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AthlonXP 2500+, A Performance/Value CPU
Hello,
The newest chipset to be released
by VIA for the Intel Pentium 4 is called the PT880. Recently, VIA stopped
by the PCstats Labs to tell us about their newest chipset,
and to demonstrate some of its attributes. PCstats look at the PT880
reference platform is just about complete, so keep your eyes on next weeks Newsletter
for an in depth look at what might just knock the Intel i865 right off
its perch... In the mean time, PCstats' Industry Insights column has a few things to say
about the PT880 chipset, so be sure to give that a read.
If you
haven't already been to www.pcstats.com to vote on our poll for the next prize we should give
away.... then I guess you don't mind if we give away an old 720K floppy disk instead of an ATI videocard or Athlon64? ;-)
In
this weeks newsletter we have a couple of reviews I'd like to direct your attention towards; the first of which is our latest beginners guide which is all about FTP. I know I've sometimes found instant messaging a slow way to transfer large files, and email can be just as precarious. On the other hand, knowing how to set up an FTP on your PC means you can receive and send large files a lot quicker with your friends or colleagues. Definitely a good guide to check out. Moving right along, PCstats has a look at one of the best AMD processors currently available to consumers on a budget. The AthlonXP 2500+ offers a really good price/performance value, and as you'll see by the benchmarks, stacks up pretty well to the cutting edge chips from both Intel and AMD. It's been a while since we've talked about motherboards, and so this week I've also included a review of Gigabyte's latest i865 Intel Pentium 4 motherboard. Since you'll need the right kind of memory to run a motherboard like the 8IPE1000 Pro2, some dual channel OCZ DDR533 RAM might just be what the doctor ordered. Lastly, for those of us who need some extra storage space but don't want to crack the computer case open, a USB2.0 hard drive enclosure, like the Bytec ME-350US, is a good way to achieve just that.
FTP is an easy way to transfer files over the
Internet and in this guide we'll explain the basics of using it, and
how to set up a home FTP server in WindowsXP
If you've ever tried to share a
large number of files over the Internet, you've no doubt noticed that it is
not the easiest thing in the world to do. Sure you can use MSN messenger
to send things… One file at a time. You could email, but that's slow
and limited by the size of your mailbox. Create a website? Doesn't seem
worth the effort, and besides what if you want to receive files as well
as share them? What if you want to make several directory's worth of
your files available to yourself over the Internet while you are traveling?
You could use remote desktop software, but that typically has anemic
file transfer options and slow performance.
What's the solution? Why FTP of course! FTP simply stands for File Transfer
Protocol, and as you might guess, it's a method of transferring data
over a network or the Internet. The main advantage of FTP is the ease with
which it can transfer files over the Internet or your network. Individual
files or whole directories can be made available, allowing clients to
choose what they wish to access. Continue Here>>
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The
AMD AthlonXP processor has long represented an equal balance of pure
economical value and performance. These traits have been enticing
consumers towards AMD since the introduction of DDR memory, and that has
given the company a strong foothold in the consumer PC markets.  While it used to be said Intel was a
force to be reckoned with, it now seems as though AMD has become just
that, leaving Intel more on the defensive than ever before. While the
price of an AMD processor is not as inexpensive as it once was ($200 CDN
for a flagship processor anyone?), it still packs in one heck of a
punch! The AMD AthlonXP 2500+ is easily the gem in the AthlonXP
lineup, as it has arguably the most ideal price/performance ratio of
any processor on the market right now. For enthusiasts, the
AthlonXP 2500+ holds significance not simply because it is the lowest
priced processor based on the Barton core, but also because it holds the
promise of significant performance boosts when run at over stock
speeds. Continue Here>>
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I have to admit, getting a Pentium4 motherboard based
on the Intel i865PE chipset really does offer a lot of value
for the buck. I suppose it's not surprising then that the demand for
Springdale motherboards is pretty solid these days,
in spite of attempts by SiS, and now VIA, to undermine
it with more economical chipsets like the 655FX and PT880. The GA-8IPE1000 Pro2
is Gigabyte's first motherboard with 'CIA' technology (CPU Intelligent Accelerator) which
is very similar to MSI's 'dynamic overclocking functions' found in the 865PE
Neo2-FIS2R. The GA-8IPE1000 Pro2 is PAT enabled with it's special MIB (Memory
Intelligent Booster), and as you'll see in the benchmarks the board is indeed very
speedy! The GA-8IPE1000 Pro2 features a
concise set of capabilities, but in this way Gigabyte saves you money and
allows you to select what devices you want in your PC instead of
integrating them. For instance, if you're not going to use RAID why spend
the money on that feature? Continue Here>>
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One problem that is universal to among all
'high speed' memory modules is that to reach the fastest speeds they must
be set to use very lax CAS latency timings. As most experienced computer
users understand, CAS timings play a key role in overall system
performance. The looser the timings, the greater impact on total system
performance we tend to see. Dubbed, Enhanced Latency PC4200 (DDR533) DDR
RAM, this 512MB pair (1GB total) of dual channel DDR boasts CAS timings of
2.5-4-4-7, and comes packed in standard OCZ copper heatspreaders. Copper
has always been a good indicator that something mighty lies below, so is
this really a sign of what to expect from OCZ's memory?Continue Here>>
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What sets the Bytecc ME-350US apart
is the significantly more compact size, external power brick, and smooth
aluminum chassis. The jury is still out on the little blue LED at the very
front of the drive, but everything else is in order, and configured fairly
neatly. When it's all said and done, the Bytecc
ME-350U2 locks the hard drive behind at least three sets of screws, and
provides a very clean, and very compact housing for the drive itself.
Continue Here>>
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PCstats Issue
No.112
Circulation: 249,218
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| Industry Insights |
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Up until recently, VIA Technologies has been relatively quiet. Over the past couple of years, NVIDIA and Intel have pummeled the company's best products. On the AMD side, nForce2 trumped KT333, KT400, and KT400A. By the time VIA unveiled KT600, the world was focused on Athlon 64. VIA wasn't even able to legally manufacture Intel chipsets until recently. Its P4X series performed well, was priced attractively, but just never got off the ground.
Things are turning around for the Taiwanese manufacturer, though. With a P4 license in hand, VIA is traveling around the world, showing off its PT880 chipset, equipped with Serial ATA, USB 2.0, Ethernet, and up to 7.1-channel audio. It looks to be an impressive competitor to Intel's 865 family, and VIA even claims to compete with 875 on a number of benchmarks.
On a recent stop by my laboratory, VIA disclosed its plans for PT880's successor, P890. Sampling in December of this year and in mass production Q1 of 2004, I will carry forward dual-channel memory technology with DDR400 support and DDR2 at 400/533/667MHz. It will be equipped with PCI Express connectivity and Ultra V-Link, with 1GB of throughput between north and south bridges. It will be paired to the VT8239 south bridge, which, when finished, will offer four Serial ATA channels and integrated 20-bit audio.
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| Written By |
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Editor-in-Chief
. M. Page
Weekly Tips
. C. Sun
I.I. Columnist
. C. Angelini |
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