QUARTER 1 2008

 
 In This Edition:
Welcome ASI Partners and System Builders! This newsletter features articles on the latest computer technologies and products offered by ASI CORP, a leading North American Distributor of computer components and whitebox systems. If you are registered ASI customer feel free to call our Technical Support Team or visit www.asisupport.com (technical help), www.asiserver.com (server solutions) or www.asimobile.com (notebooks).
New Intel Penryn Desktop CPUs


The Intel Penryn based 45nm Processor has finally began hitting the shelves of warehouses and retail outlets everywhere. The Penryn is not a complete new product such as the Conroe was, but more of a half-step towards the Nehalem Processors which are coming late 2008 and early 2009.

In the standard Intel "one-two punch" style the Penryn represents a healthy die shrink down from 65 to 45nm. This decreases the power used on the processor and makes your system run cooler in general. Intel can, and will, also take advantage of this by being able to increase clock speeds on their chips without jeopardizing thermal limitations.

In addition to decreasing power and thermal requirements, the die shrink frees up valuable real estate on the processor to increase transistor density and add other features such as expanding the cache to 6MB on the lower end processors and to 12MB on the highest end and "Extreme" processors. The increased cache is also being paired up with a new enhanced Smart Cache which allows the Penryn to speculatively execute across cache lines.

Intel's official mantra calls this the "Tick-tock", where the "Tick" represents the move to a new silicon process, thus the die shrink, and the "Tock" represents the entirely new processor microarchitecture change. I chose to go with the one-two punch metaphor because I believe that it more accurately represents what this method of advancement does to keep their competitors "on the ropes".

Intel Penryn (45nm) Support Chart

ASI SKUs Processor
Number
Clock
Speed
Cache
Size L2
Front
Side Bus
Quad
Core
Intel®
VT
Intel®
TXT
Enhanced
Intel
SpeedStep®
Technology
Intel®
64
Execute
Disable Bit
sSpec#
69589 (Box) QX9775
(LGA771)
3.20 GHz 12 MB 1600 MHz   SLANY
66302 (Box)
67086 (Tray)
QX9650
(LGA775)
3.00 GHz 12 MB 1333 MHz   SLAN3
68204 (Box) Q9550
(LGA775)
2.83 GHz 12 MB 1333 MHz     SLAWQ
68201 (Box)
69934 (Tray)
Q9300
(LGA775)
2.50 GHz 6 MB 1333 MHz SLAWE
66699 (Box) E8500
(LGA775)
3.16 GHz 6 MB 1333 MHz     SLAPK
66697 (Box)
69867 (Tray)
E8400
(LGA775)
3.00 GHz 6 MB 1333 MHz     SLAPL
66695 (Box) E8200
(LGA775)
2.66 GHz 6 MB 1333 MHz     SLAPP

 

I
n
t
e
l
Chipset Intel CPU
Support
FSB Support Memory
Support
Max
Memory
Integrated
Graphics
External
Graphics
PCI
Support
Storage
Interface
USB
2.0
Audio
Core 2 Duo,
Core 2 Quad
1333 MHz,
1066 MHz,
800 MHz
DDR2 4GB GMA3100 PCI-E
x16
PCI Express
X1 (4-6)
4 SATA 3G,
1 PATA
8 HD Audio,
AC'97
Core 2 Duo,
Core 2 Quad
1333 MHz,
1066 MHz,
800 MHz
DDR2,
DDR3
8GB GMA3100 PCI-E
x16
PCI Express
X1 (6)
4-6 SATA 3G,
eSATA
12 HD Audio
Core 2 Duo,
Core 2 Quad
1333 MHz,
1066 MHz,
800 MHz
DDR2 8GB GMAX3500 PCI-E
x16
PCI Express
X1 (6)
4-6 SATA 3G,
eSATA
12 HD Audio
Core 2 Duo,
Core 2 Quad
1066 MHz,
800 MHz
DDR2 4GB N/A PCI-E
x16
PCI Express
X1 (4-6)
4 SATA 3G,
1 PATA
8 HD Audio,
AC'97
Core 2 Duo,
Core 2 Quad,
Core 2 Extreme
1333 MHz,
1066 MHz,
800 MHz
DDR2,
DDR3
8GB N/A PCI-E
x16
PCI Express
X1 (6)
4-6 SATA 3G,
eSATA
12 HD Audio
Core 2 Duo,
Core 2 Quad,
Core 2 Extreme
1333 MHz,
1066 MHz,
800 MHz
DDR2-667,
DDR2-800,
DDR3-800,
DDR3-1066,
DDR3-1333
8GB N/A PCI-E 2.0
2x16
PCI Express
X1 (6)
4-6 SATA 3G,
eSATA
12 HD Audio
Core 2 Duo,
Core 2 Quad,
Core 2 Extreme
1600 MHz,
1333 MHz,
1066 MHz,
800 MHz
DDR2-667,
DDR2-800,
DDR3-800,
DDR3-1066,
DDR3-1333,
DDR3-1600
8GB N/A PCI-E 2.0
2x16
PCI Express
X1 (6)
4-6 SATA 3G,
eSATA
12 HD Audio
N
V
I
D
I
A
Chipset Intel CPU
Support
FSB Support Memory
Support
Max
Memory
Integrated
Graphics
External
Graphics
PCI
Support
Storage
Interface
USB
2.0
Audio

