NVIDIA's nForce2 Performance Review

Final Words

Despite our distaste with NVIDIA's (not just NVIDIA, other manufacturers do this to - e.g. SiS, VIA) launch of the nForce2 chipset, we must say that the platform is pretty impressive. Not only does the chipset perform just as well as VIA's matured KT333 (and obviously the KT400 as well) but it manages to do so while offering a number of very compelling features.

We will focus on the integrated graphics performance in a forthcoming article but the IGP in combination with the integrated networking, firewire and powerful audio features make the nForce2 platform a very tempting base for a media center PC.

We were also very impressed with the low CPU utilization of the integrated NVIDIA Ethernet controller, especially since it rivaled the performance of one of Intel's server NICs. The integrated 3Com MAC was clearly a disappointment, as it was the only contender to actually perform poorly in our NetIQ Chariot tests.

In the end, the nForce2 platform is just as fast as anything VIA currently offers while providing features that no other chipset manufacturer can boast. Unfortunately, we're left with the same question we had when we reviewed our first nForce board - when and how much? Those questions will be answered in time (hopefully shorter than last time) and if NVIDIA truly has learned from their mistakes then the answers to those questions won't turn you off of nForce2.

This could very well be the Athlon XP platform to have as we move into 2003...