Reprinted from a NVIDIA press release:
PLATFORM CONFERENCE, SAN JOSE, Calif., July 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — NVIDIA Corporation , the worldwide leader in visual processing solutions, today unveiled the NVIDIA nForce2-the Company’s newest family of highly integrated platform processors. With features and performance optimized for both the corporate and consumer desktop PC environments, NVIDIA’s nForce2 Platform Processors will transition the traditional desktop PC into a digital media platform suitable for new non- traditional PC markets and price segments. Demonstrations of NVIDIA’s nForce2 Platform Processors will take place in the NVIDIA booth (#4) at the Platform Conference, being held at the Silicon Valley Conference Center this week in San Jose, CA.
“With the proliferation of high-speed broadband connections, DVDs, digital cameras, and graphics-intensive applications, PCs are faced with the challenge of keeping up,” stated Jen-Hsun Huang, president and CEO at NVIDIA. “But, with its staggering array of innovative and integrated system, memory, graphics, networking, and audio technologies, our second-generation nForce2 Platform Processors provides digital media platforms with a substantial digital boost, driving integration to new heights, while delivering an unparalleled PC experience.”
Designed for PCs and motherboards using AMD Athlon XP and Duron processors, NVIDIA nForce2 Platform Processors utilize HyperTransport, a high-speed data bus, for internal platform communications, and deliver the highest level of PC performance due to special NVIDIA-engineered memory optimizations and other system level innovations traditionally found only at the CPU level.
“NVIDIA is an extremely valuable partner to AMD, and an example of our shared commitment to customer-centric innovation,” said Hector Ruiz, president and CEO of AMD. “The new nForce2 family is a perfect example, providing computer manufacturers with the flexibility to address multiple market segments and price points. For users, the nForce2 product family works with AMD Athlon XP processors to deliver an excellent combination of performance, connectivity and stability.”
About NVIDIA nForce2 Platform Processors
NVIDIA’s family of nForce2 Platform Processors consists of the nForce2 System Platform Processor (SPP) and the nForce2 Integrated Graphics Processor (IGP), each of which are paired with the nForce2 Media and Communications Processor (MCP). Together, the NVIDIA nForce2 Platform Processors deliver the following key features and functionality:
Performance: Targeted at the system builder, channel and OEM
manufacturers who require a discrete platform solution, NVIDIA nForce2
SPP Platform Processors offer blistering platform performance without
integrated graphics. The nForce2 SPP Platform Processors feature the
industry’s only dual DDR400 memory subsystem, providing more than two
times the raw system bandwidth over competitive solutions. NVIDIA has
engineered the memory subsystem to take advantage of the increased speed
of DDR400 memory modules while reducing overall memory access latency,
resulting in the fastest and most stable AMD-based PC environment ever.
In addition, the SPP incorporates other system level innovations that
speeds up CPU processing and intelligently fetches and caches data and
other information before they are needed, substantially boosting overall
system performance. For add-in graphics capability, the nForce2 SPP
features an AGP 8X expansion slot, the fastest internal graphics
connection available today.
“NVIDIA’s nForce2 Platform Processors form the foundation for the fastest
PCs ever designed,” said Jeans Huang, Senior Vice President of R&D at
MSI. “NVIDIA’s unique system level innovations, including onboard,
intelligent, look-ahead caches, and dedicated circuits to drive three
DIMMS running DDR400 at full speed are light years ahead of other core-
logic designs. Quite simply, PCs and motherboards featuring the power of
the nForce2 Platform Processors will outpace everything else in the
market by a large margin.”
Graphics: In addition to the memory and performance features designed
into the nForce2 SPP, the nForce2 IGP also integrates a GeForce(TM)4 MX
graphics core-the industry’s fastest integrated graphics solution. With
performance nearly four times that of the closest competitor, the nForce2
IGP also delivers unparalleled visual quality through NVIDIA’s Accuview
Antialiasing(TM) Engine; a Video Processing Engine (VPE) for MPEG2 and
DVD decoding; a TV encoder; and an HDTV processor for high-definition
viewing. The nForce2 IGP also incorporates NVIDIA nView(TM) technology,
marking the first time that support for multi-monitor configurations-
including any combination of CRTs, flat panels or TVs-has been integrated
directly into the platform core-logic-high-end features normally
associated with costly add-in cards. For graphics expandability, the
nForce2 IGP Platform Processor also features an AGP 8X expansion slot,
the fastest internal graphics connection available today.
“Nothing comes close to the raw performance of the integrated GeForce4 MX
graphics core,” said Mr. Simon Ho, Chairman at Chaintech. “The nForce2
IGP with GeForce4 MX graphics outguns every other integrated graphics
solution available today, and with the addition of innovative features
such as full-scene antialiasing and the ability to drive two independent
displays, it’s clear that the nForce2 is in a class all by itself.”
Connectivity: With DualNet, the industry’s only dual networking
architecture to support simultaneous local-area network (LAN) and wide-
area network (WAN) connections; support for up to six high-speed USB 2.0
and three FireWire (IEEE1394a) ports; and the world’s only integrated
Audio Processing Unit (APU) and real-time Dolby Digital encoder, the
nForce2 MCP Platform Processors are the heart and soul of the Digital
Media Gateway, providing the ultimate in audio, networking and digital
connectivity. And, to address the needs of its corporate customers,
NVIDIA has integrated a networking controller licensed from a trusted
name in Fortune 500 companies-3Com. The addition of the 3Com networking
controller ensures corporations and IT departments of software and
hardware compatibility with nForce2-based motherboards and PCs, and
delivers the reliability and manageability they expect.
NVIDIA SoundStorm: In addition to unveiling its family of nForce2
Platform Processors, NVIDIA also announced “NVIDIA SoundStorm,” a new
audio product aimed at redefining the baseline of PC audio offered as
part of an integrated desktop PC platform. PC OEMs and motherboards
manufacturers looking to exploit the full functionality of the nForce2
MCP Platform Processor’s integrated Audio Processing Unit, six channel
analog audio-out, and S/PDIF-out for true Dolby Digital 5.1 surround
sound, will be qualified to use the NVIDIA SoundStorm logo and brand on
various marketing collateral and activities, including product marketing
materials, box packaging and advertisements.
