AMD 4x4 Motherboard Layout Revealed ?!

[Nedjo]

Since first mentioning of the 4x4 platform I was puzzled with the tough what will be layout of 4x4 motherboards. I mean, you need to place two sockets, and bunch of DIMM slots (although rumors are that 4x4 mb will have only 4, DIMM slots).

Looking at this Opteron (SocketF) mobo, it come to me that this would be perfect 4x4 design. This mobo is approximately 15mm wider then true ATX mobo which is not that much. But best of all it can host 8 DIMM slots, so theoretically with 2 GB DDR2- modules, you can go up to 16 GB of RAM!!



Can you guys attach some pics of dual socket ATX mobos, so that we can speculate little more? Or maybe can someone snitch a picture of true 4x4 mobo?

[K404]

Yea, I reckon the Socket F mobos will be pretty similar to the 4x4 mobos, in more than just a layout sense.

[CBONE]

Does Foxconn have the only socket making machine in the world or something? Maybe they just make socket covers. Hunh, hunh? Think about it.

[perkam]

Title edited...*ponders of rule with titles to have no less than 5 words"

Nice mobo Hope its cheap

Perkam

[Nedjo]

Well, apparently, besides Thunder h1000E, Tyan has a bunch of Dual Socket mobos with ATX footprint (304x254mm +/- 1-2mm):



http://www.tyan.com/products/html/tigerk8ssa.html

http://www.tyan.com/products/html/tigerk8w.html

I especially like K8WE, ‘cos it’s true ATX, and you can even squeeze two more DIMM’s for the second CPU on expense of one PCI slot.

http://www.tyan.com/products/html/tigerk8we.html

Just like in the case of n3600B!

http://www.tyan.com/products/html/thundern3600b.html


Hell, n3600b could be called “SocketF 4x4” mobo! It has SLi capabilities, and if you take in account pricing of the Opteron 2xxx series



And the fact that the cheapest SocketF Opty is $255, you can have 4x4 rig right now…

…only thing that is ruining this utopia is the price, and the speed of Registered DDR2! ;(

[K404]

Registered DDR2 is the drawback, yup. Also the BIOS and overclocking options of these boards...

[Doumz]

too long trace for the memory imo,there would be a big hit in performance

best would be something like that i think

Shord trace for both cpu,so good memory performance

[[XC] Lead Head]

too long trace for the memory imo,there would be a big hit in performance

best would be something like that i think

Shord trace for both cpu,so good memory performance

What aobut the PWM circuitry and rear panel ports?

[NapalmV5]

"AMD 4x4 Motherboard Layout Revealed ?!"

God i hope not! its not the size..

[JuanFlaiter]

too long trace for the memory imo,there would be a big hit in performance

best would be something like that i think

Shord trace for both cpu,so good memory performance

No PCI-X? (j/k)

[nn_step]

umm that isn't 4x4 simply because it is Socket F. Which means it is a 2P Setup

[VulgarHandle]

i'd prefer the sockets to be lined up...and the closer the better...but for my own specific reasons...
heatpipes would use methenol if that's a hint...

[Shpoon]

i'd prefer the sockets to be lined up...and the closer the better...but for my own specific reasons...
heatpipes would use methenol if that's a hint...

That's actual really sweet....you planning on building that yourself? Would need a fairly hefty fan though. (or waterblock).

Edit: You know what'd be nice? Same thing, but centre block actually is the water block, water flows in, impingment sides and out...though that'd seem to bring back a 3rd barb.

[VulgarHandle]

company in california working it up..i thought saying it was using methanol gave it away, but guess not, the center block will have phase hooked on, not water

[ozzimark]

imo, it makes most sense to give each socket 2 slots, still allows for 4gb per cpu, 8gb total, and quad channel.. saves a lot of space and mobo complexity

[nn_step]

imo, it makes most sense to give each socket 2 slots, still allows for 4gb per cpu, 8gb total, and quad channel.. saves a lot of space and mobo complexity

yep Plus Most people here do not use more than 2 Slots Per CPU anyways. And Windows 32bit doesn't support 4Gb of Ram anyways

[Bloody_Sorcerer]

but XS OS DOES!!!

[Shpoon]

company in california working it up..i thought saying it was using methanol gave it away, but guess not, the center block will have phase hooked on, not water

I can't afford phase :p

Would be nice for water as well though >..>

[CBONE]

but XS OS DOES!!!

XS OS is shaping up to be all things to all people!

[Nedjo]

too long trace for the memory imo,there would be a big hit in performance

best would be something like that i think

Shord trace for both cpu,so good memory performance

With that drawing of yours you can’t have ATX mobo!

[Nedjo]

Since we’ve been discussing theINQ articles here in XS, on daily bases it’s nice to see them draw inspiration from us

http://theinq.com/default.aspx?article=33780

[Cobalt]

Why is this an indication of what 4x4 board will be like? Its just a 2P server motherboard. I doubt the actual mobos will have 8 DIMM slots and ther aren't really many ways you can fit 2 processor sockets on an ATX motherboard anyway.

Personally I think the RAM positioning would be similar to that on DFI mobos (at the top) with the processors aligned next to each other below that.

[Nedjo]

you mean something like this:

http://www.tyan.com/products/html/tigerk8we.html

[Cobalt]

Pretty much

[Nedjo]

This is mine new favorite QuadFX mobo - MSI K9ND Speedster A6