Z68 chipset preview by Tomshardware

[IntelUser2000]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/z68-express-lucidlogix-virtu-ssd-caching,2888.html

Have fun reading!

 

[sticks435]

Damnit, I thought I would get to post this. lol. This will defiantly help me decide whether to get P67 now, or wait it out for Z68.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I really want to wait but at the same time I know my NAS doesn't need overclocking and if anything I want undervolting. Not sure if H67 supports undervolting/underclocking if it doesn't support overclocking....

but the wait is too long! and then for the motherboard makers to come out with something

 

[dac7nco]

Thanks for the link! Z68 sounds great, although I have no use for Intel's (limited but cool) SSD caching... the transcoding performance is what I'm interested in.

Daimon

 

[SmCaudata]

How does this work with multiple displays? I want to use the intel graphics for basically everything but games. Can I use this tech with two displays plugged into my 6950?

 

[d33pblue]

Any chance of running dual monitors off the integrated graphics? Any idea of the performance of this setup?

 

[Hogan773]

I am not a gamer, but I've already sunk the cost of a Radeon 5670 for my P67.

Trying to decide whether its worth it to return my P67 due to the chipset problem, but then wait for 2 months for Z68s to come out, during which time I'll have to call in the 2005 Dell from retirement.

Does Z68 allow usage of Quicksync even if I'm using my Radeon in the system and disabling Intel Graphics?

Does anyone have a good idea of how great this SSD caching thing will be?

I'd really prefer not to wait for Z68 but I also don't want to regret not being able to access a nice feature like SSD cache in the future. Zero chance that SSD caching will be compatible with P67 through a bios update? Its a hardware thing that P67 doesnt have?

 

[Zap]

Does Z68 allow usage of Quicksync even if I'm using my Radeon in the system and disabling Intel Graphics?

Yes. I think you leave Intel graphics enabled, but it isn't used until the Lucid software uses it.

Does anyone have a good idea of how great this SSD caching thing will be?

Looks like it will make things feel a bit snappier than a HDD, so there is indeed some benefit some of the time. Best thing is that it can use really small SSDs, so start looking for those 30GB SSD deals! I picked up a Kingston 30GB SSD a week ago for around $41 after rebate.

Zero chance that SSD caching will be compatible with P67 through a bios update? Its a hardware thing that P67 doesnt have?

I don't know if it is a hardware thing, but it is a bullet point feature for Z68, so I'm not sure the tech will trickle down.

 

[Vette73]

Yea I think, per anandtech and other sites, the P/H67 chipset is based on the 5X chipset just with some minor updates for the 1155. The Z68 chipset is the first "true" 1155 chipset built with the cpu in mind.

 

[IntelUser2000]

I'll tell you guys what I know based on the H67 chipset, assuming Z68 has same video/graphics capabilities.

-Underclocking and undervolting is possible
-You can run 2 monitors just using the integrated graphics, and I believe you can run up to 3 with add-in graphics card. The integrated graphics doesn't have to be disabled.

SSD caching: I'm assuming they are going to tie this with the Intel SSD 310 series: http://download.intel.com/design/flash/nand/324696.pdf

Anyone remember this roadmap?:
http://www.dvhardware.net/article44687.html

The small form factor SSD code-named "Soda Creek" is the Intel SSD 310. See how it fits with the Z68's SSD caching capability?

 

[immunoboy7]

So if you have a 60 GB SSD and use it for the OS and a few heavily used programs, could you still use a 30 GB SSD to speed up a 1 TB HDD that holds most of your files?

 

[smakme7757]

Looks like a nice chip and had it been available when i purchased my system i would have got it. But i'm sticknig with my P67 (B3 when i get the replacement).

 

[Zap]

So if you have a 60 GB SSD and use it for the OS and a few heavily used programs, could you still use a 30 GB SSD to speed up a 1 TB HDD that holds most of your files?

Based on the linked preview, yes. In the Intel software you just choose the SSD (within the 20-64GB limits) and choose the destination HDD, plus choose the mode (write through or whatever).

 

[Absolution75]

The SSD caching looks really interesting and useful. I actually think that the longevity will be longer than Tom's thinks.


