Mobo Tsunami! 24 Boards with the 865/875P Chipset : Motherboard Trends 2003: Consumers Are Spoilt For Choice

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Mobo Tsunami! 24 Boards with the 865/875P Chipset

1:02 PM - 07/07/2003 by Frank Völkel

1 – Motherboard Trends 2003: Consumers Are Spoilt For Choice
2 – Motherboard Trends 2003: Consumers Are Spoilt For Choice, Continued
3 – Overview Test Candidates: 24 Boards On The Test Bench
4 – Abit IC7-G: For Overclocking Fans, Continued
5 – Abit IC7-G: For Overclocking Fans, Continued
6 – Abit IS7: Bitter Price War With PAT
7 – Abit IS7: Bitter Price War With PAT, Continued
8 – Aopen AX4C Max 2: Mid-Range Product With A Few Minor Faults
9 – Aopen AX4C Max 2: Mid-Range Product With A Few Minor Faults, Continued
10 – Aopen AX4C Max 2: Mid-Range Product With A Few Minor Faults, Continued
11 – Aopen AX4C Max: Cooling Element With Possible Danger Of Burning
12 – Aopen AXSPE Max: Restrained Enthusiasm
13 – Asus P4C800 Deluxe: Sparse Selection Of Equipment At A High Price
14 – Asus P4C800 Deluxe: Sparse Selection Of Equipment At A High Price, Conti...
15 – Asus P4C800 Deluxe: Sparse Selection Of Equipment At A High Price, Conti...
16 – Asus P4C800-E Deluxe: Good Choice With CSA Support
17 – Asus P4P800 Deluxe: The Only One With Activated PAT
18 – Asus P4P800 Deluxe: The Only One With Activated PAT, Continued
19 – BIOStar P4TCA Pro: Good Basis With WLAN
20 – BIOStar P4TCA Pro: Good Basis With WLAN, Continued
21 – BIOStar P4TCA Pro: Good Basis With WLAN, Continued
22 – Chaintech 9CJS Zenith: The Features Giant
23 – Chaintech 9CJS Zenith: The Features Giant, Continued
24 – Chaintech 9CJS Zenith: The Features Giant, Continued
25 – DFI Pro 875 Lan Party: A Feast For The Eyes In The Dark
26 – DFI Pro 875 Lan Party: A Feast For The Eyes In The Dark, Continued
27 – Elitegroup PF1: Get The Price Down!
28 – Elitegroup PF1: Get The Price Down! Continued
29 – Epox PE-4PCA3+: Above Average
30 – Epox PE-4PCA3+: Above Average, Continued
31 – Epox PE-4PDA2+: Better Than Its Big Brother
32 – Epox PE-4PDA2+: Better Than Its Big Brother, Continued
33 – Gigabyte: Four Boards With 865 And 875 Chipset
34 – Gigabyte GA-8KNXP Ultra: Top Class At A Top Price
35 – Gigabyte GA-8KNXP Ultra: Top Class At A Top Price, Continued
36 – Gigabyte GA-8KNXP Ultra: Top Class At A Top Price, Continued
37 – Gigabyte GA-8KNXP: Credit Where Credit's Due

38 – Gigabyte GA-8KNXP: Credit Where Credit's Due, Continued
39 – Gigabyte GA-8PENXP: Is PAT Activated?
40 – Gigabyte GA-8PENXP: Is PAT Activated? Continued
41 – Gigabyte GA-8IG1000Pro: Low Cost At A Cutthroat Price
42 – Intel D875PBZ: Spartan, Slow, Expensive
43 – Intel D875PBZ: Spartan, Slow, Expensive, Continued
44 – Intel D865PERL: Potential For Fine Tuning
45 – Intel D865PERL: Potential For Fine Tuning, Continued
46 – MSI 875P Neo-FIS2R (MS-6758): At A High Level
47 – MSI 875P Neo-FIS2R (MS-6758): At A High Level, Continued
48 – MSI 865PE Neo 2-FIS2R (MS-6728): Fastest In The Comparative Test
49 – QDI P4I875PMA-6AFR: Innovation - ATX Becomes Micro-ATX!
50 – QDI P4I875PMA-6AFR: Innovation - ATX Becomes Micro-ATX! Continued
51 – Soltek SL-86SPE-L: Color Me Purple
52 – Soyo P4I875 Dragon 2: Mega Features With Weaknesses
53 – Soyo P4I875 Dragon 2: Mega Features With Weaknesses, Continued
54 – Equipment And Overview Of All Test Candidates
55 – Equipment And Overview Of All Test Candidates, Continued
56 – Equipment And Overview Of All Test Candidates, Continued
57 – Equipment And Overview Of All Test Candidates, Continued
58 – Equipment And Overview Of All Test Candidates, Continued
59 – Equipment And Overview Of All Test Candidates, Continued
60 – Test Setup And Details
61 – Benchmarks In Windows XP
62 – OpenGL Games: Quake 3 Arena
63 – DirectX 8 Games: Comanche 4 Demo
64 – DirectX 8 Engine: 3D Mark 2001 SE
65 – MP3 Audio Encoding: MP3 Maker Platinum 3.04
66 – Archiving: WinRAR 3.11
67 – CPU And Multimedia: SiSoft Sandra 2003 SP1
68 – Office Application: PC Mark 2002
69 – Application: SPEC Viewperf 7.1
70 – Conclusion: Purchase Decision Not Dependent On Chipset
71 – Conclusion: Purchase Decision Not Dependent On Chipset, Continued
72 – Awards: Gigabyte GA-8KNXP (Intel 875P) And MSI Neo 2 (Intel 865PE)
73 – More on this topic

Originally, we planned on doing a second part of the last comparison One Tough Cookie: 10 Boards with Intel i875P Chipset: Part I . However, because the situation with other test candidates and BIOS software has changed, we have retested all the motherboards.

In the next few months, two chipsets will set the pace for the Intel P4 platform, namely the 875P as the top model and the somewhat cheaper 865 with its derivatives. It is also apparent that the Grantsdale chipset, which is not due to be released until mid 2004, will expand the current generation. The two modules are therefore designed to last a long time and are ideal as upgrades or for OEM use.

The current favorite is "Dual-DDR400," and motherboard buyers are basing their purchase decision on criteria such as "FSB800" or "HT-Support." As far as the ambitious user is concerned, selecting the perfect motherboard is anything but a trivial pastime - never before have customers been able to choose from such a wide range of products. Another plus is the extremely long list of features, previously unheard of for motherboards, thus making the purchase of additional components superfluous for the time being. This comes as a result of higher integration.

The most striking feature of the new boards is the optical aspect. Every manufacturer is desperately trying to attract attention through a specific layout and the design of the packaging. The solutions typically rely on lavish, high-gloss print instead of spartan, generic packaging. If you want to be noticed, you have to resort to unconventional methods and have fresh ideas. Hence, bright-colored carrier bags, funny T-shirts, cult stickers, compact screwdrivers, rotating flashing lights or fluorescent round cables are now the trends; the actual hardware, i.e., the motherboard, has long ceased to suffice as a means of wooing customers. What's more important now is to provide enough accessories to make the package burst, and everything at a reasonable price!

Nevertheless, the key is an evenly balanced overall package, the right mixture of features, equipment and performance for critically minded users.

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