Paul,
<Re: "In Pentium area, moving form PC100 to 133 also means moving from BX chipset to inferior Via chipsets (memory access-wise)">
Today, that statement is correct.
In a few months, it won't be.
Oh. I think your argument used to be: "can I buy it today?"
Actually, if you were in a market for an Intel based system today, you would be disappointed.
You can buy a chip in a yesterday's package (Slot) and plug it into:
a) yesterday's chipset (BX), yesterday's FSB, yesterday's memory PC100
b) sub-par chipset (VIA), today's FSB, mainstream memory PC133
c) overpriced questionable chipsets (820, 840), today's FSB (133), a joke of a memory (Rambus) - overpriced at that.
d) modern packaging (FC-PGA) with nothing to stick it into.
Don't you think it is inexcusable for Intel to be cought with only a low end chipset (810), without a mainstream chipset (a successor to BX) and a non-viable high end (820 and 840)?
I think a company as large as Intel should have a Plan A, B, C and D. If a tiny VIA can make competitive chipset for Pentium, Athlon and Socket 7, wouldn't you expect Intel to do at least as well?
For Intel, it's a good thing AMD is limited by sub-par (sub BX) quality chipsets at the moment, or the whole situation would be even more embarrassing.
Joe |