It will probably be useful until SSD's aren't available in those space limitations. If you could get a 60GB SSD for ~$20, why wouldn't you? SSD's still won't be cheap enough to be considered bulk storage at that point and may still be too expensive to put ALL your game and programs. Once you can get a 512GB SSD for about ~$100, then I can see this feature being obsolete.

 

[Twsmit]

SSD caching doesn't seem useful for enthusiasts seeking maximum performance. They'll most likely get a 100GB+ SSD and run their OS and programs from that.

This technology seems more in line with Seagate's hybrid hard drives, offering a modest low cost performance boost.

I'm feeling better about my P67 board now, SSD caching will be useless to me, and the quick sync is only marginally appealing at this point. Guess I'll wait for P77 or a new socket before upgrading my board.

 

[Hogan773]

SSD caching doesn't seem useful for enthusiasts seeking maximum performance. They'll most likely get a 100GB+ SSD and run their OS and programs from that.

This technology seems more in line with Seagate's hybrid hard drives, offering a modest low cost performance boost.

I'm feeling better about my P67 board now, SSD caching will be useless to me, and the quick sync is only marginally appealing at this point. Guess I'll wait for P77 or a new socket before upgrading my board. [QUOTE]

Yep I posted my questions before reading the Tom's article (silly me).

After reading about SSD Caching......YAWN! So basically it only improves read times, somewhat. Not sure I'll wait for it. Sounds like it will be better to go 100% SSD, and those prices will keep falling. Its not going to drastically improve my read/write times on large video files (I guess unless I just use the same one over and over and it stays in cache).

Quicksync I'm less concerned about....when I encode I want quality so I'm willing to let the CPU churn it out, and my 2600K at 42x can churn fast enough for me.

 

[jenneth]

That's how I feel too. I'd rather go with a bigger SSD as my booting drive. As for the Quicksync, I don't really encode any video, so it doesn't really apply to me.

 

[llee]

so is Z68 the way to go if we haven't splurged on SB yet (but plan to do so)?

 

[Hogan773]

That's how I feel too. I'd rather go with a bigger SSD as my booting drive. As for the Quicksync, I don't really encode any video, so it doesn't really apply to me.

Yeah sorta seems like SSD caching is like a poor man's SSD, or a DSL vs cable modem. Like sure its a little cheaper but the performance increase is just so-so. I'm fine with 60gb as a boot drive if I ever go SSD, and they'll get cheaper over time.

Glad Tom's did that test so I could understand what all the hype was about (or not about)

 

[Hogan773]

so is Z68 the way to go if we haven't splurged on SB yet (but plan to do so)?

Probably - but depends on the COST and that is the one variable I dont know yet. If it's 10 bucks more, sure why not. If its 40-50 bucks more then I think one would ask how important those couple features are.

 

[Chaoticlusts]

Based on the linked preview, yes. In the Intel software you just choose the SSD (within the 20-64GB limits) and choose the destination HDD, plus choose the mode (write through or whatever).

See this I can see as being a very useful feature... If you can acquire a cheap (under $100) SSD to use as the cache..

I plan on getting an SSD bootdrive but there's no way I can put my games on it to take advantage of the speed it provides...I have well over 300GB's of games and that's not including all the ones I own on steam that I don't have installed currently due to space limitations...now if I could tie a cheap SSD into a large HDD for a gaming drive and get actual performance benefits (even if it is a lot less than a dedicated SSD) that would be fantastic. cause simply put there's no bloody way I could afford a 500GB SSD or higher that would be necessary to have my games on there as well (don't even think I can justify one over 120GB for my bootdrive >_<)

Also one thing that's not mentioned in there...I know quick sync was able to do decoding as well as encoding (least I'm pretty certain I read that in the original sandy bridge reviews)the ability to offload 1080p decoding onto some dedicated silicone would be rather nice but since they said lucid only currently works with those two transcoding suites I'm assuming it can't be used this way just yet? (I sometimes watch movies/shows while playing games...taking basically no performance hit from running a 1080p movie would be quite nice )...if I'm right on remembering that quick sync can do this I would very much like them to add VLC support

 

[IntelUser2000]

Chaoticlusts: 1080p decoding has been supported since G45 chipset, and its a part of the integrated graphicss function. QuickSync is encoding acceleration, although the process of encoding requires decoding too.

