Switching to an Athlon X2 BE-2350 or better greatly lowers CPU load, since these processors sport two cores and Cyberlink’s PowerDVD 7.3 supports multiple CPU cores. Any current dual-core CPU – including the upcoming dual-core Semprons expected for Socket AM2 – should be able to provide smooth playback for HD-DVDs or Blu-ray discs.
Intel’s G33 graphics-capable chipset does not offer decoding support for the HDCP copy protection algorithm used by Blu-ray and HD-DVD movies. Even the newer G35 chipset lacks support for decoding HD video. Currently, ASUS is the only company selling motherboards based on the G35 chipset.
Summary
- AMD's New 780G Chipset
- HD3400 in the Northbridge with additional Memory
- Smooth HD Playback with a Sempron 3200+
- HD-Video Benchmarks: Only 21.90 % CPU Load on a 3800+
- Output: Dual-Monitor, HDMI, Up to 4 Monitors
- Quad-Monitor Configuration
- Hybrid-Crossfire
- Overclocking the graphics core by 90%
- Benchmarks - The HD3200 Graphics Unit of the 780G
- Benchmarks - Warhammer, Prey and Supreme Commander
- Benchmark Analysis - 3.5 times faster than the 690G
- Benchmark Analysis - 65% more Performance through Hybrid-Crossfire
- Power Consumption - 42 Watts when Idle at System Level
- Power Consumption - 73 Watts during Blu-ray Playback
- Southbridge - SB700 with 14 USB and 6 SATA Ports
- Cost of a basic HD-Capable System
- 24 Boards from 13 Companies Announced
- Test Setup
- Benchmark Settings
- Conclusion – Very fast on-board Graphics with HD Video Support
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