VIA Apollo Pro 133: A Camino Preview

Final Words

For a hardcore gamer, the Apollo Pro 133 is nothing more than a small preview of the benefits the Camino chipset will bring.  But by no means is it a viable option for those gamers that are very performance oriented (as many of them seem to be).  The stability of most Apollo Pro 133 boards should be on par with the average BX boards, the AX63 Pro we tested gave us generally stable operation however stability shouldn't be something you look for in a motherboard, it should be given to you without even asking. 

For the average computer user, the Apollo Pro 133 offers a few advantages over the Intel BX, but until the first 133MHz FSB CPUs hit the streets, most of those advantages will remain to be seen.  In business and consumer level applications, the Apollo Pro 133 will have difficultly discerning itself from the Intel BX in both a positive and a negative manner. 

It seems like the Apollo Pro 133 is more of a demand for change in the industry rather than a bleeding edge chipset.  Had the Apollo Pro 133 never been conceived, Intel may have tried to force the industry entirely into Rambus technology without looking back.  Although the Apollo Pro 133 may not be the next chipset in your system, it is a step in the right direction.  If anything, it is a preview of what to expect from Intel's Camino.  Hopefully, for Intel's sake, the Camino won't be as big of a flop as the "revolutionary" 810 chipset.