D3D RightMark Beta 4 is released!

PowerLeap PL-AXP: an Athlon XP/MP into an older machine

Intel and AMD cut processor prices. Enters Athlon XP-M 2600+

Intel CT (Yamhill) = Clackamas Technology. Facts and comments on the threshold of announcement

ASUS’s new LGA775 motherboards on Grantsdale/Alderwood, SiS656, PT890/PT892 chipsets

NVIDIA GeForce FX5700LE: the first photos and specs

Intel Developer Forum Spring 2004: first look

D3D RightMark Beta 4 is released!

3D.Rightmark.Org, the independent DirectX 3D Benchmarking Project, released a new version of the D3D RightMark graphics benchmarking suite. The new features of D3D RightMark 1.0.5.0 (Public Beta 4) include:

1. User Interface
   • The new "skinned" user interface for the D3D RightMark shell and all modules.
   • The new look of the results files (for XML and HTML formats).
   • The new look of the reports files (for HTML format).
   
   
   
2. Test Modules
   • VS 3.0 and PS 3.0 support for some tests. (PS 3.0 and VS 3.0 shaders supported only on "DX9.1" hardware. VS 3.0 supported for all hardware if you set software vertex processing.)
   • VS dynamic flow control support for the "Geometry Processing Speed" test. (Not available on some DX9 hardware (ATI´s R3x).)
   • PS 2.a shaders for the "Pixel Shading" test (Water and Cook-Torrance lighting). (These PS 2.a shaders currently supported only on nVidia´s GeForce FX hardware (NV3x+).)
   • PS 1.1 and 1.4 shaders for the "Pixel Shading" test (Psychodelic and Wood).
   • The new shader profiles for the "Pixel Filling" test.
   • The new shader profiles for the "Geometry Processing Speed" test.
   • The new look of the "Geometry Processing Speed" test (smaller light range)
   • The "Pixel Filling" test has the separate PPS(pixels/second) and TPS(texels/second) results.
   • The "State Profiler" test was removed.
   
   
   
3. Bug fixes
   • A number of errors in the D3D RightMark shell were fixed.
   • A number of errors in the test modules were fixed.
   
   
   

The source code for version 1.0.5.0 was removed from the main archive and will be available soon separately. And the binaries are available in the official Download section.

PowerLeap PL-AXP: an Athlon XP/MP into an older machine

PowerLeap, known as a maker of CPU adapters, introduced its new solution, PL-AXP, an adapter for AMD Athlon/Duron enabling to install the latest AMD Athlon XP/MP processors into older machines.

Adapter features:

• Includes multiplier unlocking technology that lets you freely adjust multipliers from 5X ~ 24X for many* Athlon XP/MP CPUs--without reconnecting bridges on the top of the CPU or shorting socket contacts on your mainboard.
• Supports Socket A (462-pin) AMD CPUs, including Athlon and Duron series
• Dimensions: 49.6 x 49.6 x 2.0 (mm)

The only thing a user has to do is to choose the right processor for a new system. According to the source, "Only Barton and Thoroughbred-B core-based Athlon XP/MP CPUs are qualified for multiplier unlocking--the PL-AXP does not support unlocking for the Palomino and Thoroughbred-A core-based Athlon CPUs. Locate the label on the Athlon XP/MP CPU and make sure the model number starts with AXDA*******, or the CPU might not be qualified for unlocking.

In addition, AMD has officially locked all Athlon CPU internal multipliers produced since Week 34, 2003, and the PL-AXP can´t unlock these CPUs. In order to unlock CPU multipliers with the PL-AXP, you need to use an Athlon CPU that was manufactured before Week 34, 2003 (identified as 0334).

The manufacturing date is printed on the Athlon CPU label (please refer to the photo below for location of the manufacturing date)."

Source: FriendTech

Intel and AMD cut processor prices. Enters Athlon XP-M 2600+

Today we got to know about another price cut for both AMD and Intel processors. Still Intel reduced prices for its three OEM Mobile Celerons only — 2.50GHz, 2.40GHz, and 2.20GHz (in over 1,000-unit quantities):

As for AMD, it cut prices for more products, including Opteron, Athlon MP, Athlon XP, and Athlon XP-M series. The maximum cut of 53% was witnessed in the Opteron camp, while desktop Athlon XP models became just down to 20% cheaper.

It´s interesting that this didn´t touch Athlon 64 products, it seems like the company is pleased with the demand for them anyway.

