This week, we've spotted some interesting motherboards from Bell Systems. These 2 Asrock boards that we've spotted carries some unique features and of course, being Asrock, it's definitely low in price, yet worth very dollar you've paid for. The first board we've spotted is the Asrock 939SLI32-eSATA2. Being an board based on the ULi M1697 + M1695, like it's name suggests, supports NVIDIA's Scalable Link Interface (SLi). This board happens to also be the first ever board to give SLi solution, on a non-NVIDIA based motherboard. The other features on this board doesn't look too shabby: eSATA2 function at 3.0GBps that is also hot-pluggable. 4 additional SATA 3.0GBps that supports many RAID funtions like RAID 0, 1, 0+1, JBOD, and even RAID 5. All this for a small price tag of just $175, making it one of the cheapest available SLi enabled motherboard on shelves!

This is how the box packaging of the Asrock 939SLI32-eSATA2 looks like. It appears that Asrock uses generic packing for most of their motherboards.

The label affixed on the packaging, with a summary of the key features available on the motherboard.

This is the motherboard itself. 2 large heatsinks covers the northbridge and the southbridge. Notice the slot that have a yellow sticker over it? That's actually a CPU upgrade slot. Once the new AMD AM2 socket appears, Asrock will release an upgrade card that will allow users to use those new CPUs on this motherboard. Future-proof eh?

The silk-screened label on the motherboard, indicating that the motherboard we've found is a Rev 1.02 board.

This big bunch of jumpers is meant for the "CPU Future Upgrade slot" By switching the jumper positions, the board will activate the slot when the Upgrade card is slotted in.

Like the model name of this motherboard suggests, the Asrock 939SLI32-eSATA2 comes with an exernal SATA 3.0GBps port on the I/O connector.

The I/O connectors present on the board. Apart from the standard PS2 and other legacy ports, there's also Firewire ("A") and eSATA also. It's a pity that this board only supports 5 channel HD Audio, instead of the 8 channel most other boards have.

The 5 channel HD Audio is provided via this Realtek ALC660 chip.

The LAN connections on the board is controlled via this Realtek RTL8111B chipset. This chipset supports 10/100/1000 MBps connections, and works on the PCI Express lanes.

Of course, being SLi enabled, this board comes with the crucial SLI bridge included in the package.

The other Asrock board we found, is the Asrock 775Xfire-eSATA2. This board is based on the Intel 945PL budget chipset. However, like it's name suggests, this board supports ATi's Crossfire multi GPU solution. Also found at Bell Systems, this board is priced at just $155. Features onboard includes 5.1 Channel HD Audio, 4x SATA 3.0GBps ports, and of course eSATA 3.0GBps functions. For those who are looking for board to upgrade, yet want to retain their AGP graphics card, this board might interest you. There's an AGP Graphics Interface (AGI) port on the board, that taps on the PCI Express x4 lanes.

The packaging for the Asrock 775Xfire-eSATA2. Like the AMD board we've seen, this board came in a similar design.

A label on the packaging, with a summary of the key features available on this board.

This is how the board looks like. Notice that this board has only a 20pin ATX power connector instead of the standard 24 pin on most other boards? Perhaps due to it's lower power requirements, older PSUs should be able to run this board fine.

LAN connections are powered by this Realtek RTL8101L chipset, providing standard 10/100 MBps connections. It's a pity this board doesn't have Gigabit LAN.

Realtek ALC660 chipset for Audio, delivering 5.1 channel High Definition Audio.

Like the AMD board we've seen, the Asrock 775Xfire-eSATA2 comes with eSATA 3.0GBps connectors on the I/O panel too.

The rear I/O connectors on the board. Features here are rather plain, but for just $155, one can't complain at all.

For those who are still on the AGP platform, yet, eyeing for a graphics card upgrade, here's something for you. We've found the XFX Geforce 6800GS AGP at DAT Computers. Spotting a 12 pipeline 425MHz Core, this card still packs a punch even for today's 3D intensive games. Priced at $449, it might be a little on the higher side for most upgraders on this aging AGP platform.

The packaging of the XFX Geforce 6800GS AGP. Considering this is a mid range card, somehow, XFX packaged this card in a rather small box.

This is how the card looks like. From the outlook of this card, it looks very similar to the older 6800GT AGP, probably due to the similar heatsink and PCB layout.

The rear I/O connectors on this card includes a Dual DVI output, and the standard TV-Out on the left. Dual DVI LCD users would surely love the Dual DVI outputs.

Due to the lower power output from the AGP slot, the 6800GS AGP (like the 6800GT AGP) requires a 4 pin molex power connector to provide additional power.

This is how the rear of the card looks like.

The label found on the card. If not for this label, it's easy to mistake this card for the older 6800GT AGP card.

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On the red camp, there's also a mid range ATi card meant for PCI Express, but ported to the AGP platform. Found at Bell Systems, the Sapphire Radeon X1600 Pro 256MB AGP is something that might interest mid range buyers who wants the latest feature set like SM3.0 on an ATi card. Going for $269, the price might a little on the higher side when compared against NVIDIA solutions of the same price. But however, being an ATi cards, some might objectively like it's color reproduction or even it's 256MB worth of video memory.

