Chipset question

[BUTCH1]

Hello all, I was looking to replace my Asrock dual-vista board with an intel based 775 board. I noticed a large selection based on the "G" series w/integrated video for low prices, I wont be using onboard video but I was wondering if there is a large performance hit using one of these chipsets vs the p35/45 series. I do a mild OC to my e4600 to 3Ghz and am planning to add a 9800GT as a video card. Thanks in advance for any advise/suggestions..

 

[NXIL]

Hey Butch,

hard to find direct IGP/non-IGP chipset comparisons, but it looks like if you use a video card, and not the IGP graphics, there is not a lot of difference:

Gary Key wrote last year:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=29&threadid=2008282

In answer to your concern, exclude any overclocking aspects of the boards, the difference between the G965 and P965 is about 2% on average without a discrete video card solution installed in the G965. The difference with one installed is negligible if all other settings are equal. The issue is that most G965 boards do not offer extensive memory controller options and so the ability to tweak the memory is not available and the memory subtimings are usually run a lot looser.

That's P965 v G965, so a bit out of date....but, P35/P45 and IGP versions are descendents. So, I would guess same would hold, non-igp version would be slightly (a few %) faster, but with better memory tweaking options, etc.

Recommendation for you? Since you have the nice high performance video card, get the P45 chipset: better memory control, and, I think better drivers than the G chipset versions. (Some of the GXX chipset drivers are sort of flaky from what I understand....the P45 drivers are cleaner, better for your needs I think.)

HTH

NXIL

 

[BUTCH1]

Yea, that makes sense, seeing how the IG chipsets have to include the driver for the video were the P35/45 will not need it, only about $25 more so I'll probably go with the 35/45...