SUMMARY: We've got two very capable Pentium 4 based chipsets under the spotlight today from Intel based on DFI's new line of LANPARTY "B" motherboards for the enthusiast. We compare the more expensive Canterwood to the cut-down Springdale chipset but tweaked up by DFI. The results may surprise!
Up until recently, DFI werent all that popular within the motherboard scene, particularly when focusing on products for the enthusiast. A little over eight months ago they decided to go bolder, bigger, and better by introducing their new LANPARTY series of motherboards. This has certainly brought a lot of attention to DFI from enthusiasts alike all over the world. Unlike most other companies in the past, rather than make the slow transition from a no-frills, average line of products into something that stands out from the crowd, DFI have suddenly gone out on a limb and given us a line of products that is almost enough to make ones jaw drop.
Today we have rounded up two of the latest LANPARTY series of boards by DFI. They are both Intel Pentium 4 solutions, being the Canterwood 875P and Springdale 865PE. DFI have only continued to make a good thing better with the latest revision of their Pro 875B, as well as the much-welcomed 865PE we are also checking out today.
When Springdale based motherboards first hit the scene (primarily to provide a more cost effective solution for the mainstream sector of the market), it was common knowledge that the Canterwood chipset was the king of performance, and rightfully so due to the significantly larger price tag that came with it. However, Springdale based motherboards have become more and more refined as time has gone by, particularly over the past 6 months. Just HOW much faster are they though? In eliminating any manufacturing differences due to both boards coming straight from DFI, were about to find out.
