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Jetway 939GT4-SLI: Gem with a New SLI Twist

by Wesley Fink on August 24, 2005 8:30 AM EST
46 Comments | Add A Comment
46 Comments
Jetway has had many interesting products in the last couple of years. Smaller players in the PC Market often have a hard time getting noticed, and we applaud Jetway for bringing some unique products to market as a means of shining the spotlight on the Jetway brand. When we first heard of the Jetway nForce4 SLI board with 3 x16 PCIe slots, we figured it was just another interesting twist from Jetway. However, the idea is such a good one that we really wanted to take a closer look.

The first SLI motherboards provided SLI capabilities with a Paddle card that was reversed to switch between single x16 video and dual x8 operation.

DFI reverse-engineered the paddle in their SLI design and came out with the very flexible, but cumbersome jumper solution for SLI switching.

Other manufacturers like Asus have recently brought out SLI boards that use more expensive auto-switching technology where SLI can be turned on or off in BIOS. The advantage is mechanical simplicity, but the disadvantage is that overclocking performance may be compromised with a smaller range of overclocking than the more commonly used paddles and jumpers.

Jetway did a very clever and elegant rethinking of SLI in the design of the 939GT4-SLI-G, which is the subject of this review. All of the competing SLI boards use at least two-slot spacing between the two x16 slots to allow for double-width cards like the NVIDIA 6800 Ultra. Jetway used this fact to create a fresh new approach.

Jetway mounts 3 x16 PCIe slots single-spaced on their 939GT4-SLI. The outer slots, colored green, are configured as x8 slots and can be combined in SLI mode using the included SLI bridge. The middle x16 slot, colored yellow, is a single x16 PCIe slot. For single video, you use the yellow x16 slot. For dual video or SLI, you use the green slots.

Jetway does not need a paddle card, or jumpers, or switches in this arrangement. The design is simplicity in itself. What's more, this board theoretically could be a better performer without the paddle, jumpers or switches that can limit overclocking performance.

Basic Features: Jetway 939GT4-SLI
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  • zemane - Thursday, August 25, 2005 - link

    Table on page 2 says this board has 2 x1 PCIe slots but I see only one in the picture.
    Could you confirm this? Thanks.

  • Wesley Fink - Sunday, August 28, 2005 - link

    We are told the middle x16 slot can function as an x1/x2 slot when the outer two x16 video slots are in use (as SLI or dual video). While there is only one physical PCIe x1 slot, the ability to have two funstioning x1 PCIe slots even with full SLI persuaded us to list the slots as 2 x1 PCIe.

  • Shalmanese - Thursday, August 25, 2005 - link

    Can I stick 3 dual DVI cards in there and hook up 6 monitors?

  • tanekaha - Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - link

    Thx for the heads up on this board Wesley
    Looks like many ppl in this thread would like 2 see the EVGA freebie reviewed
    Maybe, when ya get over your excitement, a review of the EVGA Bd would give you some more.
    Looks like a lotta ppl here would be into it as well.
    Thx again
    Tanekaha

  • AMDScooter - Thursday, August 25, 2005 - link

    I ordered one of those EVGA combo's yesterday. From the looks of it some people are having a bit of a time with the EVGA BIOS holding the OC settings after a reboot. There is a new Jetway BIOS out that fixes this issue on their board. EVGA has not issued a new BIOS yet. If my setup has the same issues I'll prolly try the Jetway BIOS, against the EVGA forum mod's advice. Hopefully EVGA will just release their own BIOS fix in the next few days. That issue aside, the folks seem to be having very good luck OC'ing this board. I was going to wait for the ATI soloution but bit early. I like this boards 3 PCI/no jumper/bridge soloution.

  • zShowtimez - Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - link

    If they offered it in the all silver that they did some boards in Id jump on it.

  • SilentRunning - Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - link

    Is it just me or does the color scheme look a little too much like a preschool toy. I can see this motherboard perfectly at home in a lego computer case. I think a more subdued color palette would do wonders for the physical appeal.

  • lchyi - Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - link

    I would totally build a case out of legos and include this mobo.

  • bldckstark - Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - link

    Pricewatch --> EVGA 7800GT $399 + MB for $129 = $528 (shipping included)
    EVGA site --> EVGA 7800GT $449 + EVGA SLI MB for $0 + 11.95 shipping = $460.95
    A savings of $67.50. Not a bad deal at all if EVGA's MB is as hot as the Jetway.
    What I am concerned about tho, is that the EVGA is priced $70 more than the Jetway. No wonder they are giving them away, they won't be able to sell any after word gets out about this.

  • Omega215D - Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - link

    I saw the exact same board at monarch computer but it is an eVGA board and it too retails at a 939 AGP killing price of $129.

    http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant....">http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...t_Code=1...
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