What is the chipset

[schu]

Can someone explain the chipset?

How does it affect the motherboard and the system.
Does it influence the speed of the system.

What should I look for in a chip set.

Thx

 

[paparazi]

The chipset is the large processor or processors (there can be one OR two) situated on the motherboard, that allow all the connected devices to comunicate with one another.
Just as CPU performance has increased dramatically
in the last couple of years so has the speed of chipsets and there ability to allow devices to comunicate at ever increasingly faster speeds.
So yes it makes an enormous differance in performance if you use an older chipset compared to a new one!!!!!!
This is why when choosing a motherboard your first consideration is NOT THE MAKE but THE CHIPSET.
At the moment: For P4 based systems Intels 845G seems to be the chipset to go for.
And for the AMD XP: Via's KT333 is currently the fastest but will soon be replaced by the KT400.
So chipset FIRST! then make: Asus, Abit, Gigabyte, Soltek, Soyo, MSI, FIC.
Martin

Please let members know if there advice has helped any.