We Need to Talk -
How about a short recap. The 790GX Northbridge is actually a 780G that has its stock core clock speed increased from 500MHz to 700MHz along with a graphics core name change from Radeon HD 3200 to HD 3300. Sideport Memory, now called Performance Cache, is a “requested” feature on the boards that improves IG performance about 5% on average, sometimes less, sometimes more. The SB750 Southbridge is basically a SB700 with RAID 5 operation and the new ACC interface. Mix the two parts, stir, and you have the highest performing integrated graphics solution on the market today.
However, the 8.521.1 driver set that enables all of this goodness is still beta and has a few warts that will be fixed very shortly. In addition, needed BIOS tuning by the various manufacturers is well underway. In fact, we have already received major BIOS updates today from each board supplier that at first pass have solved a multitude of problems we asked the manufacturers to address.
Stock operation of the boards we are testing has been extremely stable, the majority of our problems that were not driver related occurred when overclocking the system or trying off-center combinations of components or settings. Our initial experiences lead us to believe that the release of the 790GX was about a week to ten days too early. However, our initial feedback to AMD and the motherboard suppliers have been addressed quickly and professionally. So much so, that we would not hesitate in purchasing this platform if it addresses your requirements.
Getting back to our original requests to AMD when asked what we would like to see in the next chipset. They addressed most of our requests from lower power consumption to improved IG performance. We ended up getting a bonus called Advanced Clock Calibration for our clock challenged Phenoms and a platform design that can run 140W TDP processors on a four-layer board.
Our price point request of $100 to $135 is almost a reality. However, for the multimedia crowd, our passionate requests for multi-channel LPCM audio over HDMI will have to wait until the next product. In addition, we were let down about the 790GX being little more than an overclocked 780G. We originally thought this product was going to replace the 790FX by offering like performance and features plus an integrated graphics core. The jury is still out on improved performance but we do know the 790FX is going to remain as the lead performance chipset in AMD’s product lineup for the foreseeable future.
AMD is targeting this platform to both the enthusiast and multimedia user, which sounds like an oxymoron to us. For the multimedia user, spending additional money over the 780G for slightly higher clock speeds, performance cache, and the SB750 is going to be a hard sale for this market. Especially when 780G boards from J&W and Jetway already offer the performance cache and can easily reach 700MHz on the IG unit. The SB750 does offer ACC and along with it the opportunity to run lower voltages, not to mention a decent RAID 5 implementation.
For the performance crowd, the average price point of this board is in the right market unless the 790FX/SB750 boards arrive at or below the $150 mark. If that occurs, then we see a product that will be lost in the market unless AMD can implement something akin to HybridPower from NVIDIA, which allows the discrete card to power down and switch to the IG unit at idle for less demanding tasks like Office Applications or Bejeweled. Otherwise, the IG unit and all of its potential benefits are wasted with a discrete card setup.
That brings us to what we see as the jewel of this product release, the SB750. It brings sorely needed overclocking headroom for the underrated Phenom processor series via ACC, an additional RAID mode, improved AHCI performance and implementation, and it works with all current AMD Northbridges. We wonder if a two-product strategy with a 780G+/SB750 and 790FX/SB750 would have been a better marketing choice for AMD. That is the question we will answer in the next review.
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mpjesse - Friday, August 22, 2008 - link
Did the writer get sick? Did he DIE? 2+ weeks to benchmark an integrated chipset? Practically the entire galaxy has already reviewed this chipset. I'm starting to get tired of both the physical speed (or lack thereof) of this website and the quickness (again, lack thereof) in which crap is published.-Fed Up
bravomail - Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - link
Here is the article with the pictures (in russian unfortunately)http://www.riddik.net/publ/1-1-1-25">http://www.riddik.net/publ/1-1-1-25
The guy ripped apart AMD BE CPU only to find out some bubbled thermopaste between chip and attached lid.
Use Google translate to read this story.
computerfarmer - Tuesday, August 19, 2008 - link
It is now the 19th of August, perhaps the review is coming soon?Beta BIOS was on the 13th of August.
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting...................
