GSBUG Hardware Info SIG July 10, 2003

2 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Agenda – July 10, :00 – 7:05 Administration 7:05 – 8:15 Featured Topics – CD, DVD, and Other Non-”Floppy”, Removable-Media Drives: 2003 Update 8:15 – 8:30 Hardware News 8:30 – 8:55 Random Access (Q&A) 8:55 – 9:00 Recap, Preview, and Close

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Administration Welcome! Please Sign In. What the SIG is…and is not. Is - a resource for computer users and potential computer users Is NOT – a cheap way to get your computer built or repaired (contact the GSBUG Daytime Hardware SIG) Logs – Random Access/Q&A (First Come…)

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Administration (continued): Presentation materials will be posted at: Prior presentation materials also posted.

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG CD, DVD and Other… : 2003 Update “CD-ROM” – Compact Disk-Read Only Memory. A readable/non-writeable, storage device with separable media; one of the devices used to “play” CD(-xx) media (CDs, CD-R, and CD-RW). “CD-R” – Compact Disk-Recordable. A readable/writeable, storage device with separable media; the device used to record CD-R media and one of the devices used to “play” CD(-xx) media (CDs, CD-R, and CD-RW).

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG CD, DVD and Other… : 2003 Update (continued) “CD-RW” – Compact Disk-Re-Writeable. A readable/writeable, storage device with separable media; the device used to record CD-R & CD-RW media and one of the devices used to “play” CD(-xx) media (CDs, CD-R, and CD-RW). “DVD-ROM (DVD)” – Digital Versatile Disk-Read Only Memory. A readable/non-writeable, storage device with separable media; the device used to “play” DVD(-xx) media and CD(-xx) media.

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG CD, DVD and Other… : 2003 Update (continued) “DVD-RAM”: DVD Forum’s description - “…a virtual hard disk, with a random read-write access. Originally a 2.6-gigabyte drive, its capacity has increased to 4.7-gigabyte-per-side. It can be re-written more than 100,000 times.”

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG CD, DVD and Other… : 2003 Update (continued) “DVD-R/-RW” – DVD-Recordable/-Rewriteable. A readable/writeable, storage device with separable media; the device used to record DVD-R & DVD-RW media and one of the devices used to “play” CD(-xx) media and DVD(-xx) media. The DVD Forum is the DVD logo owner. See From their site, “Please note that the "+RW" format, also known as DVD+RW, was neither developed nor approved by the DVD Forum. The approved recordable formats are DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM.”

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG CD, DVD and Other… : 2003 Update (continued) “DVD-R/-RW” (continued) Per the DVD Forum – “Similar to DVD-RAM except that its technology features a sequential read-write access more like a phonograph than a hard disk. Its read-write capacity is 4.7 gigabytes per side. It can be re-written up to about 1,000 times.” “DVD+R/+RW” – “also” DVD-Recordable/- Rewriteable. Competing format to DVD-R/-RW. Supported by the “DVD+RW Alliance” – see

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG CD, DVD and Other… : 2003 Update (continued) “DVD Multi” – supports all DVD Forum formats (i.e., DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM) Various “Combo” drives – usually means CD-RW + DVD-ROM “ATAPI” – advanced technology attachment packet interface “SCSI” – small computer system interface

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG CD, DVD and Other… : 2003 Update (continued) CD-ROM Drives: Some of the manufacturers – Acer (AOpen), ASUS, LG, Lite-On, Mitsumi, NEC, Panasonic, Plextor, Samsung, Sony, Teac, Toshiba Read speeds – 24X-56X (1X=150KB/s) [previously to 72X, Kenwood, long ago discontinued] Cost – typ under $50; frequently under $30 (ATAPI) Pros – cheap, fastest read, approx 650MB; great as base drive for audio and other CD duplication Cons – read only

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG CD, DVD and Other… : 2003 Update (continued) CD-R Drives: Few still produced – most are SCSI Conversion to CD-RW effectively complete Possible bargains for older products – watch speed vs cost of CD-RW at faster speed.

