1. GSBUG Hardware Info SIG August 8, 2002

2. 2 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Agenda – August 8, 2002 7:00 – 7:05 Administration 7:05 – 8:15 Featured Topic – Sound Processors, Sound Cards, and Speakers 8:15 – 8:30 Hardware News 8:30 – 8:55 Random Access (Q&A) 8:55 – 9:00 Recap, Preview, and Close

3. August 8, 20023 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Administration Welcome! Please Sign In. What the SIG is…and is not. Is – an information resource for computer users and potential computer users Is NOT – a way to get your computer built or repaired (contact the GSBUG Daytime Hardware SIG) Log – Random Access/Q&A (First Come…)

4. August 8, 20024 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Administration (continued): Presentation materials will be posted at: http://gsbug.apcug.org/hwinfosig.htm Prior presentation materials are also posted.

5. August 8, 20025 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Sound Processors, Sound Cards, and Speakers These materials ONLY address mainstream, non- professional “components” used in or with IBM- compatible PCs.

6. August 8, 20026 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Sound Processors, Sound Cards…(continued) Sound (Audio) Processors: Discrete (separate chip) Integrated (into the motherboard’s single-chip chipset or Southbridge) Codec ( co mpression/ dec ompression) – software or hardware-assisted algorithms to compress and decompress files (e.g., audio files)

7. August 8, 20027 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Sound Processors, Sound Cards…(continued) Primary Sound Processor Suppliers - Discrete C-Media (CMI) (www.cmedia.com.tw)www.cmedia.com.tw Creative Technology (Creative Labs, E-mu/Ensoniq) (www.americas.creative.com)www.americas.creative.com Crystal/Cirrus Logic (www.crystal.com)www.crystal.com ESS Technology (Canyon3D, Allegro, Maestro) (www.esstech.com)www.esstech.com ForteMedia (www.fortemedia.com)www.fortemedia.com Philips (ThunderBird)

8. August 8, 20028 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Sound Processors, Sound Cards…(continued) Primary Sound Processor Suppliers – Integrated (into the motherboard chipset) ALi (Acer Labs) – all current chipsets Intel – all current chipsets NVIDIA – all current chipsets; Audio Processor (APU) SiS – all current chipsets VIA – all current chipsets NOTE: All integrated solutions provide an AC97 interface and require an external Codec.

9. August 8, 20029 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Sound Processors, Sound Cards…(continued) Sound Cards – “Identifiable” Suppliers Creative Labs – “Sound Blaster” products, latest is the “Audigy” (Creative) Guillemot – Muse, Fortissimo, Theater (C-Media, Crystal) Jaton – SonicWave (ForteMedia) Philips – Acoustic Edge (Philips) Voyetra Turtle Beach – Santa Cruz (Crystal) Use a PCI card!

10. August 8, 200210 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Sound Processors, Sound Cards…(continued) Speakers Sky’s the limit – we’ll just note mainstream PC speaker suppliers having products generally available in the US.

11. August 8, 200211 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Sound Processors, Sound Cards…(continued) Speakers – Primary “Identifiable” Suppliers Altec Lansing (www.alteclansing.com)www.alteclansing.com Creative Labs (Creative Inspire, Cambridge SoundWorks) Harman Kardon/JBL (www.harmanmultimedia.com)www.harmanmultimedia.com JAZZ (J-S) (www.jazzspeakers.com)www.jazzspeakers.com Klipsch (ProMedia) (www.klipsch.com)www.klipsch.com Logitech (www.logitech.com)www.logitech.com MidiLand (MLi) (www.midiland.com)www.midiland.com Yamaha (www.yamaha.com)www.yamaha.com

12. August 8, 200212 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Hardware News Processors – nothing new Core Logic (chipsets) NVIDIA announced the nForce2 for AMD Athlon/Duron – dual memory channels (up to DDR400), AGP 8X, GeForce4 MX graphics, ATA/133, 1394/USB 2.0 support, DualNet; August shipments SiS announced the R658 Northbridge – first non-Intel RAMBUS chipset. P4 400/533MHz FSB, dual channel PC800/1066 RDRAM support (max 4GB), AGP 8X.

13. August 8, 200213 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Hardware News Core Logic (chipsets) (continued) VIA announced the P4X400 (VT8754) Northbridge and VT8235 Southbridge – P4 400/533MHz FSB, DDR to DDR400 (max 32GB), AGP 8X, ATA/133, 10/100 Ethernet MAC, 1394 and USB 2.0 support. System RAM – nothing new Motherboards NVIDIA nForce2- based boards announced by ASUS (A7N8X), Leadtek (K7NCR18x), MSI (K7N2), and others. Unreleased VIA KT400-based boards announced by ASUS (A7V8X) and MSI (KT4 Ultra).

14. August 8, 200214 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Hardware News (continued) Graphics processors & cards ATI release several processors and associated cards: RADEON 9000 (R250) VPU – for partner cards RADEON 9000 Pro (R250) VPU and RADEON 9000 Pro card (275/275, 64MB, dual 400MHz DACs) RADEON 9700 Pro (R300) VPU and RADEON 9700 Pro card (325/310, 128MB, AGP 8X, dual 400MHz DACs, requires extra power – floppy 4-pin connector provided on-card) Fire GL X1 card (based on RADEON 9700 VPU) – 256MB, AGP 8X, dual 400MHz DACs, AGP Pro 50 slot required. Trident (www.tridentmicro.com) released the XP4 graphics processor - 3 versions, up to 300MHz core, 250MHz/128-bit memory interface.www.tridentmicro.com

15. August 8, 200215 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Hardware News (continued) Hard Drives Western Digital’s “Drivezilla” spec released, drives now shipping – 200GB, ATA/100, 7200 rpm, 736Mb/sec internal transfer (highest ever achieved), only 2MB cache; lists for $399. Hard Drive Controllers – nothing new Other Drives TDK released the veloCD 48x16/24x48 CD-RW (ATAPI, internal) – requires 24X media for 24X re-write

16. August 8, 200216 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Hardware News (continued) Other Drives (continued) Yamaha released the CRWF1 44x24x44 CD-RW (ATAPI, internal?) w/ “DiscT@2” laser labeling system (“burns graphics and text on any CD, eliminating the need for labels”). Sound processors & cards – nothing new Modems & NICs – nothing new Chassis & power supplies – nothing new

17. August 8, 200217 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Recap, Preview, and Close Recap Preview Featured Topic for September 10, 2002 – Other Components (Modems, NICs, Chassis, Power Supplies, HFAs, Fans, Keyboards, and Mice) Close (please police up the area)