FOR A WHILE there, the Socket 754 motherboard market looked a little bleak. Although AMD launched the platform with its 754-pin Athlon 64 processors way back in September, it didn't look like motherboard manufacturers were in any hurry to adopt the platform. Honestly, I don't blame them; with only a $400 Athlon 64 3200+ available at launch, the Socket 754 platform was initially a very expensive upgrade, even without the cost of a new motherboard. However, AMD's $200 Athlon 64 3000+ has quickly made the Socket 754 platform an affordable option for PC enthusiasts and gamers alike.

As the Athlon 64 becomes more affordable, now is the perfect time to check out Chaintech's Socket 754 Zenith ZNF3-150. Like Chaintech's early Zenith boards, the ZNF3-150 is loaded with integrated peripherals, bundled extras, and a decent array of overclocking options. However, this latest Zenith is quite a bit cheaper than Chaintech's previous high-end offerings, making the ZNF3-150 especially tempting for anyone looking for an AMD64 bargain.

Has Chaintech kept the peripheral and bundle gravy train flowing, despite the ZNF3-150's more affordable price tag? Can the board's nForce3 chipset, with a little help from NVIDIA's latest Forceware drivers, keep up with VIA's K8T800 chipset? Read on; you might be surprised.