Rate your favorite chipset (includes Intel and AMD)

[Bat25]

Rate it, and tell why you like it. Is it value? Maybe it's straight up performance? maybe it's a combination of both? Maybe you really are a fan of AMD or Intel? Feel free to tell why you like your chipset.


*Disclaimer*

- I would ask that ther be no AMD/Intel flames of course - just a very friendly user poll about they chipsets they like and what they think the benefits are :)

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Nforce 2 definitley, also quite likes the KT133a in its day but on a lot of the cheaper boards it seemed to be plagues with issues

--Jakk:t

[BipolarBill]

I actually prefer building AMD systems with VIA chipsets. They are much less fussy, cost less and perform nearly as well as nForce2 chipsets.

Now, for personal use I actually prefer "fussy"... :cool:

[killer_teddy]

Nfroce2 until something better comes along.
Clocks well too!

[ComPooTer]

Nforce2 BAYBEE, hopefully the have like a Ati chipset.....i heard they have ati chipsets for laptops now?

maybe if ATI started producing chipsets and they were good..........that would be cool

[gjimene2]

Nforce2 with soundstorm :D

[lptech]

Bat25-

NForce-2 because of the bandwidth when using the dual channel memory feature. The Soundstorm on the MCP-T chipset is just an added plus!

LPTECH

[Bat25]

Hehe - Yeah I run a fussy board too. NVIDA's problem is that IDE driver that was never done right. I go through e paticular routine to keep the pops and crackes out of games with soundstorm.

[ComPooTer]

yeah i get those crappy pops and cracks sometimes too :( i doubt nvidia will ever fix it

[gjimene2]

I never get those :confused:

Oh well :t

[Ammok]

nforce two, for the northbridge and southbridge, especially distrust VIA over the probs I had trying to install a usb device.

[Bigjakkstaffa]

VIA chipsets used to have a hell of a lot of isses with pops and cracks in audio, even when using hardware cards, it was absoloutley unbearable when installign games and listening to mp3's :eek: It did get ironed out eventually but it took quite a while, it'll probably be the same for the Nf2

--Jakk:t

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Nforce and Nforce2 shouldnt be in the same catagory as they were diff in tons of ways. Like the sound actully being great on Nf2 mostly. And Nf had only duel mem config on mobo's WITHOUT integrated GPU while it would have helped there most. Later Duel was dropped due to pure hype-no gains and hardware issues. The AMD assured version I used in friends build a while ago was single channel GPU integrated and worked fairly well. All duel ch. issues solved on Nforce2 but yet gains still marginal due to the cpu its driving. But anyways. I choose Nforce2. Mines been good to me since day1.:t

[Bat25]

Yeah, but sound is only great on NF2 "if" you use digital out with the right speaker setup. or a decoder. Otherwise your using the DAC (usually AC97) - when you use analog out you don't get soundstorm at all. NVIDA still has IDE issues which is the reason they are not present in 2.45 version. Also, sound issues crop up with many games unless you use a very paticular driver/DX/AGP driver routine. nforce has neen great for me too though - but I do use Digital out (I use Logitech digital speakers with optical out), and I do use a very paticular install routine.

[sm8000]

I voted SiS AMD. The only one I've had deep experience with, but I like it. A no-frills, good-performance and budget-conscious system that helps me do what I want.

[$1500-P4 gamer]

The only IDE issue I'm aware of is the one where if you move too much data in one chunk it corrupts it. Personally hasn't happened yet and I often move over 4 gig files.;)

So what are the other ide "issues" persay?

"Yeah, but sound is only great on NF2 "if" you use digital out with the right speaker setup. or a decoder. Otherwise your using the DAC (usually AC97) - when you use analog out you don't get soundstorm at all. "

O.K. here is where the buzz words confuse people. Sound storm is NOTHING more than a certification process. It means Nvidia says the integrated audio is per spec. On the Nf original mobo manufacturers where the reason behind the sound issues. They implemented audio however they felt fit as was the trend before that and still today majority wise. Nvidia wanted to prevent this on NF2 so Soundstorm idea was invented. If its Soundstrom audio it means it passed nvidia's testing and was to spec on that mobo implemented the way that Nvidia thought fit. ALL AUDIO USES A DAC. Without one you don't have sound. Most don't have digi speakers. Its just the converter. Digital to analog. Has nothing to do with making it not sound storm if sounds channeled through it. LOL. My MCP-T chip is used regardless of digital or analogue output. Your confusing the "must have digital output" for "must be RUNNING DIGITAL out" Alls the spec is saying is that to be "certified SoundStorm" it must feature digi out.

