AMD CPUs maybe better, but their chipsets suck!

[Maverick]

This is from Anand's latest review of the Duron 900:

The reasoning behind it is simple; with only 60% of the total cache of the Athlon, the Duron is obviously more dependent on memory performance. The data that the CPU cannot find within its L1 or L2 caches must be retrieved from main memory, the longer that retrieval process takes, the longer the CPU must wait and the more performance is lost. Unfortunately the memory performance of both the SiS and VIA low-cost solutions is noticeably lower than what Intel's similarly targeted chipsets are able to provide.

This explains a lot, as there's a lot of main memory fetches while I'm playing games with my Duron 650@800. If AMD doesn't shape up and start producing some quality chipsets, I'll be tempted to go back to Intel. I guess there's not getting around the old saying "you get what you pay for".

 

[Dulanic]

Hes talking about integrated chipsets. Not KT133 or KT133A! Hes talking about specifically KM133 and KL133 and the SiS chipset (Forgot the name).

 

[AdamK47]

Ever hear of the AMD 760? Other than that board the only other chipset AMD has made is the now old AMD 750. AMD wants to rely on others to produce their boards, so they can put most of their strengths into making excellent CPUs. The AMD 760 performs awesomely. Well past twice the performance of an i815 at equivalent bus speeds (if you don't count the DDR factor). And that?s just the chipset performance alone.

 

[John]

Shiva, the review states "low-cost solution", hence the budget boards. Get a nice KT133a chipset board and go to town.

 

[Remnant2]

Shiva: you're taking Anand's statement WAY out of context. He said that in regards to the fully-integrated, cheap Duron boards. You DO NOT have one of those. A check of your system rig shows a MSI Pro2A, which is an excellent motherboard.

I'd say that the KT133A chipsets are definitely on par with 815/BX133, or very close, in terms of memory performance.

 

[Maverick]

Thanks for correcting me, what you guys say makes sense.
But I've had lots of stability issues with my K7T Pro2A and I blame it entirely on Via's inferior chipset.
Unless AMD revamps their chipsets or puts some pressure on Via to do more intensive testing, I will probably be going back to intel. I can't justify saving a hundred bucks over having a stable piece of hardware.

 

[Dulanic]

<< I'd say that the KT133A chipsets are definitely on par with 815/BX133, or very close, in terms of memory performance. >>



No KT133 and KT133A are ahead of 815 and BX for memory performance.

 

[DaddyG]

Never eat a 'SNAKE' from the ASS first, you don't know where the HEAD is, or maybe we know Shiva ??

 

[Modus]

Shiva,

Your stability problems are either your own fault, or the result of defective hardware. Moving to Intel will not solve the problem. AMD systems are proven to be just as stable and reliable as Intel ones. The VIA KT133x chipset is now very mature and modern KT133a motherboards display stability that puts old Intel BX warhorses to shame.

If you need help tracking down your stability problem, this board is best place on the web.

Modus

 

[FAQ]

True, AMD is just as stable. Actually, one of the most over looked piece of hardware is the power supply. Since most people have a decent ps they don't really consider it to be the cause of instablilty with other people's rigs.

Not saying it's the problem here or anything, but I just thought I'd throw it out there, from personal experiance of course. From a 250 watt to 300........huge difference

 

[randomlinh]

yes, their chipsets SUCK! heh, oh wait, i'm speaking from the MVP3 days..... heh

 

[joohang]

I agree. My K7T Pro2-A is rock solid, although I had to RMA for defective hardware once.

 

[fkloster]

<< &quot;...and modern KT133a motherboards display stability that puts old Intel BX warhorses to shame&quot; >>

-Modus

I would like to see this statement backed up...

 

[PCResources]

Shiva112: What kinds of stability problems are you having? Would that be a problem with the HDD interface?

I saw that you have a 75GXP disk, IBM states that there are problems with their DTLA series and some IDE interfaces, the southbridge you have is one of the interfaces mentioned...

I stopped using those drives a long time ago, and i said that there is a problem with it, got flamed a few times for it too... It showed up in my tests, and now IBM confirms it...

If this is your problem, then the problem has nothing to do with the VIA chipset, it is your IBM drive which is flawed...




<< I would like to see this statement backed up... >>



I will back that statement up, from thousands of tests, i have found that the 133/133A chipset has fewer problems than the BX chipset did in the earlier revisions, nowdays, the BX chipset (after many revisions) is just about as stble as the 133/133A chipsets from VIA (after ONE revision)...

Patrick Palm

PC Resources

 

[Maverick]

actually most of my stability problems are DMA related. My burner and DVDROM work haphazardly...DVD only works with DMA, burner works with or without (very sporadic). I haven't had any HD related problems.

 

[Mem]

I went from Intel to AMD last September(now using MSI K7T Pro board KT133 chipset)anyway it`s rock solid ,I do alot of gaming etc &amp; it has given me no problems at all.

 

[Sugadaddy]

Instable system?

#1. blame AMD
#2. blame VIA
#3. all of the above

Ask myself if I'm the one who can't set it up properly? Why never!:disgust:

 

[Maverick]

I agree. My K7T Pro2-A is rock solid, although I had to RMA for defective hardware once.

Maybe I'm being too picky here, but I lose faith in a company if their product requires an RMA. Besides this is my second K7T board and the problems persist. I have tried almost every possible fix out there for these problems (including advice on these boards). Leo V had the same problems with his K7T. Perhaps its just a problem with this particular board. I just don't have the time/money to upgrade so I live with instability right now.

I've seen numerous posts to the forum describing DMA problems with the Via chipset. I have the old fashioned view that if you plug something in and follow the steps they tell you to follow, it should work without hassles. Via definitely doesn't seem to think this is important. No amount of Elite Members telling me that my instability problems are my own fault will change my opinion of Via hardware.

Honestly, the amount of bashing I see from those with Elite and Golden member status makes me wonder about the social quality of the people who post on here. Please don't talk to me like I'm an idiot. I don't start blaming companies before I've tried EVERYTHING.

 

[PCResources]

<< Leo V had the same problems with his K7T >>



Same problems, same HDD, your other HW could be affected because of the problems with the HDD...

I have never ever had to deal with any instability isses with a K7T Pro2A board (hundreds of boards used by now), nor have i ever had to return such a board, but then again, i do not use IBM drives...

Patrick Palm

PC Resources

 

[PCResources]

<< I haven't had any HD related problems >>



Are you sure, the problems you are having might very well be because of a problem with your HDD, it could very well affect the other drives on the IDE interface...

Patrick Palm

PC Resources

 

[Maverick]

well I really don't have the cash to spend on a brand new HD so most likely I won't be changing it any time soon. Incidentally both the HD and the mobo were recommendations from people on this board. I think I'm gonna start waiting 2-3 months after something comes out to see what problems pop up.

 

[knutp]

I put together a system with the k7t pro2a, 75gxp (the damn 45 gb version)... pioneer 16X dvd, 12X cdrw, geforce 2 mx, nic and winme..

It workes great! no dma problems at all! Try updating the bios to the 2.5 version, 4-1 (I used the 4.28v (beta) Don't know how the 4.29 is yet). The harddrive is alone in the ide 1, and dvd is master on ide 2 and cdrw is slave on ide 2. No problems here!

 

[Maverick]

Does the bios you're using allow for higher voltages? I'm using the OC's bios right now.

 

[knutp]

Well I think it can, I haven't looked so close about that, but I really believe it does. That motherboard was for a friend, and I was not builing it to overclock but to be as stable as possible

 

[Wingznut]

So, is the IBM hd problem inherant to Via chipsets or any chipset?