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The conclusions to be drawn from the SiS 746FX chipset are a mixed bag. First, the performance of the chipset is nothing spectacular, though it has brought SiS onto the same levels as the KT400 chipset but not quite to the levels of the KT400A and nForce2 chipset. Where SiS does top the charts is in the price category – they are known for having some of the least expensive motherboards on the market coming from manufacturers like ECS. The cost issue may be enough to keep the SiS 746FX chipset alive for some time.
However, with the recent announcement from SiS about the upcoming 748 chipset that is going to offer the Athlon XP processor much improved memory performance as well as 400 MHz FSB support. I would expect to see a jump on the order of the KT400A versus the KT400 in memory performance from the new SiS 748 chipset based on the preliminary specs I am seeing. If they can keep the cost of that chipset down low enough AND get it to the market fast enough, they may have a winner on their hands.
In the end, its hard to recommend the SiS 746FX chipset at the current time as there are just too many other options from VIA and NVIDIA that are just better overall choices. If cost is a big concern, and you need a motherboard in the $50-60 range, then perhaps you might want to take a look into a board based on this chipset.
However, with the recent announcement from SiS about the upcoming 748 chipset that is going to offer the Athlon XP processor much improved memory performance as well as 400 MHz FSB support. I would expect to see a jump on the order of the KT400A versus the KT400 in memory performance from the new SiS 748 chipset based on the preliminary specs I am seeing. If they can keep the cost of that chipset down low enough AND get it to the market fast enough, they may have a winner on their hands.
In the end, its hard to recommend the SiS 746FX chipset at the current time as there are just too many other options from VIA and NVIDIA that are just better overall choices. If cost is a big concern, and you need a motherboard in the $50-60 range, then perhaps you might want to take a look into a board based on this chipset.
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