
Rambus DRAM is having an increasingly difficult time in the PC marketplace. The memory technology was once supposed to fire up all Pentium 4 platforms, but launching it on a broad front turned out to be a mistake. The word on the street was `too hot, too expensive and only slightly faster than SDRAM.' Although things are different now, Intel gave in to the pressure of the crowd and now mainly relies on double data rate SDRAM, or DDR for short.
After the E7500 dual Xeon chipset was introduced, the new E7205 was modified specifically for the Pentium 4. With AGP 8X, USB 2.0 and dual-channel memory interface in conjunction with HyperThreading, it is gearing up to become the starter package for Intel workstations. How well it can succeed is questionable, since more power than an 850E chipset is not to be expected. But in another area, the E7205 offers more: in comparison to RDRAM, the DDR memory chip barely heats up at all, and the overall platform still provides plenty of latitude for overclocking.
For this this comparison, we received seven of the currently available motherboards. The contenders are AOpen, Asus, DFI, Gigabyte, IWill, MSI and Tyan. The IWill board is unusual because it requires an EPS-12V power supply and thus intentionally excludes home users as a group.
Following an unprecedented race by manufacturers to see who arms their products with the highest clock rates, the fastest available DDR memory chip can now work with well above 200 MHz (DDR433 from Corsair). There are actually no corresponding chipsets for this, and none are expected.
DDR433 - no such thing, but that’s how fast it is. The manufacturer guarantees 216 MHz.
So numbers games like this still leave room for freaks and overclockers. Until now, not even DDR400 has caught on as a mainstream thing ; the performance edge over DDR333 - if there even is one - is too minimal.
The reason for the non-existent power increase is the fact that the memory can no longer be run synchronously with the processor speed or, more precisely, the FSB speed. An Athlon XP FSB with a speed of 266/ 133 MHz (double-pumped), for example, works excellently and without delays with a memory run at the same speed ; so does the Pentium 4 at 533/ 133 MHz (quad-pumped), including DDR266 at 133 MHz (or PC1066 RDRAM at 533 MHz double-pumped).
However, if the main memory is operated asynchronously, wait times need to be figured in now and then. The data transfer is like jumping onto a moving merry-go-round : more often than not, you have to wait for your "chance." With synchronous or pseudo-synchronous transfer, there are no unnecessary wait times, which is why Intel prefers this model in the E7205.
The next generation of Pentium 4 with 800 MHz FSB (200 MHz quad-pumped), too, is only being operated synchronously for now, and it will actually work with DDR400.
From a technical point of view, the E7205 has much in common with the high-end E7500/ 7505 chipset, which was developed for the Xeon processor. This refers above all to the highlight of this chipset, i.e., the dual-channel memory interface (buzzword "dual DDR"). When souped up with two or four DIM modules, the dual-channel mode is activated, providing the processor with double the bandwidth instead of the 2.1 GB/s usually available with DDR266.
This is an interesting figure, because 4.2 GB/s is exactly the maximum bandwidth that the Rambus DRAM is capable of under the PC1066 standard. While previous SDRAM chipsets in the 845 series were still inferior in performance to the RDRAM 850-class models, Granite Bay offers the same performance - at least on paper. However, as our testing article shows, the supposedly equally-fast Granite Bay chipset still falls just short of the 850E and the PC1066-RDRAM. The 32 bit RDRAM, with a speed of 533 MHz, seems to have advantages over the 2x 32 bit DDR-SDRAM with only 266 MHz.
Granite Bay, however, is unbeatable, thanks to its minimal heat and low price for DDR266, which carries considerable weight when it comes to module capacities above 512 MB. Here the E7205 is the clear leader among the Intel chipsets, because neither 845 nor 850 can manage 4 GB RAM.

