Foxconn N570SM2AA specifications and discussion
Specification
| Foxconn/WinFast N570SM2AA-8EKRS2H | |
|---|---|
| Item | Specification |
| Processor Support | All Socket AM2 processors |
| Chipset | NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI |
| Memory Support | 4 DIMMs, DDR2, 400/533/667/800, 8GiB max |
| Graphics | 2 x PCI Express Graphics x16 mechanical (x8 in SLI), Supports NVIDIA's SLI multi-GPU tech. |
| Additional PCI Express | 2 x PCI Express x1 |
| PCI Conventional | 2 slots, PCI2.3 |
| ATA | 1 x ATA/133 from nForce 570 SLI 1 x ATA/133 from JMicron JMB363 controller |
| SATA | 6 SATA2 ports from nForce 570 SLI 2 SATA ports from JMicron JMB363 (one is eSATA) |
| RAID | 0/1/0+1/5 from nForce 570 SLI 0/1/0+1/JBOD from JMB363 |
| LAN | 2 x 10/100/1000 (Marvell 88E1116 PHY) |
| Audio | Realtek ALC882H HDA 7.1-channel |
| Floppy | 1 port |
| FireWire | 2 ports, FireWire400 (VIA VT6308P) |
| USB | 10 ports, USB2.0 |
| Price | £70, including VAT. |
Discussion
Foxconn is marketing this particular motherboard under its WinFast brand and, priced at around £70 or so, is aiming it at the enthusiast who wants to build a medium-priced machine that has support for all AMD's AM2 processors and, for gaming, NVIDIA's SLI technology.
The NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI core logic is a single-chip design that supports a total of 28 PCI-Express lanes (16,8,1,1,1,1), with 2 x 8 lanes allocated to two NVIDIA GPUs if configured in SLI.
The range-topping nForce 590 SLI adds in a further 20 lanes, split over two chips, and offers the full x16 bandwidth per slot. It also features EPP memory support and LinkBoost Technology. Other than that, the nForce 570 SLI has practically the same feature-set as the '590.
Expansion-wise, Foxconn adds in a couple of PCIe x1 and PCIc slots, which is standard fare for most nForce 570 SLI motherboards.
The board's storage subsystem, consisting of 6 SATA2 ports and a single ATA133, is boosted by the addition of a JMicron JMB363 hybrid controller that adds a second ATA port and a further 2 SATA, with one of those an eSATA port.
nForce 570 SLI also supports dual Gigabit Ethernet MACs and Foxconn has integrated a couple of Marvell PHYs (physical layers) for the necessary routing out to the I/O section.
Rounding it off, there's copious amounts of USB2.0 and a couple of FireWire400 ports from VIA's low-cost VT6308P controller.
The Foxconn/WinFast N570SM2AA, then, is a well-specified motherboard for the £70 asking price.