OCedHrt - Thursday, August 14, 2008 - link
With all this advancement in IGP, why does Hybrid Crossfire only work with low end cards? I would love to be able to use it with a 4850 or 4870 where the IGP switches completely over to the discrete as needed.MikeODanyurs - Sunday, August 17, 2008 - link
The new DFI 790GX card states it has Hybrid CrossFire that will work with HD 3850 and I believe will even work with the IGP with 2 cards.someguy11 - Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - link
"unless AMD can implement something akin to HybridPower from NVIDIA, which allows the discrete card to power down and switch to the IG unit at idle for less demanding tasks like Office Applications or Bejeweled. Otherwise, the IG unit and all of its potential benefits are wasted with a discrete card setup"Does anyone know if the implementation of something like HybridPower from AMD on the current day 790GX boards is possible?
In other words, if I buy a 790GX will a power saving feature where the discrete card can be powered down be simply a BIOS flash or will new boards have to be made (assuming AMD develops something along this route)?
I ask b/c this "power down" feature really interests me and if this can be implemented via a BIOS upgrade, then I am more apt to get a 790GX today rather than a 790FX board who knows when. I also like the idea of having a board with onboard IG so you can play the graphics card price wars when you want to.
Thanks for the help!
ZootyGray - Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - link
There are lots of unbiased websites offering useful reviews. I am sick of waiting for your uncompleted works and biased results.Your review of 4870x2 is the end of the line - that is the worst trash I have seen.
Why would anyone want to wait for you to trash more AMD hardware.
Save your energy for yourself. I do not need your self-importance.
Maybe when you can followup on last May's 780G review, as promised, I might be interested - until then - I apologize for thinking you were some kinda good review place. Yer out. Bias is not quality. It's abuse. Not your victim anymore.
computerfarmer - Saturday, August 9, 2008 - link
On page 2 it is noted as saying the new 790GX graphic is set(default) at 700mhz compared to the 780G at 500mhz. The manual for the Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-DS4H (rev. 1.0) page 42 has the default set at 650mhz. This leads me to believe that side by site tests from different manufacturers should show differences based on default settings. Also SidePort memory ratings need some attention. If SidePort is DDR3 at 1333mhz and system memory is at 800/1066mhz then how do they function together at different speeds? Or is the SidePort memory speed based on system memory up to 1333mhz?Thank you Anandtech for such an informative article.
maree - Friday, August 8, 2008 - link
Quoting from the article"For the multimedia user, ... The SB750 does offer ACC and along with it the opportunity to run lower voltages ..."
Does it mean motherboards running on this chipset can take a phenom 9550/9850BE an turn off 2 cores then expect the power performance of amd 4850e?
ZootyGray - Thursday, August 7, 2008 - link
I really don't want to go dig up exact quotes from previous reviews."The Three Amigos" review revealed "pop goes the mosfet" issues with products produced by various mobo manufacturers. I really liked that review - BUT - a followup was indicated as coming - and it never appeared.
This review ends in a similar manner.
And the Foxconn review seemed to really sidetrack and resulted in 3 articles; and for my little brain, I found it difficult to follow the coherence of the whole thing.
Now we have a whole new chipset and a bunch of mobos you say you are benching soon. Ok, so that makes sense - assuming this will actually happen soon. No problem there.
BUT - there's this really interesting comparison to 780G which you are presenting. I wonder what happened to the mosfet issue that you so beautifully revealed. I wonder - Is it in play here as well? I DOUBT that! This is a performance board - right?
BUT - are you trying to lead some people to buy the original 780G boards regardless of resolution (if any) of the "pop goes the mosfet" issues. And asus has produced new mobos that clain 125watt handling power - ie no "pop"???
I think all this uncertainty might be dangerous for some people with great expectations.
I think some unfinished business should be clarified.
I think some comment on 'mosfet' should be included in these upcoming benchies.
I think this might be misleading a lot people - and your unfinished work is a little underhanded slight on AMD products. I REALLY HOPE you clear this mess up; since it was your baby to start with - and that was good. And that caused me to respect Anandtech.
Please don't leave me just hanging on and waiting - I doubt I am the only one. I would prefer completion rather than assuming this is another antiAMD site, and have to go elsewhere. It's your credibility, for me, at least, at this point.
Golf taught me that follow through is a big part of the golf swing. I know you are busy. Some loose ends can bite you. How close IS this to the 780G boards anyway? Has the "pop" been fixed?
I hear Vanilla Fudge "Keep Me Hanging On" playing in the background - wow, it has been a while since I heard that.
Thank you.