Granite Bay is divided into two chips: one is the Northbridge E7205 or "memory controller hub," as Intel calls it. At 1005 pins, this chip is very large. No wonder, because it also contains the processor and memory interface as well as a current Version 3.0 AGP interface (AGP 8X).
The Southbridge is better known as the ICH4 and offers the same features as boards with an 845E or an 850E chipset. These include a maximum of six USB 2.0 ports, an integrated UltraATA/ 100 IDE interface, and audio and network controllers.
Doubling the memory bandwidth by using two banks simultaneously is actually not a new thing. This is completely normal, even for its bitterest rival, RDRAM: only the combination of two 16 bit RIMMs will bring the memory interface to the necessary 32 bits. The E7205, however, offers two separate memory controllers in the hardware that can process the main memory data simultaneously and yet independently of one another.
In connection with a current Pentium 4 processor, this approach makes particular sense, since HyperThreading imitates a dual-processor system, and in many cases, can even be parallel.
Dual DDR266 Vs. Single DDR333
In our technology article we compared Granite Bay not only with the 850E chipset but also with the 845PE, which works with DDR333. And in fact, depending on how you use it, there are cases in which our test system with a single-channel DDR333 worked faster than a Granite Bay system with dual-channel DDR266.
So why didn't Intel just use a dual-channel memory interface for DDR333? For one thing, the market leader is not necessarily an advocate of DDR-SDRAM. Rambus DRAM would have dominated the market if it hadn't been for the countless protests against the polarizing memory architecture. For another, Intel supports asynchronous memory operation (memory at FSB speed), if there is no alternative. This happened with the 845 chipset (DDR266 with 133 MHz at 400/ 100 MHz FSB speed), which had to suffice as an alternative to the unpopular 850 chipset, and with the 845PE, whose memory interface was released for 166 MHz (DDR333) for performance reasons - although the FSB of the Pentium 4 still stands at 400/ 100 or 533/ 133 MHz.
One of the most frequently discussed issues is surely the new serial interface, which will offer hard drives and other ATA drives bandwidths of 150 MB/s and should significantly reduce the tangle of cables inside the computer.
It will still take several months before most available chipsets are factory-equipped with the necessary ports. Until then, however, motherboard manufacturers are offering attractive alternatives in which serial ATA controller chips from third-party manufacturers are integrated onto the boards.
The offerings have now become quite handsome: along with HighPoint and Promise, Silicon Image also makes a controller for serial ATA. The latter, however, is the only product (even in standalone cards for the PCI bus), that manages without performance-gobbling bridge chips. These converters make it possible for the manufacturers to rely on available controller hardware and simply convert the data signals from parallel to serial transmission.
The advantage of the converter solution: well-known, tried-and-tested controllers can continue to be used at a low cost and also allow for combined operation of serial ATA and UltraATA/ 100 or 133. The disadvantage is considerably poorer performance than the new standard actually promises: about 80 MB/s maximum is possible via bridges.
E7205: Replacement For 850E And RDRAM
The launch of the first dual-channel platform for the Pentium 4 marks the first time that a chipset is able to hold a candle to the 850E together with PC1066 RDRAM. Our previous comparison test contains a large number of the latest benchmarks. In most of them, the 7205 is not able to surpass the 850E, but it comes pretty darn close to its performance. However, Intel has officially specified the 7205 to become the successor to the 850E.
The market leader will also be launching further chipsets (codenamed Springdale and Canterwood) in time for the CeBIT. These are technically based on the E7205. To be more specific, an FSB of up to 800 MHz and a memory clock of up to 400 MHz will be possible. The enormous clock speeds will be made possible through two modes: Quad Data Rate (FSB) and Double Data Rate (DDR400).
Nevertheless, the E7205 is already the fundamentally better choice compared to the 850E, because there are a few arguments that speak against the RDRAM platform:
- Overclocking a system with PC1066 RDRAM is very difficult. We attained a maximum of 145 MHz, which corresponds to a 10% increase.
- PC1066 RDRAM gets really hot, thus compromising system stability in an environment without much air flow and necessitating the integration of powerful, and loud, fans.
- RIMMs based on the PC1066 standard with 512 MB are rare and expensive. Memory capacities of over 1 GB are therefore more costly than with E7205, which can manage with PC266 SDRAM. 2 GB RAM modules are no longer a rarity, especially for workstation systems.
- 850E only supports AGP 4X.
AOpen AX4R Plus

Board Revision: ?
BIOS Version: 1.00e (November 25, 2002)
The board from AOpen offers several useful features that go beyond the capabilities of the chipset. For example, a 100 MBit network controller from Realtek is included (RTL8100NL). The purchaser also gets a usable AC97 sound system based on a codec from the same maker. Silicon Image's 3112 controller offers two native serial ports and, in fine old AOpen tradition, this model offers two BIOS chips (DieHard BIOS).
The board offers four USB 2.0 ports directly on the rear connector panel; two more can be activated with the help of an adapter (included in the package). To cool your computer, there are three fan connectors, although one of these is used to ventilate the E7205 chip.
The AOpen is the only board in this test to offer six PCI slots and a CNR slot that can be outfitted with audio or modem riser cards if necessary.
The possibility of varying the rpm of all connected fans in the BIOS is attractive. It is a very important feature if your priority is a computer that is as quiet as possible.
The performance of this board was very respectable, even if this was made possible in part by a slight overclocking of the processor (3081 instead of 3066 MHz). Still, it remains a reasonable board with many possibilities for overclocking. The bundled software and the option of using the computer as a CD player (BIOS function) also make this board attractive.