And take note-Asus a7n8x deluxe is still 100% sound storm at spec and design. Ive thoroughly researched. The Label was removed as nvidia demanded. Asus customized ONLY the driver for sound not the hardware as they thought they could do better job with it then nvidia did. " Remember the Nf1 fiasco. Whelp since thats how it was-nvidia got PO and had them removed from list. What should you be aware of as a result of all that. And all the tech specs on the audio. That its just a certification process thats it. The true diff is in the types of SOUTH BRIDGE chips nvidia offers. MCP-T being the king daddy in audio.:t

[Bat25]

I don't get buzz words confused with actual tech and mainboard opererations. I understand MCP-T, and MCP, Nforce2 400 (single channel). I also understand the Asus nforce2, as I have built 17 of them (Thats' just Asus)

Explained in this post @ AMDMB (read Liquidsoul's post ;)

http://www.amdforums.com/showthread.php?threadid=238950&highlight=Soundstorm

Read the post about the DAC on page 2, fourth one down on the second page in reply to WBD1966 ( *Note WBD1966's explanation was just like yours about soundstorm)

*Again, you need to use digital out on the SPDIF) DAC is used for analog, and is bypassed when you use Digital out. Im also aware that almost all boards (with onboard sound) have DAC's and what they do.

I also did tons of research, and have built about 50+ Nforce2 with MCP-T, and more without. Played round with Toslinks, Dig out SPDIF. Very good sound when working correctly (MCP-T that is). I respect your opinion, and im certainly willing to keep my mind open to your point of view

:)

[Ammok]

I'm using analogue out with my asus and sound is good, 5.1 speaker system to go with it. Need to bear in mind everyone's hearing abilities are different, but it sure sound good to me. Would love to get the digital spdif to work and see if I can tell the difference.:)

[ComPooTer]

i use 5.1 creative Inspire speakers great sound, i use analog and digital ( :confused: ) owell it works lol.......its really good

[Bat25]

Fantastic. You know the Analog even on AC97 sounds extremely good if you use really good headphones or speakers. I listed a superb deal on Senhieser 150 phones in the deals section (39.99) - price wont last long. I should get them in mon. I used em when in a local lan event for over 25 types (yes they do have those). I thinks it's great that you see more and more events (gaming) with older gamers now being accepted. Fatal1y himself is getting up there. I think He's about 26-27.

[deadkenny]

I've actually become a convert to AMD, since Intel's 'marketing' decisions with the PIII, Tualatin and Willamette P4's. I can certainly understand the nForce2 fans, and that's what I'm using myself. However, I still voted Intel, because they still make the best chipsets IMHO (although only for their own processors unfortunately - since the socket 7 days anyway). The BX was practically a legend in it's day, for performance and stability. Although the 845 chipset got off to a slow start with the SDRAM version (because of Intel's contract with Rambus), it was an excellent chipset through to it's ultimate development with the PE. Intel's current pair, 865 / 875, are by all accounts excellent.

[Magua]

Another for Nforce2

[Billforce]

It all depends on the year and the series of chipsets, good one year and sucks the next. The PV4 series id VIA were a nightmare setting the IRQ's etc. but the newer VIA boards are a snap...Love them. SiS is great as long as you use the basic drivers etc. but a nightmare to change devices sometimes like adding video, burners etc. AMD is solid but slow and the newer Intel seem to be O.K.....The easiest, trouble free seem to be the Nforce2. "You pays yo money and you takes yo chances", AND you can't believe individual evaluations from owners because they are EXTREMELY biased once they spend their money and own it EVEN if it's a dog, they tend to defend it. They don't want to appear like a dolt for choosing a bad one. Read as much as you can from UNBIASED testers. Figures don't LIE but LIARS figure.
I build most with SiS because of cost but when a customer wants quality and willing to pay then go with a better chipset (motherboard). Where I live in Colombia S.A. there is a tremendous PREMIUM placed on Intel products primarily because of name association. No one here ever investigates for themselves by reading etc. Just buy by name brand.

[Ammok]

Originally posted by Billforce
AND you can't believe individual evaluations from owners because they are EXTREMELY biased once they spend their money and own it EVEN if it's a dog,

well i bought a an MSi K7t266 Pro2 (VIA chipset) AND ITS A DOG.!!!!!!!!! if you try to plug in anything USB.:D