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GSBUG Hardware Info SIG

GSBUG Hardware Info SIG. September 11, 2003. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG. Agenda – September 11, 2003 7:00 – 7:05 Administration 7:05 – 8:15 Featured Topics – Sound Processors, Sound Cards, and Speakers: 2003 Update 8:15 – 8:30 Hardware News 8:30 – 8:55 Random Access (Q&A)

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GSBUG Hardware Info SIG

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  1. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG September 11, 2003

  2. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Agenda – September 11, 2003 • 7:00 – 7:05 Administration • 7:05 – 8:15 Featured Topics – Sound Processors, Sound Cards, and Speakers: 2003 Update • 8:15 – 8:30 Hardware News • 8:30 – 8:55 Random Access (Q&A) • 8:55 – 9:00 Recap, Preview, and Close

  3. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Administration • Welcome! Please Sign In. • What the SIG is…and is not. • Is - a resource for computer users and potential computer users • Is NOT – a cheap way to get your computer built or repaired (contact the GSBUG Daytime Hardware SIG) • Logs – Random Access/Q&A (First Come…)

  4. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Administration (continued): • Presentation materials will be posted at: http://gsbug.apcug.org/hwinfosig.htm • Prior presentation materials also posted.

  5. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Sound Processors, Sound Cards…:2003 Update • These materials ONLY address mainstream, non-professional “components” used in or with IBM-compatible PCs.

  6. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Sound Processors, Sound…:2003 Upd (cont.) • Sound (Audio) Processors: • Discrete – a separate chip; typically a DSP, digital signal processor • Integrated – an AC97 interface in the motherboard’s “Southbridge” (still needs an external CODEC ) • CODEC (compression/decompression) – hardware and software-assisted algorithms to compress and decompress files (e.g., audio files)

  7. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Sound Processors, Sound…:2003 Upd (cont.) • Primary Sound Processor Suppliers - Discrete • C-Media (CMI) (www.cmedia.com.tw) • Creative Technology (Creative Labs, E-mu/Ensoniq) (www.americas.creative.com) • Crystal/Cirrus Logic (www.crystal.com) • ForteMedia (www.fortemedia.com) • Philips (no dedicated processor site) • VIA (www.via.com.tw/en/multimedia/audio.jsp)

  8. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Sound Processors, Sound…:2003 Upd (cont.) • Primary Sound Processor Suppliers – Integrated • ALi (Acer Labs) – all current chipsets • AMD – AMD-8111 (Athlon 64/Opteron) only • Intel – all current chipsets • NVIDIA – all current chipsets • SiS – all current chipsets • VIA – all current chipsets • NOTE: All integrated solutions provide an AC97 interface and require an external CODEC.

  9. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Sound Processors, Sound…:2003 Upd (cont.) • Sound Cards – “Identifiable” Suppliers (Processor) • Creative Labs – “Sound Blaster” series, latest is the “Audigy2” (Creative) • Hercules/Guillemot – DIGIFIRE, Muse, Fortissimo, Theater (C-Media, Crystal) • Jaton – SonicWave (ForteMedia) • Philips – “Edge” series (Philips) • TerraTec – “Aureon” series (VIA) • Turtle Beach/Voyetra – Santa Cruz (Crystal) • VideoLogic – SoundXplosion (Crystal)

  10. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Sound Processors, Sound…:2003 Upd (cont.) • Speakers • Sky’s the limit – we’ll just note mainstream PC speaker suppliers having products generally available in the US.

  11. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Sound Processors, Sound…:2003 Upd (cont.) • Speakers – Primary “Identifiable” Suppliers • Altec Lansing (www.alteclansing.com) • Creative Labs (www.americas.creative.com) • Harman Kardon/JBL (www.harmanmultimedia.com) • JAZZ (J-S) (www.jazzspeakers.com) • Klipsch (ProMedia) (www.klipsch.com) • Logitech (www.logitech.com) • MidiLand (MLi) (www.midiland.com) • VideoLogic (www.videologic.com) • Yamaha (www.yamahamultimedia.com)

  12. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News • Processors • AMD released the Opteron 146 (uni-processor, 2.0GHz, $669 in 1K lots) and Opteron 846 (up to 8-way, 2.0GHz, $3199 in 1K lots); both fastest so far in their respective series – simple line extensions. • Intel released a low voltage Itanium 2 at 1.0GHz (1.5MB L3 cache, $744 in 1K lots) and an Itanium 2 at 1.4 GHz (1.5MB L3 cache, $1172 in 1K lots).

  13. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News • Core Logic (chipsets) • Intel “stealth” released the 848P Northbridge for Pentium 4 processors – adds support for 800MHz FSB, single-channel PC3200 (DDR 400) DDR SDRAM, AGP 8X, and linkage to ICH5/5R I/O Hubs (Southbridges) to the 845PE. This is essentially a single-channel version of the 865PE (same package size, et al). • SiS announced the SiS741 Northbridge for AMD Athlon XP processors – supports 400MHz FSB, PC3200 (DDR 400, single channel) DDR SDRAM, and integrated Real256E AGP 8X graphics.

  14. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News • System RAM – nothing new • Motherboards • ASUSTeK, Gigabyte, MSI and others announce Intel 848P-based motherboards. Nothing from Intel. • Graphics Processors & Cards – nothing new • Hard Drives • Hitachi begins shipments of 4GB Microdrives – on store shelves in November; CF+ Type II; FAT32; $499 MSRP.

  15. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News (continued) • Hard Drives (continued) • Maxtor announced its OneTouch line of external ATAPI drives; USB 2.0, IEEE-1394, and combo USB/1394 interfaces; from 120-300GB capacity (cache size and spindle speed vary by model); $199-399 MSRP with back-up software bundle. • Hard Drive Controllers • Promise announced the FastTrak S150 SX4 4-port, SATA/150 RAID controller (PCI) – supports up to RAID 5 and caching (no RAM included).

  16. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News (continued) • Other Drives • BenQ announced the DW800A 8X DVD+R/4X DVD+RW ATAPI drive (spec not yet available). • Gigabyte released the GO-W0404A DVD±R/RW (4/2/6 DVD, 40/24/40 CD); their first DVD recordable drive. • Plextor released the PX-708UF – external version of the PX-708A; dual interface (USB 2.0/IEEE-1394); otherwise same spec as PX-708A (dual-format 8/4/12 DVD, 40/24/40 CD).

  17. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Hardware News (continued) • Sound processors & cards – nothing new • Modems & NICs • Best Data acquires Diamond Multimedia assets and trade names from SONICblue – SupraMax modems to be re-launched. • NETGEAR releases 108Mbps (“turbo mode”) wireless solution – WGT624 router and WG511R PC Card combo; WAG311 PCI card also available. • Chassis & power supplies – nothing new

  18. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Random Access

  19. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG • Recap, Preview, and Close • Recap • Preview • Featured Topic for October 9, 2003 – Other Components (Modems, NICs, Chassis, Power Supplies, HFAs, Fans, Keyboards, Mice): 2003 Update • Close (please police up the area)

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