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Nvidia has brought to the fore its latestgeneration of chipsets with AMD CPU support. Nvidia is calling it the “best ofboth worlds” although we aren’t sure which worlds they refer to. These chipsetsare the 780a SLI and 750a SLI – and finally we get to the hybrid graphicssolution that has been delayed so many a-time. Actually the Hybrid SLI featureis called GeForce Boost – and that lets you mix the 780a/750a with a low-enddiscrete chip.
Seriously, what do you get when you cross a 780a and an 8400GS? A GeForce8500. The awkward part is that Nvidia gets its mix-match GPU solution’s headserved on a platter by AMD’s 780G solution (performance-wise). It does performwell in HD decoding, though, with less CPU use...
So what’s good about this solution? Well, you finally get to experienceQuad-SLI on a Phenom-based computer, and depending on the implementation (aka:mobo maker) you are limited (or not) in your choice of LCD, as some makers wentwith a single-link solution (not that you’d be gaming at 2560x1600 with aGeForce 8500). Other mobo makers allow you to stick in Quad-SLI and get thefull-blown experience. It’s all down to the implementation.
So, for your information and entertainment, here is a wide range of opinions& reviews on what these Nvidia chipsets are really worth. In no particularorder:
The world isn’t made of GPUs, and there’s plenty of interesting articlesfloating around on the world wide wibble. You can set your browser to this PCGames Hardware (in Germany) has published their benchmark of no little no lessthan 30 current CPUs. So if you’re keen on knowing where yours is, or which oneyou’ll buy next, head on to the PCGH sitehere(orhere,in English).
Although you’re probably fed-up with mobos this and mobos that, Intel’s lastchipset update before Nehalem is about to be launched, and with that a trickleof reviews start popping up on the web. Nordic Hardware caught a P45-based AsusP5Q3 Deluxe mobo and benched the heck out of it. Numbers are pointing towardsX48-class mobos, which is quite interesting, although the chipset itself carriesless PCIe lanes to plug your graphics in. It isn’t extremely expensive likeAsus+Intel combos are... just 200 €urobucks. Catch a P45here.
Xigmatek is breaking in their new CPU cooler – the Achilles S1284 – atBenchmark Reviews (it actually looks a lot like Noctua’s own products with itsheatpipe+fins with massive fan attached). It’s based on Heatpipe Direct Touchtechnology which according to Olin, is leading the way when it comes to coolingefficiency. Xigmatek has built the cooler quite well, it seems and performanceis up there with the best. There’s a little room for improvement it seems, butonce Xigmatek gets those right they should have something to deliver seriouscompetition. Read ithere.