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nVidia appears to be at a turning point. Where the original nForce chipset was a demonstration of the possibilities of integrated graphics, the nForce2 is clearly geared towards the digital content generation of users who are looking for uncompromised performance. Performance in this case encompasses every aspect of personal computing from connectivity to sound and, let's not forget raw speed. When we first looked at the nForce2, we knew it was fast. In fact, it was faster than any competing solution but there were still a few bugs (that we did not mention). With the ASUS A7N8X Deluxe, we have our first real production board under the scope. The integrated graphics have been left out, instead, 6-channel Dolby directional sound is implemented on the board level which saves the ACR slot and add-on card. Moreover, DualNet, TwinBank memory and dual firewire are just a few new buzz words on the nForce2 horizon. In short, the ASUS A7N8X Deluxe has more features than we could describe in a single review.

Key feature of the System Platform Processor is the new and improved memory controller with its 2 x 64 bit memory buses. How much of a performance hit does the new revision see in a single DIMM configuration? How much memory can the chipset take until we see a performance hit? Those are the questions we were mostly interested in and we have the answers. ...

Over the course of the last few days we have received a ton of emails with very specific questions about this review and rather than answering the flood yet to come, we have edited the respective aspects of the review. Basically, all changes are editorial to clarify some points that were worded ambiguously or to add supporting logic to some statements and facilitate understanding of the rationales.

MS, Dec. 4

It was not that long ago that nVidia was synonymous with graphics and graphics and nothing but graphics. During Computex 2001, nVidia dropped the bomb on the chipset competition, revealing the first Crush or nForce core logic, aimed mostly at bringing integrated graphics out from the dark ages a la Intel i810 and similar solutions that output something on the screen but would not go much beyond Jen Hsun Huang's first Gateway with the added 1 MB display cache. To make a long story short, the original nForce was indeed a milestone event in the history of integrated graphic, only to be superceded by the graphic-less version of the same chipset.

In short, the overall wealth of the nForce features, that is, the integration of two memory controllers in crossbar configuration into the core logic, the HyperTransport interface with its fixed operating frequency and likewise, the media and communications processor (MCP) as successor of the standard South Bridge finally attracted more interest and customers than the integrated graphics. Of the two budget solutions offered by nVidia, that is the 220 featuring a stripped down version of the memory interface with a single controller, and on the other hand the 415 bar the integrated graphics, the latter was certainly the more intriguing and interesting offering.

nForce2 IGP featuring the integrated MX graphics. However, nVidia's market plan is to differentiate themselves from "just having the best integrated graphics solution" to a provider of the best digital media platform that money can buy. Which, BTW, will run only with AMD processors.

We don't have exact sales numbers but it appears as if the original nForce did not reach what Eric Chang, VP of marketing at VIA USA at the time, forecasted as his darkest projection: "All you need is one good product and you have an instant 30-40% market share". One year later, the nForce2 is about to pick up where the first revision left off and even throw in some extra heavy treats to qualify as the first Digital Media Gateway (must be some nostalgia associated with Gateway) on the market. Key features are AGP 8X along with 3D positional audio effects and real-time encoded Dolby® Digital 5.1 cinematic-quality audio. Connectivity is provided by DualNet Ethernet controllers, USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 Firewire.

AsusTek or short ASUS is one of nVidia's prime launch partners manufacturing an entire line of GeForce solutions and probably also had the most well-rounded original nForce mainboard. In our article of the Athlon XP2800+ we were using a preproduction version of the newest addition to the Socket A scenery, that is, the ASUS A7N8X that still suffered from a few small quirks in hardware and drivers. Those bugs have been weeded out and the production version of the A7N8X can show off the entire gamut of features associated with a Digital Media Platform. Missing are the integrated graphics but we are not missing them for the purpose of this review.

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