X-bit labs

Chipsets for Socket AM2 Platform: ATI CrossFire Xpress 3200 and Nvidia nForce 590 SLI (page 18)

Category: Chipsets

by Ilya Gavrichenkov

[ 06/13/2006 | 10:44 AM ]

Conclusion

the detailed testing of the new ATI CrossFire Xpress 3200 and Nvidia nForce 590 SLI based platforms proved that both these solutions are very high-quality products with no significant anatomical or functional issues. In other words, we didn’t reveal any serious problems with either of them that could force us to give any negative feedback. It means that the statements made in the introductory part to this article should be taken really seriously: the choice of Socket AM2 chipset is a secondary task today. In most cases, the question about the chipset choice is answered once you make up your mind about the graphics subsystem.

The question about which chipset is the best one is appropriate only if you are not going to use SLI or CrossFire graphics configurations and do not even consider the possible upgrade in this direction in the future. However, even in this case it is really hard to give any recommendations about the best chipset choice, because ATI CrossFire Xpress 3200 and Nvidia nForce 590 SLI have different strengths and drawbacks, which we have already discussed in great detail today.

And although we get the impression that Nvidia solution offers broader range of features and higher level of performance, and hence should be regarded as a better choice, we cannot agree to that. The majority of Nvidia nForce 500 family’s advantages have pure marketing origins and in reality this solutions doesn’t have any unique outstanding features.

Even though ATI CrossFire Xpress 3200 seems to have fewer attractive features, the mainboard manufacturers can easily avoid all the potential drawbacks by integrating additional onboard controllers. This way, it should be not the chipset but the mainboard manufacturer with the particular platform implementation that should determine your choice of a mainboard solution. Especially, since it is the mainboard manufacturer who is in the end responsible for the end-product features, including overclocking friendliness and stability.

And this is where Nvidia nForce 590 SLI based solutions look more attractive at this time. Mainboards based on this chipset are already available in retail, while ATI can only offer a reference Sturgeon mainboard for reviews. As for Nvidia nForce 590 SLI, the ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe mainboard may become an excellent basis for a Socket AM2 system.

In other words, it is still too early to draw any final conclusions. We will make them when we get a chance to see more retail mainboards on ATI CrossFire Xpress 3200 and Nvidia nForcd 590 SLI.