Impact of motherboard

[imchief]

Its me again.

[Scottler]

FINALLY a question I know!  lol

The components on your motherboard can only run as fast as the motherboard will let them.  If you're going to "splurge" on any component of your system, it should be the motherboard.

[GunnerMan]

Well if you go AMD try and get a NForce 4 chipset, they do have many improvements over the others. Faster, more stable, and more support for other perifrials. Yes there are not many 64bit software avalible but there will be soon AMD made the 64bit move a year or so ago and forced Intel to make the move too. Another year or 2 and 32 bit CPUs will be almost nonexistant. You also want a motherboard that supports PCI-E as AGP is the same as 64 bit but its going to happen faster. If you get a good motherboard now you wont regret it later...

[Dan]

If you're going to "splurge" on any component of your system

Well from the knowledge I have that doesnt really work as far increasing performance!! I know they do make some great looking mobo's these days but don't go giving Foz more ideas!

Yeah, from what I heard the mobo is the one to 'spend' on. Remember everything connects to it at some oint so its worth it!

In my opinion PCI-e may catch on, but not SLI. Thats just me, The_autopilot feels differently I know!
Dan  ;)

[GunnerMan]

Yeah I hope SLI does not catch on or my main vide cards will need to be Dual MX440s I don't think it will but I could do just fine with autopilots system FX-55 at 3.5 GhZ

[congo]

Motherboard manufacturers buy "chipsets" from chipset makers, then use them as the basis for the mobos.

Each chipset has a particular set of features that the producer hopes you will find attractive. It's up to the motherboard maker to incorporate those features and produce mainboards that will be popular and generate profits.

There are usually a few variations of mainboard features within a chipset version, but the performance  specifications are usually similar. It's really up to you to choose a mainboard with the performance and features you want. This isn't an easy task, there is a lot to choose from and much to learn.

Basically, Chipset and CPU design are dependant on each other, so an AMD based Chipset won't work on an Intel CPU or vice versa.

A good mainboard is not chosen on price usually, the decision to purchase should be performance and feature based. Once that is established, you can choose between brands and variations to seek out a bargain.

****

64 bit computing has a rather important immediate role. It has allowed AMD to remain competitive (for the immediate future) with Intel's advanced technology.

Basically, AMD 64 bit CPU's made extremely fast Front Side Bus speeds possible on AMD platforms, which were, until recently, lagging behind the P4 based systems.

Both AMD and Intel are finding it difficult to increase the actual CPU speed, so they are both devising ways to increase performance through advanced technologies rather than just raw cpu speed.