AnandTech's Hardware Leaderboard

[First]

We've been pondering the possibility of some type of "hardware leaderboard" for some time now. We decided to go with the idea, but are still mulling over the details of the format, in addition to exactly what information we should include.

This leaderboard is mostly to help out beginners and those who don't have a strong grasp on the lastest technology. So starting at the beginning of every month, we'll update the leaderboard with new entries. One month the best high-end motherboard may be the ASUS A7N8X, while the next month it may be a KT400A motherboard of some variety. For now the leaderboard will just include motherboards and memory, but we'll be expanding that to video cards, hard drives, CPU's, etc., probably by the time the summer roles around.

Here's how our leaderboard might have looked like at the beginning of March:

March's Best Motherboards and Memory Modules

Intel Pentium 4 Motherboards:

Top 3 Cutting Edge Desktop Motherboards

1. Gigabyte SINXP1394 (SiS 655 chipset)
2. MSI 655 Max (SiS 655 chipset)
3. ABIT IT7 MAX2 V.2 (845PE chipset)

Top 3 Value Performance Desktop Motherboards

1. Albatron PX845PEV Pro (845PE chipset)
2. ABIT BE7 (845PE chipset)
3. Gigabyte 8SQ800 (SiS 655 chipset)

AMD Athlon XP Motherboards:

Top 3 Cutting Edge Desktop Motherboards

1. ASUS A7N8X Deluxe (nForce2 chipset)
2. AOpen AK79G Max (nForce2 chipset)
3. Chaintech 7NJS (nForce2 chipset)

Top 3 Value Performance Desktop Motherboards

1. Epox 8RDA+ (nForce2 chipset)
2. Leadtek K7NCR18D (nForce2 chipset)
3. ABIT NF7 (nForce2 chipset)

Top 3 Cutting Edge DDR Memory Modules

1. Corsair TwinX series
2. Kingston HyperX series
3. Samsung Original series

Top 3 Cutting Edge RDRAM Memory Modules

1. Samsung Original series
2. Kingston RDRAM series
3. Corsair XMS series

Obviously we could insert a bunch of reasons as to why each product receives a certain position on the list just by adding some sort of chart or something like that. That's partly what we're mulling over right now. This draft is very basic. The final draft will include a set of definitions, including how we define "value performance" and "cutting edge" products.

So if you have any reasonable suggestions as to how to make this leaderboard as complete as possible, by all means post them in this thread.

Take care,

Evan

 

[microAmp]

Nice to see this and hope it continues if I choose to go the Intel route down the road.

Any reason why the Granite Bay chipset isn't in there?

 

[First]

Originally posted by: motoamd
Any reason why the Granite Bay chipset isn't in there?

In the first place it's a workstation chipset. But E7205 boards are priced much too high anyway for them to be in range of other cutting edge desktop motherboards based on SiS 655 and 845PE. The whole package a motherboard brings to the table is taken into consideration, not just the chipset.

 

[Slogun]

Sounds like a great idea.

 

[chizow]

Sounds like a great idea!

Maybe you could also take submissions from AT'ers on a particular product for why they chose it or why they recommend it and then link to a few of the submissions. There's a lot of that type of info that is lost in the thread turnover in the various forums, so having condensed and accessible community feedback mechanism might make it easier for a newer user to decide on a particular product.

Oh yah, and be prepared to take a lot of heat if you recommend anything other than ATi video cards. LoL!

Chiz

 

[First]

Originally posted by: chizow
Sounds like a great idea!

Maybe you could also take submissions from AT'ers on a particular product for why they chose it or why they recommend it and then link to a few of the submissions. There's a lot of that type of info that is lost in the thread turnover in the various forums, so having condensed and accessible community feedback mechanism might make it easier for a newer user to decide on a particular product.

Good idea.

Originally posted by: chizow

Oh yah, and be prepared to take a lot of heat if you recommend anything other than ATi video cards. LoL!

Ha, you should see the video list I'm working on, there's hardly a single NV card in sight!

 

[microAmp]

Ha! You should see the video list I'm working on, there's hardly a single NV card in sight.

Great... the Matrox Parhelia is going be the only recommendation in there

Thanks for the info on the Granite Bay, had no idea about that. Kind of disappointing to me too.....