The network controller can manage "only" 100 MBit/s - but that seems low only when you consider the better-equipped competition.


Using this adapter, the AX4R Plus offers a total of six USB ports.


The package includes a very good manual in English as well as quick-start instructions for installation. Very nice: AOpen includes a driver diskette for the serial controller, enabling smooth reinstallation from Windows 2000/ XP.

Board Revision: 1.02
BIOS Version: 1002 (November 11, 2002)
The testing of Asus motherboards is typically uneventful - this time, too, the market leader's board gave no cause for complaint. It runs quickly and reliably.
The board is richly endowed with features: in addition to chipset characteristics like AGP 8X, UltraATA/ 100 interface, USB 2.0 and the dual-channel DDR266 interface, the board also has a simple six-channel sound system based on an AC97 codec from Realtek (ALC650), Silicon Image 3112 (currently the most advanced serial ATA controller), a Gigabit Ethernet controller from Broadcom (5702) and a FireWire controller from Texas Instruments. The serial chip from Silicon Image is the only model to date that natively supports the new interface. All of the competitors' products rely on external bridges or bridges integrated into the chip (serial-to-parallel converters).
Asus gave this board a more active fan monitor: when the board starts up without a processor fan connection, the BIOS generates an error message.
The package is extraordinarily generous in scope - almost too generous, even, because a different slot bracket adapter is needed for each of three functions (digital audio connectors, game port/ USB 5+6, FireWire). With many cabinets, this cheats you out of the possibility of filling the PCI slots with expansion cards. The problem with that is not simply the slot bracket modules, but also their cables, which have to be put somewhere.
In our view, a game port is rarely needed anymore today, as most joysticks have USB connectivity. The two additional USB ports could be positioned above the two available slots - IWill shows us how that works. Finally, FireWire and the digital audio boxes can be combined on one slot bracket.
The layout of the board is irreproachable, as are the extensive configuration options for the processor, including features for overclocking.


Asus uses a serial ATA controller from Silicon Image (Sil3112) and a FireWire chip from Texas Instruments (below).

There is even an Ethernet controller. The Broadcom BCM5702 can handle 10, 100 and 1,000 MBit/s.

The package includes a slot panel with a cable, allowing two FireWire ports to be used.

Audio freaks, rejoice: digital connectors are available.

Finally, there is also a conventional game port, as well as two additional USB interfaces.


The manual is typical of Asus: easy to understand and extensive, but unfortunately, only in English. The installation instructions are multilingual (right).

Board Revision: ?
BIOS Version: November 13, 2002
With 3059 MHz, the NB80-EA is below Intel's specifications. The performance of this board is adequate, but lags somewhat behind the front-runners.
It is equipped respectably: along with five PCI slots, it has four USB 2.0 ports, a Realtek network controller, an AC97 sound system and an IDE RAID controller from Promise (PDC265R) that can run two serial drives in addition to two UltraATA/ 100 drives. DFI has an interface for a smart card reader on the board. Besides Gigabyte, no other manufacturer in this test offers this.
The manual turns out to be thorough, although only in English. However, installation instructions are multilingual. Overall, the package includes three 80-pin IDE cables so that you can operate available drives straight away without buying additional cables. A serial cable was also included.
DFI supports overclocking, if not quite perfectly. The FSB speed can be changed in MHz steps, as is now usual. The processor voltage can also be increased by 5% or 10%.
DFI can still rack up points in price, because the boards are generally optimized to provide a good price/ performance ratio.

The integrated IDE chip from Promise controls two conventional IDE channels and a serial ATA port.

Only AOpen and DFI dare to offer 100 MBit Ethernet. All other makers use chips that also work for Gigabit Ethernet.



