Sandy Bridge Z68 Support Set

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ces
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Sandy Bridge Z68 Support Set

Post by ces » Thu Apr 07, 2011 9:15 pm

Maximum cache size is 64 GB
You can also only have one accelerated disk per system
Iin Enhanced mode, it employs a write-through strategy to keep data synchronized between the SSD and hard disk. If you lose your solid-state drive, no data is lost.
The performance of an SSD and a hard drive serve as the performance ceiling and floor

Intel Z68 Express Chipset Preview: SSD Caching And Quick Sync
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/z68 ... ,2888.html

ces
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Re: Sandy Bridge Z68 Support Set

Post by ces » Mon Apr 11, 2011 9:12 pm

Intel Z68 chipset to launch May 8, Fudzilla

http://www.fudzilla.com/motherboard/ite ... unch-may-8

cordis
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Re: Sandy Bridge Z68 Support Set

Post by cordis » Tue Apr 12, 2011 12:17 am

Less than a month, great news! I've been waiting for those boards to arrive, glad to hear that they're on the way!

CA_Steve
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Re: Sandy Bridge Z68 Support Set

Post by CA_Steve » Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:44 am

Great that they are coming out. But, I don't think I've seen a clean mobo intro...ever. Either there's a h/w oops or it just takes a while for the firmware to not have some kinda bug. If the Z releases in May, I don't think I'd recommend a build until August. Let the bugs be worked out by the bleeding edge builders. :D

ces
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Re: Sandy Bridge Z68 Support Set

Post by ces » Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:09 am

CA_Steve wrote:Great that they are coming out. But, I don't think I've seen a clean mobo intro...ever. Either there's a h/w oops or it just takes a while for the firmware to not have some kinda bug. If the Z releases in May, I don't think I'd recommend a build until August. Let the bugs be worked out by the bleeding edge builders. :D
What do you think is a reasonable time to wait? What do you think about 6 months? Or 3 months?

CA_Steve
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Re: Sandy Bridge Z68 Support Set

Post by CA_Steve » Tue Apr 12, 2011 1:46 pm

CA_Steve wrote:If the Z releases in May, I don't think I'd recommend a build until August.

cordis
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Re: Sandy Bridge Z68 Support Set

Post by cordis » Tue Apr 12, 2011 2:49 pm

Hey, just saw this page referenced over on Engadget, some vague slides of Intel's upcoming processor roadmap:

http://wccftech.com/2011/04/10/intel-ro ... vy-bridge/

Not really all the info I'm interested in, but it does sound like they have some upgrades on the way in upcoming quarters.

ces
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Re: Sandy Bridge Z68 Support Set

Post by ces » Tue Apr 12, 2011 2:56 pm

CA_Steve wrote:If the Z releases in May, I don't think I'd recommend a build until August.
Maybe wait an extra few months and get it with an Ivy Bridge CPU?
http://wccftech.com/2011/02/07/intels-i ... rs-arrive/

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Re: Sandy Bridge Z68 Support Set

Post by CA_Steve » Tue Apr 12, 2011 6:43 pm

Figure Ivy Bridge will show up in Jan 2012...so, I wouldn't build with that until April or later 2012 :D

cordis
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Re: Sandy Bridge Z68 Support Set

Post by cordis » Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:05 pm

Hey, I saw this last week and forgot to post about it:

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Z68-Moth ... 5508.shtml

There have been some motherboards on display at shows recently too, so it looks like these are bound to come out sometime soon. This board looks great to me, I have a gigabyte 1366 board with 10 sata connectors, so this would be a drop in replacement! Hope it's cheaper when it his mainstream retail channels, though. ;)

cordis
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Re: Sandy Bridge Z68 Support Set

Post by cordis » Wed May 11, 2011 12:08 pm

Hey, looks like the motherboards are finally showing up on newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi ... rd&x=0&y=0

Kind of interesting, although the fact that many of the Gigabyte boards still require a video card is strange. I suppose if they're going to kill off their other motherboard lines and just sell z68 boards then it might make sense, but it's an odd choice for the initial release. It's a shame, one of those gigabyte boards has the 10 sata connectors that I want. Eh, might have to see if I can live with an 8 sata board.

Tephras
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Re: Sandy Bridge Z68 Support Set

Post by Tephras » Wed May 11, 2011 9:23 pm

cordis wrote:Kind of interesting, although the fact that many of the Gigabyte boards still require a video card is strange. I suppose if they're going to kill off their other motherboard lines and just sell z68 boards then it might make sense, but it's an odd choice for the initial release. It's a shame, one of those gigabyte boards has the 10 sata connectors that I want. Eh, might have to see if I can live with an 8 sata board.
Same thing with the Asus P8Z68 Deluxe. Not such an odd choice really, as Virtu are bundled with the motherboards to allow transcoding with iGPU/Quick Sync. I was expecting all Z68 boards to come equipped with video connectors which I have no need for so I am glad that there are some without.


Edit: There was an oddity after all. As it seems, Gigabyte have chosen to not include Virtu with those motherboards that require a discrete GPU.

lodestar
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Re: Sandy Bridge Z68 Support Set

Post by lodestar » Thu May 12, 2011 12:35 am

Tephras wrote:There was an oddity after all. As it seems, Gigabyte have chosen to not include Virtu with those motherboards that require a discrete GPU.
Motherboards like the GA-Z68A-D3-B3 seem to be aimed at discrete graphics card users who would have no use for onboard graphics or Virtu. Presumably they are somewhat cheaper, which may help in marketing terms. The Z68 SSD caching remains of course.

Hayate19XX
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Re: Sandy Bridge Z68 Support Set

Post by Hayate19XX » Thu May 12, 2011 1:36 am

Sorry that it may sound a little stupid? but doesn't the idea look a little like this one: http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/ ... o=HDDBOOST

ces
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Re: Sandy Bridge Z68 Support Set

Post by ces » Thu May 12, 2011 1:58 am

Hayate19XX wrote:Sorry that it may sound a little stupid? but doesn't the idea look a little like this one: http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/ ... o=HDDBOOST
Yup. Its the same thing. And that was preceded by some kind of "readyboost" function on an earlier Intel/MS design intended to use a flash drive in the same manner. Sooner or later they will get it right. I think maybe later. This feature still takes too much thinking to implement.

see: "The Patriot Xporter XT Boost is specifically engineered to meet the performance requirements and capacity threshold for Windows ReadyBoost" and "Certified for Microsoft Vista Readyboost"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820220253

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