AMD's new 790GX chipset for gamers on a "budget"

AMD's got a new performance-per-dollar platform for running Phenom processors without breaking the bank. The 790GX is being positioned right below AMD's top of the line 790FX, with a typical motherboard built around the technology costing around $355. Primary advantages of the chipset include Advanced Clock Calibration, which allows Phenom speeds of 3.2GHz and up, and ATI Radeon HD 3300 integrated graphics -- though of course you can ramp up to discreet graphics or CrossFireX if you're really feeling it. The folks at HotHardware already took a chipset for a spin, and while it won't be besting the best from Intel, it seems to be showing some strong leadership in its price category compared to related Intel and NVIDIA technologies. It's shipping now.

Read - AMD PR
Read - Hot Hardware review

[Evan @ Aug 6th 2008 9:21AM]

2 x8 PCI-e, seriously?

[icepop4who @ Aug 6th 2008 9:32AM]

2x8 pci-e 2.0 is not so bad for a budget board. nvidia's 650i offering was 2x8 pci-e, but it was pci-e 1.0

[Mike @ Aug 6th 2008 10:10AM]

In all likelyhood, this spec wont be used this way, but used the way you're used to seeing it: a micro ATX board with one 16x pci-e slot and onboard video, but with advanced features for the gamer.

[Neeko @ Aug 6th 2008 9:33AM]

If i was still gonna build my HTPC this MOBO would be perfect.. No GFX card means less noise and prob a smaller footprint if done right.

[ShadowKain @ Aug 6th 2008 11:40AM]

True, for the budget minded and heat /sound conscious, this is a sure win. I wonder how the data bus works between teh CPU and the GPU...the A-Link Express II. Im excited to see such an advancement in general computing.

[Hellios @ Aug 6th 2008 9:34AM]

I just love competition, and although I'm a huge nvidia fan, I am really happy AMD/Ati started to promote their products a lot more aggressively with their latest releases.

[cpompee @ Aug 6th 2008 12:45PM]

The last 790G mboard was touted as "HD" but wouldn't play 720P videos. /joke

Did they fix that?

[cpompee @ Aug 6th 2008 12:48PM]

oops I meant 690G. Is that right?

[0megapart!cle @ Aug 6th 2008 9:49AM]

I assume that's a typo, as you can't be referring to a $355 motherboard as budget.

[Dubb @ Aug 6th 2008 9:53AM]

Probably a typo.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128352

$144

[icepop4who @ Aug 6th 2008 10:27AM]

not a complete typo. reread the article, it said "The 790GX is being positioned right below AMD's top of the line 790FX, with a typical motherboard built around the technology costing around $355."

right BELOW 790FX, which (does not cost $355) cost around $150 ~ $250.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&Subcategory=22&Description=&Type=&N=2010200022&srchInDesc=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&OEMMark=1&OEMMark=0&PropertyCodeValue=719%3A33047

@Dubb, that's a 790GX motherboard. not 790FX.

[0megapart!cle @ Aug 6th 2008 10:30AM]

Grammar typo instead of Spelling typo, then.

[Dubb @ Aug 6th 2008 9:53AM]

Does anyone know if sound is outputted through the HDMI cable? I couldn't find it anywhere.

[icepop4who @ Aug 6th 2008 10:37AM]

only on an integrated hdmi, which the 790GX does offer. I'm pretty sure that the hdmi port outputs video and audio.

fyi, dvi to hdmi converter does not transmit audio.

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Aug 6th 2008 10:39AM]

I presume that they reserve HDMI to ATI video cards.

New generation of ATI cards - 4xxx - have full HDMI: they have built-in 7.1 sound controller.

Though full HDMI output on new boards is not really rarity now - as more and more cheap monitors with speakers are switching from DVI to HDMI.

Still, I think presence of HDMI output depends more on decision of motherboard manufacturers, not AMD.

[Chris @ Aug 6th 2008 10:55AM]

From Tom's Hardware:

"To that end, HDCP support is of course an important part of the package and, like AMD’s add-in boards, the Radeon HD 3300’s HDMI output does S/PDIF audio as well."

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-integrated-790gx,1988-2.html

[Metkis @ Aug 6th 2008 10:01AM]

As if we didn't expect anything but budget-minded products from AMD.

[the pork @ Aug 6th 2008 12:18PM]

lol discreet

[Tow @ Aug 6th 2008 11:35AM]

"It won't be besting the best from Intel."

What Intel chipset even comes close to a 780G let alone a 790GX?

[a12ctic @ Aug 6th 2008 2:08PM]

seriously.

In any sector other than pure performance/overclockability AMD's lineup is so much stronger than Intel's. Some people could argue power consumption is worse but when you factor in the SB and all its about the same, and AMDs power saving techniques are superior.

[Maurice Hilarius @ Aug 6th 2008 11:36AM]

Hello little Troll (Metkis)
"As if we didn't expect anything but budget-minded products from AMD."

How is your Intel working out for you?
Yeah, I mean the one you p[aid too much for.

[strumbringer @ Aug 6th 2008 12:21PM]

Sigh. I saw the word "discrete" mis-spelled once, thought it was because you were in a hurry. Saw it again, let it pass. Third time, I have to point it out.

discreet: marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint

discrete: means "separate and distinct".

[Ariel @ Aug 6th 2008 2:59PM]

Cool

[crazyskydiver @ Aug 7th 2008 11:53PM]

Well I have a 790GX motherboard but cant help much as I have no drivers for it.
It is a MSI K9a2GX Digital, MSI is sending me the drivers for it via snail-mail. I have got no book on the board either, hopefully it will be on the driver CD. I have a AMD 9950 on it with 2 ATI 4850 in crossfire. I will let yall know what I think as sson as I get it up and benchmark it against my current gaming machine. Any particular bench you would like to see?
By the way it does resemble a budjet board and the final release will probably not have the extra connector wires on the bottom. It have a BIOS date of 07-25-08 and I received it on 08-01-08 (damn that is new).
Any questions that I can answer I will be glad to try as I have and cannot get any documentation on it yet.

[crazyskydiver @ Aug 9th 2008 7:11PM]

Well no drivers in the mail today, maybe on Monday 08-11-08.

Later

[crazyskydiver @ Aug 12th 2008 12:04AM]

Well no drivers today so I called they will be here Tuesday 08-12-08.
YEAH ! ! !

[crazyskydiver @ Aug 15th 2008 1:04PM]

Well I recieved the drivers on Tuesday and they were the incorrect ones. So I started poking around again and come to find out MSI has changed the name of the MB. Huh when you use the correct name you find things you are looking for.

Anybody left here is there any reason to post anymore?