Board Revision:
BIOS Version: F2 (December 2, 2002)
Gigabyte has really adopted the term "dual" through and through. The 8INXP is being advertised as the "six-dual miracle." This includes: a dual logic processor (Pentium 4 with HyperThreading), dual-channel DDR, dual RAID, dual BIOS, dual power system and dual cooling. While the first few terms are comprehensible, dual power system and dual cooling reveal a curiosity of this board: all significant voltage converters are doubled (dual power system). Half of them are on a little board that sticks up. Gigabyte uses its own fan for cooling. The fact that this is the second fan, in addition to the one on the Northbridge, makes the sixth feature: dual cooling.
Gigabyte souped up the hardware offerings: a Gigabit Ethernet controller from Intel ensures optimal connection to networks; a smart card interface provides a connection for card readers; and an AC97-standard sound system guarantees audio finesse. However, the real attention went to the memory controller: an IDE RAID controller from Promise (PDC20276) was apparently not good enough for the developers, so there is also a serial chip from Silicon Image on the board (Sil3112). Overall, approximately ten hard drives can be operated without additional controllers.
One feature that has not been seen up to now is the possibility of operating a serial device outside the computer as well. Gigabyte includes a special slot bracket for this - very good!
Last but not least, this board delivers the best performance in this test, but it was significantly improved by a CPU speed of 3108 MHz. This is not how to win in a comparison - overclocking is up to the user!


One IDE RAID controller apparently wasn't enough. Gigabyte gives the 8INXP two: a conventional one from Promise for UltraATA/ 133, and a second one for serial ATA made by Silicon Image.

On-board Gigabit Ethernet: Intel 82540EM.

Good to see: DualBIOS and the connection for a smart card reader.

The Gigabyte voltage conversion module belongs in this socket.

What it looks like: Gigabyte Dual Power System. The fan lights up in bright blue whenever it starts.

What the competition doesn't have: an adapter bracket for external serial ATA devices!

Finally! Connectors for on/ off switches, reset, power LED and IDE LED have been color-coded.


Board Revision: ?
BIOS Version: November 12, 2002
The P4 GB was obviously never conceived for the mass market, because it requires a special power supply (EPS-12V) only common in servers and workstations. However, you can also use the standard ATX power supply by plugging in the connector at the very left side of the.
However, the components are similar to those used by the other contenders. There is a Gigabit Ethernet controller from Intel (82540EM) and an AC97 codec from Analog Devices. They even thought to add a FireWire controller from Texas Instruments.
The board doesn't have IDE RAID and the design could be more streamlined - the IDE connectors are right in front of the PCI slots. This is important particularly with workstation boards, as plug-in cards are still common in this area. The placement of the floppy controller is not ideal either, as standard cables will not reach from there to every height in modern towers.
The cooling element on the Northbridge is advantageous. Other manufacturers like to use fans, since they make the motherboard look fast. Active cooling only makes sense when there is serious overclocking.
IWill gets points for four in-case fans, flawless system operation and satisfactory performance. It's just too bad that it had to be obtained by overclocking by about 50 MHz. The P4 GB is a respectable motherboard with no weaknesses, but without any pronounced strengths, either.

This works too: unlike the competitors, IWill does not need a big cooling unit, let alone fans.


The Intel controller is popular: four of the seven boards work with it - including the P4 GB from IWill.




Board Revision: 2
BIOS Version: 2.0 (November 21, 2002)
At first glance, it would be easy to think that MSI was trying to emulate Gigabyte in its variety of features - but of course, GNB Max has nothing to do with its competitor.
Yet it works equally impressively: in addition to the standard features (five PCI, AGP 8x, UltraATA/ 100) this board offers a whole lot more. Thus MSI relies on a full PCI sound chip (C-Media CMI8738) instead of on an AC97 codec. It won't be sidelined on the network controller, either: nothing but a Gigabit Ethernet controller from Intel (82540EM) will do. A FireWire controller from VIA (VT6303) and an IDE RAID controller from Promise (PDC20376) complete the outfit. It offers an UltraATA/ 133 and two serial ATA ports.
MSI includes two modules: the first one, a D-bracket, offers another USB port, a Bluetooth module and D-LED, which is MSI's debugging system. This allows the system status to be determined using four LEDs and a table. So if the computer doesn't start, in many cases you no longer need to bother with searching for the culprit. The second module, an S bracket, has additional connectors for the sound system, including digital outs.
The current BIOS from the MSI website offers no possibility for overclocking. However, a beta BIOS version that we have used before did offer this possibility. Whether with or without overclocking features, MSI provides a small software tool that allows the highest stable CPU speed to be determined. All in all, a nice perk; however, the program does not do away with the necessity for thorough testing (at least several hours at full capacity), but simply allows the upper limit of your processor to be found.
MSI now also offers the option of updating the BIOS directly in Windows. No one tells you this when you download the BIOS, however.