The white packaging box of the Sapphire Radeon X1600 Pro 256MB AGP.

This is how the Sapphire Radeon X1600 Pro 256MB AGP looks like from top down.

Due to the lower power output from the AGP slot, a 4 pin floppy power connector is required on this card.

This is how the back of the card looks like. The pinkish pads is where the Rialto bridge chip lies. All X1600 Pro cores are native PCI Express, thus requiring such a bridge chip to convert AGP signals to PCI Express signals which the core could understand.

The memory chips found on the card. 8 of these Hynix 2.5ns DDR2 memory modules are present on the board, giving 128bit memory bandwidth.

The cooling solution on the card is rather mediocre, with fat aluminum fins making the bulk of the heatsink. Also, thick thermal pads cover the memory modules, but only on one side of the card.

The rear I/O connectors consists of a VGA output, a TV Out connector and a DVI Output.

Over at Fuwell, we've found a few Vantec Nexstar hard drive enclosures. Vantec, being a company that focus on enthusiast products, they had sure got products that had captured attention. These Nexstar hard drive enclosures are made of thick aluminum body, for that extra toughness, and of course, in bright attractive colors. Available in both 2.5" and 3.5" for SATA, these sleek cases sold for $89 for the SATA 3.5" (Firewire + USB2 Combo) $69 (USB2) or $39 for the 2.5" (USB2). Pricings are also comparatively well priced too.

This is the packaging of the smaller USB2.0 2.5" enclosure. Like the picture on the box suggests, a Vantec logo will glow at the front of the enclosure.

This is how the 2.5" enclosure looks like. A very metallic feel to this relatively cheap 2.5" enclosure.

The rear of the enclosure where you'll find the USB2.0 connector, and also an optional DC 5V power connector socket.

The bigger 3.5" NexStar brother. The one pictured comes with eSATA and USB2.0 functions, and it's in a sleek black metallic color.

This is how the 3.5" NexStar looks like. Like the 2.5" brother, this enclosure comes in a very metallic sleek feel.

This is how the rear looks like. The model pictured here is the USB2.0 model, thus, it only has USB2.0 connection and the eSATA function. The Firewire combo set would include the Firewire ("A") connector. Of course being a 3.5" enclosure, there's a need for an additional power adaptor.

This is the chipset that powers the 3.5" Vantec Nexstar.

This week, we've also found some interesting details about the CPU market in Sim Lim Square. Starting from the AMD camp, we've found more and more shops carrying their 939 pin family of Opteron processors. Previously only exclusive to Cybermind, these processors are now available at other stores such as Fuwell and Best Bytes. We've went into Fuwell, and checked out their Opteron 144 and 146 single core CPUs, and they are priced competitively at $359 and $429 respectively. Do bear in mind, Opteron 939 CPUs are based on the "San Diego" core featuring 1MB L2 cache. The 144 runs at 1.8GHz, while the 146 runs at 2.0GHz.

AMD Opterons found at Fuwell. Opteron 144 and 146s are found here!

A close up on the Opteron 144. The one found at Fuwell bears the stepping code of CAB2E 0427FPCW.

A close up on the Opteron 146. This one bears the stepping code of CACJE 0601GPAW.

As for the Intel side of things, we've found 2 new Intel CPUs floating around in Sim Lim Square this week. First we've found the Intel Pentium D 805 CPU, based on the Intel Smithfield core. Being simply the cheapest dual core Intel CPU (and also the cheapest Dual Core CPU around), this CPU goes for only $259 alone at Cybermind. However, unlike the older 8xx Pentium Ds, these new 805 runs at slower 533MHz FSB, and having just 2.66GHz in core clockspeed.

The packaging of the Pentium D 805. If you haven't already know, this happens to be the new packaging for all dual core Pentium D CPUs.

The label at the front of the packaging, indicating the Clockspeed, FSB, and the amount of cache on this CPU.

A close up on the CPU, revealing the Intel S-Spec code on the CPU.

The other new Intel CPU we've found is the new Intel Pentium 4 631. This new CPU is based on the new 65nm Cedar Mill core. With a shrunk process, these new single core CPUs might have alot better overclockability then older Prescott CPUs. We've seen dual core 65nm Preslers could do up to 4.5GHz on just conventional air cooling when overclocked, these Cedar Mills shouldn't be too far off. However as word of caution: not all LGA 775 motherboards could run these Cedar Mill CPUs. We've faintly heard that older 915P, 925X, 865/875 LGA 775 motherboards do not support these new Cedar Mill CPUs. The Pentium 4 631 is found at Cybermind, and goes at $325.

The new orange packaging for single core Pentium 4 CPUs is being used on these new 631s.

The label on the box, indicating that the 631 runs at 3.0GHz, 800MHz FSB and have 2MB of L2 Cache.

A close up on the CPU, showing the Intel S-Spec code on the CPU.

Well, that's all for this week in our SLS walkabout. =)