What is the difference in the Intel "BX" chip and the VIA 133???

[1eyedjak]

I am thinking about upgrading soon from a Intel BX board to something that can run an AMD Duron. I see that the ASUS board uses the VIA133 chip.

I don't know a thing about these mobo chips so what are the differences and which one is better?

I always assumed the Intel BX chip was better...

[Joost]

The 440bx chip is older and therefore most of the time more stable. The apollo 133 uses ATA66, standard 440BX boards use ATA33.
The memory of an apollo 133 does not have to run the same as the fsb.
You might want to take a look at the via 133a(watch the a), because that way you have 4X AGP.
I have a via133a chipset myself and I like it.
Some comparisons(keep in mind this the via webpage)
http://www.via.com.tw/products/chipsetcomp.htm

And this is Intel's.
http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/linecard/mainstream.htm

What I said aplies to slot 1 and socket 370 boards.
I think that you will have a hard time trying to place a Duron into a 440bx or apollo 133 or 133a board so you will be better of looking at the apollo 133kt boards.

Via: www.via.com.tw (http://www.via.com.tw)
Intel: www.intel.com (http://www.intel.com)

Hope this helps,

Joost

[1eyedjak]

Since i don't know jack about AMD chips I am just learning. I guess what I wanted to know was if it was smart to get a AMD chip. I figure I will have to get a new kind of board for it but I don't know anything about them.

thanks for the help

[Ygor]

Micron's now entered the market too. If I understand the article here at SysOpt correctly, it could be used on boards for Intel or AMD processors.

Won't be showing up on boards for a while, but it's a contender.

Now if a universal socket could be developed with the processor (AMD/Intel) "sensed" in the Bios...