Besides, note that AMD price list for the first time features Athlon XP-M 2600+ model for $99. At the same time, the list lost Athlon XP 2100+ and 2000+, Athlon MP 2200+, 2000+, 1800+, and Low Voltage Athlon XP-M 1600+.

Prices given as usual, for over 1,000-quantities:

Intel CT (Yamhill) = Clackamas Technology. Facts and comments on the threshold of announcement

Without a doubt, one of the key intrigues at IDF Spring 2004 will be the announcement of the new Intel CT technology implying the support of some 64-bit instructions by 32-bit desktop and server similar to AMD Opteron/Athlon 64. Judging by the hype around this theme, our readers are just dying to see something reliable regarding this CT technology. Intel is still keeping the total silence, while various analysts gather drops of leaked information and make assumptions.

Materials published on Sunday at CNet and a large publication by Reuters shed some light on some more information about this project. For example, CNet claims that CT stands for Clackamas Technology.

I was always wondering how companies succeed in finding sonorous names to their developments. From search engines I found out that Clackamas is a county in North Oregon, near the Washington state border (don´t confuse Vancouver, WA, with Vancouver in Canada). But I guess they meant the Clackamas river running there as well. Seems like a nice place for fishing ;-)

As there´s no precise information about Clackamas, analysts continue to discuss the possible compatibility of Intel CT and AMD64 and the consequences. In particular, judging by the patent battles between Intel and AMD of 1987-1997, both companies were granted free access to each other´s patented developments and they also signed a cross-licensing agreement. At that AMD agreed not to make obvious clones of Intel´s processors (the result was K6, K6 II, K6III, Athlon, Duron, Athlon 64, and Opteron), and promised to pay Intel royalty for each chip with x86 architecture (plus for such technologies, as SSE/SSE2). Until now such payments were unidirectional only. It´s interesting that if Intel tries to make processors compatible with AMD Opteron/Athlon 64 and operating with 32/64-bit software, it won´t have to pay anything for using AMD developments, according to the court decision of 1995. Moreover, Intel has a right to release an AMD64-compatible instruction set and noone can stop it.

So, Intel willing or not willing to accept the AMD64 64-bit instruction set as a base for its 32/64-bit desktop and server chips is totally under control of company´s executives and is not related to any patent problems. Soon we´ll know where Intel turns, as tomorrow IDF Spring 2004 officially starts. We hope we´ll be the first to offer you this critical news.

ASUS’s new LGA775 motherboards on Grantsdale/Alderwood, SiS656, PT890/PT892 chipsets

French x86-Secret, referring to a certain presentation, informed on ASUS´s motherboard roadmap that includes solutions on Intel´s Grantsdale (i915) and Alderwood (i925) as well as on SiS´s SiS656 and VIA´s PT890/PT892.

As you can see, LGA775 motherboards will have the new model names starting with P5. The next letter seems to mark the chipset family — "G" for i915 (Grantsdale) and "A" for i925 (Alderwood). The next number will stand for the memory type supported — D1" for DDR-I and "D2" for DDR-II.

• ASUS P5AD2 — i925X+ICH6R, LGA775, PCI-E, Dual DDR-II
• ASUS P5GD2 — i915P+ICH6R, LGA775, PCI-E, Dual DDR-II
• ASUS P5GD1 — i915P+ICH6R, LGA775, PCI-E, Dual DDR-I
• ASUS P4GD1 — i915P+ICH6R, µPGA478, PCI-E, Dual DDR-I
• ASUS P5GD2-VM — i915G+ICH6R, LGA775, PCI-E, Dual DDR-II

It´s interesting that Grantsdale-based models include Socket 478 solutions as well. Anyway, the most optimistic availability date is early May 2004.

There won´t be as many solutions on chipsets from SiS and VIA, but both Taiwanese manufacturers can be proud for providing the dual-channel support simultaneously with Intel (unlike the previous announcements).

• ASUS P5SDC — SiS656 + SiS965, LGA775, PCI-E, Dual DDRI/DDRII
• ASUS P5VD1 — VIA PT890 + VT8237, LGA775, PCI-E, Dual DDRI/DDRII
• ASUS P5VD2 — VIA PT892 + VT8237, LGA775, PCI-E, AGP 8x, Dual DDR-II

Frankly speaking, I heard about VIA PT892 for the first time. Still judging by P5VD2 features, it´s likely to be a variant of PT890 supporting AGP 8x instead of PCI Express 16x.

