AMD Motherboard Features

AMD has been producing motherboards for as long as it has been producing central processing units. Though somewhat obscure and focused largely on the computer needs of large businesses, AMD has emerged as the primary competitor to Intel. Both companies have been locked in a struggle for the most powerful processor on the market, and as such, both sides have produced truly phenomenal CPUs with technology far and above what was thought possible even a few years ago. AMD is generally seen as producing processors with more raw power, while Intel is known to produce processors which are less expensive or more suited to special applications.

In order to support their line of CPUs, AMD has been offering motherboards specifically designed to accommodate them. Whether produced by AMD themselves or under license by other companies, AMD motherboards are largely seen as more powerful and accommodating than those produced by Intel. While AMD still produces a large number of motherboards for the business market, AMD has looked to capitalize on the home computing and gaming market by offering both very simple, stripped-down motherboards with few features, and extremely large motherboards designed to accommodate large quantities of RAM and several graphics cards at a time. As such, AMD motherboards have become very popular among gamers, graphic designers, and other people who need very large amounts of processing power.

The highest level AMD motherboards can accommodate more RAM than current operating systems allow and can run several graphics cards and two CPUs in tandem. However, most of the AMD motherboards are much simpler and are designed to fit the budget of almost any computer builder. Since they are primarily sold to promote AMD CPUs, they are generally compatible only with AMD-brand CPUs. However, many third-party motherboards are produced so as to accommodate both AMD and Intel CPUs. The AMD-only motherboards are clearly identified as such on their packaging, and are often sold in shops as a package deal along with the CPU. In such cases, the motherboard is often sold at a deep discount or even a loss to encourage the sale of the CPU, which is what really makes money for AMD. As such, the package deals are often good when both the CPU and motherboard must be purchased and compatibility must be guaranteed.

AMD's motherboards are considered to be very reliable, however they are not cheap. AMD takes pride in the high quality construction of their first-party motherboards, and uses high quality parts. Most users will find that a third-party board works just as well and costs much less. Almost all AMD compatible motherboards on the market today offer the ability to hold at least four GB of RAM (the maximum amount recognizable by Windows XP) and have slots for graphics and sound cards, both in PCI and more advanced forms. While these motherboards usually have one or more parallel ATA ports installed, there has been a shift to serial ATA ports in recent years due to their improved performance and decreased cost. As such, it may be necessary for persons upgrading from an older model board to purchase PATA to SATA adapter cables.

Dell Inspiron E1705

The Dell Inspiron e1705 is a 17" widescreen notebook and the first Inspiron to be released with the new Intel Core Duo processor. The "e" in e1705 stands for "Entertainment", with various media features available, fast Core Duo processor, a generous amount of ports and the option for a high-end graphics card in the form of the nVidia Go 7800 the e1705 certainly can be a lot of fun.

Dell e1705 17" screen notebook

An important note on the e1705 is the fact that the Dell Inspiron 9400 sold via the Dell Business site is the same notebook as the e1705 offered through the Dell Home online store. The only difference is that the Dell e1705 offers Windows Media Center Edition as an OS, along with an external USB TV Tuner option. Prices and offers may vary between each Dell online purchase channel, so you'd be wise to configure and price similar notebooks on each site to see what the better deal is at the time you order.

That note aside, let's focus on the Dell e1705 under review, the specs for the notebook in hand are the following:

Specs of the Dell Inspiron e1705 Being Reviewed:



* Processor: Intel T2500 2.0GHz Core Duo


* Motherboard Chipset: Intel Calistoga i945GM/PM


* Hard Drive: 100GB 7200RPM SATA (Hitachi TraveStar)


* Memory/RAM: 1GB (1,024MB) Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM (667MHz)


* Screen: 17.0" UXGA TrueLife (1900 x 1200 pixel resolution glossy screen)


* Graphics: nVidia GeForce Go 7800 256MB


* Optical Drive: DVD +/-RW with DL DVD+R write capacity


* Battery: 9-cell (standard size 6-cell, 9-cell extended life optional)


* Wireless: Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG (802.11 a/b/g)


* User Input: Touchpad


* Dimensions: 15.5" x 11.3" x 1.6" (Width x Depth x Height)


* TV Tuner: Optional external USB TV Tuner with remote control upgrade for $104


* Weight: 8.1 lbs


* Ports:


o 6 USB 2.0 ports


o IEEE 1394 (FireWire)


o Digital Video Interface (DVI-D)


o VGA out (monitor out)


o S-Video Out


o RJ-45 (Ethernet LAN)


o RJ-11 (56-Kbps Modem)


o Audio line out for headphone/speakers


o Microphone





* Slots:


o 5-in-1 Multi Card Reader (MS, MS Pro, SD, MMC, xD)


o 1 ExpressCard 54 slot





* Buttons:


o Power on/off


o Volume up/down/mute (3 buttons)


o Media buttons (play, forward, back, stop)


o Battery charge test button


o Battery lock and release





* Price: about $2,200 for given configuration (as of time of review e1705 prices range from $999+ depending on configuration and current Dell.com site offers)

Amd Athlon Computers

Two of the best manufacturers of CPU processors are Intel and AMD Athlon. These two companies have been raging war against each other ever since AMD Athlon beat Intel to releasing a 64bit processor. But despite this, AMD Athlon computers have not completely won the battle yet. The two companies have been trying to beat the competitor in terms of price, clock speed or performance, power consumption and heat production. There have been processor releases one after the other from these companies, making CPU processor shopping even more difficult. The good thing though with this war between Intel and AMD Athlon is that we are given an array of the best processors.