650i SLI
Celeron D
Pentium 4
Pentium D
Core 2 Duo,
Core 2 Quad,
Core 2 Extreme
1333 MHz,
1066 MHz,
800 MHz,
533 MHz
DDR2-800 8GB N/A PCI-E 2x8 2 X8,
2 X1 or
1 X16,
2 X1
4 SATA 3G,
4 PATA
8 HD Audio

680i SLI
Celeron D
Pentium 4
Pentium D
Core 2 Duo,
Core 2 Quad,
Core 2 Extreme
1333 MHz,
1066 MHz,
800 MHz,
533 MHz
DDR2-800
DDR2-1200 (EPP)
 
8GB N/A PCI-E 2x16 or
3-way
2 X16
1 X8
6 X1
6 SATA 3G,
2 PATA
8 HD Audio

750i SLI
Pentium 4
Pentium D
Core 2 Duo,
Core 2 Quad,
Core 2 Extreme
1333 MHz,
1066 MHz,
800 MHz,
533 MHz
DDR2-533,
DDR2-667,
DDR2-800
DDR2-1200 (EPP)
8GB N/A PCI-E 2x16 (2.0) or
3-way
1 X16 (2.0)
1 X8 (2.0)
2 X1 (1.0)
4 SATA 3G,
4 PATA
8 HD Audio

780i SLI
Pentium 4
Pentium D
Core 2 Duo,
Core 2 Quad,
Core 2 Extreme
1333 MHz,
1066 MHz,
800 MHz,
533 MHz
DDR2-533,
DDR2-667,
DDR2-800
DDR2-1200 (EPP)
8GB N/A PCI-E 2x16 (2.0) or
3-way
3 X16 (2.0)
or
4 X8 (2.0)
1 X16
1 X8
6 X1
6 SATA 3G,
2 PATA
10 HD Audio

790i (Ultra) SLI
Pentium 4
Pentium D
Core 2 Duo,
Core 2 Quad,
Core 2 Extreme
1600 MHz,
1333 MHz,
1066 MHz,
800 MHz,
533 MHz
DDR3-1333
DDR3-2000*
(EPP)

*Ultra Only
8GB N/A PCI-E 2x16 (2.0) or
3-way
3 X16 (2.0)
or
4 X8 (2.0)
1 X16
1 X8
6 X1
6 SATA 3G,
2 PATA
10 HD Audio

Compatible Motherboards

Our initial intent was to provide you with a comprehensive list of current motherboard that support the 45nm Penryn CPUs. As we started developing the list it grew at a rapid pace and it became evident that virtually any board with one of the chipsets shown above will support it, most with little more than a BIOS upgrade. We recommend checking the motherboard manufacturers website or contacting ASI Technical Support to verify compatibility. Some manufacturers are rolling support for the Penryn all the way back to their 945 and 965 chipset motherboards. Of course, we'd recommend future-proofing and going for the newer hardware.


 
 
AMD Phenom Processors:

Experience the New Native Quad Core Phenomenon!

Have you been looking for that performance edge? Want to get more work done in less time in your PC, yet still have it remain power efficient and not cost a fortune.  Then you will definitely welcome the new Phenom processors that were designed for the ultimate "megatasking" experience.