MSI, too, provides you with serial ATA: a controller chip from Promise is concealed behind a white sticker, and offers a conventional ATA port and two serial ATA ports.


Digital audio outs and connectors for center and rear speakers are here.


MSI has to go to a lot of trouble to cool the voltage controller - hence the aluminum cooling unit.




Board Revision: ?
BIOS Version: 1.03 (January 6, 2003)
Unfortunately, Tyan took last place in the performance ranking of this comparison. Thus, the characteristics are to be found beneath the surface: the processing capacity on this board is one of the highest. Along with the standard components (five PCI, AGP 8x, UltraATA/ 100), also provided are a Gigabit Ethernet controller from Intel (82540EM), an AC97 sound system and an Ultra160/ Ultra320 SCSI controller. The last of these, however, was not furnished.
The package only includes a set of ribbon cables, a CD and the manual.


The board from Tyan is also available with an optional integrated SCSI controller.

| Hardware | |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Pentium 4 - 3.06 GHz
(533 MHz FSB, Hyper-Threading) |
| RAM | 2x 256 MB Corsair Micro DDR333, CL2 |
| Hard Drive | Western Digital WD2000JB, 200 GB, 7,200 rpm, 8 MB Cache |
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA GeForce 4 Ti4600
128 MB |
| Network Card | 3COM 3C905TX-B |
| Drivers & Software | |
| IDE/AGP Driver | Intel Application Accelerator 2.3 |
| Graphics Driver | Detonator 4 Serie V41.09 |
| DirectX Version | 9 |
| OS | Windows XP 5.1.2600 Service Pack 1 |
| Benchmarks | |
| Quake III Arena | Retail Version
Benchmark using ’DEMO001’ |
| SPECviewperf | Version 7.0
1280x1024x32x85 |
| MPEG4 Encoding | XMPEG 4.5
DivX 5.02 720x576 Pixel, 25 fps no Audio |
| SYSmark 2002 | Internet Content Creation
Office Application Performance |
| Lame | Lame 3.89 |
| Unreal Tournament 2003 | Demo Version Benchmark |
| WinACE | V2.04, 178 MB Wave-Date, Best Compression,
Dictionary 4096 kB |
| Comanche 4 | Demo Version Benchmark |
| Synthetic Benchmarks | PCMark 2002
SiSoft Sandra 2003 Pro |
| 3DStudio Max | Version 5.1
Dragon Scene 1280x1024x32 |
| Cinema 4D | Version 8
Stairs Scene 1280x1024 |
| Newtek Lightwave | Version 7.5
Skull Benchmark Scene 8 Threads Full Quality |
OpenGL Performance: Quake 3 Arena










