DDR For AMD: 16 Boards With VIA KT266 – THG.RU

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16 Boards With VIA KT266″ –>

DDR Power For AMD Athlon/Duron

This is a big round-up to digest so, we have written it in such a way that you can read each board review individually, and as a standalone piece, although the test results are combined for comparison’s sake. Therefore, we repeat common assertions about the pros and cons of features such as USB ports five and six, and ANR, for each review to be comprehensive, and not because we like to repeat ourselves.

Amongst the herd of mammoth chip manufacturers, VIA isn’t considered one of the leaders, despite its tremendous growth. With its head slightly bowed, this grey pachyderm trots behind others who trumpet loudly, pointing the way towards new pastures. VIAs competitors have drawn more attention to themselves through flashy functions and bleeding-edge high-tech features. For about two years now, VIA has been serious about its role mass production – quite in contrast to AMD and the Taiwanese rivals, such as ALi and SiS.

Nevertheless, the VIA KT266 has arrived at last – although it was announced early on, its market launch experienced considerable delays, and it will also take a few days before the first boards are available in large quantities. Still, VIA is the last among the manufacturers to offer a chipset with DDR-SDRAM support for AMD Athlon/Duron. And it’s high time too, since powerful competitors are on the horizon. For instance, Nvidia’s nForce should be a strong competitor in this category with dual-channel DDR support.

In previous tests, we have already examined the ALi Magik 1, AMD 760 and SiS 735 chipsets, highlighting the pros and cons. The fact remains that up until now, the SiS 735 has been regarded as the fastest chipset for AMD Athlon/Duron. This begs the question as to how VIA did its homework and solved the interaction with DDR-SDRAM.

No fewer than 16 boards landed in our THG lab. Most of the boards came directly from Taiwan, and most local vendors didn’t even have a single sample at hand. Fortunatley, the fact that we have offices in the US, Europe and Asia prepared us to deliver a full set of benchmarks by helping us to source products wherever there was availability.

DDR Power For AMD Athlon/Duron, Continued

* depending on clock generator

Comparison of all available chipsets with DDR-SDRAM support for AMD Athlon/Duron. Although the VIA KT266 was announced months ago, it is only now that the boards are available in larger quantities.

Special Features Of The VIA KT266: 6-Speed USB

In addition to the combined SDRAM and DDR-SDRAM support, the VIA KT266 chipset offers the following important innovations: Three USB controllers have been integrated, thus allowing six devices (without USB hub) to be operated simultaneously. Two of these ports are located on the board itself, whereas the remaining four connected by cable. Generally speaking, most of the boards we tested have no additional cables for the fifth and sixth USB port. This can be remedied by a cable that is appropriatedly coded, which is available from electronics stores for around 8 dollars.

A View Of The Test Candidates

First, the good news: Although we tested all the boards with the maximum possible memory speed, with the exception of the Aopen AK77 Plus, we experienced none of those major system crashes which have been so typical of other tests.

Aopen AK77 Plus: Now It’s Stable

Board revision: 48.89A01.011

We got a new bios from Aopen – and now the board is very stable!

At first glance, the Aopen AK77 Plus is quite striking due to its decorative packaging. Upon close inspection, the board also stands out visually: The PCB is completely clad in black, and a special cooling fan adorns the Northbridge of the chipset. An additional IDE controller, the Promise Ultra 100 “Lite”, makes it possible to hook up a total of four devices.

Two BIOS chips ensure reliability.

A lock lever on the AGP slot prevents the graphics card from slipping out.

Aopen AK77 Plus: Now It’s Stable, Continued

Four IDE ports accommodate a total of 8 devices.

Useful: The dual BIOS prevents a total failure of the board in the event of a flash procedure gone wrong. Unnecessary: The manufacturer shouldn’t have bothered with the CNR slot. The board does not come with a USB cable for the fifth and sixth port. An optional feature involves equipping the board with what is known as the Dr. LED Panel, which is a slimmed-down version of a port 80 card. The performance ratings of the Aopen are less than impressive, landing in the last third of all test candidates for all benchmarks. One of the reasons for this is simple enough – we only succeeded in getting the board to run in CL2.5 mode.

The packaging of the Aopen board is a real turn-on!

RAID functionality: The Promise Ultra 100 “Lite” is located on the board.

