutions with Arctic Cooling Accelero S2M (2pipes) for mainstream, and S1M (4pipes) for high-end NVIDIA® 7 series graphics cards design. It effectively helps remove heat from the graphics card and silently keeps all the components cool.
The Accelero S2M & S1M features a copper base and heatpipes that extend directly from the GPU centre to provide the ultimate heat conductivity and larger surface area. Heat from the GPU can rapidly reach through the Aluminum fins that extend beyond the height of the graphics card. The Aluminum fins are specially designed to allow air flow pass through easily and remove heat efficiently.
The AC Accelero S2M & S1M heatpipe design is highly efficient for heat transfer and is filled with liquid material that vaporizes the heat from one side of the pipes to the other. The vaporized liquid is then cooled and liquidated again.
For soundless gaming answers i-Chill Accelero S2M & S1M is now built with zero dB passive cooling solutions and ready for double the performance with SLI technology. For more information, visit
Inno3D press release
Reivew of Inno3D GeForce 7900GS 256MB IChiLL Accelero S1M Graphics Card at Tweaktown

These look like a great graphic cards! And quietness while they work, ah... it must be every hardcore gamer dream! I'm just wondering how come there isn't any GeForce 88xx cards with this cooling solution? But that chip is relatively new, so I'm sure that Inno3D will make something in the near future.

But currently there's one contest sponsored by Inno3d, and I wouldn't mind if I win one 8800GTS, even without I-Chill cooler :-)

Gigabyte n680-SLI DQ6 Overclocking Fun - Dry Ice/VapoChill

This is translated text, so you shouldn't mind some errors in syntax of this text..

Gigabyte still widened its range by proposing this time in a variation of its range DQ6 to knowing the chipset I680 of nvidia. Come to directly compete with chipset INTEL 975X or the chipset of AMD the RD600, the firm taïwanaise leave heavy artillery, by proposing a relatively interesting chart of share its design, these options, its cooling and its bios out of reinforced concrete. Es what the part hidden of the iceberg to knowing these real provisions with the overclocking are indeed founded, it is what we will check some lower lines... good reading with all.

Gigabyte puts quad in its product and that this sees, compatible Quad-core, Prêt for Quad SLI (7950GX2 SLI), Quad-triple phase of food improving the stability of your overclocking and making it possible to push the performances of the chart, Quad Gigabyte LAN, making it possible to create a mini network for the house to see carrying out a LAN party:D. Then comes Quad bios, option aiming at avoiding the flashages missed like finding the best adjustment for your overclocking, and to finish Quad eSATA 2 is also with the program of this mother chart faggot of options.

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EVGA 680i LT SLI: NVIDIA's 680i Cost Reduced

Since Anandtech's first look at the 680i SLI chipset back in November we have been impressed with its performance and overall features. What was even more impressive was the fact that the chipset debuted on a motherboard that was designed by NVIDIA and built for NVIDIA's launch partners. This launch basically followed the path of the successful AM2 590SLI introduction except this time NVIDIA introduced and marketed the only board available with the 680i SLI chipset through a select number of partners. Although the 680i SLI motherboard was a reference design, it catered to the computer enthusiasts with a long list of features and a BIOS specifically aimed at the overclocking community.

It was several weeks before a motherboard manufacturer would offer a competing 680i solution. ASUS was the first non-reference board partner to offer competition to NVIDIA's reference design and it would take a few months before the likes of abit and Gigabyte were able to respond with their internal designs. We are still waiting on DFI's version to come to market and other motherboard manufacturers such as ECS and Biostar decided it was in their best interest to offer the reference board design that is built by Foxconn. The majority of NVIDIA's motherboard reference partners are actually heavily involved in the distribution of their graphics solutions with EVGA being the focal point of NVIDIA's reference program at this time.

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Memory Module Analysis - High-Speed Titanium and SLI-Ready Memory Modules from OCZ (PC2-6400, PC2-7200, and PC2-8000)

Here's one great article about memory three memory modules which I'm sure all overclockers dream of..

Digit-life proceed with the analysis of the most important characteristics of high-performance DDR2 memory modules using RightMark Memory Analyzer. Today we are going to review high-speed solutions from OCZ — three dual-channel 2-GB memory kits, Titanium and SLI-Ready series, PC2-6400, PC2-7200 and PC2-8000:
OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Titanium EPP-Ready (OCZ2T8002GK, DDR2-800 4-4-4-1T)
OCZ DDR2 PC2-7200 SLI-Ready Edition (OCZ2N900SR2GK, DDR2-900 4-4-3-2T)
OCZ DDR2 PC2-8000 Titanium Alpha VX2 (OCZ2TA1000VX22GK, DDR2-1000 4-4-4-2T)

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OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400

OCZ DDR2 PC2-7200

OCZ DDR2 PC2-8000

Corsair 2gb pc10000 dominator memory kit

A couple months ago Legit Reviews was the first to show the world that Corsair was coming out with PC2-10000 memory kits and today we bring you our full review on one of these killer memory kits now that we've had one in-house for some time. The memory we are looking at today is the 2GB kit of Corsair DDR2 PC2-10000 C5D modules, which are rated for operation at 1250MHz . These recently released modules are optimized for the new NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI-base platform and that just happens to be the platform we will be using for testing. By designing a memory kit for Intel Conroe/Kentsfield-based platforms this kit is aimed at giving computer enthusiasts and gamers the most memory bandwidth possible for their applications and games.

