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rotfl. He meant most OTHER ppl, not on here ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by shogan191
Anyway, I'm deff looking forward to this board, my 2 gigs of ram and h2o will love it. Right now my rig is half sleeved, hehe, don't feel like sleeving the rest of the wires until I get that board :p:
Wow. Awesome looking board !!!
Ok, I just read through that article and I am drooling now, did I understand it correctly that is has the HD audio, and IT HAS Dolby Digital Live OUTPUT!!!??? i.e. ALC880D?????? So are we looking at the equivalent of Soundstorm DDL output on this MB? I am not seeing an optical output on the board though, am I just overlooking it, or is it DDL output from the standard connectors only? If it is that close and doesnt have DDL optical output I am sad inside :confused:
If any of you guys can set me straight I would appreciate it, I would really like it if I didn't have to buy a 100 dollar soundcard just because they incorporated everything but DDL optical into the board. :stick:
That's why the board is called PURE. That's probably one of the lowest-end boards of the line-up.
I am not seeing an optical output on the board though, am I just overlooking it, or is it DDL output from the standard connectors only?
Again, PURE version. All they said is that the capability is their. The more feature-rich board will have it.
Well I hope it will have one, I will delay my purchase AGAIN if they will have one with DDL optical output, I think it would be worth the 100 dollar sound card, and then I would have only ATI components in the system, ATI video X850XT PE, ATI tuner RAGE550pro, and ATI MB with sound by ATI SB :banana:
That would be sweet, I know it isnt really NEEDED for stability, but somehow I think it will be a rock solid system, as long as their MB drivers are like how their video drivers are now, not how they used to be ;)
I like ATI products, and I think my next purchase after this one will be for my R520 Xfire edition video card
If performance is your priority rsGTS (and who's @ XS are'nt :p: ) then a dedicated soundcard is by far the better option, better sound and most importantly less CPU cycles used to run it :)
Even an SB Live 24bit @ ~ $50AU would be better :fact:
:toast: Performance is a strong point for me, but I am building this box to be a home theater PC primarily, and going to use it as a PVR, so rock solid stability is #1 in my view, and if it actually uses the AC880D chip, I believe that is a hardware DDL decoder, and if that is the case it should be close to the same as the Xmystique, which was what I was going to get.
As far as performance is concerned I don't think I will have any issues with a X2 4400+ and 2 gigs of OCX VX, I am coming from a 2700+ athlom XP with 512 megs of ram and a 9700pro, this is an ENORMOUS jump up for me, and I want to be able to run my games, and record TV, etc all at once, and I want an easy to use DDL optical output for playing movies on it, and for playing my games as well (World of Warcraft!!). This will not be an extreme overclocking system, but it will be an extreme multitasking system, I want no slow down at all then switching tasks etc., and I will not be running over 1280x1024 for at least a year or 2, I am building a HD projector and that is the max resolution for it. I will be building a 1920x1200 eventually, but I will definately have at least a R520 by that point, so I still don't think the onboard sound will cause any issues related to slowdown at the resolutions I will be running.
Of course I could be completely talking out of my ass, which is kinda the case as I have never used onboard audio before, other than seeing the Soundstorm my brother had in his system, but if this audio solution is as good as the Soundstorm, then I think it will be good enough for me. :cool:
Anyway opinions are appreciated as always.
Oh yeah one last thing:
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2481&p=16
That says pretty well how well this audio solution is implemented, and I believe that the Xmystique uses about 5% in use, so I think I will take a 2% difference if it saves me 100 bucks and potential compatibility headaches.
BTW for any interested, this is the sound card I will buy if they do not release a MB with DDL optical output.
http://www.bluegears.com/soundcard_xmystique.html
Later!
:off: Awesome powa for HTPC, I am green with envy :eek:
My current HTPC is only a P4 2.5b with a 5200 AGP and 512MB ram :stick:
MY HTPC is a athlon xp 1800 @ 2ghz, gf4mx440 and 512 of RAM. Still works ok.
And these boards look great, any ideas on the price yet? My local retailer said they weren't going to get it for about a month, which is disapointing, but i'm sure it'll be worth waiting for.
Should make a good introduction to the world of S939, pci-e, etc, from an aging Athlon Xp system.
