Big Ideas Become Reality

Resellers have learned through bitter years of experience to beware of vaporware. Over the last two months, we’ve covered a lot of ground and discussed a lot of technical theory about the new desktop changes and how they might affect your business. We wanted to conclude this two-part series with a look at some of the best and brightest products that leverage these changes and can start making money for you now.

Motherboards: MSI 925X Neo Platinum: $229
www.msicomputer.com

Unfortunately, we had to go to press while this board was still in transit from MSI to our office, so we can’t quite give you a full hands-on description. However, we have extensive experience with prior generation Neo Platinum models, and this latest incarnation looks to incorporate all of the best points of what we loved in past models. The 925X NP uses MSI’s CoreCell chip, the automatic overclocking hardware and software combo that made the 865PE Neo2 the best Springdale board we ever saw. It would seem that MSI has followed ASUS and ABIT in circumventing Intel’s “overclock lock” built into the 915 and 925X chipsets because this motherboard specs support for both 1,066 and 800 MHz front-side bus speeds, and Intel is quite clear in noting that Alderwood is an 800 MHz chipset. The 925X Neo Platinum integrates one x16 PCI Express graphics slot, two x1 slots, and three PCI slots. (Someday, we’d like to know why that last PCI slot is orange.) We’re also very anxious to try out the Broadcom integrated GbE chip, which now sits on the PCIe rather than the PCI bus and should thus yield over three times the effective throughput of its predecessor. Note that there is also an Intel 10/100 PHY LAN controller on the board, too. MSI opts for DDR2 slots here (4GB maximum) instead of DDR. You get the standard four SATA ports, all of which can be configured into RAID 0, 1, or Matrix configurations through the ICH6R South Bridge. MSI also tacks on two extra PATA ports along with VIA’s VT6410 chip with RAID 0, 1, and 0+1 support. MSI loads this board with all the I/O ports, Azalia audio support, BIOS tools, and performance any enthusiast could want. You might note how now the power circuitry has its own set of heatsinks, as do the North Bridge and South Bridge. Kudos go to MSI for resisting the urge to plant an unnecessary fan on the MCH just to appease those who value eye candy above peace and quiet. Overall, this looks to be another strong winner in the Neo family.

Foxconn 915A01-P-8EKRS: $179
www.foxconn.com

Foxconn may be a newcomer to the ranks of production mobo vendors, but the company is about as experienced as they come at making top-quality board components. Manufacturing finished motherboards was only a small step for the giant parts vendor, and the 915A01 series shows that Foxconn is able to make the leap to commercial boards with no problem. The 8EKRS model strikes us as a natural fit for mid-range corporate machines. You won’t find some frills here, such as PATA RAID or integrated GMA 900 graphics. (Foxconn opts for the 915P North Bridge, which is why we don’t suggest it for low-end configurations.)

What the board does deliver is solid performance: four DDR2 slots, 1394, four SATA ports tied to the RAID-ready ICH6R South Bridge, Realtek’s 7.1 ALC880 codec chip (a coax SPDIF backplane extension is included, but no provision for optical SPDIF), one x16 slot, three x1 slots, and three PCI slots. This isn’t quite an enthusiast’s board because Foxconn keeps a healthy respect for Intel’s overclock lock. The bundled software is mostly a collection of driver tools and Symantec’s Internet Security 2004 suite, although there is a function for changing the BIOS boot logo to an image of your choice—always a good advertising plug for resellers. The 915A01-P-8EKRS is cleanly laid out, very stable, and priced to deliver good value for mid-range buyers.

OTHER CARDS:

MSI PCX5750-TD128: $169
www.msicomputer.com

In an odd twist of fate, it turns out that the first PCI Express cards bound for store shelves will probably be geared toward the upper-mainstream rather than performance users. Word around the industry has it that both ATI and NVIDIA are having trouble cranking out X800 and 6800 chips in mass quantities, so those that do arrive are slated for the widest possible install base, meaning AGP systems. As of this writing, there is no firm word on when these high-end parts will transition to the PCIe format.

So first out of the PCIe chute for MSI is the PCX5750, which currently sits at the lower end of NVIDIA’s “performance models” list, but let’s be honest and skip the semantics. When you’re closing in on $150, that’s upper-mainstream.

That’s not to say that the 5750 is anything close to being a slouch. This DX9-compatible chip supports 2.0+ pixel shaders, dual 400 MHz RAMDACs each capable of supporting 2048 x 1536 @ 85 MHz to the DVI and VGA connectors. (There is also an S-Video out port.) You get eight pixels per clock and 16 textures per pass. The graphics core is 256-bit while the memory interface is 128-bit, and this particular MSI model uses 128MB of DDR memory.

