With their i815E chipset, Intel took PC133 SDRAM motherboard performance and feature lead. However, the 3D video performance of the i815E chipset leaves much to be desired.

Enter VIA Technologies, who now owns S3 (who just changed their name to SONICblue). VIA has combined technology from their popular Apollo Pro 133A chipset with S3's Savage4 video technology to produce what may be the fastest integrated video chipset available.

Our test board came straight from S3, combining the VT8605 northbridge controller and the VT82C686A southbridge controller. The VT8605 northbridge can also be combined with other southbridges, including VIA's 686B and 8231 southbridges to change the southbridge feature set.

So is the PM133 the fastest chipset you can buy for a Pentium III or is it an 'also ran' to Intel's best? Read on to find out.