DESPITE THE impressive performance and substantial potential of AMD's new 64-bit desktop processors, it's too early for me to get really excited about the Athlon 64 line. Don't get me wrong; the Athlon 64 3200+ and Athlon 64 FX-51 are great chips. However, their $400 and $734 respective street prices are bitter pills to swallow for anyone on a budget, especially considering the fact that Barton-core Athlon XP 2500+ processors are readily available for only $85 online.

Until AMD dramatically lowers its Athlon 64 prices or offers lower speed grades, the Socket A platform will remain quite popular among enthusiasts looking for the best bang for their buck. But what chipset will enthusiasts flock to for their Socket A needs? Can VIA's KT600 run with or even beat NVIDIA's venerable nForce2? Which KT600 board is right for you? Read on as we compare KT600 boards from eight different manufacturers.