NVIDIA Business Platform: A competitive desktop alternative to Intel?
by Gary Key on March 30, 2006 12:15 AM EST- Posted in
- IT Computing
Basic Features: NVIDIA and Intel Stable Image Platforms
Listed above are the basic system configurations for the Professional Level stable image platforms and both offer expandability for discrete graphics solutions. Although these systems would certainly not be considered acceptable for an enthusiast or workstation user, they certainly offer very good performance for general business applications. NVIDIA currently holds an advantage in both overall system performance and thermals due to the AMD Athlon 64 and Athlon 64 X2 processor choices. NVIDIA's 6200 GPU unit also offers better video performance than the Intel 950GMA graphics solution. NVIDIA's integrated or discreet graphics options are fully certified and supported by their single binary driver image. In addition, NVIDIA Business Platform motherboards offer the capability to drive two displays without requiring a separate card. This is important as more and more businesses are relying on multiple monitors to increase productivity.
Listed above are the basic system configurations for the Entry Level stable image platforms with NVIDIA still offering expandability for a discrete graphics option. The main difference in the platform designs compared to the Professional Level systems is a reduction in the available PCI Express and PCI slots along with a change to a small form factor board. NVIDIA also holds an even greater advantage at this level in overall system performance due to the full availability of the AMD Athlon 64 and Athlon 64 X2 processor choices compared to the Intel specified 531 P4. NVIDIA's 6150 GPU unit also offers better video performance than the Intel 950GMA graphics solution.
| Specification | NVIDIA Business Platform Performance - 2006 | Intel Professional Business Platform 2005 |
| CPU Interface | 939-Pin based Athlon 64 or Athlon64 X2 series Processor Range listed in AMD CISP | LGA775-based Pentium 4 600 series Processor Range listed in Intel SIPP |
| Chipset | NVIDIA GeForce 6200 GPU NVIDIA 430MCP |
Intel 945GM (Intel 950GMA Graphics) - Northbridge Intel ICH7 - Southbridge |
| Expansion Slots | (1) x PCI-E x16 (2) x PCI-E x1 (4) x PCI 2.3 |
(1) x PCI-E x16 (1) x PCI-E x1 (3) x PCI 2.3 (Typical Configuration) |
| Onboard USB 2.0 | (8) USB2.0 ports | (6) USB2.0 ports |
| Onboard LAN | NVIDIA Gigabit Ethernet LAN | Intel PRO/1000 PM Ethernet LAN (Typical Option) |
| Onboard Audio | High Definition Audio Codec | High Definition Audio Codec |
| Back Panel I/O Ports | 1 x PS/2 Keyboard 1 x PS/2 Mouse 1 x Parallel 1 x Audio I/O 1 x RJ45 4 x USB 2.0 1 x VGA 1 x DVI 1 x TV Out |
1 x PS/2 Keyboard 1 x PS/2 Mouse 1 x Parallel 1 x Audio I/O 1 x RJ45 4 x USB 2.0 1 x VGA 1 x DVI |
| Other Features | NVIDIA ActiveArmor Firewall NVIDIA MediaShield Storage Trusted Platform Module 1.2 - Optional ATX Form Factor |
Intel AMT - enables IT staff to diagnose, repair, and manage remote PCs regardless of OS or system state. Remote systems require a network connection and power source. Trusted Platform Module 1.2 - Optional ATX Form Factor |
Listed above are the basic system configurations for the Professional Level stable image platforms and both offer expandability for discrete graphics solutions. Although these systems would certainly not be considered acceptable for an enthusiast or workstation user, they certainly offer very good performance for general business applications. NVIDIA currently holds an advantage in both overall system performance and thermals due to the AMD Athlon 64 and Athlon 64 X2 processor choices. NVIDIA's 6200 GPU unit also offers better video performance than the Intel 950GMA graphics solution. NVIDIA's integrated or discreet graphics options are fully certified and supported by their single binary driver image. In addition, NVIDIA Business Platform motherboards offer the capability to drive two displays without requiring a separate card. This is important as more and more businesses are relying on multiple monitors to increase productivity.
| Specification | NVIDIA Business Platform Standard - 2006 | Intel Fundamental Business Platform 2005 |
| CPU Interface | 939-Pin based Athlon 64 or Athlon64 X2 series Processor Range listed in AMD CISP | LGA775-based Pentium 4 531 series Processor listed in Intel SIPP (Processor Options dependent upon supplier) |
| Chipset | NVIDIA GeForce 6150 GPU NVIDIA 430MCP |
Intel 945GM (Intel 950GMA Graphics) - Northbridge Intel ICH7 - Southbridge |
| Expansion Slots | (1) x PCI-E x16 (1) x PCI-E x1 (2) x PCI 2.3 |
(1) x PCI-E x1 (2) x PCI 2.3 (Typical Configuration) |
| Onboard USB 2.0 | (8) USB2.0 ports | (6) USB2.0 ports |
| Onboard LAN | NVIDIA Gigabit Ethernet LAN | Intel PRO/1000 PM Ethernet LAN (Typical Option) |
| Onboard Audio | High Definition Audio Codec | High Definition Audio Codec |
| Back Panel I/O Ports | 1 x PS/2 Keyboard 1 x PS/2 Mouse 1 x Parallel 1 x Audio I/O 1 x RJ45 4 x USB 2.0 1 x VGA 1 x DVI |
1 x PS/2 Keyboard 1 x PS/2 Mouse 1 x Parallel 1 x Audio I/O 1 x RJ45 4 x USB 2.0 1 x VGA 1 x DVI |
| Other Features | NVIDIA ActiveArmor Firewall NVIDIA MediaShield Storage Trusted Platform Module 1.2 - Optional M-ATX Form Factor |
Trusted Platform Module 1.2 - Optional M-ATX or ATX Form Factor |
Listed above are the basic system configurations for the Entry Level stable image platforms with NVIDIA still offering expandability for a discrete graphics option. The main difference in the platform designs compared to the Professional Level systems is a reduction in the available PCI Express and PCI slots along with a change to a small form factor board. NVIDIA also holds an even greater advantage at this level in overall system performance due to the full availability of the AMD Athlon 64 and Athlon 64 X2 processor choices compared to the Intel specified 531 P4. NVIDIA's 6150 GPU unit also offers better video performance than the Intel 950GMA graphics solution.
