Upgrading(advice needed)

[Frank]

How can the HAL be chipset-dependent when there's new chipsets out all the time?

Besides, all PC chipsets are register-compatible on a basic level, so why there would need to be specific HALs is beyond me.

Short answer: speed. Like they put the CGI in the kernel. The BIOS interface isn't used, that's why you still cannot use things like SATA drives without drivers. Windows talks directly to the hardware.

But I don't know exactly what the differences are, I only know multiple HAL's exist.

 

[DudeMiester]

There's that new ULI chipset that is looking VERY nice, 2 full 16x PCIe slot, plus a full speed AGP8x slot! If you can wait till some mobos come out with that chipset, you'll probably be better off.

 

[MasterBaiter]

I'd say you're asking for trouble if you didn't do a clean install IMHO. :?

I'd be inclined to save up a bit more for your system, and just make the jump to a PCIe board. It will save you money down the road and you won't have motherboards piling up with no place to go. I'd also lean towards AMD's Athlon64 as well.