SiS and VIA pull out of DDR400

[Farabomb]

Digitimes.com (http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/Article.asp?datePublish=2002/09/17&pages=02&seq=8) is reporting that SiS and VIA are pulling their DDR400 chipsets. They go on to say that their DDR333 solutions can handle DDR400 by overclocking but problems will be handled by the motherboard makers if they offer DDR400.

[sptw]

It seems that only Nvidia with NVIDIA II chipset are running on the street now.

[mdzcpa]

Hmmm....somehow I am not surprised by this. In fact, I suppose it only officially states what we've already been seeing....a lack of official DDR400 support. The white papers on the KT400, for instance, clearly indicate support only up to DDR333.

Perhaps the biggest dissappointment with the lack of official DDR400 support from the chipset makers will be the lack of the associated 1/6 PCI divisor (which I understand will not be officially supported by VIA on the KT400 either).

Perhaps some mobo makers can make DDR400 work....but it sounds tricky. And results on the current batch of DDR400 supporting mobos is not encouraging.

[Player0]

I just need something to tide me over till K8 :)

[mdzcpa]

Hey Player0:

I certainly did not mean to imply that I thought you made a bad purchase or anything. If shopping for a new mobo today I would certainly consider the Abit KT400 mobos.

At worst case they will perform on par with the KT333 and provide more features to boot. At best, perhaps Abit gets the 1/6 divisor working and better DDR400 support. And, if that happens, please let me know, cause I'll be the next in line to order up a KD7-RAID:) (I really really really want a 1/6 divisor)

[Player0]

Hi Mike, no I wasn't worried hehe. I have an Abit AT7 Max2 and an Abit KD7 on the way and should be here next week maybe. As you say, the performance will be at least KX7, but with the extra voltages and added stability coming with these new boards. Not to mention Firewire, Sata, Usb2, Onboard lan, etc.

My boards are coming in fresh from the boat, so I have high hopes of getting the second revision KD400 with rumored 1/6th support. Also, it may be as simple as a BIOS tweak to enable 1/6th PCI functionality. Then again, it simply may not be possible with the KT400.

All the KT400 promisses is 200mhz RAM speed, not FSB speed... I dont know why everyone would be so surprised to see the KT400 not have 1/6th for the PCI. It wasnt ever promised and is certainly no more supported than 166FSB, which technically isnt quite 'legal' either.

Everything seems to be rumors and speculation right now, so I'll see when I get my boards. I'm not sure if the AT7 or the KD7 will be any different FSB wise anyway. I still like the black one better :)

[mdzcpa]

Please keep us posted on what you find when those new goodies arrive:)