Biostar, a maker of mainboards and other computer components, quietly started selling mainboards branded as ?TForce?in some Japanese retail outlets. While it is yet unclear what the TForce actually means, some web-sites believe that it is a brand-name for the company's new platform for entry-level computers with integrated graphics.

Biostar's TForce 6100-939 mainboard comes in microATX form-factor, sports Socket 939 processors, four slots for DDR DIMMs, a PCI Express x16 slot, a PCI Express x1 slot as well two PCI slots. The mainboard is equipped with basic I/O capabilities, including Serial ATA-300, Parallel ATA-133, Ethernet 10/100, USB 2.0, 7.1 channel audio and so on. The main feature of the platform is a GeForce 6-class integrated graphics, which is dubbed as the GeForce 6100 or the GeForce 6150 and supports TurboCache technology from NVIDIA Corp.

A recently leaked beta driver from NVIDIA already supported both GeForce 6100 and 6150. In fact, it referred to them as to C51, code-name of NVIDIA's two-chip core-logic with integrated graphics for value computers based on AMD64 processors.

Depending on performance and feature-set, the TForce will come in 6100 and 6150 models, the former should sport basic GeForce 6100 graphics core and nForce 410 I/O processor, whereas the latter is likely to support GeForce 6150 graphics core with PureVideo technology and nForce 420 I/O chip possibly with Gigabit Ethernet controller.

Biostar's TForce 6100-939 mainboards cost $80 to $90, Akiba PC Hotline web-site?reports. Availability of the unannounced product may point to its formal launch shortly.

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