MaximumPC 2003 12

36 MAXIMUMPC DECEMBER 2003

Code-named “Canterwood,” Intel’s 875P was the

first P4 chipset to offer native Serial ATA support,

an 800MHz bus, dual-channel DDR400 support,

and a special northbridge pathway to increase

gigabit Ethernet speed. And if you buy a mobo

with the 875P’s ICH-5R southbridge I/O controller,

you get built-in RAID 0 support.

So why not buy a chipset from VIA, ATI, or

even SIS, whose new product offers support for

quad -channel RDRAM? Quite frankly, it comes

down to performance. VIA’s PT800 only supports

single-channel DDR. The Pentium 4 is starved

without massive infusions of bandwidth, which no

single-channel DDR chipset can deliver. As for ATI, its

Pentium 4 chipset is aimed at the low-end. And, finally,

while we haven’t tested the SIS chipset yet (it won’t

be out until the very end of the year), we know that

RDRAM’s days are numbered. You’ll be able to use your

supply of PC800 RDRAM with the new SIS chipset, but

it’s looking like it won’t outperform the 875P by very

much, if at all.

When you factor in Intel’s ability to deliver no-

excuses drivers, you’ve got thethethe chipset to carry you chipset to carry you

into the middle of next year, which is when PCI

Express will hit the scene. Prices vary depending on

motherboard costs, http://www.intel.com

You didn’t hear it from us: Some mobo

manufacturers are selling Intel 865PE-based boards that

include “enhancements” that help the 865PE achieve

875P-like performance. Check out products from Asus,

MSI, and Gigabyte.

PENTIUM 4

CORE LOGIC

Intel 875P

Code-named “Canterwood,” Intel’s 875P was the

first P4 chipset to offer native Serial ATA support,

with the 875P’s ICH-5R southbridge I/O controller,

even SIS, whose new product offers support for

down to performance. VIA’s PT800 only supports

excuses drivers, you’ve got thethethe chipset chipset to carry you to carry you

Plextor could have released a bread-and-butter

52x CD burner just to satiate the appetites of

those who simply must have the fastest drive

possible. Plextor

could have

kicked back,

crowing about

52x burning to

CD-R, and 32x

burning to CD-

RW. And yes, the

company could have

bragged about the

PlexWriter Premium

having the lowest access

times of any optical drive

we’ve tested, as well as

super-finicky digital audio

extraction. But Plextor’s engineers

didn’t stop there. For its PlexWriter Premium,

Plextor went all out with so many extra features,

the drive oughta be called the Swiss Army

Burner. For example: “GigaRec” allows you to

back up just less than 1GB on a classic 700MB

disc, while “SilentMode” allows you to tweak

the drive to your individual tastes—drive speeds

can be throttled down for quieter operation,

or cranked up for maximum performance.

The PlexWriter Premium is an embarrassment

of riches, but one we’re not embarrassed to

endorse. $116, http://www.plextor.com, reviewed

July 2003

You can’t say no: Don’t turn down an offer for

a free upgrade! Check your manufacturer’s web

site at least twice a year for firmware upgrades

that increase media compatibility and notch up

performance.

CD BURNER

Plextor PlexWriter Premium