uATX Results

[Skott]

Its like AT is avoiding the mATX segment for some odd reason. Which doesnt make sense to me. But who knows. :brokenheart:

 

[FireTech]

Originally posted by: Skott
Its like AT is avoiding the mATX segment for some odd reason. Which doesnt make sense to me. But who knows. :brokenheart:

I know. It's not like Gary isn't doing any MB articles (todays - linky), they all just seem to be Intel based at the moment

 

[imported_Kreed]

Perhaps Gary received some motherboards based on the Nvidia MCP73 chipset (GeForce 7050/630i for LGA775) on the last minute and is now trying to incorporate them into the review.

From all that I've read (and googled), it looks as if none of the current generation M-ATX IGP motherboards are capable of H.264 1080P playback in Linux. There just aren't any drivers in linux that will take advantage of any of the hardware acceleration being offered by the IGP.

 

[FireTech]

We could always wait for Nehalem compatible µATX boards to be ready too... :laugh:

 

[erwos]

The G33 mATX motherboards hit the market not too long ago, and leaving those out of the round-up would make it worthless. However, since they just came out, they're still relatively immature, and so Gary had to wait for bugfixes and such. If you read any of AT's "normal" reviews, you'd know that happens all the time. Toss in regular editorial duties, and it's pretty clear why this could take the better part of a year.

 

[chucky2]

Originally posted by: erwos
The G33 mATX motherboards hit the market not too long ago, and leaving those out of the round-up would make it worthless. However, since they just came out, they're still relatively immature, and so Gary had to wait for bugfixes and such. If you read any of AT's "normal" reviews, you'd know that happens all the time. Toss in regular editorial duties, and it's pretty clear why this could take the better part of a year.

I would not agree with that approach though. If the boards are publically available, then the Intel and the mobo manufacturers better be putting out a quality product w/o issues. If they can't do that, then the boards shouldn't be out there in the first place.

I think the last status was that the roundup was going to be broken up into sections, w/ the AMD stuff first. Maybe that idea got internally scrapped for some reason, and the Intel G33 or whatever isn't ready for primetime, so it's holding up the whole thing? I don't know, just throwing out ideas here...

Chuck

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: chucky2I would not agree with that approach though. If the boards are publically available, then the Intel and the mobo manufacturers better be putting out a quality product w/o issues. If they can't do that, then the boards shouldn't be out there in the first place.

Well, agree or not, that's how reality works, and it's more or less established SOP for tech review sites. I mean, look at this from another perspective: is a review really helpful if it ends with "we stopped the review halfway through because there was a crippling bug in the BIOS, and oh, by the way, it got fixed in the next rev that they sent us"?

 

[JKing76]

is a review really helpful if it ends with "we stopped the review halfway through because there was a crippling bug in the BIOS, and oh, by the way, it got fixed in the next rev that they sent us"?

Yes, it damned well is helpful. Certainly more helpful than never getting any information about any of the boards because something new came out. New stuff comes out all the time: chipsets, boards, firmware, whatever. Guess what? You can accumulate a bunch of data, post the article, and when something new comes out, freaking update that article.

 

[FireTech]

Originally posted by: JKing76
Yes, it damned well is helpful. Certainly more helpful than never getting any information about any of the boards because something new came out. New stuff comes out all the time: chipsets, boards, firmware, whatever. Guess what? You can accumulate a bunch of data, post the article, and when something new comes out, freaking update that article.

Exactly and it's how most journalists and AT normally operate. Set a deadline, publish the article and update any changes later.

Review all the recent P35 & Intel articles. Lots of updates for them

 

[FireTech]

For those who missed it in the other thread from a mouse review:

As we were in the middle of preparing for our upcoming micro-ATX extravaganza (Yes, you'll finally see it in the very near future!)

 

[JKing76]

Monday morning bump. And we get a review of a two-year-old PSU.

 

[manimal]

I did find the review of that psu somewhat odd. Guess this roundup is the Duke Nukem of AT reviews.

