Velocity Micro Desktop Computer

Order a new computer today from Bestbuy. The Velocity Micro - ProMagix Q6600. The Q6600 contains a quad core Intel processor, an NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS graphic card and 2GB of DDR2 memory, and or course Windows Vista.

The Quad processor is clocked at 2.4GHz, but the ad does not display which DDR2 memory [Speed Grades] is used and I didn't see the system listed on the Velocity Micro web site.

The Video card comes with 1 S-Video port, and 2 DVI-ports ~ I use dual monitors so I need both DVI interfaces.

The system has 2 Firewire interfaces and 6 USB interfaces, and a built-in media reader.

Of course the Hard Disk Drive [HDD] is Serial ATA [SATA], but it does not indicate which specification version.

Spare expansion slots include 1 PCI slot, 1 PCIe x1, and 1 PCIe x16 slot. So I can still add another video card, a digital tuner card, and a 7-to-1 digital audio card.

I purchased this system from Best Buy so I could just drive over and pick it up. However my first issue is that my order did not make it off anyones desk. I came home to a call saying I have to confirm the order..... what's up with that.

I never used the HP system purchased last year from Bestbuy, I didn't see any speed improvment so it just sat around and collected dust ~ until I gave it away a few weeks ago.

AMD AM2 Socket Motherboards

I added a new page which lists Motherboards that support the new AM2 socket processors from AMD. That page is listed on the AM2 MotherBoard Manufacturers page.

The main motherboard page lists all types of Main boards using either intel or AMD processors. That listing is located on the MotherBoard Manufacturers page [also listing embedded motherboards].

The AM2 processor replaces both the 940 socket and 939 socket processors. The AM2 processor socket also provides support for the DDR2 [DDRII] memory modules. BTW the AM2 processor socket also has 940 pins, but is not related to the 940-pin socket processor.

Of course AM2 processors are dual core. I don't think any new processor will be single core again.

AM2 Socket's are out

I guess the new AMD processor socket is out. The 940-pin AM2 socket which replaces the 939-pin cpu socket.

I also understand AM2 motherboards are out.

I'll wait abit for an AM2 motherboard until I see some more options and read a few reviews.

The next up-grade is to get a new motherboard for my 5500 Alienware PC. The up-grade would be an AM2 Motherboard. The Am2 motherboard supports the DDR2 specification, but I really want to up-grade to it to support other AMD processor up-grades.

As an addition to the listing of Motherboard Manufacturers, I added a sperate page just to deal with AM2 MotherBoard Manufacturers.

New AMD Socket

Both my desk top computers use the AMD Socket 939 processor. The socket 939 accepts either a Single or dual core AMD processor, and DDR I memory sticks.

The next generation AMD socket is called the AM2 socket. The AM2 socket comes in a 940-pin package and supports either DDR I or DDR II [DDR2] memory modules. The AM2 processor socket has the same cache size as the Socket 939 processor.

There are a number of AM2 processor speeds, I only list the higher grade ones I may up-grade to:
AMD Athlon 64 FX-62: 2.8GHz clock, 1MBx2 L2 Cache, 125W
AMD Athlon 64 FX-60: 2.6GHz clock, 1MBx2 L2 Cache, 125W
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+: 2.6GHz clock, 512kB x2 L2 Cache,89 watts
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+: 2.4GHz clock speed, 1MB x2 L2 Cache, 89 watts

So the Alienware PC is using an AMD 3800 single core processor, while the HP m7470n PC is using an AMD Dual core 4200 processor.

The next up-grade will be a new motherboard for the Alienware 5500 to accept the new AMD processor socket AM2. Moving to the new AM2 motherboard may keep the up-grade current for a longer amount of time. The difference between DDR I and DDR II makes no difference from the numbers I've seen.

DDR SSTL Interface

DIMM


I just added a new page covering SSTL switching levels, including SSTL3, SSTL2, and SSTL18.

SSTL-18 is used as the electrical interface for the DDR II memory standard, and the SSTL-2 specification is used with the DDR I memory standard.

The new SSTL page is located under the IC bus listing at:www.interfacebus.com/SSTL_Logic_Interface.html. With that new page, three additional pages were up-dated to point to that new link. The DDR 1 DIMM, and DDR2 DIMM pages and the Interface IC Buses page were updated to include the new link.

The Sub Series Termination Logic [SSTL] standards defined under JEDEC are electrical only specifications, which means normally they only define the timing and switching levels.

DDR I memory modules are currently in wide spread production, while DDR II is seeing only limited use. In fact, AMD does not even support DDR2 memory yet. AMD will not support the DDR II standard until they introduce their new M2 processor socket which is not due out until the second quarter of 2006. The M2 socket will provide a re-designed on-die memory controller allowing DDR-2 support, and at the same time obsolete the processor socket 939.

My system uses a socket 939 AMD processor. I'd like to get my next system early next year, so I my be stuck with my current socket and DDR I memory modules again. I doubt I would wait another four months just to pay a premium for the new stuff. Although the price difference between DDR and DDR2 DIMMs seems to be zero. I'm sure the M2 socket will be pricey when it first comes out. That may just leave me with a dual core 939 processor with the same DDR memory

DDR stands for Double Data Rate [Memory], DDR I may also be seen as DDR1 or just DDR, and DDR2 may also be DDR II.
DIMM stands for Dual In-Line Memory Modules

You can find definitions, speed grades and a list of manufacturers on the Memory Module page.