MPEG4-Encoding



PCMark 2002








Lightwave 7.5

3D Studio Max 5.1


SiSoft Sandra 2003

Intel already signaled the trend in its use of DDR266: the world no longer revolves around maximum speeds. The new focus is on efficiency and parallelism - HyperThreading is the model. The dual-channel memory interface enables high performance at moderate memory prices. Maybe you still have two DDR266 DIMMs? In that case, an upgrade will be especially cheap.
With today's motherboards, features play an important role, too. For example, a FireWire interface makes it possible to connect an external hard drive or a digital camera. USB 2.0 has become a standard, fortunately, and even serial ATA is slowly but surely coming into its own. The controllers from Silicon Image rank particularly high because of their efficiency - they are no longer based on parallel ATA architecture and turn out lots of power with their signal conversion (AOpen, Asus, Gigabyte).
Gigabit Ethernet controllers are desirable, as the added power can clearly be seen in the access and transfer speeds in suitable networks and during intensive use. It is only the high price of hubs and switches that has prevented them from becoming viable up to now. But that will change, and then you will be glad that you already have the necessary hardware.
More than any other, Gigabyte was supposed to stand out in this test. Six more-or-less useful dual features, accessories en masse and the highest performance made the board a front-runner. But it got there partly by unfair means, because the processor speed of our P4 3.06 was more than 3.1 GHz. The board is among the best, but the maker overshot its goal - come on, who really needs two IDE RAID controllers?
High performance and generous equipment at a premium price are available this time again from Asus. Specifically, the additional features could be better integrated - three modules for the slot bracket are too many for us. Otherwise, it gets only good grades.
The AOpen AX4R Plus is a sensible, well-equipped board with high performance at a reasonable price. It offers all the important features, works very fast and thus offers an excellent compromise between price and performance/ equipment.
In terms of features, the winner in the comparative test this time around is MSI because, with its integrated Bluetooth controller, it offers clear added value, particularly for those who use modern mobile phones. In other respects, it can do everything its rivals can do: IDE RAID with serial ATA, PCI sound, Gigabit LAN and FireWire. A generous amount of software comes with it. In the end, only the overclocking features deprive it of an unconditional recommendation - but this could be fixed with a BIOS update, as we saw with the pre-production version, which was sent to us along with the board.
| Manufacturer | AOpen | Asus | DFI | Gigabyte |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Website | www.aopen.com.tw | www.asus.com.tw | www.dfi.com | www.gigabyte.com.tw |
| Model | AX4R Plus | P4G8X | NB80-EA | GA-8INXP |
| Chipset | ||||
| Socket | Socket mPGA478 | Socket mPGA478 | Socket mPGA478 | Socket mPGA478 |
| Clock (CPU/Bus) | 3081.54 / 133.98 | 3067.15 / 133.35 | 3059.42 / 133.02 | 3059.42 / 133.02 |
| Northbridge | i7205 | i7205 | i7205 | i7205 |
| Southbridge | i82801DB (ICH4) | i82801DB (ICH4) | i82801DB (ICH4) | i82801DB (ICH4) |
| Northbridge Fan | yes | no | no | yes |
| Form Factor | ATX | ATX | ATX | ATX |
| Memory | ||||
| Maximum RAM | 4096 MB | 4096 MB | 4096 MB | 4096 MB |
| DIMM-Sockets | 4, DDR | 4, DDR | 4, DDR | 4, DDR |
| Memory Type | DDR-SDRAM, unbuffered | DDR-SDRAM, unbuffered | DDR-SDRAM, unbuffered | DDR-SDRAM, unbuffered |
| Memory Frequencies | Dual-Channel DDR200, DDR266 | Dual-Channel DDR200, DDR266 | Dual-Channel DDR200, DDR266 | Dual-Channel DDR200, DDR266 |
| ECC-Support | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Standard Components | ||||
| Size (LxH) | 305 x 244 mm | 305 x 244 mm | 305 x 244 mm | |
| PCI Slots | 6x PCI 2.2, 32 Bit | 5x PCI 2.2, 32 Bit | 5x PCI 2.2, 32 Bit | 5x PCI 2.2, 32 Bit |
| AGP | 3.0 / AGP 8x | 3.0 / AGP 8x | 3.0 / AGP 8x | 3.0 / AGP 8x |