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG CD, DVD and Other… : 2003 Update (continued) CD-RW Drives: Some of the manufacturers – Acer (AOpen/Benq), Cendyne, Creative Labs (Panasonic), Lite-On, Plextor, Sony, TDK, Teac Write speeds – 8X-52X Re-Write speeds – 4X-32X Read speeds – 24X-52X Typically read “write x re-write x read” Requires Windows XP or dedicated recording software

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG CD, DVD and Other… : 2003 Update (continued) CD-RW Drives (continued): Most support packet writing (software feature for drag and drop; effectively creating a 650MB high-speed floppy) Cost – typically from $35 AR-$95 (ATAPI) Pros – writeable, re-writeable; back-up & restore HDD; potential for floppy, ZIP, and CD-ROM drive replacement (universality) Cons – requires Windows XP or additional software; slower and less capable than an external hard drive w/ USB 2.0 interface; still “need” DVD.

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG CD, DVD and Other… : 2003 Update (continued) DVD-ROM Drives: Some of the manufacturers – Acer (AOpen/Benq), LG, Pioneer, Toshiba Read speeds – 4X-16X (1X=1.35MB/s); up to 48X CD Requires controller and/or playback software Cost – $35 AR-$95 (ATAPI) Pros – support for DVD movies, games, high-end apps Cons – read only; extra hardware and/or software required

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG CD, DVD and Other… : 2003 Update (continued) DVD-RAM Drives: Some of the manufacturers – Hitachi/LG, Panasonic, Samsung Write speeds – 1X-2X (1X = 1.385MB/s) Typically 4.7GB storage (up to 9.4GB double-sided) Requires recording and playback software; cartridges Cost – $175+ (higher for SCSI models) Pros – high capacity plus DVD playback Cons – cost, extra software required

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG CD, DVD and Other… : 2003 Update (continued) Combo Drives (CD-RW with DVD-ROM): Some of the manufacturers – LG, Lite-On, Plextor, Samsung, Toshiba Speeds – vary widely; typically lower than best in each class Requires Windows XP or record software for CD-RW and playback software for DVD Cost – $ Pros – versatility; takes up only one drive bay Cons – cost; speeds are typically sub-optimal; extra software required

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG CD, DVD and Other… : 2003 Update (continued) DVD-R/+R/-RW/+RW: Some of the manufacturers – Iomega, Philips, Plextor, Samsung, Sony, TDK, Teac, Toshiba Speeds – up to 4X writeable, 2.4X re-writeable Requires Windows XP or record software for CD-RW and playback software for DVD Cost – $ Pros – versatility; takes up only one drive bay Cons – cost; non-DVD speeds are typically sub-optimal; extra software required; potential compatibility issues

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG CD, DVD and Other… : 2003 Update (continued) Other Removable-Media Devices: Castlewood ORB (2.2 & 5.7GB; ATAPI, int/ext SCSI, FireWire/USB 1.1); $300 for the 5.7GB, $60/cartridge (direct) Magneto-Optical – Fujitsu Dynamo (2.3GB), Pinnacle Micro (5.2GB), Sony (9.1GB), plus others; cartridge media Media “Readers” – both read and write to various media types, incl. CompactFlash (CF), SmartMedia (SM), Memory Stick, Secure Digital (SD), Mircodrive, and MultiMediaCard (MMC). Limited by internal transfer rate.

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Hardware News Processors AMD released the Opteron 140, 142, and way processors (uniprocessors) and the 840, 842, and way and 8-way-capable processors – parallel the current 240, 242, and 244 Opteron 2-way-capable processors. First in the “100 Series” and “800 Series”, respectively. Same specs as “200 Series” except the 100 Series has no “coherent HyperTransport links”, the 200 Series has one and the 800 Series has 3.

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Hardware News (continued) Processors (continued) AMD Opteron release (continued) Coherent HyperTransport™ technology is an application of HyperTransport™ technology used to link multiple processors together where memory coherence is required. An example of processors using HyperTransport™ coherency is the eighth- generation AMD Opteron™ processor. Non-coherent HyperTransport™ links are used to connect all other system components. The coherence layer is not part of the HyperTransport™ specification.

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Hardware News (continued) Processors (continued) Intel released a 3.2GHz, 800MHz FSB version of the Pentium 4 with HT technology (HTT) – simple line extension. Intel released 2.5 and 2.6GHz Celeron processors – simple line extensions. Intel released new Itanium 2 processors (previously code named Madison) – 1.5GHz w/ 6MB L3, 1.4GHz w/ 4MB L3, and 1.3GHz w/ 3MB L3 (fastest priced at $4226 in 1000 unit quantities).