We’ve always found MSI’s red PCBs and sunburst-style copper heatsinks to be a striking combination, but buyers are likely to be even more impressed with MSI’s habitually bountiful software bundle. The PCX5750 targets gamers with full copies of URU, XIII, and Prince of Persia 3D. Then comes a 14-in-1 games disc including Splinter Cell and Black Hawk Down. Gamers should also like the inclusion of Virtual Drive 7, although we suspect Restore It 3 will see less use. MSI Media Deluxe Center II is an interesting abbreviation of MCE that really needs a TV tuner installed to show its worth, and there are still over a dozen titles ranging from a 5.1 DVD player to Trend Micro’s PC-Cillin 2000 waiting in the wings.

We like this product for system builders because not only are you able to deliver an excellent, high-performance graphics card on a scalable architecture, but MSI throws in so much software that the need for adding a separate OEM utilities and entertainment bundle to your configurations is virtually eliminated.

Gigabyte GV-RX30S128D: $99
www.giga-byte.com

Cards like this low-end PCIe model from Gigabyte are what make you remember that strong graphics performance doesn’t have to be about gaming frame rates. The board uses ATI’s X300SE chip, which is the lowest-end part in ATI’s new GPU lineup. The RX30S still uses an x16 PCIe interface, but the memory bus has been knocked down to a 64-bit bus. There are four pixel pipelines and only two vertex shader pipelines.

However, buyers still get 128MB of DDR memory, DX9 and 2.0 pixel shaders, and the usual bevy of ATI shading, antialiasing, and compression technologies. More important is that for under $100, you can deliver dual-head output to DVI and VGA ports, S-Video output, MPEG encoding and decoding acceleration, compression deblocking (which now finally supports Windows Media Video 9), and noise removal filtering for captured video.

So in the end, the RX30S remains a surprisingly robust card for a wide variety of applications. Gigabyte throws in a game and a copy of PowerDVD 5.0, but the real good news here is that you’re able to deliver solid graphics on a PCI Express platform with wider functionality than what Intel can deliver with the GMA 900 while still keeping system costs low.

OTHER CARDS:

LSI Logic MegaRAID SCSI 320-2E: $
www.lsilogic.com

Yes, there really are PCI Express cards out there beyond the 3D graphics space, but (for now at least) you need to look in the server and workstation markets to find them. LSI’s new Ultra320 SCSI RAID adapter is a perfect example. This x8 lane width card gives U320 storage the headroom it needs to stretch its legs and run while still providing the highest levels of fault protection available today.

The 320-2E supports RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 10, and 50. Levels 10 and 50, of course, require massive amounts of computing power, and the last thing you want to do is lean on the system CPU for these cycles. That’s why LSI integrated Intel’s recently released Dobson I/O processor specifically for this task and provided a 128MB PC333 DDR ECC SDRAM module for memory.

The memory is backed by LSI’s novel Transportable Battery Backup Unit, which caches a copy of all data until a successful write is confirmed. This way, if power loss or other catastrophe occurs, the card uses its battery to hold onto all data that was in process when the failure occurred so that nothing is lost. Fault tolerance is further enhanced by Patrol Read, which is a look-ahead system for detecting device failure before attempting a data read, and a method for recovering from failed reads on secondary drives during a RAID recovery.

LSI uses a special rapid setup routine to complete RAID initialization within minutes instead of the usual hours. The 320-2E also includes multiple BIOS- and browser-based tools for RAID configuration and management, and LSI’s streamlined UIs make utility handling a snap for even rookie admins. While this MegaRAID model is a natural for data and Internet servers, it also delivers high value to any configuration where speed and data security are equally paramount.  

DDR2 Modules:

Kingston KVR533D2N4K2/1G (2x512MB PC2-4200): $370
www.kingston.com

Despite the fact that it may be too early to call any DDR2 module “mainstream” yet, Kingston’s ValueRAM line of DDR2 modules is about as middle of the road as they come. You don’t get flashy heat spreaders, fiery low latency timings, or any of that. They’re just plain old memory modules that work. And work. And work.

In fact, here’s a real life anecdote about these modules. Kingston sent us a pair of its 512MB PC2-4200 sticks, which we promptly set on the test bench for benchmarking. However, since this was also the week in which we were moving our testing office, the modules got inadvertently banged around and abused. Half way through testing, we discovered that one of the modules was damaged. Each module has a line of transistors that runs across the top of its PCB. One module had seen most of these transistors snapped off, as if from being ground under a heavy object (umm...a moving box, maybe?), and one transistor still dangled at a sad, broken angle. Amazingly, though, the Kingston DDR2 still performed on par with all of the other DDR2 brands we examined.

“The narrow performance range you see between most DDR2 brands is a hallmark of advanced technologies,” notes Kingston account manager Bernd Dombrowsky. “The smaller the error of margin a technology allows, the more advanced and experienced a manufacturer has to be. Choose an established vendor with a reputation for top quality, customer service, and RMA procedures. Stay away from products and companies that make you an offer too good to be true. Kingston’s global infrastructure is ready to go on DDR2, so stick with the support and quality level you always look for in a memory partner.”