| AGP Card Lock | yes | no | yes | no |
| ACR / AMR / CNR | no / no / yes | yes / no / no | no / no / yes | no / no / no |
| Parallel Ports | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Serial Ports | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| USB 2.0 internal/external | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 4 / 2 |
| Fan Headers | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| IDE Controller | 2x UltraATA/100 | 2x UltraATA/100 | 2x UltraATA/100 | 2x UltraATA/100 |
| Additional Components | ||||
| Piezo Speaker OnBoard | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Wake on LAN (WOL) | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Wake on Modem (WOM) | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| IrDA-Port | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Chassis Intrusion Detection | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Temperature Monitoring | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Fan Status Monitoring | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Network Controller | Realtek RTL8100BL | Broadcom BCM5702 | Realtek RTL8100BL | Intel RC82540EM |
| IDE RAID Controller | Silicon Image 3112AC | Silicon Image 3112AC | Promise PDC20265R | Promise PDC20276, Silicon Image 3112AC |
| Firewire-Controller | - | TI DI278TT | - | - |
| SCSI-Controller | - | - | - | - |
| Sound System | ||||
| Type | AC97 | AC97 | AC97 | AC97 |
| Manufacturer / Chip | Realtek ALC650 | Realtek ALC650 | Realtek ALC650 | Realtek ALC650 |
| Surround Sound | 6 Channels | 6 Channels | 6 Channels | 6 Channels |
| External Connectors | Line-In, Mic, Line-Out | Line-In, Mic, Line-Out | Line-In, Mic, Line-Out | Line-In, Mic, Line-Out |
| Internal Connectors | Aux-In, CD-In | Aux-In, CD-In | Aux-In, CD-In | Aux-In, CD-In |
| Setup | ||||
| CPU Config | BIOS | BIOS | BIOS | BIOS |
| Selectable Multipliers | auto | auto | auto | auto |
| FSB Range / Increments | 66 - 255 / 1 | 100 - 400 / 1 | 133 - 200 / 1 | 133 - 355 / 1 |
| Voltage | ||||
| Vcore Range / Increments | 1.1 - 1.85 V / 0.025 V | 1.55 - 1.975 / 0.025 V | +5 % / + 10% | 1.575 - 1.775 / 0.025 V |
| Vram / Increments | 2.5 / 2.55 / 2.6 / 2.65 V | 2.5 / 2.6 / 2.7 V | - | +0.1 / +0.2 / +0.3 V |
| Vchipset / Increments | Vagp 1.5 / 1.55 / 1.6 / 1.65 V | Vagp 1.5 / 1.6 / 1.7 V | - | Vagp +0.1 / +0.2 / +0.3 V |
| Board and BIOS Details | ||||
| Bios | Award/Phoenix | Phoenix | Award/Phoenix | AMI |
| Version | 1.00e | 1002 | ? | F2 |
| Date | Nov 25, 2002 | Nov 11, 2002 | Nov 13, 2002 | Dec 2, 2002 |
| Windows BIOS Update | yes | yes | no | |
| Motherboard Revision | ? | 1.02 | ? | ? |
| Boot Devices | IDE, Floppy, ZIP, LAN, SCSI, LS120 | Floppy, LS120, HD, SCSI, CDROM/DVD, ZIP, USB-ZIP, USB-FDD, USB-CDROM, USB-HDD, LAN | Floppy, LS120, HD, SCSI, CDROM/DVD, ZIP, LAN | Floppy, LS120, HD, SCSI, CDROM/DVD, ZIP, USB-ZIP, USB-FDD, USB-CDROM, USB-HDD, LAN |
| Manual Interrupt Assignment | no | no | no | yes |
| Special Features | Dr.Voice, Fan Speed Control, Credits, OpenJukebox BIOS CD Player | Speech Post Reporter, Hardware Monitor detects if no fan attached | Smart Card Interface | Smart Card/ SD Card Interface |
| Shared Interrupts | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Clock Generator | CY283780C | ICS-UJ260754 | Realtek RTM360-408R | CYP 620794 |
| Miscellaneous | ||||
| Layout Issues | IDE in front of PCI | - | ||
| Model Variations | - | - | - | |
| Shipment / Utilities | ||||
| Manual / Quality | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Languages | English | English | English | English |
| Quick Setup Guide | yes | yes, multi language | no | ? |
| Cables | 1x IDE-80, 1x IDE-40, 1x Floppy, 1x SATA | 1x IDE-80, 1x IDE-40, 1x Floppy, 1x SATA | 3x IDE-80, 1x Floppy, 1x Game | ? |
| Adapters | USB | digital audio, Firewire, Game/USB | External SATA, | |
| Software | AOConfig, EzRestore/ProMagic, EzSkin, EzWInFlash, Norton Anti Virus 2002 | WinCinema incl. WinDVD, WinRIP, WinCoder & WinProducer, PCProbe, PC Cillin 2002, Asus Screen Saver, E-Color 3Deep | ||
| Miscellaneous | CD Player, Dr.Voice (German, English, Japanese, Chinese), BIOS Fan Speed Control | BIOS reports hardware monitor error if no CPU fan attached | ||
