chipset? confused?

Question

is the chipset of a pc the graphics card or something else, if the chipset is nvidia based can i use an ati graphics card?

Answer 1

The chipset is on the motherboard. It could just be one chip or it could be composed of a northbridge chip and a southbridge chip. The chipset may also contain integrated graphics that is good for 2D and video but poor in 3D (games). Major chipset makers are Intel, AMD-ATI, Nvidia, VIA and SiS. ULI was bought out by Nvidia.

An Nvidia chipset can support a single ATI card but not 2 in Nvidia's SLI mode. Two ATI cards will only work in ATI's Crossfire mode.

Answer 2

Chipset is basically the layout as well as the technology used in a motherboard. It's because, designing a motherboard is very hard, so a lot of computer motherboard manufacturers actually buy the chipsets from reputable companies instead of making their own. And then re-label them as their own.

Consider them as like, basic blueprinting of motherboards. You can create your own, but it's more more effective to buy others and modify them. Because of development or research costs.

For example, the MSI MS-7253 motherboard actually uses the VIA K9VGM-V chipset. This means MSI has bought that Via chipset, and relabeled them as their own, although there is still credit to the original manufacturer.

Referring to your question, yes, it really doesn't matter if you want to use an ATI video card even if you have an NVidia made motherboard chipset. 95% of the time they will work, the 5% that could happen is when you will try doing dual video cards such as SLI or Crossfire, then you might run into some problems.