Asus A7V266: Ready For Palomino

A fast board from the current market leader: The Asus A7V266 runs with an FSB clock rate of 134.3 MHz, which both the BIOS and the user manual list as 133 MHz. The ACR slot is of no use to anyone.

Board revision: 1.05.

Shortly before the end of the test, we received the Asus A7V266 at our test lab. As usual, it always take a while longer for the market leader to start shipping the first of a new generation of boards. On the other hand, this also means that most faults have already been rectified from the outset. The advantages of the A7V266 are easily listed: It features a 6-channel PCI sound chip. The board is factory-shipped with one stereo output only. The layout of the board reveals that there is also an IDE-RAID version available (Promise Ultra 100 “Lite”) with additional ports. The Asus A7V266 is one of the few boards that already supports the successor of the current AMD Athlon, namely the Palomino. Unnecessary: During the test, Asus proved to be not quite so accurate with the front-side bus. For example, although 133 MHz is shown in the BIOS, the real clock rate is 134.3 MHz. Accordingly, our test CPU (AMD Athlon 1200) ultimately ran at 1208.7 MHz. It is not possible to adjust the FSB to the specified 133 MHz. In the performance rating, Asus is at the top of the pack and ranks amongst the fastest boards for AMD Athlon/Duron.

Biostar M7VIB: Designed For OEMs

Board revision: 1.0

The Biostar is one of the few boards in our test to incorporate four DIMM slots. Theoretically, this permits the memory to be upgraded to 4 GB, and the corresponding modules with 1 GB capacity are already available. Overclocking fans should keep their hands off this board, since it does not permit manual adjustment of the clock multiplier. Biostar was a bit overly generous when it came to the integration of CNR and ACR slots, since the appropriate components are only available from OEMs and impossible to find on the retail market. In terms of its performance, the M7VIB fared pretty well: It placed in the middle of the field and generally appears to be a solid product. To sum up: This is a typical OEM board for system integrators, for whom maximum performance is not absolutely essential. Missing: An additional cable for the fifth and sixth USB port.

Virtually unlimited memory upgrade is possible, thanks to 4 DIMM slots.

Playing it safe: Biostar refers users to the manual.

The unnecessary duo: Users have no need for the ACR slot or the CNR slot.

Chaintech CT-7VJD2: For SDRAM And DDR-SDRAM

Board revision: 1.0

The Chaintech reveals a number of highlights: A large heat sink on the Northbridge replaces the noisy fan for the chipset. Like the Asus A7V266, this board also features a 6-channel sound chip – although the Chaintech is supplied with a corresponding cable for the four additional sound channels.

The Chaintech supports both SDRAM and DDR-SDRAM memory.

Chaintech CT-7VJD2: For SDRAM And DDR-SDRAM, Continued

An interesting option for those looking to make the switch: This board features two SDRAM slots and two DDR-SDRAM slots. However, we would not recommend using conventional SDRAM, since the performance drops considerably compared with DDR-SDRAM. DDR-SDRAM mode requires that an additional terminator (included) be placed in one SDRAM slot. One could criticize the inclusion of ACR and CNR slots, which are totally useless for the end user. Once again, there is no cable included for both of the remaining USB ports. Bad news for performance freaks – the Chaintech CT-7VJD2 finished last in virtually all the benchmarks. In terms of performance, it lags way behind the competition with the same chipset.

Noiseless: The Chaintech’s huge heat sink on the Northbridge provides adequate cooling.

In colour: The dubious CNR slot (blue) next to the AGP slot.

Included: A terminator for DDR-SDRAM audio panel.

DFI AD70-SR: Ideal For Overclocking

Board revision: 0.2

The BIOS settings of the DFI AD70-SR proved to be highly versatile. For instance, it is possible to adjust both the CPU core voltage and the clock rate of the front-side-bus. However, an adjustment of up to 250 MHz does appear slightly excessive, since the board gives up beyond 166 MHz in any case. This is the only board in the test where the manufacturer has omitted a sound chip. Like many of the competitors, the DFI features a Promise Ultra 100 “Lite” controller, which permits a total of eight IDE devices to be connected. Whereas a number of manufacturers overshoot the FSB clock rate of 133 MHz as the factory default, the AD70-SR works with a frequency of 133.0 MHz, which produces a CPU timing of 1197.2 MHz. Consequently, DFI loses slightly in performance. Another thing struck us: The AGP slot incorporates a practical holder, which prevents the graphics card from falling out. In terms of benchmark results, the board scrapes by with an average performance rating, landing in the middle for all categories.

