Monday, September 28th 2009

ASRock Innovates Socket 939 Motherboard with AMD 785G Chipset

This creation by ASRock is bound to surprise you. The motherboard specialist used a present-generation AMD 785G + SB710 chipset to drive a socket 939 motherboard, called the ASRock 939A785GMH128M. That's right, socket 939, supporting some of the oldest processors in the Athlon 64 and Sempron 64 series. The socket 939 CPU is powered by a 5-phase power circuit. It is wired to four DDR memory slots, supporting dual-channel DDR memory at speeds of up to DDR-400 MHz.

The AMD 785G chipset packs an ATI Radeon HD 4200 class integrated graphics processor with 128 MB SidePort memory, while the SB710 southbridge provides 5 internal SATA 3 Gb/s ports, and one eSATA port. The expansion slots on this micro-ATX motherboard include one PCI-Express 2.0 x16, one PCI-E x1, and two PCI slots. The IGP connects to its displays using DVI-D, HDMI, and D-Sub. 8-channel audio, and gigabit Ethernet make for the rest of it. There is no word on the availability or pricing as yet.
Source: OCWorkbench
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64 Comments on ASRock Innovates Socket 939 Motherboard with AMD 785G Chipset

#26
Shyska
This is great news and just in time to replace my A8n-e :)
AND I'll get to test my theory of poor overclocking of the old Asus board. And even better - I'll do that by saving (not spending)! :toast:

I love it ;)
Posted on Reply
#27
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
Ya i was really thinking about a FX57/60 and Or an Opteron, Get 2 More Gigs PC 4000 Mushkin Redline, and a AGP 939 Mobo, as an upgrade to the Current machine, after the new one is built.
newtekie1Upgrades aren't the only reason people buy computer parts. Replacement of failed parts is a huge market, and this fits in the market perfectly.

Socket 939 rigs were great, and still offer very acceptable performance today, especially for most home users that don't play games. The problem is that the parts tend to fail after so long, motherboards being a notorious failure point that is usually difficult to find a replacement for on EOL hardware, and even harder to find a cheap and good replacement.

The fact that s939 was the short period where AMD actually performed better than Intel, and many system integrators started switching to using AMD. There was a relative flood of s939 Pre-builts hitting the market. Pre-builts with weak motherboards, that tend to blow caps after 3-4 years of use... I still see one of two of these in my shop a week...

So this gives people the option to replace just the failed motherboard, and keep the good processor and RAM, instead of replacing the whole machine. People don't like replacing the entire machine if they don't have to, especially when the current machine still fills the need.



I don't know, I skipped 754 and went straight from Socket A to 939. Man, I still miss that 939 machine...Operon 148, 2GB DDR-500, x800GTO2...the glory days!!! Probably still my favorite build.
Posted on Reply
#28
hat
Enthusiast
...
Now if only there was some form of availability for s939 processors
Posted on Reply
#29
ucanmandaa
Might change my A8V-E with one of these... wonder if it will clock my old 4200+ x2 higher than A8V-E (2.75ghz)
Posted on Reply
#30
tonyd223
939 processors are available - ebay! and also in the old machine in the attic / under the bed / in the wardrobe / in a cupboard at work...

(amazing how much old tech is just lying around at work not being used...)
Posted on Reply
#31
Jstn7477
suraswamihopefully they have a way to enable ACC and make sempron single core to a dual-core proc or increase the cache to full size etc lol.
ACC was introduced with Phenom I/II, two socket revisions after 939. Also, AMD didn't make single core processors out of bad dual core processors back then.
Posted on Reply
#32
WarEagleAU
Bird of Prey
Sweet, seeing as the mobo in my old computer (was my sisters computer but I got it back now) is trashed that the 3800+ is still good as well as the ram, I think I have me a budget HTPC!!!! which will be just fine as I wont game with it. SWEET!
Posted on Reply
#33
Wile E
Power User
This is an absolutely great idea for those that have some 939 stuff laying around unused.
Posted on Reply
#34
HELLSPAWNPR
Awsome i have a 939 4800+ X2 and 2X 1GB of OCZ platinum ddr500,
Posted on Reply
#35
Polarman
JizzlerWell, I do have an Athlon X2 3800+ just sitting here... probably don't have more than 1GB of DDR though.
My wife could use that! She's still on a 939 with a crummy single core cpu. PM me if you're willing to part with it.
Posted on Reply
#36
LittleLizard
typical from asrock. weird solutions that no other manufacturers make to common problems
Posted on Reply
#37
InnocentCriminal
Resident Grammar Amender
If I didn't have 2 ATX & one Shuttle 939 motherboard, this would be an awesome board for to build a media PC in.
Posted on Reply
#38
Melvis
and the S939 lives on :rockout:
Posted on Reply
#39
D4S4
couple of good ddr sticks and socket 939 would still pwn in memory latency tests, and the memory bandwidth would be well over 90% of theoretical value... i miss my s939 abit kn8 ultra...:cry::cry::cry: R.I.P.
Posted on Reply
#40
pentastar111
eidairaman1Hey there are still many 939 Users out there, so get over it.
I'm still using a 939 socket 4200X2. It's not as fast as the gaming rigs I have built, but it is like a trusty old truck...Always fires up and runs.
Posted on Reply
#41
Wile E
Power User
D4S4couple of good ddr sticks and socket 939 would still pwn in memory latency tests, and the memory bandwidth would be well over 90% of theoretical value... i miss my s939 abit kn8 ultra...:cry::cry::cry: R.I.P.
Not really. That was true early in DDR2 and DDR3 development, but now they both outperform DDR1 in both latency and bandwidth.
Posted on Reply
#42
cdawall
where the hell are my stars
mdm-adphMan, I know -- did a lot of people go straight from s754 to AM2? Because I never bought anything that was s939, but I've got several s754 chips.
that what i did s754 was an ugly beast but it helds it own back in the day :D
Posted on Reply
#43
DaJMasta
newtekie1Upgrades aren't the only reason people buy computer parts. Replacement of failed parts is a huge market, and this fits in the market perfectly.

