To socket or not to socket
May 28 '01
The Bottom Line Slots are being phased out by Amd and Intel. Sockets are cheaper and will be used further down the road. Slots are slowly dying.
Seeing only one other opinion at the time I write this, I decided to give my 2 cents on this topic. I'm pretty much accustomed to computer, I don't consider myself an expert, I don't consider anyone an expert actually because computers are the most complex and hard to fix machines invented by man.
From my personal experience, I realize that many people, from individuals to business overlook the importance of a motherboard in a pc. Many people buy the cheapest motherboard around, but people don't realize how important a motherboard is. A good motherboard could mean stability, speed and great performance. A bad motherboard could give you hell.
On the topic of Slot/Socket, it is hard to actually decide which. Let me give you a brief history on these two formats. Intel, in their great wisdom, decided to abandon the Socket format when they killed the Pentium pro, never going beyond 233mhz. Instead they decided to use a cartridge feature, and the Pentium 2 was born.
On the other hand, Amd, continued to pump out socket processors, with the K6-2 and K6-3. Intel then introduced the Celeron in Slot format. But, Intel realized that the Slot cartridges were bulky, and more expensive to make. So they started to phase out the Slot celerons. Then Amd introduced the Athlon, in a slot format. Note well that Amd and Intel's Slot formats are different though they may look alike.
Intel, once again realizing the problems with making Slot processors (Problems not as in errors, but in cost, e.t.c.) started to make their Pentium 3's in Socket 370 format, the same as the current celerons. Amd followed suite, and now, both the Athlons and the Durons (Celeron equivalent) are produced in both Slot and Socket format.
Now, its obvious that both manufactures are slowly but surely phasing out the slot format. But that doesn't mean the slot format is totally hopeless. Both Pentium 3s and Athlons are still made in Slot format as well as socket format.
In price, Socket is no doubt the winner. Sockets processors are cheaper to manufacture and are sold cheaper to consumers. To a further extent, Socket motherboards are slightly cheaper than their slot equivalents.
Performance is another issue. Raw core speed performance is the same but its much easier to cool a socket than a slot. Because slots have built in fans, if you want further cooling, its harder than just putting a stronger fan on top a socket.
Upgradeability is one of the most important issues. The winner without a doubt is socket. With an Intel Socket 370 motherboard, you will be able (given the bus speed on the motherboard) to use either a celeron or a pentium 3. This is the same for Amd with the Socket A motherboards, running either a duron or athlon. In slots, you are limited to Pentium 3s and Athlons. Who knows how long Intel and Amd will keep pumping out these.
The thing is, many people have slot processors they do not want to get rid of. A safe bet for buying a motherboard is to buy a socket/slot motherboard. This motherboard has both formats, though you can only use one type at a time.
If you decide to go socket, I beg you please, buy a brand name. Abit, Asus, Gigabyte and Fic are all great manufactures. I personally prefer Asus, but anyone of them are great. There are other good board manufactures, but these are the ones I have tried. The same goes for buying a slot motherboard. The choice between Intel/Amd is another issue, and I’ll reserve it for another opinion.
The chipset is the core of a motherboard. Choosing one is essential. For Intel sockets, which I have had alot of experience with, I will recommend the i815EP chipset. You get 4x AGP, ATA 100, 133mhz bus and about 6 pci slots. I don't have enough experience with Amd or Intel Slots to give you a recommendation, but just browse epinions and you should find a good board.
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Epinions.com ID:
adamadi
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Reviews written: 56
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"The more people smoke herb, the more Babylon fall" Bob Marley
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