Go with Athlon64 Via K8T800 now or wait for NForce 250?!?!?

[Schnieds]

Hey all,

I am really thinking about dropping the bomb on a new Athlon64 system. However, I have been advised to wait until the new NForce 250 chipset comes out later this month. The problem is that I can't find much information about the NForce 250 and don't know if it is worth waiting for. The Via K8T800 seems to be a stable and well performing chipset so part of me says that waiting is just a waste of time.

Does anyone have any more information or comments they would share to help me make the decision?

Thanks!

 

[Vette73]

If you are going to wait, then at least wait for the SiS755, NOT the NF 250.

If you get a board now look at the Albatron K8X800

 

[Schnieds]

What is the new SIS chipset supposed to improve upon? Why will it be better than the NForce 250?

Also, I was planning on going with the Asus V8T800 Deluxe MB, which everyone is raving about. Why go with Albatron?

Thanks for the info!

Schnieds

 

[Vette73]

The Alb. board has onboard Envy sound, a REAL sound card, so it will not take up CPU cycles and offers a better support for sound then any AC97. It is also supposed to overclock very well. Clean board with all the usable options. and goes for only $129 at newegg.com


The SiS755 takes the best of the VIA and NF boards. Great overclocking and full speed HT. BUT right now there is only one SiS755 board and that is a basic ECS one.

 

[Peter]

oooo ... Envy does take up CPU cycles, and it's on the (slow) PCI bus. VIA chipset integrated sound isn't too heavy on CPU either, and is on a fast, direct chipset internal connection.

The Envy chip is the MUCH more versatile and capable chip though, no question there. Btw, it also uses AC97 to connect to its codecs ...

Schnieds, the SiS chipset (available now!) has top performance everywhere - full spec HyperTransport link to the CPU for full AGP performance (very much unlike NForce 150), and top notch inter-chipset connection for best I/O throughput (which is where VIA's is a tad weak).