14 DAY TRIAL // After much anticipation, Sunnyvale, California-based AMD has finally unveiled its latest motherboard product, coming in the form of a new AM2-compatible 760G chipset. The new model, which the manufacturer quietly introduced yesterday, has been designed to provide PC users on a budget with an alternative to low-cost, performance-capable desktop platforms. The new chip boasts built-in HD 3000 graphics and is meant to provide a lower-cost alternative to the company's impressive 780G chipset.
The new chipset is available immediately and can provide its users with support for DirectX 10 graphics, specifically due to the integrated ATI Radeon 3000-series graphics solution. The performance capabilities of the 760G model are claimed to surpass those of Intel's G31, offering users the possibility of upgrading the system's specs, by adding an ATI Radeon HD 3450 graphics card. The chip offers RAID and CrossFireX technology support and, according to AMD, provides hardware acceleration of DVDs and standard-def material.
The chipset is paired together with the company's next-generation SB710 chipset, enabling up to 12 USB 2.0 ports and 6 SATA 2.0 connectors, with support for eSATA devices. On the downside, it will enable most partner boards to come out without HDMI or DisplayPort connectivity, features that are preferred by high-definition enthusiasts. However, for a board that is expected to be priced at around $80, the upcoming 760G-powered mobo is to provide users with plenty of high-performance features.
AMD is said to be working with major partners, such as ASUS, ECS, Gigabyte, Asrock, MSI, Foxconn and Biostar, which are expected to unveil their designs in the upcoming days. With the addition of an AM2-compatible processor, the 760G-based platform should provide for a PC upgrade that will set the user back approximately $160.