Featuring true multi-core design and award-winning AMD64 technology with Direct Connect Architecture, AMD Phenom™ 9000 Series processors deliver the ultimate megatasking experience by providing direct and rapid information flow between processor cores, main memory, and graphics and video accelerators. AMD Phenom™ 9000 Series processors have the technology to break through the most challenging processing loads. AMD Phenom™ 9000 Series processors feature low latency access to main memory for amazingly rapid response and phenomenal system performance.

Phenomenal performance with advanced processor design. The AMD Phenom™ 9000 series processors are the most advanced processors for true multitasking with true quad-core design. Don’t get bogged down by non-native quad-core processors and obsolete front side bus architectures. With an integrated memory controller and shared L3 cache, AMD Phenom™ 9000 Series processors have low-latency access to main memory for amazingly rapid system response and phenomenal system performance.

Technical Features & Benefits
The industry's first true Quad core x86 processor
  • True quad-core designed from the ground up for better communication between cores. BENEFIT : Cores can communicate on die rather than on package for better performance

AMD64 with Direct Connect Architecture

  • Helps improve system performance and efficiency by directly connecting the memory controller and I/O to the CPU.
  • Designed to enable simultaneous 32- and 64-bit computing
  • Integrated DDR2 Memory Controller

AMD Balanced Smart Cache

  • Shared L3 cache
  • In addition to the 512K L2 cache per core, up to 2MB of L3 cache shared by up to 4 cores.
    • BENEFIT: Shortened access times to highly accessed data for better performance.

AMD Wide Floating Point Accelerator

  • 128-bit floating point unit (FPU)
  • High performance (128bit internal data path) floating point unit per core.
    • BENEFIT : Larger data paths for quicker floating point calculations and better performance.

HyperTransport™ technology

  • One 16-bit link up to 3600MT/s
  • Up to 8 .0 GB/s HyperTransport™ I/O bandwidth; Up to 14.4GB/s in HyperTransport Generation 3.0 mode
  • Up to 27.2GB/s total delivered processor-to-system bandwidth (HyperTransport bus + memory bus)
    • BENEFIT : Quick access times to system resources for better performance.

Integrated DDR2 DRAM Controller with AMD Memory Optimizer Technology

  • A high-bandwidth, low-latency integrated DDR2 memory controller
  • Supports PC2-8500 (DDR2-1066*); PC2-6400 (DDR2-800), PC2-5300 (DDR2-667), PC2-4200 (DDR2-533) or PC2-3200 (DDR2-400) SDRAM unbuffered DIMMs
  • Support for 64-bit DDR2 SDRAM memory
  • Up to 12.8GB/s memory bandwidth
    • BENEFIT : Quick access to system memory for better performance.

AMD Virtualization™ (AMD-V™) With Rapid Virtualization Indexing

  • Silicon feature-set enhancements designed to improve the performance, reliability, and security of existing and future virtualization environments by allowing virtualized applications with direct and rapid access to their allocated memory. BENEFIT : Helps virtualization software to run more securely and efficiently enabling a better experience when dealing with virtual systems

AMD Cool'n'Quiet™ 2.0 technology

  • Enhanced power management features which automatically and instantaneously adjusts performance states and features based on processor performance requirements
  • For quieter operation and reduced power requirements
    • BENEFIT : Enables platform designs providing less heat and noise efficient performance and energy usage.

AMD CoolCore™ Technology

  • Reduces processor energy consumption by turning off unused parts of the processor. For example, the memory controller can turn off the write logic when reading from memory, helping reduce system power.
  • Works automatically without the need for drivers or BIOS enablement.
  • Power can be switched on or off within a single clock cycle, saving energy without compromised performance.
Current Phenom Processor SKU:
ASI SKU Model Core Speed Total Cores Cache Power HT Link Description
67850  PHENOM 9600 Black Edition HD960ZWCGDBOX 2.3GHz 4 L2=512KB/Core +L3=2MB  95W 3.6 GHz  Black Edition = Unlocked CPU Multipliers Native quad core CPU for enthusiasts, Compatible with Socket AM2 & AM2+
66713 PHENOM 9500 HD9500WCGDBOX 2.2Ghz 4 L2=512KB/Core +L3=2MB  95W 3.6 GHz Mainstream desktop, workstation, gaming processor, Compatible with Socket AM2 & AM2+
66712 PHENOM 9600

HD9600WCGDBOX

2.3Ghz 4 L2=512KB/Core +L3=2MB 95W 3.6 GHz Mainstream desktop, workstation, gaming processor, Compatible with Socket AM2 & AM2+

Note: All Phenom processor support both 32 and 64 bit operating systems.

