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Motherboards

Posted on 12 May 2008 at 10:57

Your choice of processor inevitably dictates your motherboard options. With an Intel CPU, you'll need a Socket 775 (also called LGA775) model. For AMD, you have a choice between Socket 939 and AM2 versions. But going for anything other than the newer Socket AM2 will limit your upgrade potential, as Socket 939 processors are rapidly being phased out. Beyond the basic socket required for your processor, however, lies a bewildering array of chipset choices.

For Intel processors, you can choose between Nvidia nForce 4, 5, 6 and 7 series, a huge array of Intel's own chipsets, and even a few VIA and SiS options. However, your choices will already be cut down by your specific selection of CPU. Although Intel has been using the LGA775 socket since the Pentium 4 switched to three-digit model numbers, not all chipsets support every processor. Intel 915, 945 and 946 chipsets won't usually recognise Core 2 processors, for example.

For mainstream Intel Core 2 chips that have 800MHz or 1,066MHz front side buses (FSBs), you'll need Intel 965, 975, or one of the new two-digit models: P31, P35, X38 or X48. Alternatively, Nvidia's 600i or 700i series options are worth considering. A 1,333MHz FSB is required for Intel's latest processors, which further reduces your range of choices. Only Intel's P31, P35, X38 and X48 or Nvidia's nForce 600 or 700 series (with the exception of 630i) officially support this bus speed.

Intel's topmost X48 chipset has also just arrived, although motherboards are still in short supply. Its main benefit is official support for the new 1,600MHz FSB, which made its debut with the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770. A few X38 motherboards have been unofficially supporting this speed for a while, though, as will Nvidia's nForce 790i.

Although there's a performance difference between all these chipsets, choosing between them is more a matter of features than the few per cent performance difference. One such feature worth considering is multi-graphics support. If you want to run multiple Nvidia graphics cards in SLI mode at some point, an Nvidia SLI chipset will be your only option. If you think AMD's CrossFire is more likely, then go for an Intel chipset board with more than one PCI Express 16x slot, or a CrossFire-compatible AMD chipset board when running an AMD processor. The other differentiating factor is memory support, which we cover in the next section.

Despite the plethora of options, and the future-proofing of the X48 chipset, we've stuck with X38 for our gaming rig in the shape of MSI's X38 Diamond. The board should support a 1,600MHz FSB via a future BIOS upgrade, so the chipset won't limit upgrades. Indeed, Intel is planning to change sockets entirely with its Nehalem processors at the end of 2008, so future CPUs will need an entirely new motherboard by then anyway. We went for the MSI motherboard for another reason - it comes with Creative Labs' Sound Blaster X-Fi audio. It's ideal for games.

Even if your budget is low and your processor choice modest, you can still balance value, features and upgrade potential. AMD's Socket AM2 will remain the same even when its processors move to DDR3 support later in 2008. The new processors will reportedly contain a memory controller capable of supporting both DDR2 and DDR3, so they should work in any Socket AM2 motherboard, with the appropriate BIOS support. However, certain power management features won't be available with this configuration, nor will the latest HyperTransport 3 bus speed. So AMD has created an in-between Socket AM2+, for the current Phenoms that use HyperTransport 3 but a DDR2 memory controller. If you've chosen AMD, opt for a Socket AM2+ motherboard to maximise future options.