 

[FireTech]

Originally posted by: JKing76
Monday morning bump. And we get a review of a two-year-old PSU.

True but it's not a Gary review at least.
It is however indicative of the recent 'slow news week' type of reviews we've been seeing.

I do have a theory about 'our' review. Gary is stress testing each MB for 300hrs - one after the other.... :laugh:

At this stage i'm just hoping for

Originally posted by: Gary Key
more random thoughts later.

 

[D3xx]

Originally posted by: erwos
The G33 mATX motherboards hit the market not too long ago, and leaving those out of the round-up would make it worthless. However, since they just came out, they're still relatively immature, .

The G33, in the form of the Gigabyte DS2R, has been out for many weeks now and is approaching maturity. Its suprising that so few other manufacturers have used this chipset yet. Although Asus and MSI now have a board out. The performance version of the G33 - the G35 - is due out soon.

 

[imported_Kreed]

Originally posted by: D3xx
The G33, in the form of the Gigabyte DS2R, has been out for many weeks now and is approaching maturity. Its suprising that so few other manufacturers have used this chipset yet. Although Asus and MSI now have a board out. The performance version of the G33 - the G35 - is due out soon.

I am guessing that they have decided to skip the G33 chipset altogether in favour of the upcoming G35. If you plan on using a discrete graphics card, then there's probably no reason to wait for the G35. Personally, I am waiting to see how the G35 fairs against the 690G.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: D3xx

Originally posted by: erwos
The G33 mATX motherboards hit the market not too long ago, and leaving those out of the round-up would make it worthless. However, since they just came out, they're still relatively immature, .

The G33, in the form of the Gigabyte DS2R, has been out for many weeks now and is approaching maturity. Its suprising that so few other manufacturers have used this chipset yet. Although Asus and MSI now have a board out. The performance version of the G33 - the G35 - is due out soon.

Yes, but the round-up started way, way before that. It wasn't meant as a swipe against the current maturity of the G33 motherboards - like I've said in other places, my Intel BOXDG33TLM is absolutely excellent.

The G35 sounds promising for the HTPC crowd, I must admit. H.264/VC-1 acceleration, DX10 graphics, and so on. It's going to be a matter of drivers rather than hardware, I bet.

 

[imported_Kreed]

I read somewhere that hardware H.264 acceleration has been de-scoped for the G35. Something about it generating too much heat. I think I read it on www.avsforum.com:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb...t=710828&page=14&pp=30

When it gets released, there will only be software support for H.264 acceleration.

 

[FireTech]

Happy August to you all

 

[imported_Kreed]

Originally posted by: FireTech
Happy August to you all

That will only be true if the review gets published.

 

[Skott]

At this point I dont think its going to happen. Actually I been thinking it wont for a while now. The horse is long dead. Kinda surprised a mod hasnt closed this thread but I guess if they do that its admitting it wont happen. Not to mention piss off some AT users. And rightfully so.

 

[FireTech]

Hey, it's an MB review by Gary. A 'published' review within two weeks of receipt of a board is possible it seems. :clock:

Shame it's not µATX...

 

[chucky2]

I know it's not a bash on Gary, but I figured I'd post this in this thread. Be nice if AMD and the board manufacturers can deliver on this in time for the uATX review (oh the comments this'll bring):

AMD brings hefty free upgrade for 690G

Chuck

 

[imported_Kreed]

<sarcasm>
Now Gary will have to retest each AMD 690G board with the new BIOS improvements. Intel G35 motherboards are just around the corner. ;-)
</sarcasm>

 

[FireTech]

Originally posted by: chucky2 Be nice if AMD and the board manufacturers can deliver on this. Chuck

That's the question. Will they deliver and how long will it take for them to release board specific updates if they do?

 

[FireTech]

Let's cut to the chase before I get the final roundup completed -

Looks like Gary is also testing for a P35 board roundup at the moment. Thread Link