Halibut , here i come :banana:
Time to sell my DFI NF4 and stay with my old Athlon XP for a while :rolleyes:
waiting for the retail Halibut board :slobber:
The Sapphire PI-A9RX480 I reviewed has the ALC880. It would be an easy task for the manufacturer to drop in a 880D (Dolby Digital Live) or 882 since Realtek say they are pin compatible. The Sapphire I tested did NOT have DDL but I suspect some other 480/400 family boards will likely have it - it's just too easy to implement on the new ATI boards.Quote:
Originally Posted by rsGTS
if its just for a HTPC, whats the need for such high end hardware? a venice 3000+ a x800xl cheap sb live card and the DFI DAGF nf4 would do just fine. Besides the x800xl would be powerful enough to run more than a 1920*1200 resoltuion anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by rsGTS
Besides the x800xl would be powerful enough to run more than a 1920*1200 resoltuion anyway.
Erm that depends on the CPU and the GFX card if we're talking about HD video.
Creative should release X-Fi in less than 4 days now, soundcards using it should follow and if it holds to the previews promises then we'll all want one :fact: :hehe:
creative is being very quiet about this. perhaps its not as great as it sounds.
Well, some like it quiet, at least the previews i've read make it looking great, time will tell.
I just hope its bug free. I dont want to see anything like the NF3/6800 incompatibilities or any cold bug issues like the dfi boards are experiencing ! If those are gone im so going for it.
Where'd you get this info? Better not be based on that countdown that's been looping on their site for months now. That's just some new hype they release every week. :slapass:Quote:
Originally Posted by LowRun
I heard august:
http://vr-zone.com/?i=2507&s=1
I think that countdown clock is for release of info. They slowly dribble it out.
http://www.soundblaster.com/products/x-fi/technology/
Sapphire will have two lower end blue boards not called PURE, and the two upper end boards in the PURE product line. The reviewed board is the upper end board with only one PCI-E slot. Unless I read the post wrong, you have it backward.Quote:
Originally Posted by IvanAndreevich
actually i had it confirmed earlier that it does support dolby digital earlier from Grayskull i even specified to a home audio reciever so no psuedo DD like on creative products as to why no optical it could be using coax which really the only disadvantage is the length of cable runs. it still sounds great iuse digital coax ( regular rca single cable) on my epox nf2 board on a harmon kardon amp for my sound so this was a big deal to me too.Quote:
Originally Posted by rsGTS
i'm not familiar with nf3/6800 issue (passed over those boards with out a 2nd thought) but the dfi is not reponsible for the cold bug that is the memory controller on your cpu, hope you get lucky. they have some people that get a cold boot issue but that is a different issue.Quote:
Originally Posted by TurboDiv
Nice read I was going to go for the dfi but now I dont know. :confused:
The reference design board does have optical out, it's just buried inside the standard audio connector. I am fairly certain Sapphire has not removed it. Look at the attached pic and you'll see what I mean. I am not an audio expert but our SB team tells me that connection to a home theater receiver is possible via a widely available adapter cable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 7he]-[0rr0r
so any ideas when the xfire edition will show up?
I'm definitely getting one ASAP and if i'm not disapointed, i'll get Halibut when it's out :fact: :hehe:
Damn, I can't belive they have gone for the UN-Dolby Digital Live Chip!!! I hope they're gonna fix it or I'm just gonna wait for the SB600 version, I'm a bit pissed coz I've been putting off going to 64bit untill I got my mints on a Grouper/Pure Mobo - and unless I read wrong was SURE Greyskull said it had the DDL feature. I may even get a ULi M1695/M1595 so I can at least use my 256Mb 9800XT then use that to build my daughters PC and get a Pure with DDL, VGA and SB600 they may be available by Spring!!! ;)
Yeah I completely agree on that last post, why would they use the non DDL chip in a motherboard with this feature set?
