Nvidia will launch its nForce4 Intel Edition media and communications processor (MCP), which supports Nvidia's scalable link interface (SLI) graphics architecture on April 6, according to the company.

The new MCP for Intel's Pentium 4 platform, which was unveiled at CeBIT 2005, will be featured on motherboards from at least eight Taiwan-based motherboard makers.

Motherboard makers Abit Computer, Asustek Computer, Gigabyte Technology and Micro-Star International (MSI) said they have already prepared Nvidia nForce 4 SLI-based motherboards supporting Pentium 4 CPUs for their high-end product lines, especially for the gaming segment.

The boards are expected to be priced at about US$200, which was confirmed by sources at Abit for its new Fatal1ty board. According to a report from the Inquirer, Abit's new board will be called the Fatal1ty NI8 SLI and will feature the company's Dual Otes cooling technology. The sources at Abit indicated that its new board will begin shipping at the end of the month, and the company expects to ship about 20,000 units per month.

However, some makers argue that shipments of motherboards featuring Nvidia's new MCP will not begin picking up until the third quarter, following Intel's CPU price cuts. The chip giant's introduction of its dual-core Smithfield platform later this year may also help push sales in the second half of this year, the makers added.

More information available at DigiTimes.com