SLI on X58 motherboards: Expect at least a 30$ premium!
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According to various sources in the industry, Nvidia received the QPI license from Intel, which gives them the right to sell chipsets for the Nehalem platform, but they won’t hush to unveil any high end mobo, because it is already too late since X58 is just around the corner of 08′Q4. The company did not expect too much high end user will choose the high end Bloomfield CPU when it is still in the early stage.
Rather than making a high end motherboard, Nvidia will only focus on Intel Lynnfield CPU, try to debut a LGA 1160 board. That’s because LGA 1160 still keeps DMI we currently use to link to south bridge but no QPI, it will be more easier to design a LGA 1160 mobo then QPI supported LGA 1366 boards.However, it would seem that the Santa Clara company will charge a premium for using SLI on that platform, by selling their BR-04 chips, just like what they did to the Skulltrial. That chip could cost as much as 30$.
This is problematic for two reasons: On top of having to pay the chip which could cost up to 30$, you have to use a new PCB design to integrate it to the motherboard. Add the manufacturer profits and various taxes and it will cost you quite a large premium to use SLI on the Nehalem platform!
Also, the compatibility was far from good with the Skulltrail, so you may wonder how it will be this time.
Considering the current market, with ATI going back up and with a Crossfire of HD 4850 or 4870 that offers much more value versus the Geforce GTX 260/280, Nvidia would be probably be in a better position by opening up SLI, by asking a small license fee, instead of trying to sell bridges by pretending it’s required for SLI support.