| Manufacturer | Iwill | MSI | Tyan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website | www.iwill.net | www.msi.com.tw | www.tyan.com |
| Model | P4 GB | GNB Max | Trinity i7205 (S2662) |
| Chipset | |||
| Socket | Socket mPGA478 | Socket mPGA478 | Socket mPGA478 |
| Clock (CPU/Bus) | 3105.56 / 135.02 | 3074.29 / 133.66 | 3065.30 / 133.27 |
| Northbridge | i7205 | i7205 | i7205 |
| Southbridge | i82801DB (ICH4) | i82801DB (ICH4) | i82801DB (ICH4) |
| Northbridge Fan | no | yes | no |
| Form Factor | ATX | ATX | ATX |
| Memory | |||
| Maximum RAM | 4096 MB | 4096 MB | 4096 MB |
| DIMM-Sockets | 4, DDR | 4, DDR | 4, DDR |
| Memory Type | DDR-SDRAM, unbuffered | DDR-SDRAM, unbuffered | DDR-SDRAM, unbuffered |
| Memory Frequencies | Dual-Channel DDR200, DDR266 | Dual-Channel DDR200, DDR266 | Dual-Channel DDR200, DDR266 |
| ECC-Support | yes | yes | yes |
| Standard Components | |||
| Size (LxH) | 305 x 254 mm | 305 x 247 mm | |
| PCI Slots | 5x PCI 2.2, 32 Bit | 5x PCI 2.2, 32 Bit | 5x PCI 2.2, 32 Bit |
| AGP | 3.0 / AGP 8x | 3.0 / AGP Pro 8x | 3.0 / AGP 8x |
| AGP Card Lock | no | no | no |
| ACR / AMR / CNR | no / no / no | no / no / no | no / no / no |
| Parallel Ports | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Serial Ports | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| USB 2.0 internal/external | 0 / 4 | 1 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Fan Headers | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| IDE Controller | 2x UltraATA/100 | 2x UltraATA/100 | 2x UltraATA/100 |
| Additional Components | |||
| Piezo Speaker OnBoard | no | yes | yes |
| Wake on LAN (WOL) | yes | yes | yes |
| Wake on Modem (WOM) | yes | yes | yes |
| IrDA-Port | yes | yes | yes |
| Chassis Intrusion Detection | yes | yes | yes |
| Temperature Monitoring | yes | yes | yes |
| Fan Status Monitoring | yes | yes | yes |
| Network Controller | Intel RC82540EM | Intel RC82540EM | Intel RC82540EM |
| IDE RAID Controller | - | Promise PDC20376, 2x SATA | - |
| Firewire-Controller | TI DI278TT | VIA VT6303 | - |
| SCSI-Controller | - | - | - |
| Sound System | |||
| Type | AC97 | PCI | AC97 |
| Manufacturer / Chip | Analog Devices AD1981A | C-Media CMI8738 | Analog Devices AD1981A |
| Surround Sound | 6 Channels | 6 Channels | 6 Channels |
| External Connectors | Line-In, Mic, Line-Out | Line-In, Mic, Line-Out | Line-In, Mic, Line-Out |
| Internal Connectors | Aux-In, CD-In | Aux-In | Aux-In |
| Setup | |||
| CPU Config | BIOS | BIOS | BIOS |
| Selectable Multipliers | auto | auto | auto |
| FSB Range / Increments | 133 - 200 / 1 | 100, 133 | |
| Voltage | |||
| Vcore Range / Increments | 1.10 - 1.85 / 0.025 V | - | - |
| Vram / Increments | - | - | |
| Vchipset / Increments | - | - | |
| Board and BIOS Details | |||
| Bios | Award/Phoenix | Award/Phoenix | |
| Version | 2.0 | 1.03 | |
| Date | Nov 12, 2002 | Nov 21, 2002 | Jan 6, 2003 |
| Windows BIOS Update | no | yes | no |
| Motherboard Revision | ? | 2 | ? |
| Boot Devices | Floppy, LS120, HD, SCSI, CDROM/DVD, ZIP, LAN | Floppy, LS120, HD, SCSI, CDROM/DVD, ZIP, USB-ZIP, USB-FDD, USB-CDROM, USB-HDD, LAN | Floppy, LS120, HD, SCSI, CDROM/DVD, ZIP, USB-ZIP, USB-FDD, USB-CDROM, USB-HDD, LAN |
| Manual Interrupt Assignment | - | yes | yes |
| Special Features | EPS power supply required | D-Bracket Diagnostic LED, BIOS Live Update 2 | - |
| Shared Interrupts | ? | ? | ? |
| Clock Generator | ICS 950202CF | ICS 950213AF | ICS 950201AF |
| Miscellaneous | |||
| Layout Issues | IDE in front of PCI, floppy at the very bottom | - | |
| Model Variations | - | Bluetooth, 1394, LAN, SATA optional | |
| Shipment / Utilities | |||
| Manual / Quality | Good | excellent | Good |
| Languages | English | English | English |
| Quick Setup Guide | ? | yes, 6 languages | - |
| Cables | 1x Floppy, 1x IDE-80 | 1x Floppy, 1x IDE-80, 2x SATA | |
| Adapters | 2x Firewire | SPDIF (S-Bracket) | |
| Software | MSI DVD, PC Cilin 2002, Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.05 | ||
| Miscellaneous | Fuzzy Logic 4 Overclocking Utility, BIOS Live Update 2, D-Bracket Diagnostic LED, PC Alert 4 System Surveillance | ||