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Hardware News (continued) Processors (continued) Intel released new Xeon MP processors – 2.8GHz w/ 2MB L3, 2.5GHz w/ 1MB L3, and 2.0GHz w/ 1MB L3 (fastest priced at $3692 in 1000 unit quantities). Core Logic (chipsets) ATI announced the RADEON 9100 IGP (Northbridge) for 533MHz FSB Intel Pentium 4 processors (including the 3.06GHz w/ HTT) – integrated RADEON graphics (AGP 8X, UMA w/ up to 128MB RAM dedicated, supports up to DirectX 8.1); dual-channel memory interface to PC3200 (DDR400) SDRAM, 6.4GB/sec max, 4GB max.

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Hardware News (continued) Core Logic (chipsets) (continued) ATI/Intel announced extension of cross-licensing agreement – includes access to Intel’s Pentium 4 800MHz FSB processors w/ HTT. SiS announced the SiS661FX Northbridge for Intel Pentium 4 processors w/ up to 800MHz FSB/HTT – includes integrated graphics (Real256E, AGP 8X, DX9); supports single-channel PC3200 (DDR400) SDRAM, max 3GB. Also announced the SiS964 Southbridge – adds integrated SATA controller to SiS963 (dual channel w/ RAID support).

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Hardware News (continued) Core Logic (chipsets) (continued) VIA announced the PT800 Northbridge for Intel’s Pentium 4 800MHz FSB processors w/ HTT – legal version of P4X400. Increases (?) max RAM to 8GB. VIA formally announced the VT8237 Southbridge – adds integrated SATA controller to VT8235 (dual channel w/ RAID support). System RAM – nothing new

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Hardware News (continued) Motherboards ASUSTeK announced VIA KT600-based (AMD Athlon XP to 400MHz FSB) and NVIDIA nForce3 Pro-based (AMD Opteron uniprocessor) boards. Gigabyte also announced VIA KT600-based (AMD Athlon XP to 400MHz FSB) boards. MSI (MicroStar) – not yet.

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Hardware News (continued) Graphics Processors & Cards ATI announced the All-in-Wonder 9800 Pro – update of AIW 9700 Pro to RADEON 9800 Pro GPU. Multiple NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 Ultra-based card announcements (ASUS, Leadtek, MSI, PNY, others). Trident’s graphics division merged with XGI Technology (an SiS spin off).

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Hardware News (continued) Hard Drives Hitachi announced its first SATA/150 drives, the Deskstar 7K250 series – 80GB/platter, GB capacity, 7200 rpm, also ATA/100 interface models. Maxtor announced 250 and 300GB retail kits – series un- named, 5400 rpm, ATA/133, 2MB cache. Western Digital announced Caviar Special Edition (SE) SATA drives, their first SATA mainstream drives – GB, 8MB cache, 7200 rpm, 748Mb/sec (fastest large drive in the marketplace).

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Hardware News (continued) Hard Drives (continued) With the release of Hitachi and Western Digital SATA drives, all major manufacturers have begun the transition to SATA. Industry observers expect more that one half of new systems will ship with SATA drives within two years. Hard Drive Controllers Adaptec released the 2410SA 4-port (channel) SATA RAID adapter for workstations and servers (64-bit/66MHz PCI) – supports RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10, 64MB cache, $390 list (vs. $75 list for the 2-port 1210A that only support RAID 0 and 1 and has no cache). Uses HighPoint chip.

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Hardware News (continued) Hard Drive Controllers (continued) HighPoint has released EXTERNAL SATA solutions called eSATA – 1 and 4-port adapters (or single port bracket - card not required), an external “SATA” cable, and an external drive enclosure. Supports hot swap and RAID 5 (4-port solution only). PATA external drives only. Other Drives Iomega announced an all-format “super” DVD writer – supports DVD-R/-RW, DVD+R/+RW, and DVD-RAM; internal, ATAPI.

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Hardware News (continued) Other Drives (continued) Lite-On announce a 52x32x52 CD-RW drive (LTR S) – internal, ATAPI. Sound processors & cards – nothing new Modems & NICs SMC announced the SMC9452TX copper Gigabit Ethernet NIC – PCI card, MSRP $30. [5-port GbE switch for MSRP $135.] Chassis & power supplies – nothing new

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Random Access (Q&A)

July 10, GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Recap, Preview, and Close Recap Preview Featured Topic for August 14, 2003 – Graphics Processors, Video Cards, and Monitors: 2003 Update Close (please police up the area)