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Core 2-Compatible Chipsets Compared
theraindog writes "Intel's Core 2 Duo is clearly the most attractive processor on the market, but which motherboard chipset is it best paired with? The Tech Report has rounded up four of the most common Core 2-compatible chipsets on the market to find out. The chipsets' features are compared and their performance is tested in a wide range of application, peripheral, and even power consumption tests. One emerges as a lemon, two as solid options, and the other as a clear winner." From the article: "Some fanboys still stubbornly cling to their favorite underdog, but most enthusiasts have seen the light and are looking at Core 2 for their next upgrade or system build. The prospect of a Core 2 system build can seem a bit daunting for enthusiasts who have spent years focused solely on the Athlon 64. Core 2 processors need new motherboards for those switching from the Athlon 64, and that requires navigating a whole new world of core logic chipsets. Since the Core 2 processor relies on the chipset for its memory controller, one's chipset choice can also have a much more profound impact on performance. "
I hope no one uses this as information to buy their motherboard for the new Intel Core 2 Duo if they want a tandem graphics solution. This "chipset" comparison is completely devoid of real-life issues. Like what happens if you want to build a tandem-graphics card rig. The e6700 CPU is a very desirable part right now and if you want SLI... Oops none of these chipsets support SLI... Ok, Im not partial, Ill buy an ATI solution. Only there isnt a real good one. Of the two fastest crossfire cards out now, one is slower than snot the other is a dual-slot! So if you want a good crossfire solution, youll have no PCI-X slots left... So the solution? The Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe Motherboard. Why? It supports all Core 2 Duo parts at full speed. And even the memory controller handles the 1066Mhz speed better than the 965/975X motherboards! Doh! (See http://www.anandtech.com/ Yes, the P5N32 SE may not handle the new quad core parts, but I dont know it wont either. Tom's Hardware just built a $10,000 dollar rig and posted it on their website. Which motherboard did they use. Gee, I wonder... Ad a sidenote, all AMD has to do is get there 65nm process going, Vista will be out.. and Intel will have, by comparison, a very obviously poor solution, bucause there CPU's wont be any faster in XP and AMD's 64 bit capabilites will outshine Intel's when it comes to Vista.
It's priceless reading you AMD fanboys squirm now that Intel has the better processor. Tragic how someone can get so riled up over something so trivial.