AMD M2 socket the ring to rule by

[Alpine]

Hardware Roundup More graphics cards come onstage

GERMAN WEBSITE PC Welt has some exclusive information about the AMD's M2 socket, the one to rule them all. Plus they have a photo of the s939 Sempron. Say bye to the socket 754 as Dual Channel comes to the value range.


Supermicro introduced the PDSGE mainboard for a desktop mainboard. This ain't a component build for speed - that to say the least. However if you are looking for something reliable and which comes with an impressive pedigree, then look no further. Excellent documnetation and many small but significant details make it a different beast altogether. Don't buy it for overclocking though.

Another motherboard, at the other end of the spectrum is reviewed at Digit Life. The Asrock 939S59-M is an entry level socket 939 model based on the SIS756 chipset. This mATX board has only two PCI and one PCIx1 slot; interestingly though, it comes with a PCI x16 slot, a sign that the technology is maturing. Also interesting is the inclusion of support for Dual Core technology as well as 7.1 audio module.

Meanwhile Hardware-mag.de comes forward with a (German) benchfest featuring the X1300, the X1600 and the X1800 graphic cards. The X1300 Pro card is undoubtedly the weakest and the one most likely to have stiff competition not only from Nvidia's 6x00 family but most importantly from ATI's own X7x0/X8x0 stable. At the upper ladder rung, the X1800XT and the XL are competitive with the 7800GT and GTX, save for SLI, Nvidia's current life buoy.

Meanwhile Hardware.fr comes forward with a roundup of mid range graphic cards with some brand newcomers. From the GF6200 to the X1600, it is nine differnt GPUs that hardware.fr compares; with a special appearance from DDR2 enabled 6600 and 6800XT. The former - a model from XFX - is particularly interesting since it is factory overclocked. Belgium Matbe website checks two Windows Media Center keyboards - one from Logitech and the other from Microsoft. The software package is what basically differentiates both offerings. Microsoft's combo needs a very powerful computer to power its Media centric software - which ain't Logitech's problem. The S510 gets a 4.5 stars, 50% more than Microsoft's. Not convinced, read the review then.

The INQuirer