 

[Rand]

Only one comment.... remember that what equals a good product for one person could very well be terrible for another.
Needs and requirements vary considerably between individuals so specify precisely whom your recommendations are targeted for.

 

[Hardtarget]

Good idea, but one major suggest, have more than just cutting edge ram. Most people don't need corsair or kingston super special ram.
also no Asus P4PE!! :-( hehe

 

[yhelothar]

good point rand!
i totally agree that preferences is often subjective

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

I've got an idea. For choosing which one is best for value, give each one a point for certain things it has. (If you want you can weight some things higher than others giving them 2 points if they are more important) FOr example, if mobo "A" has integrated LAN, Audio, Raid 0, then give it 3 points. Then do 3/price. Maybe sorting it out like that would be more accurate.

 

[Adul]

maybe a comments section for each product listed. That way people can share their views on a particular product.

 

[Idontcare]

A wondefully helpful idea!

My advice, keep the list simple.

Just like you have it, product title and two categories (value vs. performance). Users will find their preferences/needs filled by those two categories or they have really specialized needs and you just can't cover that without sacrificing a usable user interface.

Leave the comments, ratings, supporting performance data, etc. on a seperate page that is hyperlinked to the product title on the main leaderboard page. If you add anything to the main leaderboard page I would recommend maybe add the current price(s) at the cheapest supplier(s).

 

[MadRat]

Could you link to a Top Ten or Top Twenty list from each top3 lists? Would allow people to see how their recent acquisitions compare to the top3.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: MadRat
Could you link to a Top Ten or Top Twenty list from each top3 lists? Would allow people to see how their recent acquisitions compare to the top3.

Ditto, that would be useful. Also, try and make it so that you archive the previous ones so that people can see if their stuff was ever at the top, hehe

 

[Duvie]

I know you are showing some good performing boards there but how about a top 3 overclockers boards based on its controls and high stable fsb...The sis655 sucks for much of an oc above 160's and therefore thGB mobos are much better for dCDDR ocing....

 

[First]

Originally posted by: Duvie
I know you are showing some good performing boards there but how about a top 3 overclockers boards based on its controls and high stable fsb...The sis655 sucks for much of an oc above 160's and therefore thGB mobos are much better for dCDDR ocing....

There have been many users getting 190MHz + FSB out of their SiS 655 boards with 1.7M processors. Specifically the Gigabyte SiS 655 boards, which we used in the 800MHz FSB review that will be out tonight.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Evan Lieb

Originally posted by: Duvie
I know you are showing some good performing boards there but how about a top 3 overclockers boards based on its controls and high stable fsb...The sis655 sucks for much of an oc above 160's and therefore thGB mobos are much better for dCDDR ocing....

There have been many users getting 190MHz + FSB out of their SiS 655 boards with 1.7M processors. Specifically the Gigabyte SiS 655 boards, which we used in the 800MHz FSB review that will be out tonight.

WOOHOO! I was wanting more info on the 800mzh FSB and I see you guys are going to put the review up! Thanks!

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Perhaps add a link to the Anandtech review (or any other reputable site's for that matter) of any product on the leaderboard for which one exists to facilitate ease of access to the detailed data that will answer most any question a neophyte might have.

 

[Electric Amish]

Specs would be nice. That way you can see if the top boards have the RAID or on-board sound or whatever you're needs should be.

amish

 

[ElFenix]

as far as i've seen you guys don't test ram so wouldn't reccommeding ram brands be somewhat... dishonest?

 

[First]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
as far as i've seen you guys don't test ram so wouldn't reccommeding ram brands be somewhat... dishonest?

We'll be releasing our first memory review in a while fairly soon now.

 

[SpeedScorpion]

Are there any tests about the granite bay board from ASUS???
the board is great fun...saw it whith P4 2,66 @ 3,1
also the ram- interface is very interesting...works like RDRam!!!! )

please info about some test´s....

Thx

Scorpio

 

[DrPizza]

Wow, I just stumbled into this room for the first time in a while and found this excellent post!
Thanks!

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Evan Lieb

Originally posted by: ElFenix
as far as i've seen you guys don't test ram so wouldn't reccommeding ram brands be somewhat... dishonest?

We'll be releasing our first memory review in a while fairly soon now.

woot!