NVIDIA To Update nForce2 MCP

We’ve known about this since Feb ‘03 but just in case you need a reminder:

It’s long been known that NVIDIA’s nForce3 250Gb chipset for Athlon 64 processors would feature Serial ATA RAID, Gigabit Ethernet, and a hardware firewall, but I can now reveal that these extras will also make their way to the K7 platform in a new nForce2 MCP. Expected in a couple of months, the new MCP’s extra storage and networking features should help the nForce2 compete with VIA’s KT880 and KT600 chipsets, which share a VT8237 south bridge that offers native support for Serial ATA RAID.

NVIDIA to update nForce2 MCP @ The Tech Report

x-bit labs picks up the story and adds:

The new MCP will have the same features set as the upcoming nForce3 250Gb chipset. The sources report that the new MCP for nForce2 will have native support for Serial ATA RAID and NVIDIA Hardware Firewall. Unfortunately, according to our sources, the upcoming new MCP for nForce2 will lose their APU. This way the mainboard manufacturers will have to choose if they would like to offer mainboard with the integrated APU or with the NVIDIA native Serial ATA, but not the both.

We do not know yet, what is the exact launch schedule for the new MCP, however, they should evidently start shipping within the same timeframe as nForce3 250, i.e. in Q2 2004.

NVIDIA to Update nForce2 MCP @ x-bit labs