The nForce4 Ultra Chipset

Here is what the new nForce4 Ultra chipset looks like. The nForce4 Ultra SPP appears to be packaged as a FC-BGA chip while the MCP uses a BGA package.

The nForce4 Ultra chipset

As mentioned earlier, SPP stands for System Platform Processor and is essentially synonymous to the north bridge in traditional core logic. MCP stands for Media and Communications Processor and is the equivalent of the south bridge in traditional core logic.

The nForce4 Ultra Reference Motherboard

Here's a picture of the NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra reference motherboard.

The nForce4 Ultra reference motherboard

You can expect most, if not all, early nForce4 Ultra motherboards to follow the reference design closely. Of course, there will be variations in quality of components used as well as the colour scheme and the SPP cooler.

nForce4 Ultra Motherboard Samples

At the press briefing, the only nForce4 Ultra motherboard sample displayed was from Biostar.

Biostar nForce4 Ultra motherboard

Although Foxconn and EPoX also signed up as partners for the nForce4 Ultra, it appeared that only Biostar managed to get a sample out in time for the launch.