FIRST LOOK: ULi M1695 PCIe/AGP Socket 939 for Athlon 64

Lakevren · Jul 13, 2005, 06:25 AM

As we reported form Computex, the talk of the show was ATI's new Crossfire dual-video solution for AMD and Intel. Part of that talk was the development work done with ULi on the ATI South Bridge and the cross-compatibility of the ULi South Bridge using the ATI chipset. ULi is what remains of the ALi chipset division of Acer, and this now independent chipmaker has been very busy in several arenas. In addition to South Bridges which can work with the chipsets of other manufacturers, ULi also makes single-chip and dual-chip solutions for Athlon 64.

ATI certainly had the spotlight with their new chipset, but one of the newest and most interesting chipsets introduced at Computex was also from ULi - the M1695 HyperTransport PCI Express Tunnel Chip for AMD Athlon 64 platforms.

Just a month after the Computex launch, ULi has provided a Reference Board for their new chipset based on the M1695 coupled with a M1567 South Bridge. This combination is significant because it provides a full x16 PCIe video slot with an AGP 8X slot. ULi tells us that this is a full-performance AGP slot without compromise. We have seen others try to provide AGP support (ECS, Biostar) on a PCIe board by deriving the AGP from PCI, but these solutions were 50 to 60% the performance of a true 8X AGP, negating much of the reason for the AGP slot. This ULi solution, however, is a full-performance AGP 8X, combined with a full-performance x16 PCIe.

The ULi M1695/M1567 is really even more as it also supports PCI graphics. With this ULi chipset, you can simultaneously use PCI Express X16, AGP 8X, and PCI graphics. As ULi puts it in their Press Release:

"M1695's innovative HyperTransport tunnel architecture integrates non-blocking symmetrical HyperTransportTM 2.0 links which enables motherboard manufacturers and system integrators to pair up M1695 with other high performance HyperTransport-based chipsets and bridge devices either natively or via the HTXTM connector. When coupled with ULi's M1567 south bridge, the combination offers motherboard manufacturers the unprecedented capability to support PCI Express x16, AGP 8X, PCI graphics cards simultaneously on the same mainboard. Such capability makes it possible to create a fully surrounding virtual reality environment using multiple high resolution displays driven by the three graphics technologies residing in the same computer system."

Source: Anandtech

Read Here

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jul 13, 2005, 06:46 AM

AGP just got a pair of crutches, Bla!
AGP will be with us longer now...

Lakevren · Jul 13, 2005, 07:20 AM

Also, ULI is the chipset for Crossfire, and damn... it's looking pretty damn good. Looks like Radeon mobos won't be sucking so much soon.

mkk · Jul 13, 2005, 08:46 AM

I want one. Now if only some of the top manufacturers won't be so afraid and make a decent allround board based on this chipset. But after seeing SiS getting shafted and ATI largely avoided I don't dare to count on anything. For me it's either a solution of this perticular type or holding my breath until next year...

hohum · Jul 13, 2005, 04:24 PM

Pretty impressive chipset, it's certainly one I want - being able to upgrade and use my AGP card for a bit longer (and without it being crippled performance-wise) makes the whole process much easier

I reckon there will be a lot of demand for chipsets like this, really convenient solution.

Matth · Jul 13, 2005, 08:31 PM

The perfect board for upgraders that don't want to replace everything at once, with no-compromise PCIe & AGP support ... well, maybe the dual PCIe version can't have AGP.

All they need now, is to make it a Socket 754/939 combo and it will be the perfect motherboard for the totally undecided, or those who want to stick a cheap Sempron-754 and then something better when the price is right.

mike2h · Jul 13, 2005, 08:44 PM

this would certainly mitigate the cost of upgrading. especially considering how expensive high end video cards are & that if you have any of the latest from either ati or nv you certainly are not in need of a video card change.
sound s like an overall design win for uli. now we jus thave to wait for real world implementation

A1A9C1 · Jul 14, 2005, 03:35 PM

It's one step closer maybe but you can't adjust the DRAM voltage on it, as well as the HT voltage. Wonder how much of a difference that would make in 939 overclocking.