MotherBoard Support
ASI SKU# 67433 ASUS MOTHERBOARD M3A AM2+ AMD PHENOM
  • AMD® Socket AM2+ Phenom FX / Phenom X4 / Phenom X2 / Athlon X2 / Sempron
  • AMD 770 / SB600 chipset
  • HyperTransport 3.0 and PCIe 2.0 Ready
  • Dual Channel DDR2 1066
  • ASUS Q-Shield
  • AMD® Socket AM2+ Phenom FX / Phenom X4 / Phenom X2 / Athlon X2 / Sempron
  • AMD® Socket AM2 Athlon 64 X2 / Athlon 64 FX / Athlon 64 / Sempron
  • AMD 770 / SB600
  • HyperTransport 3.0 interface for AM2+ CPU
  • Dual-channel DDR2 1066/800/667/533
  • 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16

ASI SKU# 66527 ASUS MB M3A32-MVP DLX/WIFI AM2+

  • Vista Status : Vista Capable Candidate
  • Type : Athlon 64/Athlon 64 FX/Athlon 64X2/Sempron/AM2 Plus
  • Socket : AM2/AM2 Plus
  • NB : 790FX
  • SB : SB600
  • System Bus : HT3 5200/4800
  • 4DDR2(Dual Channel)
  • DDR2 1066/800/667/533
  • ATA133*1
  • SATA 3Gb/s*4(RAID 0, 1, 0+1, JBOD)
  • Form factor : ATX
  • O/S Support Compatibility : Windows Vista/XP
Realize new possibilities for connecting with friends, family, and digital entertainment with the phenomenal performance of the AMD Phenom™ 9000 series quad-core processor. Built from the ground up for true quad-core performance, AMD Phenom processors speed through advanced multitasking, critical business productivity, advanced visual design and modeling, serious gaming, and visually stunning digital media and entertainment.

 
Microsoft System Builder Software Updates
 
Windows Server 2008 Product Introduction
Do you build, install or maintain real servers? Be a hero when you build, sell or deploy the powerful new Windows Server 2008 operating system and increase the efficiency and reliability of your customer's network while providing enhanced value with the latest Microsoft technologies.

Windows Server 2008 is the most advanced Windows Server operating system yet, designed to power the next-generation of networks, applications, and Web services. With Windows Server 2008 you can develop, deliver, and manage rich user experiences and applications, provide a highly secure network infrastructure, and increase technological efficiency and value within your organization.

Windows Server 2008 builds on the success and strengths of its Windows Server predecessors while delivering valuable new functionality and powerful improvements to the base operating system. New Web tools, virtualization technologies, security enhancements, and management utilities help save time, reduce costs, and provide a solid foundation for all IT infrastructures.

A Solid Foundation for Your Business

Windows Server 2008 provides a solid foundation for all of your server workload and application requirements while also being easy to deploy and manage. The all new Server Manager provides a unified management console that simplifies and streamlines server setup, configuration, and ongoing management. Windows PowerShell, a new command-line shell, helps enable administrators to automate routine system administration tasks across multiple servers. Windows Deployment Services provides a simplified, highly secure means of rapidly deploying the operating system via network-based installations.

The new Server Core installation option of Windows Server 2008 allows for installation of server roles with only the necessary components and subsystems without a graphical user interface (available in the Standard, Enterprise and Datacenter editions). Fewer roles and features means minimizing disk and service footprints while reducing attack surfaces. It also enables your IT staff to specialize according to the server roles they need to support.