Quoting anandtech:
'As the first implementation of Azalia HD audio on A64, the HD Realtek ALC880 features:
High-performance DACs with 100dB S/N ratio
ADCs with S/N ratio greater than 85dB
Meets performance requirements for audio on PC2001 systems
8 DAC channels support 16/20/24-bit PCM format for 7.1 audio solution
3 stereo ADCs support 16/20-bit PCM format, two for microphone array, one for legacy mixer recording
Supports 44.1K/48K/96K/192kHz DAC sample rate
All ADCs support 44.1K/48K/96K sample rate
Applicable for 4-channel/192kHz and 6-channel/96kHz DVD-Audio solutions
Up to four channels of microphone input are supported for AEC/BF application
High-quality differential CD input
Supports Power Off CD function
Supports external PCBEEP input and built-in BEEP generator
PCBEEP Pass-Through when link is in RESET state
Software selectable 2.5V/3.75V VREFOUT
Six VREFOUTs are supported by default, with additional four VREFOUTs available by sharing unused analog I/O pins
Two GPI (General Purpose Input) jack detection pins (each designed to detect 4 jacks)
16/20/24-bit S/PDIF-OUT supports 44.1K/48K/96kHz sample rate
16/20/24-bit S/PDIF-IN supports 44.1K/48K/96kHz sample rate
Optional EAPD (External Amplifier Power Down) supported
Power support: Digital: 3.3V; Analog: 3.3V/5.0V
Power management and enhanced power saving features
Compatible with AC'97
48-pin LQFP package (lead-free package also available)
Reserve analog mixer architecture for backward compatibility with AC'97
-64dB ~ +30dB with 1dB resolution of mixer gain to achieve finer volume control
Impedance sensing capability for each re-tasking jack
All analog jacks are stereo input and output re-tasking for analog plug & play
Built-in headphone amplifier for each re-tasking jack
Supports external volume knob control
Supports 2 GPIOs (General Purpose Input/Output) for customized applications
Hardware de-scrambling for DVD-Audio Content protection
Meets Microsoft WHQL/WLP 2.0 audio requirements
EAX™ 1.0 & 2.0 compatible
Direct Sound 3D™ compatible
A3D™ compatible
I3DL2 compatible
HRTF 3D Positional Audio
Emulation of 26 sound environments to enhance gaming experience
10 Software Equalizer Bands
Voice Cancellation and Key Shifting in Karaoke mode
Realtek Media Player
Enhanced Configuration Panel and device sensing wizard to improve user experience
Microphone Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC) and Beam Forming (BF) technology for voice application
Mono/Stereo Microphone noise suppression
ALC880D features Dolby® Digital Live output for consumer equipment
It is worth noting that since ATI has implemented Azalia HD on the SB450, it is easy for manufacturers like Sapphire to add Dolby Digital Live with “D” versions of this chipset. For more information on the HD Realtek ALC880, go to the Realtek web site.'
If it has everything but the DDL output, I may just buy the AN8 ultra then buy the new one once they release it with DDL output, I would pay an extra 50 dollars just for that one feature, because it would save me a 100 dollar sound card purchase. If there is any of the manufacturers that are planning their first release with DDL capability, could any of you that know who they are let me know? I like the look of the sapphire board, but I REALLY want the DDL, I am building this system a a HD capable HTPC, I want HD and DDL for my DVD's and for my games as well, this system will be a beast and it will be exactly how I want it to be as far as features, my next upgrade will most likely not be until after the new socket release from AMD, so to you MB makers, I have disposible income and I will pay a premium for features that are important to me, so step up!!! :stick:
Thanks for all the posts, and thanks Grayskull for letting me know it does have optical, that is great, all we need is someone implementing it correctly now. ;)
Your feedback is important. We'll look into this and provide appropriate feedback to the motherboard vendor(s).
But as someone mentioned, the "D" version of the 880 is drop in compatible. Feel free to provide feedback to the motherboard vendors yourselves. :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsGTS
Thanks again for your prompt response Grayskull, people like you are the reason I am strictly ATI with my video card purchases, and I plan to be strictly ATI with MB purchases now that this beast is out ;)
(Just bought a X850XT PE to go with my soon to be purchased Xpress200 MB)
I posted a topic on Sapphire's forums asking for DDL confirmation, or info on if it will have it in a revision.
http://www.sapphiretech.com/forum/to...TOPIC_ID=11961
All of you guys that want this feature speak up!! I want it bad but I am pretty sure that a lone voice will not be enough. (if it is I will be a Sapphire buyer for life) :D
Lets make me :slobber: over the complete feature set this MB has, set that thread on fire!!!!!
Later
I have piped up but I reiterate Dolby digital live Puh-lease pci slots are a premium here so i don't want to have to get a sound card especially knowing it should be able to do the task. Just knowing that might cause the hair on me arse to spontaneously combust.
how do i pm?
Left Click username to pm.
Seems that Saphire has nuetered this board abit (pun intended). No IGP, No Post readout, No DDL, No second BIOS and or what ever those other sockets were for on the board shown previously.
Am I missing anything else?
no pci-e x1 slots. 2 less sata slots.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dippyskoodlez
Anyone else think of that old genesis game alterbeasts when you see that "Power Up!" logo?
Now that is getting old :PQuote:
Originally Posted by JamesAvery22
The board only had one bios chip, the others were for rom files for sata etc.These files are now in bios.Quote:
Originally Posted by IRQ Conflict
remember the board is a direct copy of a reference design, so things will go missing.