Jul 13, 2005, 06:25 AM	#1
Lakevren MedicalEntropy Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 294 Rep Power: 0	FIRST LOOK: ULi M1695 PCIe/AGP Socket 939 for Athlon 64 As we reported form Computex, the talk of the show was ATI's new Crossfire dual-video solution for AMD and Intel. Part of that talk was the development work done with ULi on the ATI South Bridge and the cross-compatibility of the ULi South Bridge using the ATI chipset. ULi is what remains of the ALi chipset division of Acer, and this now independent chipmaker has been very busy in several arenas. In addition to South Bridges which can work with the chipsets of other manufacturers, ULi also makes single-chip and dual-chip solutions for Athlon 64. ATI certainly had the spotlight with their new chipset, but one of the newest and most interesting chipsets introduced at Computex was also from ULi - the M1695 HyperTransport PCI Express Tunnel Chip for AMD Athlon 64 platforms. Just a month after the Computex launch, ULi has provided a Reference Board for their new chipset based on the M1695 coupled with a M1567 South Bridge. This combination is significant because it provides a full x16 PCIe video slot with an AGP 8X slot. ULi tells us that this is a full-performance AGP slot without compromise. We have seen others try to provide AGP support (ECS, Biostar) on a PCIe board by deriving the AGP from PCI, but these solutions were 50 to 60% the performance of a true 8X AGP, negating much of the reason for the AGP slot. This ULi solution, however, is a full-performance AGP 8X, combined with a full-performance x16 PCIe. The ULi M1695/M1567 is really even more as it also supports PCI graphics. With this ULi chipset, you can simultaneously use PCI Express X16, AGP 8X, and PCI graphics. As ULi puts it in their Press Release: "M1695's innovative HyperTransport tunnel architecture integrates non-blocking symmetrical HyperTransportTM 2.0 links which enables motherboard manufacturers and system integrators to pair up M1695 with other high performance HyperTransport-based chipsets and bridge devices either natively or via the HTXTM connector. When coupled with ULi's M1567 south bridge, the combination offers motherboard manufacturers the unprecedented capability to support PCI Express x16, AGP 8X, PCI graphics cards simultaneously on the same mainboard. Such capability makes it possible to create a fully surrounding virtual reality environment using multiple high resolution displays driven by the three graphics technologies residing in the same computer system." Source: Anandtech Read Here __________________ [COLOR=darkorange][COLOR=SeaGreen]Opteron 170 @ 2500 MHZ (In Need of Better HSF)[/COLOR] [/COLOR] [COLOR=darkorange][COLOR=Yellow]DFI LanParty UT SLI-DR Expert[/COLOR] [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]HIS IceQ3 X1900XT @ 680/785 [COLOR=YellowGreen]Corsair XMS Pro DDR 400 1GB[/COLOR][/COLOR] [COLOR=royalblue]CoolerMaster WaveMaster Case[/COLOR]

Jul 13, 2005, 06:46 AM	#2
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	AGP just got a pair of crutches, Bla! AGP will be with us longer now... __________________

Jul 13, 2005, 07:20 AM	Thread Starter #3
Lakevren MedicalEntropy Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 294 Rep Power: 0	Also, ULI is the chipset for Crossfire, and damn... it's looking pretty damn good. Looks like Radeon mobos won't be sucking so much soon. __________________ [COLOR=darkorange][COLOR=SeaGreen]Opteron 170 @ 2500 MHZ (In Need of Better HSF)[/COLOR] [/COLOR] [COLOR=darkorange][COLOR=Yellow]DFI LanParty UT SLI-DR Expert[/COLOR] [/COLOR] [COLOR=red]HIS IceQ3 X1900XT @ 680/785 [COLOR=YellowGreen]Corsair XMS Pro DDR 400 1GB[/COLOR][/COLOR] [COLOR=royalblue]CoolerMaster WaveMaster Case[/COLOR]

Jul 13, 2005, 08:44 PM	#7
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	this would certainly mitigate the cost of upgrading. especially considering how expensive high end video cards are & that if you have any of the latest from either ati or nv you certainly are not in need of a video card change. sound s like an overall design win for uli. now we jus thave to wait for real world implementation __________________

Jul 13, 2005, 08:46 AM	#4
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,495 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	I want one. Now if only some of the top manufacturers won't be so afraid and make a decent allround board based on this chipset. But after seeing SiS getting shafted and ATI largely avoided I don't dare to count on anything. For me it's either a solution of this perticular type or holding my breath until next year...

Jul 13, 2005, 04:24 PM	#5
hohum HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: UK Posts: 298 Rep Power: 0	Pretty impressive chipset, it's certainly one I want - being able to upgrade and use my AGP card for a bit longer (and without it being crippled performance-wise) makes the whole process much easier I reckon there will be a lot of demand for chipsets like this, really convenient solution.

Jul 13, 2005, 08:31 PM	#6
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	The perfect board for upgraders that don't want to replace everything at once, with no-compromise PCIe & AGP support ... well, maybe the dual PCIe version can't have AGP. All they need now, is to make it a Socket 754/939 combo and it will be the perfect motherboard for the totally undecided, or those who want to stick a cheap Sempron-754 and then something better when the price is right.

Jul 14, 2005, 03:35 PM	#8
A1A9C1 DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Charlotte Posts: 92 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	It's one step closer maybe but you can't adjust the DRAM voltage on it, as well as the HT voltage. Wonder how much of a difference that would make in 939 overclocking.