AMD Athlon computers have been around for a while now. They started with the release of the Athlon classic x86 processor way back when Intel’s Pentium 3 was the market leader. AMD Athlon’s first processor barely touched Intel’s market then. But in 2000, AMD Athlon dropped a bomb on Intel by releasing its Thunderbird processor. This time, AMD Athlon computers gained the market leader title over Intel’s Pentium 3. And ever since then, AMD Athlon has been competitively coming up with processors that seem to match, if not over perform Intel processors.



Let’s talk about speed!



If you are on the look out for a processor, you will probably check how AMD Athlon processors match with Intel’s in terms of price and performance. Over the years, AMD Athlon has continually tried to improve its clock speed and other features. Current AMD Athlon processors are the 64 x2 series and 64 fx series. The 64 x2 series offers a clock speed range from 2.3 GHz and 3.0 GHz while the 64 fx series offers a clock speed range from 2.6 GHz to 3.0 GHz. AMD Athlon may not always match or over perform every Intel processor but the latest processor did. The fx -74 processor out performs Intel’s Core 2 Extreme QX6700, with a 3.00 GHz clock speed compared to the latter’s slower 2.66GHz speed.



The Price Factor



Since AMD Athlon is the newer brand, it is only natural that they offer affordable prices. In fact, all their prices are lesser compared to Intel’s. The AMD Athlon 64 x2 series for instance is lower priced, between $170 and $500, compared to Intel Core 2 Duo series which are priced between $180 and $600. AMD Athlon processors are definitely more affordable, although the latest 64 fx – 74 is equally priced to its Intel counterpart.



Diversifying to Smaller Processors



AMD Athlon has also touched the market of notebook processors, with the Turion Series and the Mobile Athlon XP. To fit a notebook’s size, these types of processors are basically smaller, has lower heat production and power consumption.



Choosing the Right Processor



Although speed and price are important factors to consider when you buy processors, your PC usage should be the first determining factor. Why would you go for a high-speed processor when your PC usage won’t reach that speed? If your PC use is limited to word processing and internet surfing only, choosing from the list of AMD Athlon processors will have no difference. However, if you use your PC for high-speed computer games that requires faster clock-speed, you may want to check the top part of the AMD Athlon computers list.



Moreover, you may also want to consider buying cooling fans if you go with high-speed processors. Although AMD Athlon processors are manufactured to have lower heat production, cooling fans will help cool the processors more effectively especially if you plan to over-clock your CPU.

Intel Core 2 Duo Knocks Down AMD Athlon 64

Intel has regained the performance crown from AMD, after its launch of Core 2 Duo line of processors which are based on Intel’s new Core micro architecture. The processors are expected to ship by 27th July 2006. The performance Core 2 Duo is found to be superior than the AMD’s current line of processors.

Intel’s Core 2 Extreme X6800 didn’t lose a single benchmark in our comparison; not a single one. In many cases, the $183 Core 2 Duo E6300 actually outperformed Intel’s previous champ: the Pentium Extreme Edition 965. In one day, Intel has made its entire Pentium D lineup of processors obsolete. Intel’s Core 2 processors offer the sort of next-generation micro-architecture performance leap that we honestly haven’t seen from Intel since the introduction of the P6.

Compared to AMD’s Athlon 64 X2 the situation gets a lot more competitive, but AMD still doesn’t stand a chance. The Core 2 Extreme X6800, Core 2 Duo E6700 and E6600 were pretty consistently in the top 3 or 4 spots in each benchmark, with the E6600 offering better performance than AMD’s FX-62 flagship in the vast majority of benchmarks. Another way of looking at it is that Intel’s Core 2 Duo E6600 is effectively a $316 FX-62, which doesn’t sound bad at all.

We’re still waiting to get our hands on the E6400 as it may end up being the best bang for your buck, but even the slower E6300 is quite competitive with AMD’s X2 4200+ and X2 3800+. If AMD drops the price on those two parts even more than we’re expecting, then it may be able to hold on to the lower end of the performance mainstream market as the E6300 is not nearly as fast as the E6600.

For industry experts, Core 2 Duo beating the Athlon 64 processor family is no surprise: On the one hand, Core 2 Duo is a brand-new state-of-the-art processor, whereas the Athlon 64 X2 has been around for a while. On the other hand, Intel must come out with a superior product to finally beat AMD after two years of Athlon 64 headwinds.
Core 2 is an eighth-generation x86 architecture microprocessor to be produced by Intel based on an all-new CPU design called the Intel Core Microarchitecture, which will replace the NetBurst architecture that has powered Intel processors since 2000. Core 2 also will mark the retirement of Intel’s Pentium brand name that has been used from 1993 and the reunion of Intel’s notebook and desktop product lines since Pentium M was released apart from Pentium 4 in 2003.