I have a feeling the post code reader will be back though
According to Anandtech's review, an IGP version is clearly expected.Quote:
Originally Posted by IRQ Conflict
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anandtech
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anandtech
When is time for this again? My DFI NF4 Ultra D suddenly decided to play crap once again and can't overclock pas 225mhz FSB reliably... what A JOKE. I am getting pretty fed up with this erratic board and in need of something that I can trust on.... I will play around stock speed with sub zero cooling if it need to last another 2 weeks. I just can't think of myself spending money on not sure what I am going to get product (I unfortunately had bad experience right off the bat already once) which probably will not even last couple of weeks if release date is near. Hmmm... at least this DFI board has some nice components I can salvage later... Any rumors on timing of product available to people? :P
Too bad this board with the SB450 southbridge dosent support NCQ hard drives...
The onboard SI3132 does however.
Quote:
Originally Posted by djdorazio
Thanx for pointing that out guy's! :woot: IGP on this board makes this guy very very happy!!! :)
Any new news?
Bump on my thread asking for Dolby Digital Live from Sapphire
Reply here please:
http://www.sapphiretech.com/forum/to...TOPIC_ID=11961
http://www.cpucityshop.co.uk/forums/...ST&f=3&t=2298&
The owner said that they should be in stock in 3 weeks £125 + but I wouldnt be suprised if they show up later than 3 weeks.
Still at least we know there working there way to retail and int the uk :)
i want them sooner, it's going to form the basis of my new computer and 3 weeks is far too long to wait.
OcUK said a month though, which is even worse!
GreySkulQuote:
Originally Posted by Grayskull
Please Explain.
Thanks
Dan
well it seems that the board has the silicon image controler that supports NCQ
A month :shock: I thought OCuk where special parnters with sahpire maybe not I bet ocuk will have them in before cpu city but I guess we will have to wait and see.Quote:
Originally Posted by don_vercetti
I will most likely still order from CPUCITY, even if they turn out to be a few days behind OCUK. At least CPUCITY look after their customers and don't BS them.Quote:
Originally Posted by crodan85
Mad using them anywayQuote:
Originally Posted by don_vercetti
:slapass:
What is the RAID controller on this board? I hear that promise is easyier to use than most?
didn't see that happend :shrug:Quote:
Originally Posted by Prometheus
Nope, Nadda, I guess they have the same stationary supplier as ATI :(
The 5th of August, has come and gone, and no Grouper! WTH
I know this wont affect Grouper as its none crossfire, but Halibut would be affected if its right....anyone know if theres any truth in this? And if so whats changed in the new revision?
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=25198
Seems like ATI is having a hell of a hard time to get its ducks in a row these days.
Maybe they thought 'to hell with 939, lets go for M2' :rolleyes:
Well since dabs don't have a forum, i asked on theres since they are generally accurate with there release date times.Quote:
Originally Posted by jiff
Anyway sucks 5th has been and gone no grouper in sight (in UK anyway).
CPU city which has already been mentioned, top customer service. They even answer their phone which is always a plusQuote:
Originally Posted by don_vercetti
:stick:
lol thats something OCUK don't do.
I don't think there's been a URL in this thread, so what is it, www.cpucity.co.uk ?
yeah, it's not really good for anyone. Much better if there were some competition for nVidia sometime this year.
Yep, I'll admit I was hoping for some sort of announcement on Friday too, oh well maybe next week will bring some news.
bah maybe i'll wait out this socket too ati you are taking to looooonnnnggg. but then i'll have to deal with the 1st generations of that sucking for overclocking on the chips and the boards will be all locked down again untill they realize we won't buy till we can clock propper... again. i seriously am considering waiting for the sb600. especially since there is some question over whether this will do dolby digital live.
Well i think i found an answer as to why the delay, from the INQUIRER
that's for crossfire. Grouper isn't a cross fire board.
Plus I already posted that above :fact:Quote:
Originally Posted by REBEL900
No Grouper samples available yet for Europen press, still waiting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by madpete
Ok boys, my bad..Take it easy on this lil american ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by don_vercetti
Quote:
Originally Posted by REBEL900
Lol, ok.
I just got an e-mail response from SAPPHIRE USA , on thier Sapphire PURE
Innovation PI-A9RX480, and it said possibly next month.
I guess i'm gonna get the DFI ultra to hold me off.
next month?!?!?! jesus wept, that's ages.
And i wasn't criticising rebel, d/w.
I might have to get the dfi ultra as well, i don't want to wait this long. It's not fair!
Possibley next month???
Its the possibley bit that worries me (cries into his keyboard)
I'm sorry to tell this to you guys but I'm glad its taking long :D
Now that I have a few more weeks till my Dual Xeon rig is complete (mobo is in teh works so is PSU) and my laptop I look at this thread and I just feel the urge for a mobo like this + X850Xl (after R520 release :p: Pricedrops and all) + X2 comming up.
