New NVidia GeForce 8200 mGPU

RodHaan

I'm always on the lookout for new gear that has a potential for use in HTPC systems. NVidia has come out with a mGPU (motherboard graphics processor) that has really got my attention. Prior to this point, there hasn't been a Mobo which has decent onboard graphics suitable for respectable HTPC use (there would be a long discussion on that subject alone).

NVidia first described their spec here in Dec 2007: http://www.nvidia.com/object/geforce_8200mgpu.html

But until someone OEMs the technology, it remains merely a nice spec.
Well, now someone has: http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1295/nvidia_geforce_8200_preview_palit_n78s/index.html

I like the concept of incorporating a tested, compatible, and integrated HDMI/HDCP graphics solution on MoBos because it takes the compatibility issues of a separate graphics card out of the equation. I'm not a coward when it comes to trying different HTPC graphics cards, but I've often found that cards don't always work as advertised - Choose any two 8600GT HDMI cards and one will work great, while the other has 'issues'.

Palit say that this board won't be released until May 2008. Palit?? Where the hell would one find a Palit device - not Komplett/Dabs/Overclokers etc.

Note that the Palit N78S board is AMD only, as is the original NVidia spec. A minus for the N78S is the lack of a HDMI port - it's available through the DVI connector (the NVidia spec includes a HDMI port though).

Also, I can't find a price nor can I find anyone else (Asus, Gigabyte, ABIT, etc) who has plans to manufacture the GeForce 8200 mGPU.

Any thoughts anyone?

TerrorFirmer

What does the 8200m do that some current igp's don't? The 7150M seems good for all HD related usage in reviews...as does the Ati 1270...

Franck Lalande

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

What does the 8200m do that some current igp's don't? The 7150M seems good for all HD related usage in reviews...as does the Ati 1270...

You get DirectX 10 at an affordable price to start experiencing Windows Vista, the games you've been waiting to play and better overall multimedia fun. Enjoy enhanced system performance, reduced power consumption and quieter operation with minimal CPU utilization.

Features such as knowing which hard drive is defective on your RAID 5, or RAID 0,1. There's a light that come up on the board to tell you which drive is defective.... instead of trying to find the serial number on the hard drives.

This is comparable to a Nvidia Chipset 8000 That means that your video card will actually play games that the 7000 series chipset don't.

On top of that you don't need to buy a video card in your computer. It's already integrated on board and warantied for probably three years. The cost of the computer if you don't inlcude the software is nearly as much for the video card than the motherboard... so if you put both of these together you've got a great gaming and demanding software like adobe photoshop element that runs smoothly. If you think DVD Blue Ray Disk is going to be the norm then you're probably better off with this GMPU.

I just can't find any distributor in Canada and North America... Although I've seen this motherboard ditributed in China...
I've been looking for it on Ebay for a while now and I still haven't found any supplier.
I have good contacts when it comes to buying in Ottawa Canada...

The Chinese are probably testing this motherboard before it can be manufactured in larger scale.

If you find someone who can sell me one... With a DVI plug... that's important too... and not necessary for the chipset to work.

PLEEEEEAAAASE let me know.

Thanks,
Franck Lalande
francklalande
francklalande at hotmail.com

for more specifications see the official web site from NVidia : http://www.nvidia.com/object/geforce_8200mgpu.html

RodHaan

Yes it is early days for the "get your actual fingers on" release of GeForce 8200 motherboards, but they are out there:

One I know of is the ASUS M3N78-EMH HDMI http://uk.asus.com/products.aspx?modelmenu=1&model=2082&l1=3&l2=149&l3=643&l4=0

Be careful of the model number as I've seen slight variations for the same board at different suppliers. Ireland's own Elara.ie drops the "M" from EMH in their catalogue http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfull.asp?productcode=MMEB993821. Also available at http://www.backoffice.be/shop/hotitem.asp?pkga=16C&pkgb=F1D

Franck, I agree with your comments - I'd like to add that getting a mATX board with onboard graphics to do HD video playback at 1080p with no judder, freezes, or blackouts would be nirvana. The NVidia 7050/7150 boards just don't do the big Full HD TVs justice.

However, there's now the choice between GeForce 8200, AMD 780G, and the Intel G35 for IGP motherboards. I'm leaning towards the Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H http://www.gigabyte.eu/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=2758 which is AMD 780G chipset based.

For me it was a toss-up between the GeForce 8200 and AMD 780G based IGPs (forget the G35). A good article on this is at http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3258&p=1

Basically the AMD 780G based IGP motherboards don't do digital sound while the GeForce 8200 (and Intel G35) does. There's also CPU usage criteria which the AMD won hands down.

Both the AMD and NVidia IGPs only support AMD CPUs. I've always wanted a Q6600 for my next HTPC/video editing computer, and now it's a Phenom. Ah well.