Socket 939 rigs were great, and still offer very acceptable performance today, especially for most home users that don't play games. The problem is that the parts tend to fail after so long, motherboards being a notorious failure point that is usually difficult to find a replacement for on EOL hardware, and even harder to find a cheap and good replacement.

The fact that s939 was the short period where AMD actually performed better than Intel, and many system integrators started switching to using AMD. There was a relative flood of s939 Pre-builts hitting the market. Pre-builts with weak motherboards, that tend to blow caps after 3-4 years of use... I still see one of two of these in my shop a week...

So this gives people the option to replace just the failed motherboard, and keep the good processor and RAM, instead of replacing the whole machine. People don't like replacing the entire machine if they don't have to, especially when the current machine still fills the need.



I don't know, I skipped 754 and went straight from Socket A to 939. Man, I still miss that 939 machine...Operon 148, 2GB DDR-500, x800GTO2...the glory days!!! Probably still my favorite build.
I think it will all come down to price point, because right now you can get these two
www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.245404
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820159019

For $108 (with 20 in rebates) and get a 2GB, 2.7GHz Phenom II based chip, and a motherboard (albeit a really cheap one. It doesn't have the options that this board has, but at $88 you get a machine that will beat any single core 939 board - so unless you've got a dual core (and it would only be worth it with a 4200 or better for most apps) - this package would actually be faster. Now there's a chance that this board will come in under $88, but it is a specialty part in a niche market, and considering the lowest priced 785G board on newegg is only $18 less than that combo, they don't have much margin for a competitive price.

Now if you have 4GB of DDR2 and an X2 and are absolutely strapped for cash when your motherboard fails, this is an option.... but I don't see it being that spectacular of an option when you can get a similar setup for maybe $30 more with more in terms of features, performance, and lower power consumption, while for $60 more than the cost of the board you can get at least one more core and all the tech benefits.

It is always interesting to see what ASRock brings to the table though, they offer a lot in terms of broad processor support.
Posted on Reply
#44
Unregistered
Why couldn't have put DDR2 or 3 in it!? My friend has a great 939 X2, but a somewhat broken and outdated motherboard. He also doesn't to spend much money at all cause hes stopped caring about computers :eek::shadedshu

Oh well...

-Indybird
Posted on Edit | Reply
#45
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
Depends on the motherboard, because 1, 939 has a DDR Memory controller, 2 AM2 uses DDR2, 3 AM3 uses DDR2 and 3
Posted on Reply
#46
Wile E
Power User
indybirdWhy couldn't have put DDR2 or 3 in it!? My friend has a great 939 X2, but a somewhat broken and outdated motherboard. He also doesn't to spend much money at all cause hes stopped caring about computers :eek::shadedshu

Oh well...

-Indybird
Because the cpu has the memory controller, not the chipset. It is not possible to run DDR2 or 3 on a 939 cpu. The cpu can only run DDR1.
Posted on Reply
#47
szulmizan
I still have the FX-60 with Asus A8N32-SLI + OCZ Platinum 2GB.. its worked great.. b4 built my Ci7.. still thinking do i have to sell it or keep it for my media system.. really love this PC.. it served me for 3 years b4 building new system..

The new motherboard will keep the S939 alive.. ASRock Rocks...
Posted on Reply
#48
Melvis
szulmizanI still have the FX-60 with Asus A8N32-SLI + OCZ Platinum 2GB.. its worked great.. b4 built my Ci7.. still thinking do i have to sell it or keep it for my media system.. really love this PC.. it served me for 3 years b4 building new system..

The new motherboard will keep the S939 alive.. ASRock Rocks...
Love ya system you got there, i have a soft spot for 939's / FX's

If you ever want to sell that ummm FX-60 ehem :D
Posted on Reply
#49
LAN_deRf_HA
My 939 Opty was 100 MHz faster clock for clock than first gen AM2 procs... and my value select ddr1 scored 5.9 in vista. When I switched from that system to a 3.5 GHz core 2 there was no performance increase noticeable in games, particularly in gpu dependent games like crysis. So for people with the right processor oc'd far enough 939 should still provide relevant performance.
Posted on Reply
#50
I see SPY!
On one hands it seems a bit pointless, but on the other side it is kinda cool for people who have some old equipment around. Instead of getting dust, they can put it to use. Maybe make a build for younger brother/girlfriend/father, as long as they don't need it for heavy stuff. It's just a question of how much it costs...
Posted on Reply
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