AMD and Intel are the two biggest CPU and chipset makers in the world with each making specific motherboard chipsets for their CPUs. The ultimate goal is to provide a complete solution with the CPU, the graphics chip, the North and Southbridges all gone with a single chip replacing them all. Intel has launched the Clarkdale CPU series with integrated graphics on the die, meaning that the Northbridge on those CPUs are no longer there.
AMD has a project called Fusion which will also integrate their integrated graphics onto the CPU, allowing users to purchase a CPU with graphics, and the I/O controller, the SATA controller and much more. It should be interesting to see how the market evolves in the future. The best solution for gaming has always been to add an external graphics card to the motherboard to improve graphics performance.
AMD recently launched the 8 series chipsets to coincide with the launch of their six core CPUs, the Phenom II X6 1090T and 1055T. The new features of these chipsets include a new integrated graphics chip and support for USB 3.0. There are four chipsets in the 8-series family: 890FX, 890GX, 880G and the 870. The highest end 8 series chipset is the 890FX. Today’s review is on the M4A89TD-Pro/USB 3.0 board from ASUS based upon AMD’s 890FX chipset.
