When you start looking at new motherboards, it seems like everyone is getting into the act. ALi (Acer Labs, /nc.) and VIA Technologies are two companies that have been offering core logic chipsets for AMD’s Athlon, Duron, and Athlon XP processors. More recently, graphics vendors ATI and NVIDIA have joined the core logic fray. We’ve yet to see any motherboards using ATI’s core logic offering, which seems to be targeted more to the set-top box industry. NVIDIA, however, has had moderate success with its core logic set, which it calls the NFORCE chipset.

As with a standard core logic set, which uses Northbridge and Southbridge chips, the NFORCE core logic set also has two major chips. NVIDIA gives them somewhat different names, however, calling them a System Platform Processor (SPP) /integrated Graphics Processor (IGP) and a Media and Communications Processor (MCP). The SPP/IGP does much the same work as a Northbridge chip, while the IGP handles the audio and networking tasks. NVIDIA offers the NFORCE core logic set in the 415 and 420 models. The 420 chipset provides integrated graphics, while the NFORCE 415 foregoes this and offers only the standard AGP slot.

Unlike Intel, NVIDIA does not actually make motherboards for resale, though it does offer motherboard manufacturers a reference design that they can modify to their particular markets. We tested the K7N420 Pro MSI motherboard from Micro Star International (MSI). Their Web address is www.msi– computers.com. This motherboard is used in a variety of popular mail-order systems, as well as being available for direct purchase.

The K7N420 Pro can accommodate most of AMD’s recent CPUs, from the original Athlon to the Duron and the new Athlon XP+ processors. We tested the board with an Athlon XP1900+ CPU. This doesn’t actually run at 1.9 GHz, but at 1.4 GHz. AMD has revived the old “performance rating” approach pioneered by Cyrix, so the CPU’s appellation is meant to imply that the Athlon XP1 900+ provides the same level of performance as a 1.9-GHz Intel Pentium 4. Sometimes it does, sometime it doesn’t. It all depends on what kind of application you are running, and whether that application has been optimized for the Pentium 4′s new microcode.

Of more interest than direct performance comparisons is the difference in approach that NVIDIA has taken with the NFORCE core logic set. As with Intel’s 8456 core logic set, the NFORCE provides integrated video and audio. The video, however, is the GeForce2 MX video-controller core that is offered in the add-in GeForce2 video cards. It’s not top-of-the-line video (the GeForce4), but it’s definitely much more oriented to the garner than Intel’s integrated chipset.

The Micro Star K7N420 Pro motherboard also has some other really nice features. The integrated audio controller can supply Dolby Digital 5.1 channel output with an included bracket. MSI motherboard also offers an optional plug-in card that lets the motherboard provide S-Video output.

As with the Intel motherboard, the MSI board has lots of USB ports, up to six. However, these are the older 1.1 ports, not the newer faster USB 2.0 ports that Intel offers. On the other hand, MSI motherboard has built-in 10/100BaseT Ethernet. You either have to add a card to Intel’s motherboard or buy the version that incorporates an Ethernet adapter.

Proudly Gigabyte released the latest series of AMD motherboards supporting the latest AMD 900 Series chipsets in preparation for the forthcoming AMD FX series processors. In this case the GIGABYTE 900 series motherboards are aimed at enthusiast gamers and high performance PC builders looking to harness the power of AMD’s new desktop platform. And there is including the forthcoming 8-core AMD FX processors and multi-GPU configurations that include both 4-way AMD CrossFireX™ and NVIDIA^® SLI™ for the very first time. Others GIGABYTE 900 Series Feature Highlights there are AMD FX Processor Support that the GIGABYTE 900 series motherboards feature the new AM3+ socket supporting the forthcoming high performance AMD FX series processors, Cutting Edge Multi-GPU Support which Packing up to 42 PCI Express gen 2.0 lanes, AM3+ Black Socket that All GIGABYTE 900 series motherboards incorporate the new AM3+ ‘Black Socket’ which means that all GIGABYTE 900 series motherboards are also backwards compatible with AMD AM3 based Phenom II and Athlon II processors.

Moreover there also GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ 3, Driver MOSFETs that allow higher power transfer and increased efficiency at higher switching frequencies to satisfy the power requirements of modern processors, GIGABYTE 333 Onboard Acceleration, GIGABYTE DualBIOS™ which Featuring 2 physical BIOS ROMs integrated onboard and GIGABYTE DualBIOS™ allows quick and seamless recovery from BIOS damage or failure due to viruses or improper BIOS updating, and 108dB Signal to Noise Ratio Playback.