So I’m not here to sell you on Kingston DDR2 ValueRAM module speed. Sure, they’re fast, but not particularly so. What they are is tough and backed by a lifetime warranty and very prompt, friendly 24/7 support. When we called Kingston support about our faulty module and explained that we weren’t sure if we were responsible for the damage or the module came that way from the factory (it was probably the former, but still...), support staff took prompt care of us and volunteered to issue a replacement. What better testament of quality and long-term value could you offer to customers than this?  

Crucial Ballistix BL6464AA664 (PC2-5300) 512MB: $239
www.crucial.com

Everybody knows that there’s a high-margin niche market for enthusiast memory modules, and vendors wasted no time in pursuing DDR2 modules able to meet PC2-5300 (667 MHz) compatibility, even though the 915 and 925X chipsets only officially support up to PC2-4200 (533 MHz). If you have a good quality motherboard with the overclock lock circumvented, though, then hobbyists can get in and start pushing bus speeds and voltages to their heart’s content.

One of the very first enthusiast DDR2 modules to reach market is the Ballistix line from Crucial (the sales arm of Micron). The timings are CL4-4-4-10, which are a bit better than the usual DDR2 defaults. One sticking point for some users may be the possible need to run the memory modules asynchronously with the FSB. Most people agree that a synchronous 1:1 ratio is always the best and most efficient configuration for memory and CPU speeds. However, with current Intel Pentium 4 Prescott chips rated for 800 MHz, it remains to be seen how much overclocking overhead is built into the processor line. In some cases, those who buy these modules may not be able to maintain a 1:1 ratio up to the memory’s rated speed.

“The ability to run the FSB and the RAM synchronously (i.e., 1:1) allows you to maximize performance,” says Crucial’s Heidelberg. “This will not be an issue as DDR2 becomes mainstream and the first 1066MHz FSB processors appear.” So for today, those performance users buying overclockable boards such as the MSI 925X Neo will need the extra power of Crucial DDR2 Ballistix memory if they want to realize the best performance possible.

BTX CASES:

Cooler Master CM Stacker: $199
www.coolermaster.com

The first BTX-compatible case to cross our offices made a huge impression. Cooler Master’s CM Stacker is an 11-bay (all external) monster that arrives out of the box as an ATX/E-ATX chassis but can convert to BTX compatibility in only a few minutes with the included parts kit. Honestly, we have yet to see a more adaptable, rugged, and spacious design for the high-speed enthusiast and storage tower markets.

Virtually all of the front panel is comprised of 5.25” bays with mesh covers. Taking up three of these bays is a cage that holds four hard drives and keeps them cool with a 120 mm fan. (You can reposition the cage to any available bay position. Tack on an optional cross flow fan that sits just in front of the motherboard, venting on the floor of the chassis, an 80mm exhaust fan in the top, a large mesh grille on the side panel, and three exhaust fans at the back (one 120mm and two optional 80mm, although the space for this latter pair can also house a second power supply), and you’ve got some incredible ventilation on a case of this size. You would expect a tower sporting this much cooling to run like a Cessna, but all things considered it’s surprisingly quiet.

Cooler Master advertises the CM Stacker as being optionally toolless. (You can add screws for greater stability.) We didn’t find this to be the case, and compared to a tower like CasEdge’s genuinely toolless Diabolic, the CM Stacker is more time intensive to assemble. However, this is a dream case that few buyers could possibly fault and one that will help your high-end customer base make an easier transition from ATX to BTX over the coming 12 months.  

Last Word

True enough, there’s a darker note to the BTX and DDR2 stories than we normally see in our technology features. Then again, revolutions occur in troubled times. Change is necessary yet almost always resisted.

Interestingly, part of what may determine if these new desktop platforms deliver a quick coup or a prolonged siege to the industry is AMD. While no one questions Intel’s dominance in the mainstream consumer and business segments, AMD commands a loyal following in high-performance circles, the same early adopter groups now passing judgment on these new technologies.

AMD’s official stance on BTX, PCI Express, and DDR2 is that it would support them if the market demanded it. How much of that sentiment is true and how much is just a standard issue stalling tactic from the marketing department remains to be seen. (Keep in mind that with 64-bit extensions, AMD was able to pull an end run around Intel reminiscent of the DDR vs. RDRAM scenario. Such opportunities don’t exist with BTX, PCIe, and DDR2.) Regardless, a move by AMD to support these technologies would signal universal support throughout the industry and help speed legacy formats into obsolescence. Given AMD’s history of hot CPU temperatures, BTX seems a natural solution for the vendor, and as PCIe and DDR2 are sanctioned specs from the PCI-SIG and JEDEC respectively, the issue here seems more of when than if.

No matter what the time scale for the platform changes, the fact remains that these new technologies are an excellent opportunity for resellers to capitalize on preparing customers for the future and helping improve performance with those who need more speed today. If you’re still resisting the change or doubting its longevity, you’re only missing out on some excellent sales opportunities. Seek out products on these new platforms, educate your customers about them, and help to usher in the industry transformation. This is a chance for you to be an authority, not a follower.