Abit & nVidia split up

[josedawg]

Saw this posted over on the Abit Forums. Wonder what this will mean for future Abit products? I think 2004 won't be a good year for nVidia either. So much for starting the new year fresh.

Inquirer Abit & nVidia split
X-bit Labs Abit & nVidia break up

 

[Vonkhan]

I'd kill to have an Abit 9800XT to match my Abit IC7 Max3 :beer:

 

[JBT]

Thats sad... I guess Abit will be making some XGI and ATI stuff now. Sounds like a lose-lose situation for Nvidia....

 

[Insane3D]

Sounds like Abit wanted to dump nVidia for their video cards, and go to the more popular ATI cards, and nVidia didn't like it. I would be extremely surprised if Abit stopped making nForce boards...especially since their NF7-S is probably the most popular, and best all around NF2 U400 board. Also, they just released a new NF2 U400 board in the AN7.

 

[MDE]

I'm pretty sure this just means no more new Nvidia products from Abit. There goes my dream of fan speed control for the NF7-S in the NV System Utility ... This isn't just a lose-lose situation for Nvidia but for all of us.

 

[SithSolo1]

I'm happy, ABIT ATI cards. Mmmmmm tasty.

Of course I did almost buy a NF7-S, good thing I got the Shuttle.

 

[Insane3D]

Of course I did almost buy a NF7-S, good thing I got the Shuttle.

And how is that a "good thing"?

 

[Elcs]

Even though they might not be producing anything with Nvidia chips on them, I highly doubt they'd stop software and bios updates based solely on this event.

There are enough people with ABIT Boards, especially the NF7 series, to apply some serious pressure on ABIT to continue updating software and bios for their current Nvidia based products.

 

[GTaudiophile]

They'll probably shift from nForce2 production to producing future versions of ATi's IGP chipset (possibly for both Prescott and AMD64).

 

[Peter D]

This could produce some very cool products (Video Cards and Motherboards) IMO

 

[Mem]

We don`t know the real reason why they`ve split up,anyway it`s a shame IMHO.Abit have really improved their quality control over the last few years on their motherboards and we all know how good their nforce boards are,just means one less choice(Nvidia wise) for the us, so we are the ones that lose out in the end.

 

[josedawg]

Originally posted by: MonkeyDriveExpress
I'm pretty sure this just means no more new Nvidia products from Abit. There goes my dream of fan speed control for the NF7-S in the NV System Utility ... This isn't just a lose-lose situation for Nvidia but for all of us.

Check out bios 21. NF7-S BIOS

BIOS ID: 2.1
BIOS Compile Date: 12/01/2003

1. Please use AWDFLASH 8.23D or later to update NF7 series BIOS. With incorrect AWDFLASH version, the GUID will be erased, and leads to IEEE1394 peer to peer function failed. AWDFLASH 8.23K is included in this BIOS package.
2. Add fan speed monitor support in the nVidia System Utility.
3. Update SATA BIOS to version 4.2.43.
4. BIOS compile date: 12/01/2003.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: josedawg

Originally posted by: MonkeyDriveExpress
I'm pretty sure this just means no more new Nvidia products from Abit. There goes my dream of fan speed control for the NF7-S in the NV System Utility ... This isn't just a lose-lose situation for Nvidia but for all of us.

Check out bios 21. NF7-S BIOS

BIOS ID: 2.1
BIOS Compile Date: 12/01/2003

1. Please use AWDFLASH 8.23D or later to update NF7 series BIOS. With incorrect AWDFLASH version, the GUID will be erased, and leads to IEEE1394 peer to peer function failed. AWDFLASH 8.23K is included in this BIOS package.
2. Add fan speed monitor support in the nVidia System Utility.
3. Update SATA BIOS to version 4.2.43.
4. BIOS compile date: 12/01/2003.

It doesn't work for me.

 

[josedawg]

Doesn't for me either.

 

[Regs]

Ack. That would really suck if Abit stopped making nvidia boards. Especially considering Abit's Via KT800 board isn't exactly the top performer of the ones out now.

 

[Fern]

I'm getting so old I can't remember jack, but didn't somebody else dump nVidia recently? I'm thinking it was VisionTech? I'd like to hear about this, why/how nVidia is alienating it's partners

 

[elkinm]

I just bough an NF7-S. It is working great so far but does this mean that I can forget about further support and nforce compatability or would this only aply to future products?

 

[zShowtimez]

Visontek went under a while back. And some companies like Gigabyte and ASUS make both ATi and Nvidia cards.. Dont see why Abit couldnt do that to.

 

[elkinm]

Sorry, double post.

 

[Disorganise]

Have to admit I think Abit's quality went South over the years.

My first experience of them was an LX based board and the brand spanking PII 266! Pretty reliable as I recall except for the habit of the then infant AGP cards unseating themselves in transit.
I later bought the BP6 dual socket board which worked great for a while, but eventually starting cooking itself. The 2nd one I inherited from a mate is still going pretty strong though.
The KT7 Raid I have decided it didn't particularly like USB for some reason whilst various friends had similar crappy experiences. I jumped ship and have been Asus ever since and had zero problems

I don't think this split will really hurt either company long term, and if Nvidia can ever come back with a world beating Video chip I'd be surprised if they didn't make up.

 

[Remedy]

Originally posted by: Fern
I'm getting so old I can't remember jack, but didn't somebody else dump nVidia recently? I'm thinking it was VisionTech? I'd like to hear about this, why/how nVidia is alienating it's partners

VisionTek and ELSA 3D.

 

[NFS4]

ABIT Announces New NVIDIA Products

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: NFS4
ABIT Announces New NVIDIA Products

Does anyone else find this odd?

 

[Insane3D]

ABIT's nForce2-based motherboards are widely regarded as the finest nForce2 platforms available.

Agreed.

Does anyone else find this odd?

No actually. I think this whole thing may have been overblown a bit. After these articles came out, we were supposed to hear some public declarations of the split from Abit and/or Nvidia in the form of press releases or the like....but none have been forthcoming. This whole situation could easily have been overblown from the get go, and it wouldn't be the first time.

 

[OddTSi]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: NFS4
ABIT Announces New NVIDIA Products

Does anyone else find this odd?

Not really. Since this product is being RELEASED now, not developed. They're not going to shelf a product that they spent millions developing. Since it's already done, they'll just sell it. The "end of their partnership" thing probably just means they won't DEVELOP any new products. Old products will still be made/sold/supported for some time.