Freebie: The DFI board includes a free mouse pad.

DFI AD72-SR: SDRAM/DDR-SDRAM Combination

Board revision: 0.A

Basically, this board has the same construction as the AD70-SR, only that it features two additional SDRAM slots. The benchmark results in conjunction with DDR-SDRAM memory were identical to those achieved by the AD70-SR.

A combined solution: Two DIMMs for SDRAM memory and two DIMMs for DDR-SDRAM modules.

Epox EP-8KHA: The Overclocking Powerhouse

Board revision: 1.1

The Epox comes in a stylish and convenient tote bag that is similar to a shopping bag. In any case, the manufacturer has made an effort here to create a design that diverges from the masses. A role model: The six PCI slots use the chipset to full capacity. To this end, useless CNR, AMR and ACR slots have been omitted. The integral port 80 card also deserves mentioning, as this allows any faults to be diagnosed even on bootup.

Integrated on the board: A port 80 card for system diagnosis.

Epox EP-8KHA: The Overclocking Powerhouse, Continued

Unusual: Transistor switches on the underside of the board.

With the features it offers for overclocking, this board should find plenty of friends: It is possible to adjust the FSB clock rate in megahertz increments. The CPU voltage range can be adjusted between 1.650 Volts and 1.850 Volts. In addition, the Epox features a multiplier between 6.0 und 15.0. This permits a maximum clock rate of 2000 MHz (15 x 133 MHz). A cable for the fifth and sixth USB port is not included. Another positive feature worth mentioning is the small holder for AGP graphics cards, which prevents the card from falling out. With regard to benchmark results, Epox ranks in the upper middle of the pack.

The Epox board comes in this snazzy bag.

Fujitsu-Siemens D1279: The Ultimate In Stability

Board revision: 1.0

The Fujitsu-Siemens board smacks of state-of-the-art production technology. Not only is it equipped with very few components, but it is also the only candidate in the test field to be fitted with an SMD voltage controller. Looking towards the future: In addition to the AMD Athlon, it accepts the AMD Palomino. Unlike the Asus A7V266, for example, this does not involve having to set any jumpers. The board is equipped with an additional voltage supply (AUX12) and also includes a corresponding adapter for standard power packs.

Adhesive strips on the SMD transistors indicate the early stage of the Siemens board.

Additional power connection – the AUX12 is located on the right of the standard jack.

Fujitsu-Siemens D1279: The Ultimate In Stability, Continued

The COM adapter cable included with the board is almost typical of Siemens. Further similar relics are the unlabeled ports and DIP switches – although Siemens has been known to be sensible about labeling on other occasions. The capacitors of the switching controller have been positioned somewhat disadvantageously on the board, making it rather complicated to install a large CPU cooler. Be that as it may, the board exhibited an outstanding level of stability in all the tests. This makes up for the less impressive benchmark results, since the traditional Siemens customer is not an all-out performance freak. A striking feature of this board is that it comes without a noisy chipset fan that is susceptible to wear.

The blanked out COM port is routed by cable to a slot plate.

Both cable and slot plate are included.

Gigabyte GA-7VTX: Countless Jumpers

Board revision: 0.3

A mark of distinction: The Gigabyte has a blue PCB design.

Gigabyte has made a good name for itself with its light-blue PCB design. Its dual BIOS is almost a standard feature, and the PCI sound chip from Creative is another positive feature. The manufacturer doesn’t bother with positioning a fan above the Northbridge. A particularly negative aspect we encountered during the test were the countless jumpers that are strewn over the entire board. In addition, four DIP switches are available to permit the manual adjustment of the CPU core voltage, FSB clock rate and the multiplier. But what’s missing? An additional USB cable for the fifth and sixth port. An unnecessary feature is the AMR slot for which no components are available anyway. This board achieves a solid midfield position in the benchmark tests.

The dual BIOS is a standard feature of this board.

Sound chip from Creative: Better sound and lower CPU load than with an AC’97 or AC’99 chip.

