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Sapphire PURE Innovation - ATI's Chipset for the AMD Enthusiast

 by Wesley Fink on July 29, 2005 12:05 AM EST
52 Comments | Add A Comment
52 Comments

Sapphire PURE Innovation

Sapphire will release the first in their new PURE motherboard series around August 5th. The top enthusiast board, based on the Grouper Reference Board, will be the PURE Innovation. This is based on the discrete video version of the Radeon Xpress 200 chipset for AMD Athlon 64 Socket 939. There will also be another version based on the RS480 integrated graphics version of the same chipset.

Sapphire and ATI have done an outstanding job of making the PURE ATI board stand out. This starts with silver foil Sapphire packaging...

...to the board window behind the outside flap...

...to the standout white motherboard with red lettering.


Click to enlarge.

A white board in a window case with UV lighting should have the attention of those who like to show off their computer guts in a window case. This is certainly the first white motherboard that we have seen, and it is just another example of how Sapphire and ATI are out to get the attention of the AMD enthusiast. There is a lot to like that stands out in the appearance of the Sapphire, but most will be even more interested in the options available and how the board actually performs.

ATI Reference Boards Basic Features: Sapphire PURE Innovation
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  • afrost - Friday, July 29, 2005 - link

    One of the big things for me is that there is only passive cooling on the motherboard without the need for crazy heatpipes etc. This is really important for those of us who want to build silent computers.

    I'v definately picking up this board from Saphire.

  • Zebo - Friday, July 29, 2005 - link

    Good point must run at lower temp than nvidia's single chipset solution which gets hot as hell when you start cranking HTT.

  • rjm55 - Friday, July 29, 2005 - link

    We mentioned several times in the article that Sapphire will launch the new board in early August. Sapphire has confirmed their plans to launch around August 5. Sapphire has asked us to pass on that you will be able to buy retail PI-A9RX480 motherboards in most markets by August 15th-20th. Price will be "competetive with nForce4".

  • Resh - Friday, July 29, 2005 - link

    Any idea on when we will see them? I'd really like to go that route, but I can't wait forever!

  • Wesley Fink - Friday, July 29, 2005 - link

    Halibut (Crossfire AMD) and Stingray (Crossfire Intel) boards are ready to go to reviewers, but there are still some decisions being made at ATI. We have also seen the prototype retail boards from Gigabyte and another manufacturer. When ATI decides whether Crossfire will be now or with R520 (just a guess at events) Crossfire will roll out quickly.

  • Resh - Friday, July 29, 2005 - link

    Thansk Wesley. I wish they would hurry up with that decision... RAM is ordered and PSU, CPU, and X800XL will be ordered this w/e, too, so they better get the motherboards out!

    If you do hear something, please share it with the rest of us.

    N

  • coomar - Friday, July 29, 2005 - link

    wow the white pcb stands out, at least the thing is packaged well

  • Dhaval00 - Friday, July 29, 2005 - link

    A week ago, AT was having fun posting such rumors... I am sure it thinks otherwise now :).

    /me feels like getting rid of all my nVIDIA hardware.

  • ukDave - Friday, July 29, 2005 - link

    Typo on Pg8, second bottom paragraph. "ATI X350XT PE" - the '3' should be an '8' me thinks.

  • Tommouse - Friday, July 29, 2005 - link

    Nice board. Still undecided on the white color though.

    I wonder if the Zalman CNPS7700-Cu will fit :|
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