PC Hardware in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

3.5 Our Picks

Over the years, we've tested a boatload of
motherboards for Intel and AMD processors, and we've
come to have some pretty strong preferences. The chipset determines
the features, performance, stability, and compatibility of a
motherboard, but a good chipset alone does not guarantee a good
motherboard. Build qualitythe care with which a motherboard is
constructed and the quality of supporting components such as
capacitorsis also a key factor in motherboard quality.
Although it is impossible to build a good motherboard using a poor
chipset, it is quite possible to build a complete dog of a
motherboard around an excellent chipset. For that reason, the brand
name on a motherboard is as important to its quality as the chipset
it uses. Here are the motherboards we
recommend:

Intel (D865- or
D875-series) .


We use Intel-branded motherboards almost exclusively for Intel
processors, and on those few occasions when we must use a non-Intel
motherboard for some reason, we try hard to choose a motherboard that
at least uses an Intel chipset. Intel chipsets and motherboards are
superb. They are the standard by which we judge other products in
terms of stability, robustness, and build quality.

There is a reason why Intel sells motherboards by the millions to OEM
system makers. Support calls cost OEMs money, and Intel motherboards
generate fewer support calls than do other brands. Intel motherboards
aren't always the fastest models available and they
offer few overclocking options, but their build quality, reliability,
and stability make them the best choice overall. If
you're building a system around an Intel processor,
use an Intel-branded motherboard if at all possible.

If performance is a high priority, choose an Intel-branded
motherboard based on the 875P chipset. Although it is similar to the
865, the 875P chipset includes Intel Performance Acceleration
Technology, which boosts performance noticeably compared to the 865.

For a mainstream system, choose an Intel-branded motherboard with an
865G chipset if you want embedded graphics, or an 865PE chipset if
you want to use a separate AGP video adapter. The 865G and 865PE
chipsets support the 800 MHz FSB, dual-channel PC3200 DDR-SDRAM, and
Hyper-Threading Pentium 4 processors, which means a system built
around one of these motherboards can have performance only a
half-step behind an 875P-based system.

If you are building a system on a tight budget, choose an
Intel-branded motherboard with an 865G chipset. Although the 865P
chipset motherboards are less expensive than 865G motherboards, 865P
motherboards do not include embedded video. By the time you add even
an inexpensive video card, an 865P system costs more than an 865G
system, and is slower and less upgradeable.

ASUS
(

n

VIDIA chipset) . For years we lamented the lack
of a stable, compatible chipset for AMD Athlon processors. We have
never been satisfied with the compatibility or stability of VIA
chipsets, despite their popularity. The SiS 735, 745, and 746 are
solid chipsets, but have been hampered by the indifferent build
quality of the inexpensive motherboards that use them. We had great
hopes for the

n VIDIA

n Force-series chipsets, and our experience with
them has justified our optimism. The

n VIDIA
Athlon chipsets we have tested are feature-laden, stable, robust, and
compatible. We were amazed because

n VIDIA had no
experience designing PC chipsets, but the company got it right the
first time. With the advent of these chipsets, the Athlon can finally
compete with Intel processors on a level playing field.

As is always true, using an excellent chipset does not guarantee an
excellent motherboard. Fortunately, at least one motherboard maker
does build excellent Athlon motherboards using

n VIDIA chipsets. ASUS is well known for the high
build quality of its motherboards, and its

n VIDIA-based models are no exception. We tested
the

n Force2-based ASUS A7N8X Deluxe motherboard
extensively, and found it to be fast, stable, and compatible. We
expect the same to be true of ASUS motherboards that use the
follow-on

n Force2 400 and

n Force2 400 Ultra chipsets.

Tyan S2466 Tiger MPX . Although the
AMD 760MPX chipset is beginning to show its ageno support for
PC2700 or PC3200 memory, no support for the 333 MHz or 400 MHz FSB,
no USB 2.0, no AGP 8X, and so onit remains a fast, stable,
compatible foundation for a dual-processor Athlon system. Several
companies produce 760MPX motherboards, but the company with the most
experience in making dual-Athlon motherboards is Tyan, and its S2466
Tiger MPX motherboard is a winner. If you want to build a dual-Athlon
system, build it around the Tiger MPX.

If you build a system around the Tiger MPX motherboard and a pair of
Athlon MP processors, do not make the mistake of using off-brand
memory or a mediocre power supply. High-quality memory and reliable
power are even more important to the stability of a dual-processor
system than for standard systems. Use only memory modules included on
the Tyan approved memory list, and use a top-quality, high-wattage
power supply, such as those sold by PC Power & Cooling for
dual-processor systems. We also recommend choosing a video adapter
from the Tyan approved video adapters list.

We test new chipsets and motherboards constantly. For our latest
motherboard recommendations by brand name and model number, visit:
http://www.hardwareguys.com/picks/motherboardsl.