Jetway 866ASR: Nondescript

Board revision: 1.0

Jetway is not so well known in some countries, and for quite a while it has been trying to gain a foothold in this market. A positive feature is the integral Promise controller (Ultra 100 “Lite”), which allows users to hook up four additional IDE components. Another convenient feature is the AGP clamp, which prevents the graphics card from slipping out. A superfluous feature is the CNR slot, which Jetway might as well left out. Overclocking fans won’t be turned on, however: It is impossible to adjust the clock multiplier – neither in the BIOS nor by jumpers. A useful feature is that the CPU voltage, CPU temperature, system temperature and fan speed are displayed on bootup. In terms of its performance ratings, the Jetway board is also midrange.

MSI K7T266 Pro (MS-6380): A Worthy Leader

Board revision: 1.0

Unlike a number of rival manufacturers, MSI’s popularity in the market is growing. The board stands out with a number of interesting features, which could certainly be considered the highlights: These include the integral Promise controller (Ultra 100 “Lite”), the additional voltage supply for the AGP Pro (AUX12), the four Dr. LEDs for the status display and the preset BIOS tuning function. This means that getting maximum performance out of the board only requires a few steps – all you have to do is select the corresponding function. MSI leaves out a noisy chipset fan at the Northbridge.

Useful in the event of malfunctions: Four LEDs for indicating the status.

RAID function: Promise Ultra 100 “Lite” plus two additional IDE ports.

MSI K7T266 Pro (MS-6380): A Worthy Leader, Continued

Genuine hardware enthusiasts cannot fail to be impressed by this board: This board contains numerous overclocking features, such as the bus timing setting, which can be adjusted in megahertz increments, and the precision adjustment of the CPU core voltage. It is possible to change the multiplier between 6.0 and 15.0. The performance ratings paint a clear picture: The MSI MS-6380 ranks among the fastest boards in this test. Innovative: The USB adapter, included, enables a network connection to be established to any PC via USB.

Cables are included for establishing a direct connection to another PC.

Slot plate with USB ports.

QDI KD7 (K7V 8366): Not Your Average Board

Board revision: 1.0 (S1.3)

QDI boards give you the option of inserting your own boot logo with a max. resolution of 640×480 pixels. The port for connecting a card reader will be of interest to OEM customers, although this is irrelevant for end users. On the downside, the board features numerous jumpers, strewn all over the place. Furthermore, next to the AGP slot is an ACR slot, which is irrelevant for end users. During the test, none of the four BIOS versions at our disposal produced any spectacular performance results. Without a doubt, QDI is a master of factory-set overclocking: With a front-side-bus of 134.6 MHz, QDI outstrips the competition by far. This resulted in a CPU clock rate of 1211.5 MHz (AMD Athlon 1200), whereas most of the competitors achieved noticeably better performance with specification clock rates. Fata morgana? In the BIOS, the bus timing is shown at 133 MHz. In reality, however, it was not possible to adjust the FSB to 133 MHz (as per specification). In the benchmark results, this board achieves acceptable ratings.

Only of interest for OEMs: The brown ACR slot next to the AGP.

Included: Slot cover for fitting the motherboard inside a casing.

Shuttle AK31: High Voltage

Board revision: V20

The Shuttle is available in two variants – the first is an all-out DDR-SDRAM solution (AK31) and the second is a combined solution (AK32 – not tested) with SDRAM/DDR-SDRAM. Positive features are the six PCI slots and four DIMM slots. This enables the board to be equipped with the maximum number of possible components and maximum memory configuration.

Four DIMM slots for a maximum memory configuration of 4 GB.

Shuttle AK31: High Voltage, Continued

Positive: The board has integrated network facilities

The distinguishing feature of the AK31 is the adjustable CPU core voltage of up to 2.025 Volts. This fact will set the pulse of all Duron owners racing, as it allows them to get maximum performance out of the small and inexpensive CPU. An ergonomic feature comes in the shape of an AGP holder, which effectively prevents the graphics card from falling out. The Shuttle board is shipped with a factory set front-side-bus of 134.0 MHz and, in conjunction with the AMD Athlon 1200, achieves a clock rate of 1206.2 MHz. The BIOS only displays 1200 MHz. An adjustment (as per specification) to 133 MHz is not possible. Shuttle is the only manufacturer in the test field to supply a cable for the fifth and sixth USB port. The board produces a convincing set of performance ratings, placing first in many of the benchmark disciplines.

A rarity: Shuttle supplies an additional cable for the fifth and sixth USB port.

Shuttle AK32: Dual Version For SDRAM/DDR-SDRAM

Board revision: 1.0

The data of the Shuttle AK32 are identical to those of the AK31 apart from the two DIMM slots.

