BY NOW, YOU'VE PROBABLY NOTICED that Intel's Pentium M is gaining attention as a desktop processor, both in desktop motherboards and even in small form factor systems. One problem, however, has been the accompanying laptop chipset, which means greater expense as well as lesser performance relative to other desktop solutions.

Asus has decided to do something about that requirement in rather inventive fashion. The CT-479 is an adapter card that plugs into the processor socket of certain Asus Socket 478 motherboards and converts them to a Socket 479 configuration capable of accepting a Pentium M. This adapter neatly solves both the price and performance issues, the latter by supplying a dual-channel memory configuration unavailable in the Intel 855GME laptop chipset.

How well does the CT-479 adapt the Pentium M for desktop use? We're about to find out.