EVGA prepares AMD attack

Theo Valich — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:30:22 +0000

The story about EVGA’s motherboards was always about a combination of Nvidia chipset and Intel processors. This changed a little with the introduction of X58 chipset based motherboard, but it still features Nvidia’s nForce 200 chip.
But, those products addressed Intel Socket 775 and Socket 1366. When I inquired EVGA’s reps about motherboards for AMD, I was often told that “until the company is able to deliver a product for enthusiasts, we’re not interested”. But then again, the moment EVGA acquired EPoX’es engineering team, I knew that there were souls in that team that created one of best nForce 2 motherboards on the market, the legendary EP-8RDA+. Yep, these folks don’t forget the glory days.
During Computex 2008 in June, little has changed in the attitude of the company towards AMD, but there were talks about nForce-7 based product for AMD platform.

EVGA's AMD motherboard features all the nice things EVGA is known for: EMI-shielded chokes, solid-state caps, overclocking BIOS... what will happen when Phenom II arrives?

That product is now in stores, retailing for around $95 under the name nForce 730a (GeForce 8200+730a, the 113-M2-E113). The board comes with custom design cooler, all passive, and features solid-state caps all around. But, you can expect real fireworks coming in time for Phenom II and Dragon platform launch. EVGA will not depart from nForce chipset world, but you can expect something spectacular, as far as overclocking is concerned. After all, EVGA didn’t poach Shamino and joined him with Vince for the sake of burning hundreds of kilos of LN2 on trade shows – expect some heavy-duty overclocking expertise on improving every enthusiast motherboard that EVGA will manufacture.
I could bet my red hair that first folk to reach 7 GHz on Phenom II platform would be either Shamino or Vince, since now they have a whole motherboard R&D team tweaking not just the BIOS, but hardware components as well – and bear in mind, that whoever has the highest clocked board that works, it will work “all peachy” in regular conditions, yet alone overclocking.
I wonder what’s brewing in EVGA’s halls… after all, nForce 8 chipsets (MCP8A series) for AMD are around the corner.

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UPDATE: EVGA to launch Intel X58 motherboards

Theo Valich — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:00:52 +0000

When it comes to add-in board vendors, EVGA is probably the most faithful company in the business. Ever since the company launched, Nvidia was the only name EVGA wanted to hear about. But, things are about to change.
Here are the facts:
1)    EVGA does not want to miss the Core i7 train
2)    Nvidia is not making a chipset for Intel Core i7
3)    EVGA poached excellent engineering team from now-defunct EPoX and does not want that team to do nothing until MCP8-series show up
Well, those facts end with a really simple result. EVGA is preparing to launch its first non-Nvidia based motherboard, but it will still have Nvidia chips on it. You’ve guessed it right – X58+nForce 200 bridges for full Triple-SLI capability.

EVGA's first non-nV-based motherboard - all SATA connectors are angled, so your storage expansion is not limited even with 3-Way SLI. Good move.

The motherboard is being designed by ex-EPoX engineering team, bringing plentiful of overclocking capabilities, Digital PWM, and fully solid-state caps across the board. Special attention is being given to providing top juice to graphics cards, so if you decide to go for the gold and grab 3-SLI setup with three water-cooled GTX270 boards, be our guest.
But, that is not all. This is the first motherboard, which will be followed by ultimate motherboard for this Christmas, no questions asked. The enthusiast motherboard is actually being designed by a world class overclocker. Yes, the one and only Peter Tan a.k.a. Shamino, who is making “Shamino special”.

For those unaware – Brian Flood from Mushkin, Shamino, Kinc and I share a special connection. According to German police, we all had the honor of dying and resurrecting. Last year, we were all pronounced “missing presumably dead” when some east-German thieves stole helluwa stuff from our brand new VW Passat Variant, en route to the airport. Well, VW is one car I will *never* buy. Piece of alarm-unsecured junk.
Getting back to the subject, EVGA is bringing several things to high-end X58 market that nobody has. First of all, the company will offer limited lifetime warranty (just as with all of their high-end products) and yes, 90-day Step up program.
If that is not making ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI and other motherboard makers sweat, we don’t know what will. Lifetime warranty on a motherboard? Free upgrade program? Bloody hell, I am buying that one.

UPDATED: Inserted picture of the motherboard. Courtesy of XtremeSystems forums.

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EVGA prepares AMD attack

UPDATE: EVGA to launch Intel X58 motherboards