Soltek SL-75DRV: A Good All-Rounder

Board revision: 1.0

The Taiwanese company Soltek shows its innovative side with this board: A routine called “Red Storm” that is integrated in the BIOS tests the processor for its maximum overclocking capacity. However, this feature has no practical value: After overclocking the CPU based on the information given by the “Red Storm” program, it was no longer possible to start the operating system. Positive features come in the form of the AGP Pro-Slot, which also supports high-performance graphics cards. Soltek has done away with a chipset fan.

External temperature sensor that can be used anywhere.

Well-intentioned, but impractical: The Red Storm function for maximum overclocking.

Soltek SL-75DRV: A Good All-Rounder, Continued

An external temperature sensor can be positioned at any location. An improvement could be made by doing away with the CNR slot in favor of a sixth PCI slot. Furthermore, the inclusion of a USB cable could only increase user satisfaction. The performance of this board leaves no grounds for criticism: The Soltek SL-75DRV is positioned in the front ranks in all the benchmark disciplines.

The packaging of the Soltek sets it apart from the uniformity of the numerous competitors.

Safety: Soltek warns of the dangers resulting from improper handling.

Soyo SY-K7V (Dragon): All Aboard?

Board revision: 1.0

The striking feature of the Soyo board is its black PCB design and the lilac-colored PCI slots, which almost certainly will not appeal to Western tastes. Soyo has additional IDE interfaces in yellow, whilst a Promise Ultra 100 “Lite” provides connection facilities for hooking up four additional IDE devices.

Distinguishing feature: 6-channel PCI sound chip for perfect sound.

Included: Slot plate for the inputs and outputs of the sound system.

Soyo SY-K7V (Dragon): All aboard?, Continued

One distinguishing feature of the Dragon board is the 6-channel PCI sound chip, which is incorporates an adapter cable with optical inputs and outputs in addition to separate cinch connections. Other features worth mentioning are the AGP Pro-Slot and the integrated network chip. This makes the board first choice for those users who are seeking a highly integrated solution. Overclocking fans will be pleased, since the FSB clock rate and the CPU core voltage can be manually adjusted. With regard to benchmarks results, this board placed in the upper mid-range among the test candidates.

The lilac-coloured PCI slots are meant to make the board visually attractive.

This board features an integrated network connection.

VIA VT5431E: Reference Board 2

This board has been developed by the chip manufacturer VIA and was meant to be a reference design for motherboard manufacturers. We have included the results of this board only as a comparison.

Exposed: Manufacturer Tricks With FSB Clock Rate

Note:X axis (core frequency) not to scale.

To ensure absolutely identical test conditions, we started our comparison by examining the FSB clock rate on all boards, because manufacturers do not always specify the exact clock rate. For example, the BIOS might show 133 MH, but when measured precisely, this turns out to be 134 MHz or more in reality. Even the BIOS reading of the processor clock rate – for example 1200 MHz in the case of the AMD Athlon – doesn’t mean anything.

Test Configuration: Special Features

We also wish to make a few comments regarding the various test systems, all of which we subjected to the same procedure: The DDR-SDRAM memory modules we used are special modules with a CAS latency of 2, which are currently not available over the counter. On the other hand, the AMD Athlon 1200 can only perform to capacity in conjunction with CL2. As a comparison with the other DDR platforms, we have included the benchmarks of the ALi Magik 1, VIA KT133A (SDRAM), SiS 735 and AMD 760 chipsets and depicted these in a different color (light green) in the diagrams.

OpenGL Performance: Quake 3 Arena

In this benchmark, the reference board from SiS is clearly in the lead, and is even ahead of the reference board with the AMD-760 chipset. The MSI delivers the best performance amongst the KT266 boards.

Direct3D Performance: Unreal Tournament

In this category, the reference board with the AMD 760 chipset comes out on top, with the SiS 735 reference board hot on its heels. The Soltek SL-75DRV proves to be the best KT266 board.

Office Performance: Sysmark 2000

In the office performance category, the SiS 735 reference board takes the lead once again, followed by the Biostar M7VIB with the VIA KT266 chipset.

MPEG-4 Encoding: Flask Mpeg and Divx

MPEG encoding is a particular strength of the reference board with the SiS 735 chipset, thanks to the unusually high I/O performance. However, the best board with the KT266 chipset is the Soltek SL-75DRV.