The pair of Corsair CM1X1024-10000 C5D modules utilize the latest Corsair in heat sink design thanks to their use of the awesome looking black DOMINATOR heat sinks. These heat sinks have Dual-Path Heat Xchange (DHX) technology and can be coupled with the Corsair Dominator Airflow Fan to help keep the modules nice and cool. We have already talked about these heat spreaders in more detail before, so feel free to do some background reading before moving forward.

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Alienware 7500 P2 with Blu-ray

Reviews of Alienware kit have previously caused consternation in these pages. Such pieces traditionally polarise readers into two camps - those who appreciate the engineering and build quality that goes into an Alienware system built for a specific target market, and those that can't see past the stupendously high price tag. We've always subscribed to the theory of different strokes for different folks, and we've consequently enjoyed the mahoosive towers the company has sent in for us to check out.So what's on the test bench this time around? Well, Alienware has a new chassis for one, a smaller version of the gigantic tower we have seen previously. This is more of a mid-tower size than a full-tower, although the styling is otherwise pretty similar. There are some neat new tricks in the case, which we will look at in just a tick.

The hardware has changed, too. Under the hood of this beast is an 8800 GTX SLI setup - absolutely the fastest graphics sub-system that money can buy.

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BFG GeForce 8800 GTX Water Cooled (SLI)

Blimey .. what is cooler than a totally pimped up car ? Yeah a pimped PC :) Okay .. okay so admittedly .. that only counts for true hardware fanatics like you and me. But you can rest for sure that once you or me will get it's hand on a couple of water-cooled BFG GeForce 8800 GTX cards the world slightly changes.

Guru3d will guide you through the installation process of water-cooling, we'll look at the pro's and con's of this water-cooling madness and obviously we'll fire off a good range of gaming benchmarks at both cards to have a look at performance results for both a single and in SLI setup water-cooled BFG GeForce 8800 GTX.

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Other photos from CeBit with SLI techonology

Hi people
Regarding yesterday news about Asetek water-cooling for Quadro Fx setups, here are a bounch of cool articles you can read about news in SLI world. Here are some news with new configurations, SLI setups, computer cases found at CeBit.

Vadim sells OC's wet dream
In bed with BFG, people from fudzilla have spotted this machine at Cebit and it came the moment when you can buy one in retail. It wont be cheap, as Vadim computers wants to sell this baby for about 4300 punds.
That kind of money gets you a Silverstone Tj07 Black case with a window and custom paint and UV modding, Liquo Cool Antarctic D water cooling for a CPU and 2x VGA.
The machine includes Core 2 Duo E6600, 2x1024 Corsair DDR2-1143 XMS dominator memory, 1000 W BFG PSU, 2x BFG 8800 GTX OC 768 Graphics cards, Physics card, one 150 GB Raptor drive and 400 GB Barracuda drive. The final touch comes with a NEC 7170S optical drive and Windows XP PRO SP2 or Vista voucher.
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Moving along to Leadtek,

Leadtek had their stand in a Hall where GPS and navigation devices were dominating; their new business products include GPS capable units so they were placed far away from the other graphics card manufacturers. They had the usual suspects from the NVIDIA range at their booth, but also a nice line-up of passively cooled models with custom heat pipe heatsinks, these silent video cards are available from the low end 7300GT up to high end 7950GT. Their live demo systems featured water cooled Geforce 8800 GTX cards in SLI, with this egg like pump/reservoir setup

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Silverstone

Silverstone welcomed us to their massive booth where a truckload of high end chassis were on display, ranging from high end ATX cases to compact ITX HTPC designs. How about this SG03 which has room for Quad SLI? With room for 2x120mm fans, cooling won’t be much of a problem

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Asetek water-cools the Quad FX

Hi people

I know it's weekend.. and I didn't have much time to work on my blog (hey girlfriend and rest of my family have said that it's a beautiful day for walking :-(

Anyway moving along..

Here's on great article again from CeBit

CEBIT 2007: An OEM water cooler cools FX74 and G80 / R600

Asetek, well known Danish company is today focusing more on the OEM business. The companies have some nice OEM deals with some big customers and for the time being it is showing of its water cooling achievements.

Its water cooler design looks really nice. It includes a water pump on the CPU socket cooler block and now it can cool G80 or R600 card as well. This small cooler and its tubes and radiators can cool a modern CPU and Graphics and the fan won't get lauder than 30 decibels. This cooling can be used for high end gaming PC, digital home PCs, small factor PCs and even the gaming consoles.

We saw the prototypes up and running and the same design can cool two FX74 CPUs and two Geforce 8800 GTX in a Quad FX system. You only need a 2x12 cm fans and a bigger radiator.

The best of all is that the system runs cool and it is almost completely silent. Here is how it looks.

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