Gigabyte released the new motherboard namely GA Z68XP UD3 iSSD. This new motherboard has CPU socket system which support for Intel^® Core™ i7 processors/Intel^® Core™ i5 processors/ Intel^® Core™ i3 processors/Intel^® Pentium^® processors/Intel^® Celeron^® processors in the LGA1155 package and l3 cache varies with CPU. Beside that built with Intel^® Z68 Express Chipset. About the memory socket there are 4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 32 GB of system memory due to Windows 32-bit operating system limitation and when more than 4 GB of physical memory is installed, while the actual memory size displayed will be less than 4 GB. There are also dual channel memory architecture and also support for DDR3 2133/1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz memory modules, for non-ECC memory modules, and for Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) memory modules.

In other hand there is integrated graphic in the Chipset and provide 1 x HDMI port and supporting a maximum resolution of 1920×1200. For audio system provide Realtek ALC889 codec, High Definition Audio, 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel, Support for Dolby Home Theater, and Support for S/PDIF Out. More there also 1 x Realtek RTL8111E chip (10/100/1000 Mbit), 1 x PCI Express x16 slot which running at x16 (PCIEX16), 1 x PCI Express x16 slot which running at x8 (PCIEX8), 3 x PCI Express x1 slots, and 2 x PCI slots. Other features also include multi graphic technology, USB port, IEEE 1394, Internal I/O Connectors, Back Panel Connectors, H/W Monitoring, BIOS, and several unique features.

Recently, Asus offers consumers a range of new motherboard based on the Intel® Z68 Express chipset. There are the ASUS P8Z68 Series and ROG Maximus IV GENE-Z motherboards all have numerous powerful features that fully exploit the performance benefits of Sandy Bridge technology without compromise which packing more features and new innovations onto the Z68 platform while maintaining unmitigated performance and reliability.

In this case Asus is the only motherboard manufacturer able to integrate diverse new technologies in tandem on its Z68-based motherboards on launch and these include the universal implementation of LucidLogix Virtu™ switchable graphics to harness the capabilities of Intel® Quick Sync Video for faster video transcending and the extreme performance of the latest NVIDIA® and AMD graphics cards. Beside that it along with Intel® Smart Response Technology to accelerate hard drives performance and reduces energy consumption. Not only that, there are also support new features such as full support for faster video transcending and switchable graphics, it is means All ASUS Z68-based motherboards are natively designed to support the LucidLogix Virtu™ graphics virtualization engine that works in conjunction with Intel® Quick Sync Video to deliver up to three times faster and smoother video transcoding and playback. Another feature is segment leading digital power delivery and all new BIOS. It is deliver a ramped-up range of proprietary technologies. DIGI+ VRM set a new standard for digital power control at its debut, where it replaced analog power control with the most precise tuning available to PC users. But about the prices there is no explanation from Asus.

In this few time in Taipei, Taiwan at may 11^th 2011 Gigabyte INC, and we all of know that a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphic card, the introduces their highly anticipated Z68 series motherboards and it is based on the Intel^® Z68 Express Chipset and supporting the new 2^nd generation Intel^® Core™ processors. In this case it is delivering the very best that Intel^® 6 series chipsets have to offer and including a significant performance boost with Intel^® Smart Response Technology. Beside that it is become the first ever mSATA drive connectors on a standard desktop PC motherboard, and GIGABYTE’s proprietary Touch BIOS™ technology. The GIGABYTE Z68 series motherboards put users in the driver seat and llowing them to take total control over how their system operates and performs to best match their individual computing needs. Moreover 11 models are available now and more than 9 additional model including at least 4 mSATA versions and will be introduced in June, 2011.

This motherboard from Gigabyte offers several new features such as touch bios technology, icon based on bios, easy to navigate, completely customizable, No Need to enter BIOS to Modify BIOS Settings, Intel^® Smart Response Technology, Intel^® Quick Sync Video*, and Switchable Graphics with LucidLogix Virtu GPU Virtualization.

Recently gigabyte introduces their new series of motherboard is that Gigabyte GA-6UASL. It is Series of single socket motherboards for server offers the best platform to deliver the new world class performances available with Intel’s brand new processor micro architecture and chipset series. It’s already design for medium and small business application and it is offers a multipurpose product perfect for applications such as file and print server, web server, e-mail server, storage serve, or any type of vertical-specific business applications, beside that it is also absolutely suitable for high performance computing and embedded applications.

In this case the gigabyte GA-6UASL offer several key features such as support Intel’s new 32nm micro architecture and the LGA 1155 socket and allowing our motherboards to operate with the new Intel Xeon E3-1200 processor family, which brings, among others, and 25% performance improvement and lower power consumption compared to the previous CPU generation. Not only that, this motherboard also provide multiple LAN solutions, provides 4 DIMM connectors supporting unbuffered ECC DDR3 memory (up to 32 GB) with data transfer rates of 1333 / 1066 MHz and bandwidth-demanding applications, 6 integrated SATA II 3G ports for storage media, and for connectivity provide 1 x high-speed PCIe 2.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 2.0 x2, 1 x PCIe 2.0 x4 (x8 mechanical), and 1 x PCI slots.