Anybody think the GB chipset is going to be an overclocking bottleneck? Since its only rated for DDR266 and locked to a 1:1 ratio, I wonder will it be the limiting factor, as opposed to processor or RAM?
Looking at Elvis2's preliminary results, and those given in the anandtech review, 155MHz and 163MHz FSBs respectively - these are still a little shy of the 166MHz/DDR333 level.
In these tests the RAM seems unlikely to be causing the bottleneck, since its DDR400 CAS2. I don't know enough about the overclocking capabilities of P4's to tell whether they could be the limit here (anybody know more about this?). The fact that Elvis2 managed to overclock the FSB further (albeit unstably) when he increased Vcore does suggest that the processor might have some limiting effect - but maybe Vcore affects the chipset too - anybody know whether the processor <-> chipset lines run at Vcore or some higher fixed (e.g. 2.5/3.3V) voltage, and what voltage does the chipset run off?
I remember reading a suggestion that the GB memory controller could be "older" technology, adapted from a previous Intel chipset, and that this was responsible for the DDR266 (as opposed to DDR333 specification).
With this in mind, I'm debating whether to get a GB board (if they ever get them in stock here in Europe), or wait for SiS655 (might be in for a long wait). Course this will depend on reviews of 655 boards, if they'd ever show up (hint hint Anandtech
rgds,
Ken