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790GX and SB750 explored and reviewed

Motherboards/AMD AM2+ by massman @ 2008-10-02

The 790GX chipset has been released a while ago and motherboards equiped with this chipset and the new southbridge chipset SB750 are now widely available in the local hardware shops. Madshrimps has had its sample, sent by AMD, on the testbench a while now and today we have a look at the new technology, including a better IGP and supposedly better overclocking.

Foxconn 790GX in the picture

Foxconn is the trade name of the Taiwan based firm Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Foxconn is one of the largest manufacturers of electronics and computer components worldwide, and mainly manufactures on contract to other companies. Although sometimes referred to as an original equipment manufacturer, Foxconn would be more accurately described as an original design manufacturer. Among other things, Foxconn produces the Mac mini, the iPod and the iPhone for Apple Computer; Intel-branded motherboards for Intel; various orders for American computer retailers Dell, Inc. and Hewlett Packard; the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 for Sony; the Wii for Nintendo; the Xbox 360 for Microsoft, cell phones for Motorola, and Amazon Kindle.

Motherboard pictured:

Madshrimps (c)

There is enough place around the socket for easy insulation when you want to deep freeze your AMD Phenom. It doesn't really matter, though, as most Phenom processors have a giant coldbug. Luckily, the X4 9950 on my desk seems to be capable of booting at -35°C.

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1 x PS/2 keyboard port

1 x PS/2 mouse port

1 x VGA port

1 x DVI-D port

1 x HDMI port

1 x IEEE1394a port

1 x Audio jack supports 6 jacks

4 x USB 2.0 ports

1 x RJ45 LAN port

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2 x PCIe2.0 x16

2 x PCIe2.0 x1

2 x PCI

1 x ATX 24-Pin power connector

1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector

1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector

3 x 4-pin CPU / System / NB FAN connectors

1 x Floppy disk drive connector

1 x CD-in connector

1 x Front Audio Header

1 x COM1 header

1 x IrDA header

4 x USB 2.0 headers support additional 8 ports

2 X onboard Power-on/Rest buttons

1 x ATA133 IDE connector

6 x Serial ATAII connectors

1 x Intrusion Alarm header

1 x Front Panel header

1 x S/PDIF Out header

1 x IEEE1394a connector

1 x Speaker

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128MB DDR3 1333 Side Port Memory onboard, to elevate the 3D capabilities of the onboard videocard or any videocard added to the system.

Bios pictures

Madshrimps (c)

Too bad there's no way to save bios settings; an option which comes in handy when tweaking your system for better performance.

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CPU clock: 190 - 400

Memory speed adjust: 200/266/333/400/533

GFX Engine clock override: 150 - 999

PCI Express clock: 90 - 150

CPU Multiplier adjust: x4 - x25

CPU-NB HT Link Speed: x1 - x13

NCHT link width: 8bit/16bit

Advanced Clock Calibration: -12% - +12% in steps of 2% (per core or all cores)

All in all, this feels a bit too little if you really want to get the most out of your Phenom. I'm still missing the option to use other multipliers than x0,5 ones and tweakers really want more Northbridge dividers as well. In addition, there seems to be no option to change the NB and HT link separatly.

Madshrimps (c)

CPU voltage control: +0mV - +775mV (in steps of 25mV)

Memory voltage control: +0mV - +600mV (in steps of 50mV)

NB voltage control: +0mV - +300mV (in steps of 30mV)

HT/SB voltage control: +0mV - +360mV (in steps of 30mV)

A very limited amount of voltages.

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Set these to enabled if you want to save energy; refer to the power consumption part of this article to find out more.

Madshrimps (c)

Extra's

As you might have noticed, I didn't spend time on the extra's that come with the board. Well, the reason behind that is in fact quite simple: this board was send to us by AMD, and not Foxconn, to have us test the 790GX chipset. Therefor, almost nothing additional was sent along with the motherboard and thus is it impossible to show you what comes with the board in retail versions. We have found a little utility on the installation CD which we found quite fun; nothing really fancy, but just nice to show your friends. Have a look at the movie underneath to find out what exactly we found:

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