Unlike NetBurst-based processors, such as the Pentium 4 and Pentium D, Core 2 will not stress designs based on extremely high clock speeds but rather improvements on other CPU features, including cache size and number of cores. Intel claims that the power consumption of these processors is to be extremely low compared to the Pentiums before.

Intel Core 2 processors will feature EM64T, Virtualization Technology, and Execute Disable Bit. The release will also introduce LaGrande Technology, SSE4, Enhanced SpeedStep Technology, and Active Management Technology (iAMT2).

New "sextium"; Processor by Intel

Industry observers have for some time now wondered why Intel persisted with the Pentium name for processors considerably more advanced than the original Pentium. The Pentium Pro, Pentium II and now the Pentium III have all been released, leading many pundits to speculate that it was high time the Sextium name was used.

"In retrospect, I don't know why we didn't call the P-Pro the Sextium," said Intel CEO Andy Grove in an interview with Dan's Data. "I mean, it's not like it means something rude in Spanish, or something." Upon being asked whether this was a reference to Intel's disastrous decision to release the original Pentium in Hispanic countries as the Putanum, Mr Grove declined to comment.

An Intel source who asked to remain anonymous spoke to us after Mr Grove had left, and explained that Intel had originally intended the new processor to be called the Hextium, but "that was a bit too obvious, know what I mean?"

We do not know what he meant.

The new Sextium part is scheduled to debut in Q2 of 2000, with distribution anticipated to commence exactly one year from the April 1st product announcement. The initial clock speed will be only 666MHz (Front Side Bus 133MHz, 5X multiplier), as Intel has reported mysterious problems achieving higher speeds with the new component. Craig Johnson, strategic planner for Intel's 32-bit product, commented on these difficulties as follows: "It's really not a problem. 666 megahertz is a very good speed. Very good indeed. Yes. Good." His eyes then glazed over and he walked slowly away, apparently oblivious to our further questions.

Pricing of the new processor for 1000 unit orders is expected to be an unprecedented $US10,000, although Intel have hinted at an as yet unexplained alternative payment program in which end users are apparently required to sign a special contract, and will receive in return a 666MHz Sextium processor, as well, confusingly, as what is described as "all their worldly desires".

Ron Peck, Intel's director of Value PC Marketing, described this special deal as "Marvellous value for the small office and home user, or indeed for corporate users or, well, pretty much anyone, really." When pressed for details of the special contract, Peck said: "It's a simple arrangement, a... covenant, if you will... between the chip purchasers and a greater... power." When asked if the "greater power" he referred to was Intel, he replied "Of course. Yes. Ha ha ha! What did you think I meant! Ha ha! The interview's over! Go away!"

A sample of the special contract was not available at the time of going to press; according to an Intel spokesperson, the company is "experiencing some minor issues related to the acquisition of the correct kind of parchment."

The Sextium's revolutionary new processor package approaches the size of the conventional Pentium II or III cartridge, but fits into a 514 pin ZIF socket instead of the PII/III edge connector. None of these "Socket 514" motherboards are currently available, but Intel and other manufacturers promise to have them available in time for the release of the Sextium. Representatives of leading motherboard manufacturers Abit, AOpen, Chaintech, Diamond, Shuttle, Supermicro and Tyan said in a statement earlier today: "We are strongly committed to supporting this exciting new processor. Let there be no doubt about our loyalty. No doubt at all. We will not fail you, lord Intel."

John Miner, vice president and general manager of Intel's Enterprise Server division, explained that a Xeon version of the new CPU will be available, for server applications. "It'll basically fill the same market niche as the current Pentium II and Pentium III Xeons, but the name will be different." When asked what the name of the new Xeon-class processor would be, Miner explained: "It's kind of impossible for humans to pronounce. It still starts with an X, though." He went on to say that Intel anticipated strong sales of this "Processor that Must Not Be Named" at corporations such as Procter and Gamble, Lucent and Microsoft, as well as numerous purchases by "a significant market segment, those guys who build twin Xeon machines and then run Windows 95 on them." Miner later described this segment of the Xeon market as "about as sharp as a sack full of wet toilet rolls".

Robert Jecman, vice president and general manager of Intel's mobile and handheld products group, has also promised a mobile version of the Sextium. "It'll be mobile all right. Everybody'll be using them. They'll practically - ha, ha - practically be a part of you!" He then pointed at his hand and grinned.

A spokesperson for Pope John Paul II has released a statement on the new processor which makes reference to it being "exactly what we've been warning you about all this time," and goes on to say "That's it. You're on your own. Go on, go and play Quake 3! Go on, do it! See if we care!"

Representatives of other ecclesiastical orders were not available for comment. Dan's Data has received unconfirmed reports of senior clergy purchasing canned food and shotguns.