Source: x86-Secret

NVIDIA GeForce FX5700LE: the first photos and specs

The latest WHQL-certified NVIDIA ForceWare 56.55 driver disturbed the Web with the following strings in it:

- NVIDIA_NV34DEV_0326.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500
- NVIDIA_NV36DEV_0343.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700LE
- NVIDIA_NV36DEV_0344.1 = "NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700VE

Speaking of GeForce FX 5500 specs and features, we will offer you the new material in the nearest future, when we have enough trustworthy information. Pity, but we still have no reliable facts on GeForce FX 5700VE, however, our colleagues from Chinese GZeasy not only provided us with the GeForce FX 5700LE specs, but also shared with us the first photos of a card on this GPU.

Judging by FC-PGA package of GeForce FX 5700LE GPU, we suppose it will be selected from 0.13µm NV36 scrappage. Similar to the more powerful 5700/5700 Ultra, it features CineFX 2.0 engine, supports IntelliSample, HCT, and UltraShadow, however its clock rate is reduced to 250MHz (vs. 425MHz of a standard GeForce FX 5700).

The GeForce FX 5700LE-based card shown on the photo, has 4-layer P222 PCB designed totally different from P191 boards of GeForce FX 5700 and P141 boards of GeForce FX 5600. The card on GeForce FX 5700LE has eight Hynix´s 4ns DDR memory chips, i.e. 128MB of 128-bit memory.

Well, such an off-season, when the previous chip is "mastered" (though can´t say GF FX 5700 Ultra is available in volumes now), and the new one exists only in roadmaps, is the best time to release inexpensive GPUs with reduced clock rates. It seems that 5700LE-based solutions operating at 250/400MHz will soon compete with the previous "LE" solutions, GeForce FX 5600XT cards clocked at 235/400MHz.

Source: GZeasy

Intel Developer Forum Spring 2004: first look

IDF Spring 2004, which opens in San Francisco on February, 17 and lasts till 19, is one of the most anticipated events of the year. IDF will also be held in Tokyo, Taibei, Beijing and Barselona during March-April, 2004. IDF has been setting the trends for the next months for several years now, and this one is not going to be an exception.

Our readers will surely be glad to find out that Alexander Vorobiev, representative of iXBT.com, has already arrived in San Francisco and is having a rest after the 20-hour flight and getting ready for the grand opening tomorrow. As there is nothing to report from IDF yet we decided to publish a couple of entertaining photos from Alexander’s trip log.

Here’s the great NY smog.

San Francisco at night. View from the hotel room.

The same view at morning.

Some words about key events on this IDF.

Tuesday, Feb. 17

• Opening Keynote: Craig Barrett will discuss Intel´s corporate strategy related to the convergence of computing and communications and will address silicon integration, software innovation and solutions development.
• Louis Burns: The role of computing devices is expanding. New usage models are evolving at home, office or elsewhere. Convergence of computing and consumer electronics is bringing home entertainment into the hands of consumers
• John Davies: Intel´s expanding technology focus to drive solutions that can significantly improve workflows and change how businesses run their operations
• Will Swope: the needs and drivers for the adoption of technology in the modern corporate environment and Intel´s contributions toward meeting the corporate environment needs

Wednesday, Feb. 18:

• Mike Fister: successful examples of balanced platforms in production today and future platform enhancements based on Intel Xeon and Itanium processors
• William Siu: desktop platforms and technology solutions that not only offer the performance headroom for today´s and tomorrow´s demanding applications, but also enhance user experience by enabling new usage models in the office
• Anand Chandrasekher: Handheld to Notebook: Mobility Surges Forward Keynote
• Doug Busch: Mobilizing Enterprise Applications Keynote

Thursday, Feb. 19

• Sean Maloney: Communications and the broadband wireless wave keynote
• Pat Gelsinger: R&D Keynote

Of course, the program is not limited by these keynotes. Different issues regarding promising hi-tech technologies, personal computing products, servers, communication equipment and pocket computers will also be covered at this IDF. Another noteworthy event is a two-day conference devoted to solutions. It is to take place on Feb. 17-18 and is aimed at people making decisions in the field of information technologies, developers and those working in the sphere of applications and other software engineering fields.

In addition to the solutions conference, another one will be held for OEM builders, hardware producers and new architecture developers. This conference will be devoted to systems.

In one word, this IDF is going to be filled with extremely interesting events and will certainly provide material for some good news or even sensations. Well, stay tuned and come often to check our newsline!

Write a comment below. No registration needed!