Virtualization Built-in

Windows Server Hyper-V, the next-generation hypervisor-based server virtualization technology, allows you to make the best use of your server hardware investments by consolidating multiple server roles as separate virtual machines running on a single physical machine. You can also efficiently run multiple operating systems - Windows, Linux, and others – in parallel on a single server. With Hyper-V and simple licensing policies, it's now easier than ever to take advantage of the cost savings of virtualization.  Applications can also be efficiently virtualized using Windows Server 2008 centralized application access technologies. Terminal Services Gateway and Terminal Services RemoteApp allow easy remote access to standard Windows-based programs from anywhere by running them on a terminal server instead of directly on a client computer - without the need for a complicated virtual private network (VPN).

Built for the Web

Windows Server 2008 comes with Internet Information Services 7.0 (IIS 7.0), a Web server and security-enhanced, easy-to-manage platform for developing and reliably hosting Web applications and services. A major enhancement to the Windows Web platform, IIS 7.0 includes a componentized architecture for greater flexibility and control. IIS 7.0 also provides simplified management, powerful diagnostic and troubleshooting capabilities that save time, and comprehensive extensibility. Internet Information Server IIS 7.0 together with the .NET Framework 3.0 provides a comprehensive platform for building applications that connect users and data, enabling them to visualize, share, and act on information. Additionally, IIS 7.0 plays a central role in unifying Microsoft's Web platform technologies - ASP.NET, Windows Communication Foundation Web services, and Windows SharePoint Services.

High Security

Windows Server 2008 is the most secure Windows Server yet. The operating system has been hardened to help protect against failure and several new technologies help prevent unauthorized connections to your networks, servers, data, and user accounts. Network Access Protection (NAP) helps ensure that computers that try to connect to your network comply with your organization's security policy. Technology integration and several enhancements make Active Directory services a potent unified and integrated Identity and Access (IDA) solution.

Windows 2008 Server Editions sold by ASI

While there are expected to be many versions of 2008 Server, ASI will be offering the following:

 SKU Product Function CAL Max CPU Media Code
69485 Windows Server 2008 Standard Mainstream Server Operating system 5 4 DVD 32 & 64 Bit Both Included, Share Product Key
 69484 Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Server 2008 Designed for Enterprise Business or High End Servers 25 8 DVD 32 & 64 Bit Both Included, Share Product Key
69481 Windows Web Server 2008 Designed to be used specifically as a single-purpose Web server NA 2 DVD 32 & 64 Bit Both Included, Share Product Key
For other system hardware requirements see - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/2008/bb414778.aspx
Purchasing Additional Client Access Licenses (CAL)
SKU# 69486 = Server 2008 5 DEVICE CALS
SKU# 69487 = Server 2008 5 USER CALS

Please also visit our ASI Window Server 2008 Readiness Site by clicking here

Windows Live OneCare

Windows Live OneCare 2.0 has you covered!

Windows Live™ OneCare 2.0 automatically helps protect the end users’ data and keeps their PCs running reliably and at peak performance with Windows Vista and the Windows® XP operating system. Enhanced security features alone make OneCare 2.0 a great choice, but OneCare goes well beyond security on a single PC. Its all-in-one approach gives home and small-business customers the tools they need to manage, maintain, and back up multiple locally networked PCs, including:

  • Antivirus

  • Anti-spyware

  • Anti-phishing

  • Firewall

  • Backup and recovery

  • Performance tune ups

New OneCare 2.0

New features allow for multi-PC management to form a circle of protection, printer sharing support, and centralized backup of up to three PCs covered under the same OneCare subscription.

New OneCare features:

All-in-one protection and maintenance

In one convenient package, Windows Live OneCare helps protect your computer, uses its optimization features to keep your PC running at its speediest, and even regularly backs up your important files:
  • Protection Plus uses antivirus and antispyware scanners, a managed two-way firewall, and integrated anti-phishing technology to protect your computer from viruses, worms, Trojan horses, hackers, phishing, and other threats. It runs continuously, but you can scan individual files and folders for viruses on demand simply by right-clicking them. You can even scan attachments you receive via Windows Live Messenger or MSN Messenger.
  • Performance Plus regularly defragments your hard disk, removes any unnecessary files that may clog your computer, and helps ensure important security updates from Microsoft are installed efficiently and on time.
  • Backup and Restore regularly copies your important files and settings to CD, DVD, external hard disk, network drive, or other data-storage device.
  • Instant Help provides online help anytime you need it, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
How to purchase? Just ask for ASI SKU# 67015 = Microsoft Windows LIVE ONECARE V2 1P OEM
Microsoft Windows Live OneCare OEM System Builder Version 2.0. OneCare is a comprehensive security and PC maintenance suite that can be used to protect and maintain up to 3 computers*. Operating System Requirements: Windows Vista or XP