What a shame I have NO money at all :slap:
Well, who's up to by a kidney from me? :stick:
well that's all very well, but I want a system ready for before i head back to school, so i can have some fun tweaking and overclocking until 4 in the morning.
And since i've just sold my 6800, thinking this would be available around the 15th august, im stuck with a 9500 pro. :(
Oh well, i'm sure it will be worth the wait.
I hope someone(s) somewhere is/are getting a good :slapass: for this mess.
Dammit 1 month more ? That just sucks. Less people would buy it after the school starts. ATI is not planning well at all. :mad:
good their stock goes down, and i will buy some when its dirt cheap. they fire the planning idiots stocks go up and i make a fortune and use it to buy nvidia hardware. lol
Yeah, but what if they hire bigger idiots after you buy the stock? Ouch...
i'll sell right after they fire the idiots.
http://investdb.theglobeandmail.com/...i_symbol=ATY-T
thats pretty cheap if you ask me .... ( i think its in CD)
http://investdb.theglobeandmail.com/...ymbol_in=ATY-T
their total revenue dun seem to be too great :( i would think they would have like a 5mil+ revenue
Well, I been waiting to go to PCI-E, and the Grouper is what I will do that with if it will ever get released. Was supposed to be released on the 5th and I have found notta. Not even a word as to if it has been delayed. I wonder which retailers will get the first batch? Anyone have any idea? Monarch maybe, eh?
wtf.......ATI is so full of it this year !!! :cussing:
This year? :confused:
this year has been terrible for them, they lose in all segments.
(£300-£300) High end vid card; 7800gtx beat x850 xt pe
(£200-£300) upper mid range; 6800gt beats x800xl
(£100-£200) lower mid range; 6800le/6600gt beat x700 pro
(sub £100) low end; 6200/6600 whips x300/x600
mobo; crossfire isn't even OUT yet, and there aren't many decent ATI mobos.
All this crossfire and r520 are nice on paper, but not many people are prepared to wait this long, when nvidia have equally good solutions, that are available, NOW.
Now available for pre-order at OcUK here :cool:
Tempting indeed, but the crossfire board there doesn't look like the real deal...
Cant believe still got to wait, early september, sheesh :rolleyes:
Luck im not going dual GPUs, that Crossfire board dont look as good, dont have the mosfets aligned fr cooling etc.
All these reviews are going to drive me nuts now.
G
why? there's no onboard video...it's not the same board. different chipset even. Nevermind all the other glaring differences.
Just been on OcUk didnt see a thing until I pressed F5 :hitself:Quote:
Originally Posted by b|gf|sh
HaHa......they have directly/indirectly screwed themselves and us up man....... :)Quote:
Originally Posted by IRQ Conflict
Anybody see this at OCuK?:
And why does the CF board cost so much less?Quote:
- Sapphire & OcUK Exclusive Mainboard
I just read through there forum, according to Gibbon (or whatever his name is :p: ) that crossfire on there site is the entry level version and is not halibut. He says its not rigged up like grouper and only has sata1.
He also says it will be at least the end of september before the uber halibut version arrives :(
Mind you I take everything they say with a pitch of salt.
Here is the Gigabyte version of the Crossfire. Read all about it. It seems to be a bolid platform: http://anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2477
I have a feeling that we'll be seeing the Grouper boards soon. If you look in on Sapphire's it says it has been launched, and while I know that doesn't mean anything, there's also that thread with the picture of it from the guy who already has it who claims that it was to be released 8/5. It gives me the impression that even if it's not out right now, at least the boards are being shipped.
I'm just trying to keep optimistic.
Worst case scenario, the longer I have to wait for this board, the longer I have to save up for other parts of the system. I think it's going to work out alright for me.;)
More like a whole sack full.Quote:
Originally Posted by madpete
Never known so much :bs: from one company
Quote from OCuk Forum
Remember on the Gruper its exclusive to us and Sapphire, so you can only buy the Gruper from us when its launched. Plus we will have priority allocation on the CrossFire board too as well.
If this turns out to be BS someone needs to inform Trading Standards.
I seem to remember a similiar claim over the DFI NF3 250, the funny part was Cpucity got them first :stick:
Look what I just found :banana: :banana: :banana:
http://www.cpucityshop.co.uk/product...81687ccf8b168c
£132.99(Ex.VAT)
:confused:
Jesus H. Christ you Euros take it in the ass when it comes to price, that comes to $240 before VAT, I bet you'll be able to find the same board for around $180USD when they release it in the US... :stick:
Quote:
Originally Posted by mesyn191
We like the feel of Petrolium jelly :p: