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    Why different chipsets? What makes one different or better than another?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by mgray, Jan 5, 2009.

  1. mgray

    mgray Notebook Geek

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    From what I know, a chipset is a combination of "smaller" processors and combination of connections for things like the processor to Northbridge, RAM, GPU, PCI etc.

    What confuses me, is why are there so many options?? Wouldn't all brands of motherboards know the best combination, and so they would all use the same one, or at the very most, just a couple variations? Why are there so many combinations? What does each one do different or better than the other? And why is there a group of nVidia chipsets, what do they do?

    Here from the Gigabyte site, there are so many options http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products...List.aspx?VenderType=Intel&CPUType=socket+775

    And from Intel http://ca.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11

    For what it's worth, I'm considering a Quad Core (LGA775), and people keep saying the P45 chipset is popular and good.
     
    mgray, Jan 5, 2009
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  2. D3X

    D3X the robo know it all

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    Is this a desktop question or a notebook one?

    You seem to have pointed your link to Gigabye's desktop boards, so I assume desktop. So you need to head over to desktopreview.com

    Just to answer you're question quickly:

    There are many chipsets on that page simply because it lists ALL of Gigabyte's motherboard offerings from really dated to the most recent platforms. There's also many manufacturers that build chipset architecture for different markets; budget, low, mid, performance, server, gaming, enthusisast etc ,to name a few companies that have built chipsets: Intel, Nvidia, AMD & Ati, VIA, Alladdin, etc and so forth.
     
    D3X, Jan 5, 2009
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  3. tianxia

    tianxia kitty!!!

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    to differentiate the market. low-end, mid-range, highend. everyone have different needs you know.
     
    tianxia, Jan 5, 2009
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  4. Clutch

    Clutch cute and cuddly boys

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    Because computer nerds want to go on the quest of finding the best combo of components and each company thinks they offer the best.
     
    Clutch, Jan 5, 2009
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  5. mgray

    mgray Notebook Geek

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    Ok that's what I'm getting at tho, what are the different needs? Does one chipset prioritize RAM vs PCI etc?

    What I want to know is what is different from each chipset option to the next?
     
    mgray, Jan 5, 2009
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  6. Melody

    Melody How's It Made Addict

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    Making money and appealing to the largest public? I mean, everyone could easily decide that the best combo is a core i7 with 2 HD4870x2 in Crossfire with 8Gb of RAM on a certain chipset motherboard, but then you'd cut down the diversity no? Variety is key and not every consumer needs the same thing.

    You can ask yourself the same question about desktop GPUs. Why are there 50 versions of the same GPU by 50 different companies?
     
    Melody, Jan 5, 2009
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  7. mgray

    mgray Notebook Geek

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    Thanks for the replies, and yes I somewhatunderstand the business aspect, but what I'd like to know is, TECHNICALLY what is different?

    Example; what is the difference then between the X38 and P45 chipsets? Best yet, where can I find information on what differentiates one chipset from the next?
     
    mgray, Jan 5, 2009
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  8. Erokitsune

    Erokitsune Notebook Consultant

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    Erokitsune, Jan 5, 2009
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  9. mgray

    mgray Notebook Geek

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    Awesome, thanks for that!

    So I guess then that if I wanted to run SLI, I would need a nVidia chipset? So it's safe to say that all the nVidia chipsets are gaming/graphic orientated?
     
    mgray, Jan 5, 2009
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  10. Erokitsune

    Erokitsune Notebook Consultant

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    that would be correct
     
    Erokitsune, Jan 5, 2009
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  11. Michel.K

    Michel.K 167WAISIQ

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    About those links to different motherboard chipsets from gigabyte and intel.

    All i need to say is that those gigabyte boards uses the intel chipset on all those motherboards you've linked too. JFYI.
     
    Michel.K, Jan 5, 2009
    #11