Number of 1080p streams decoded by graphics hardware:

G45: 1
HD Graphics(Core ix): 2
HD Graphics 2000/3000(Core ix 2nd generation: 5

So if you are looking whether 1080p is accelerated in hardware by VLC, you'd be looking at the integrated graphics, not QuickSync.

 

[sticks435]

See this I can see as being a very useful feature... If you can acquire a cheap (under $100) SSD to use as the cache..

I plan on getting an SSD bootdrive but there's no way I can put my games on it to take advantage of the speed it provides...I have well over 300GB's of games and that's not including all the ones I own on steam that I don't have installed currently due to space limitations...now if I could tie a cheap SSD into a large HDD for a gaming drive and get actual performance benefits (even if it is a lot less than a dedicated SSD) that would be fantastic. cause simply put there's no bloody way I could afford a 500GB SSD or higher that would be necessary to have my games on there as well (don't even think I can justify one over 120GB for my bootdrive >_<)

Why not just copy the game you want to play to the boot SSD and copy it back when your done? From what I understand, games are pretty much self contained, and moving them between drives is pretty painless. Might have to update the shortcut.

Also one thing that's not mentioned in there...I know quick sync was able to do decoding as well as encoding (least I'm pretty certain I read that in the original sandy bridge reviews)the ability to offload 1080p decoding onto some dedicated silicone would be rather nice but since they said lucid only currently works with those two transcoding suites I'm assuming it can't be used this way just yet? (I sometimes watch movies/shows while playing games...taking basically no performance hit from running a 1080p movie would be quite nice )...if I'm right on remembering that quick sync can do this I would very much like them to add VLC support

I'm pretty sure in Anand's review, he said all you had to do on the H67 to get both IPU and discrete was plug a monitor into both. Would figure this will be the same with Z68.

 

[Hogan773]

See this I can see as being a very useful feature... If you can acquire a cheap (under $100) SSD to use as the cache..

I plan on getting an SSD bootdrive but there's no way I can put my games on it to take advantage of the speed it provides...I have well over 300GB's of games and that's not including all the ones I own on steam that I don't have installed currently due to space limitations...now if I could tie a cheap SSD into a large HDD for a gaming drive and get actual performance benefits (even if it is a lot less than a dedicated SSD) that would be fantastic. cause simply put there's no bloody way I could afford a 500GB SSD or higher that would be necessary to have my games on there as well (don't even think I can justify one over 120GB for my bootdrive >_<)

Also one thing that's not mentioned in there...I know quick sync was able to do decoding as well as encoding (least I'm pretty certain I read that in the original sandy bridge reviews)the ability to offload 1080p decoding onto some dedicated silicone would be rather nice but since they said lucid only currently works with those two transcoding suites I'm assuming it can't be used this way just yet? (I sometimes watch movies/shows while playing games...taking basically no performance hit from running a 1080p movie would be quite nice )...if I'm right on remembering that quick sync can do this I would very much like them to add VLC support

Yeah but it can only cache stuff you use often....so if you keep playing the same game over and over then some of those files will end up residing in the cache I suppose. But you're still limited to the size of the SSD.

 

[sgrinavi]

....SSD caching: I'm assuming they are going to tie this with the Intel SSD 310 series: http://download.intel.com/design/flash/nand/324696.pdf

Anyone remember this roadmap?:
http://www.dvhardware.net/article44687.html

The small form factor SSD code-named "Soda Creek" is the Intel SSD 310. See how it fits with the Z68's SSD caching capability?

ya.. but, the 310 is mSATA and is not exactly cheap at $190 .. I think you're better off with Zaps suggestion to hunt for cheap 30 (40/50/60) GB ssd in a normal configuration.

AFAIK the mSATA SSDs are out there to compete with the Samsung unit that Dell sticks in their business class lappys.