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NVIDIA nForce 415-D Chipset Information

This content was originally featured on Amdmb.com and has been converted to PC Perspective’s website. Some color changes and flaws may appear.

It has been several months since NVIDIA introduced to you there take on the best possible chipset for you Athlon processors. They gave you, the NVIDIA nForce chipset, available in both a 220 and 420 version. Today, NVIDIA is officially unveiling there next series in this chipset model, the 415-D chipset.

Pleae, keep in mind that this is not a “review” or even a “preview” of the chipset, as there really isn’t very much that is technical different between the past chipsets and the new 415 chipset announced today. Consider this page to be more of an “information” page.

Look here for the official press release.

So let’s jump right to the point. What is the 415-D chipset? The 415-D chipset is the 420-D chipset without the integrated GeForce 2 graphics core. It has the same TwinBank 128-bit memory architecture as the 420-D as well as the DASP and HyperTransport features. But without the integrated graphics core, NVIDIA can now offer the motherboard manufacturers and the end users a lower-cost motherboard. (For full details on the rest of the features included in the NVIDIA nForce chipset, be sure to check out our preview of the technology published in September. If you would like to see benchmarks as to how the 420-D chipset performed, and thus the 415-D should, take a look at my NVIDIA nForce chipset review from October.)

Besides the missing video component and the renaming of the IGP (Integrated Graphics Processor) to the SPP (System Platform Processor), the chipset is exactly the same. The 415-D will still be coupled with the MCP via a HyperTransport solution to provide the best multimedia performance of any chipset to date.

Below I have included some images that NVIDIA provided the media with during the briefing of this new chipset.

The arrival of the 415-D chipset now places the NVIDIA nForce line of motherboards back where it needed to be in 2001 — towards the middle of the pack as far as motherboard costs are concerned. Many of the PC enthusiasts were very excited about the features and performance that the NVIDIA chipset could offer, but didn’t want to spend the extra money on the motherboards due to their integrated GeForce 2 graphics core. With the help of MSI and Asus, we will soon be seeing the release of motherboards much closer to the cost of the KT266A boards. And that will surely bring many more converters from the VIA camp over to NVIDIA’s.

Just a couple of days ago, with the coming announcement of this chipset, I asked our forum members for their opinions on this very subject. Here is what some of them had to say:

lonewolfz sums up his thoughts easily:

As long as it was the same price and performance level as VIA’s KT266A I’d consider it.

Zephyr has mixed feelings on where NVIDIA lies in this market:

To conclude; I think nVidia needs to find out exactly who they are trying to sell to. If it is OEMs, they need to find a way to cut the cost, because the OEMs doesn’t care if it performs 2- ,5- or even 10% better or worse, they just want something fairly fast, stable and above all cost effective. If they are looking to sell to the enthusiast market, then cut the integrated video, nobody wants it anymore than they want that stupid AC97 codec. The enthusiast market on the other hand is willing to pay top $ for performance. With that said, a version of the nForce without the video as it is now doesn’t stand a chance against the proven KT266A.. back to the drawing boards.

Athlon4All has this to say:

About a new nForce. It would definately be popular. The removal of the Integrated video should make it handle fsb overclocking better because Ace Hardware’s conclusion was that the Int. Video was degrading the signal integrity of the AGP slot and that was the culprit. So, a nForce without video, could be a massive hit, and would considering that it would be an IGP 64(no need for Dual Channels without a vid card to power) based, it would start at KT266a board prices($150 or so), and eventually make its way down to $110-130, and still with the better than Audigy sound and NIC, and overclocking friendly. It would be great, and I would DEFINATELY buy such a chipset for someone that needs a GeForce3 (of course, I’m planning on buying a 420-D anyway), seriously, that could be a big success for the enthusiast. Would nVidia do it?

schnee has the opinion that I think many enthusiasts have:

If nVidia came out with another mobo that didn’t have integrated video I’d get it in a heartbeat, as long as cost is comparable. I don’t want it to be cheaper, necessarily, just better. More stable… more compatible… etc…

RebelWolf shares with the readers what can make a motherboard platform successful:

Considering the lack of robust sales, it appears that too many other’s don’t wish to pay for things that aren’t at least close to the “best of class” either. Either make the BEST, or make it CHEAP, either of these will do well. Middle of the road price, with middle of the road performance, has always done poorly.

myv65 sees a chance for the new segment NVIDIA is after to accept the new 415-D chipset:

The second segment should eliminate the on board video and offer the overclocking features that the enthusiasts love. Granted, there may not be enough market for nVidia to consider this second route. Get this board down to ~$100 without the video and they would be on their way with another winner.

If you would like to view the entire thread in our forums, I encourage you do to so.

Well, that is the conclusion of this very short look at the new NVIDIA nForce 415-D chipset. I encourage you all to take a look around the AMD Forums to find some more discussions on this or check out this specific thread to read all the comments, or leave your own.

You can find the lowest prices on current NVIDIA nForce boards by checking out Amdmb.com’s PriceGrabber service!

Thanks for reading!