OpenGL Rendering: SPECviewperf 6.1.2

SPECviewperf Awadvs-04

In this well-known OpenGL benchmark, the reference board with the AMD-760 chipset takes pole position. However, the leader amongst the KT266 boards is the Soltek SL-75DRV.

SPECviewperf DRV-07

Here the Soltek comes out on top as well, almost on par with the VIA reference board (KT266 chipset).

SPECviewperf DX-06

In this benchmark, the Epox with the KT266 chipset just manages to squeeze ahead of Soltek to take the lead.

SPECviewperf Light-04

Amongst the boards with the KT266 chipset, the Soltek SL-75DRV is the fastest. Viewed in absolute terms, the reference board with the AMD-760 chipset is the leader of the pack – closely followed by the Epox EP-8KHA. The Chaintech CT-7VD2 delivers the weakest performance – although it was equipped with SDRAM.

SPECviewperf MedMCAD-01

The SPECviewperf benchmark shows the Soltek SL-75DRV as the clear winner, leaving the competition in the dust. All the non-KT266 reference boards rank in the middle, with the last two places going to those boards equipped with SDRAM.

SPECviewperf ProCDRS-03

Amongst the test candidates with the KT266 chipset, the Soltek SL-75DRV is the victor in this benchmark discipline. Only the reference board with SiS 735 is faster than the entire field and takes first place. The reference boards with the ALi Magik 1 chipset and AMD-760 module cut a poor figure.

Linux Compilation: THG Benchmarking Kernel

Note:Shorter times are better.

In this test, the VIA reference board (KT266 chipset) is in the lead, with the MSI KT7266 Pro hot on its heels. A poor performance was delivered by the Chaintech, which finished at bottom of the pack.

Up Close And Personal: Motherboard Configuration

Up Close And Personal: Motherboard Configuration, Continued

Up Close And Personal: Motherboard Configuration, Continued

Summary: MSI and Soltek Are The Fastest

This highly comprehensive test at our lab spanned a period of almost two weeks and shows us the following: For users who are looking for a fast but stable board, we recommend the MSI (MS-6380) and Soltek (SL-75DRV). The Asus A7V266 isn’t a bad choice either – by already supporting the AMD Athlon with the Palomino core, it is well equipped for upcoming technology. However, the Asus A7V266 only achieves its solid performance because it has a higher factory-set clock rate than its rivals.

MSI has really come a long way compared with previous tests: With its innovative features and numerous add-ons, the MS-6380 stands out brightly in the test field. The Siemens D1279 also deserves word: This manufacturer, based in Augsburg, Germany, and the German icon in the business sector as well, traditionally dedicates itself to maximum system stability. Amongst all the test boards we received, the D1279 is the most up to date with regards to production. Siemens uses the fewest of components while offering the highest manufacturing quality. Why the board runs with the brake on still baffles us. The solution here is undoubtedly a customized version of BIOS. We were somewhat surprised by the Aopen AK77 Plus, which stopped running at regular intervals. We have never encountered such problems with this manufacturer in the past.

Only Average: The KT266 Compared With The Competition

Generally speaking, we can say the following about the VIA KT266 chipset: In the coming weeks, in will be appearing with increasing frequency on motherboards in the market. In a direct comparison with competitors such as AMD, ALi and SiS (who also offer chipsets with DDR support for AMD Athlon/Duron), the VIA KT266 only cuts an average figure. This is shown quite clearly in our benchmarks, which include the results of the competitors as a comparison. In virtually all of the benchmarks, the KT266 is unable to match the performance of the SiS 735, which is still the fastest chipset to date for the AMD platform. Maybe this will change if nForce lives up to expectation. But so far so good – the VIA KT266 is designed for the mass market and, when used in conjunction with DDR-SDRAM, gets a decent performance out of the AMD Athlon/Duron. The fact that it is not possible to use conventional SDRAM almost goes without saying. Anyone toying with the idea of buying a combined solution consisting of slots for SDRAM and DDR-SDRAM should quickly put such thoughts asides. This would mean that the user might as well stick to his “old” board with the VIA KT133A chipset, as this is at least as equally as fast as the KT266 in conjunction with SDRAM memory.

To Conclude: What Does The Near Future Have In Store?

Expect some exciting times in the near future. We’re looking at the nForce chipset, but our analysis of all DDR chipsets is far from over. There’s a lot going on in the market, and we have plenty of new material for you in the coming months. This is just the beginning.