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nordicpc - Thursday, March 30, 2006 - link
MSI is shipping their K8NGM2-NBP board currently, as this link to Newegg will show: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82...">Newegg LinkBasically, all I can tell is that MSI dropped the firewire from the K8NGM2-FID and rebadged it. Hopefully the FID won't dissapear as firewire is actually pretty useful in the HTPC crowd where this board does very nicely.
Gary Key - Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - link
http://www.nvidia.com/object/IO_30667.html">http://www.nvidia.com/object/IO_30667.htmlOlaf van der Spek - Thursday, March 30, 2006 - link
[quote]Also , NVIDIA offers the only hardware-based firewall solution for a stable image platform, with a unique anti-hacking technology that secures each PC from network intrusion. Hardware-based firewall technology protects PCs at the network layer from most virus, worm, and spyware attacks. Unlike software-based firewall solutions, ActiveArmor cannot be disabled by malicious code.
[/quote]
Isn't this just 'copy/pasted' from nVidia's propaganda?
If a virus is able to disable your firewall, you're screwed already, ActiveArmor or no ActiveArmor.
And as far as I know, it is possible to disable ActiveArmor in software.
BigLan - Thursday, March 30, 2006 - link
The 'active armor' stuff is pure BS. It's been broken on the nforce4 for a long, long time with no official comment from Nvidia. I don't know what type of corporation is going to adopt a platform which corrupts all zip file downloads.Shame on Anandtech for not calling nvidia out on this.
bob661 - Thursday, March 30, 2006 - link
Where are the results of your testing on these new platforms to support your accusations?JarredWalton - Thursday, March 30, 2006 - link
Going with this comment, remember that nForce 6150/6200 != nForce4. Something else I have to wonder: are those corrupt Zip files occuring for everyone, or just overclockers, or perhaps only on misconfigured systems? I don't know. I use a NAT/Router and don't bother with the NVIDIA Firewall stuff, but I suppose if a virus ever got loose in my home network I might be in for some trouble. Luckily, the only user on my network is me, and I'm pretty sure I know what I'm doing. Most businesses can't make that claim. :)How will this platform fare in reality? That's a good question. Obviously, it doesn't matter much if NVIDIA provides a "stable" platform if they don't get partners that properly support the initiative. I don't think that will be a problem, as there should be plenty of system integrators looking for some new ways to market/sell AMD platforms. It sounds decent on paper, at least, and they do have some good features
BigLan - Friday, March 31, 2006 - link
I saw it first hand on a dfi lanparty Ultra. Checksum offloading/active armor would corrupt every zip/archive file downloaded. This was on a fresh build with two identical systems. Since then, I've never turned it back on for any of the systems I've built. It would be nice if a large tech website did an investigation into it to maybe get nvidia to admit the problem was hardware, or fix their drivers. ;)Gary Key - Friday, March 31, 2006 - link
We have investigated this issue several times. We can recreate certain data corruption scenarios while utilizing P2P software, streaming multiple downloads, and then trying to decompress these same files concurrently. We were able to solve or greatly minimize these issues through driver changes or software configurations, though eliminating the use of P2P seemed to work best. ;-) NVIDIA has worked extensively with several of our readers who had issues and solved them. At this time we have one reader who is still having issues after working directly with NVIDIA but the communication cylce just started on his issue.
The latest driver sets from NVIDIA have made changes to the way ActiveArmor handles TCP checksumming in their hardware by offloading more to the CPU, which has increased CPU utilization rates but they are still lower than most Gigabit solutions. These changes have certainly cleared the majority of issues noticed by most users we have communicated with over the last month. The other issue we have noticed is in the initial installation of the ActiveArmor firewall software, some program settings are not correct or clearly defined based upon the system configuration, and this is an area that needs improvement from NVIDIA in the installation scripts. The lack of technical information in most user manuals for setting up ActiveArmor is also not acceptable in our opinion.
The next version of ActiveArmor software along with some hardware tweaks in the upcoming nForce 500 chipsets should solve any outstanding issues.
NVIDIA will be sending us a complete Stable Image Platform system shortly and we will put it through its paces while providing a short "How To" article on setting up or correcting issues within the ActiveArmor software suite.
Wesley Fink - Thursday, March 30, 2006 - link
With an announcement of a new program, we do depend on the press announcement and briefings for information on the new product. Until nVidia Business Platforms are available in June, this is the only way to bring this information to IT professionals. However, this review goes a lot further than that by comparing nVidia and Intel Business Platform programs.Gary also details, for the first time, information on the 2006 Intel Stable Business Platform which will include Conroe and Broadwater.
DanaGoyette - Thursday, March 30, 2006 - link
You mean BSODs whenever you install the NAM and data corruption if you enable network adapter offloading?
I have no experience with these, but Google will tell you that plenty of people do.