Nforce 4, Q4 2004, Dual Opteron, SLI, details leak

NForce 4 details leak

Four different versions emerge
By Fuad Abazovic: Monday 23 August 2004, 12:08


EVEN THOUGH THE CHIPSET won't materialise before December, a French site already has some details about it. We should use the plural and say chipsets as there will be four different versions of Nforce 4, according to the source.

The first, Nforce 4 will be an entry level chipset and it won't feature high end features but should be a good performer.

The Nforce 4 Ultra will add some additional functionality such as a S-ATA II and will add 3 Gbit/s transfer. Hard drives that support this option should be ready around them. Nforce 4 Ultra will have firewall options - something that Nvidia is pushing hard.

The third chipset, Nforce 4 SLI, will, as the name suggests have SLI support and will finally offer a dual slot PCI Express motherboard where you can potentially use two graphic cards. Two Nvidia cards, as SLI is Nvidia only at this time, or should we say ex-3DFX.

The last, the Nforce 4 Pro, will have support for two Opteron CPUs and will be used for workstation and server market and AMD is definitely picking up on this market segment.

The first silicon should be ready as we speak and manufacturers are playing with them in Taiwan.

You can find more details here.

What we can add is that at least some of these versions are expected before Yule 2004. µ

[edit translated web page]
Détails! 19-08-2004 10:47:49 - Samuel D. Whereas the chipset successor of the nForce 3 at nVidia would owe s'appeller nForce 4 logically, one speaks yet currently only about his code name, the CK8-04. A Russian source wishing to keep l'anonymat forwarded to us of information on this next chipset. One learn qu'nVidia thus will not announce one, but four versions of the nForce4, of which here some details: nForce 4: Standard version of the chipset, which is intended to equip the GCV d'entrée with range and which will allow the construction of cheap mother chart without sacrificing the performances nForce 4 Ultra: Version improved of the precedent having additional functionalities. It will support the SATA-II (3 GBit/s) as well as advanced options of firewall. Its price will remain reasonable nForce 4 SLI: As one can s'en doubt, this chipset intended for the workstations and the fortunate gamers will be the only able one to support mode SLI of new charts NCV Express train of nVidia nForce 4 Pro: Intended for the waiters and thus for solutions Bi-Opteron, the nForce 4 Pro will be thus the first chipset of nVidia only intended for this market. It will be capable to support a controller NCV additional Hypertransport Express train of nVidia baptized IO4, but c'est another history... In short, the new awaited range trés of chipset nVidia seems promising. With current l'heure, the final first samples start to be available in the laboratories of the manufacturers, l'annonce official is currently planned for the second quizaine of September... Wait & See.
[edit translated web page]

There they go. Off to a blazing start. I wonder if AMD will have their dual core processors readied by XMAS?

My point to posting this in here is that with IBM being the manufacturers of Nvidias processors, and who knows who is making Apples motherboards now (anyone). I think Apple should license the N4 design, and spec out an Apple version to gain mainstream momentum, and show that they intend on Mac's playing in the same categories as their x86 counterparts.
Apple needs a boost to their performance image in the PC world, and using something as familiar, and significant as a NForce4 would certainly give the appearance of more balanced graphics, and have a subtle, but leveling image of cross-platform equality should they choose to do so.

Tigers demo at WWDC had much talk about leveraging the GPU with Core Image, and one would expect if Apple were to continue with their GPU leveraging demonstrations, and discussions they would also be addressing the OpenGL Firmware, and driver issues they have been plagued with, and succumbed to vs. their x86 adversaries.

I had more to say, but I suddenly just got too busy. Sorry if that sounds incomplete. But it is.

I was only referencing the Nforce4 designs which are probably going to out shine what Apple has in the pipe currently for implementation in January at MWSF.

In brief the Nforce 4 will support the SATA-II (3 GBit/s) as well as advanced options of firewall, Dual Processors, and Dual PCI-E.

Chances off Apple being on top of all the above, and undisclosed features are slim, but I suppose we will see.


But as you were saying -

Of course they can use the same technologies but. My point in licensing the Nforce branding was merely for name recognition, and improved hardware, (driver/firmware) card compatibility.
If Apple were to use the same features, and also include what they intend to use of their own.
Rather than comparing them as going head to head vs. the x86 - showing that they are playing with the x86 plus adding their own features could be beneficial on many levels.
If they brought in the recognized technology of Nvidia Nforce motherboards, and add Mac compatibility to them to increase their performance Instead of comparing differences in performance they would do better showing design similarities, identical parts, and identical performance out of the Nforce4 running under OS X Panther.
After that - then continue on past the licensed board, and into the Apple additions such as FireWire (which they can get via PCI card anyway), but continue with improved statistics leveraging the GPU with Tiger, and other additions with Core Image. I think you get my point so I'll stop explaining it here.<--[edit 5 hours later after re-reading] I got lost in my own mind while writing all that, but I'm not changing it because I think it's funny. [/edit]

Next to the Processor - the Motherboard, and Graphics cards are what separates PC, and Mac boxes apart from each other in the minds of most. Appearing to bring in 2/3 of that equation, and supplying great performance out of your existing processor would be a huge step in changing the way the Mac is perceived by the computing community as whole.

AFAIK from what people have told me is that OS X has never been a problem for PC users, and most are delighted by the thought of using it on a regular basis. Changing all their platform software has been a concern, and Macintosh computers themselves have been a concern also, but introducing familiar PC hardware even if it is for appearance only is still a major step, and would improve the overall appearance of the Macintosh to the majority of computer users. Even if IBM is still having CPU troubles as of now.

Plus it also adds an additional element , and brings in a closer working relationship with NVidia, and IBM.

Your not alone I thought it did too. \

Well yes which is why i thought they were one of the first if not the first to get this. I thought that was the way the first G5 was described at the keynote.
Now I'm at a loss for words. Why didn't they?

(1) "Apple uses Hypertransport between its two main core logic chips, the system ASIC ("northbridge") and the I/O ASIC ("southbridge"). Some versions of the PowerMac G5 use a PCI/PCI-X Hypertransport bridge that is between the two."

(2) "For Apple to support PCI Express and SLI, they would just have to add support for it in the Power Mac G5 system ASIC. Also update their I/O chipset for the new I/O goodies and it'll be just as good as an Nforce 4 system."

It almost looks like you contradict your self, but I have no idea what this sh*t is anyway - so please take no offense.

So basically can we conclude that the Apple motherboard design has little, or a big change in store for it to get PCI-E, SLI? Is this a huge design overhaul, or minor adjustments, or replacing to a few smaller components to get the graphics on par with what many expect from them?

Now all we need is to convince them to do it.