* NOTES: 3 computers license pertains to an individual end-user subscriber for their private home network. License cannot be shared among different households. End user must create Windows Live ID and activate product themselves following instruction from system builder. See instructions below:

"How to Preinstall OneCare" on PC

Additional Info: http://onecare.live.com / activation guide for end users: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935899
http://www.asipartner.com/marketing/01-23a-08/01-23a-08.html
Windows Home Server (WHS) - ASI SKU#65130

 

 

 

A server at home? Isn't that a little unusual?

Not any longer. Windows Home Server is a new and unique product aimed at your customer's new digital lifestyle involving streaming media and backup from a centralized location. Home server bring the power of a server to a home network. It is the perfect solution for the customer with multiple PCs who love to share files such as audio, video, and photos. Windows Home Server is a complete operating system, not an application, so it runs on its own hardware as an independent media server.

What do you want to share today?

Windows Home Server (WHS) has two main functions. First, to facilitate the easier sharing of files between home systems, and secondly to secure and backup those files. A home server, like one for business, does this by centralizing data and adding additional features you cannot get with a desktop operating system. Imagine being able to easily recover lost data that was accidently deleted or the victim of bad hard drive? This can be done from WHS because it automatically backs up al the home systems.

Windows Home Server features at a glance:

  • Your family's digital memories and media organized in one central hub
  • Home PCs backed up daily, automatically
  • Simple recovery of lost files or even entire PCs
  • Complete access from networked PCs to all your Windows Home Server files
  • A personalized Web address for sharing your photos and home videos
  • Easy and quick setup
  • Expandable storage space for future use
  • Innovative third-party applications

With digital music, video, games, office documents, financial information, family photos, etc, it is very easy for a modern family to accumulate large amounts of data that that significant personal value. With these functions end users can get control over their digital media. It is the next evolution of home based networking and multimedia. And like any true platform, all the built in function can be enhanced or extended using third party plug-ins now being developed.

So how does it all work?

Resellers can buy a preloaded system or build one with Windows Home Server. Usually this can be a relatively low powered system by today's standards, however most users will probably desire a lot of storage space*.  Note that when building your own the WHS system also require USB 2.0 ports, bootable DVD drive, and any hardware RAID must have BIOS support. System builders should refer to the Microsoft hardware requirements when choosing components**.

To deploy connect the Home Server System to the local home network (Gigabit LAN recommend). Next install the Connector software on each client PC using the Connector CD (systems must be Windows XP Home or Professional SP2 or higher, Media Center 2005 SP2, or any Windows Vista Edition). Users can access shared files setup by the administrator using the Windows Home Server Console. While administrators can log into the server via the Windows Home Server Console from any client, end-users see only a desktop shortcut to the server's shared folders and a system tray icon, both of which are created when they run the Windows Home Server Connector utility on their Windows XP and Vista machines.

Managing a Home Server is a bit different than what experienced IT people will be used to. While the local network administrator can also remotely access the home server directly through remote desktop, improper modifications using typical tools such as Disk Manager use can cause many problems since WHS automatically handles so many functions (like where to place shared folders, etc).

For full details of installation, setup, and known issues please refer to the WHS Getting Started Guide from Microsoft. (LINK HERE).

*Note 1 - WHS Drive Extender can also be implemented to extend storage at a later date by adding another hard drive. Although data is automatically distributed across all available drives, adding a second drive lets you activate 'folder duplication' for any shared or user directories. This replicates the data onto the second drive as a precaution against the first disk failing.

**Note 2 - Windows Home Server uses technologies from the Windows Server® 2003 operating system, and therefore it works only with drivers that are designed for Windows Server 2003. Many components for older consumer desktop computers do not work with Windows Home Server.

ASI Product Applications
ASI will shortly be selling the new Intel NAS box called SS4200E. It can be customized with Windows Home Server. See the Intel NAS SS4200-E article for more details or contact your ASI Sale rep.