DDR400 for Athlon: A Comparison of 9 Motherboards

Features
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Features Table

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ManufacturerAbitAsusBiostarElitegroupGigabyte
ModelAT7-MAX2A7V8XM7VIKL7VTAGA-7VAXP
Chipset
SocketSocket ASocket ASocket ASocket ASocket A
Clock (CPU/Bus)?1802.19 / 133.501799.68 / 133.311794.88 / 132.951808.38 / 133.95
NorthbridgeVIA KT400VIA KT400VIA KT400VIA KT400VIA KT400
SouthbridgeVIA VT8235VIA VT8235VIA VT8235VIA VT8235VIA VT8235
Northbridge Fannonononoyes
Form FactorATXATXATXATXATX
Memory
Maximum RAM3584 MB3072 MB3072 MB3072 MB3072 MB
DIMM-Sockets4, DDR3, DDR3, DDR3, DDR3, DDR
Memory TypeDDR-SDRAM, buffered/unbufferedDDR-SDRAM, unbufferedDDR-SDRAM, unbufferedDDR-SDRAM, unbufferedDDR-SDRAM, unbuffered
Memory FrequenciesDDR400, DDR333, DDR266DDR400, DDR333, DDR266DDR400, DDR333, DDR266DDR400, DDR333, DDR266DDR400, DDR333, DDR266
ECC-Supportnonononono
Standard Components
Size (LxH)Row 15 - Cell 1 305 x 245 mm305 x 244 mm305 x 244 mm235 x 304 mm
PCI Slots5x PCI 2.2, 32 Bit6x PCI 2.2, 32 Bit5x PCI 2.2, 32 Bit5x PCI 2.2, 32 Bit5x PCI 2.2, 32 Bit
AGP3.0 / AGP 8x3.0 / AGP 8x3.0 / AGP 8x3.0 / AGP 8x3.0 / AGP 8x
AGP Card Lockyesyesyesyesyes
ACR / AMR / CNR0-CNRCNR-
Parallel Ports01111
Serial Ports02222
USB 2.0 internal/external4 / 64 / 22 / 44 / 22 / 4
Fan Headers42223
IDE Controller2x UltraATA/1332x UltraATA/1332x UltraATA/1332x UltraATA/1332x UltraATA/133
Additional Components
Piezo Speaker OnBoardnononoyesno
Wake on LAN (WOL)noyesyesnoyes
Wake on Modem (WOM)noyesyesnoyes
IrDA-Portnoyesyesyesno
Chassis Intrusion Detectionnoyesnonoyes
Temperature MonitoringCPU, SystemCPU, SystemCPU, SystemCPU, SystemCPU, System
Fan Status MonitoringCPU, SystemCPU, SystemCPU, SystemCPU, SystemCPU, System
Network ControllerVIA VT6103Broadcom BCM7502-VIA VT6103Realtek RTL8100BL
IDE RAID ControllerHighPoint HPT374Promise PDC20376 SATAPromise PDC20376 SATAPromise PDC20265RPromise PDC20276
Firewire-ControllerTexas Instruments TSB43AB23VIA VT6306VIA VT6306VIT VT6303VIA VT6306
SCSI-Controller-----
Sound System
TypeAC97AC97PCIAC97AC97
Manufacturer / ChipRealtek ALC650Realtek ALC650C-Media CMI8738VIA VT1612ARealtek ALC650
Surround Sound6 Channels6 Channels6 Channels6 Channels6 Channels
External ConnectorsLine-In, Mic, Front-Out, Rear-Out, Center/SubIn/Out/MicIn/Out/MicIn/Out/MicIn/Out/Mic/SPDIF-out
Internal ConnectorsCD-in, AUXCD-in, AUXCD-inCD/AUX/SPDIF-outCD/AUX/SPDIF-in/SPDIF-out
Setup
CPU ConfigBIOSBIOSBIOSBIOSBIOS
Selectable Multipliers5.0 - 18.05.0 - 22.5Row 45 - Cell 3 autoDIP/BIOS
FSB Range / Increments100 - 250100 - 227133-165 / 1133 - 166 / 1100-200 / 1
166 MHz FSByesyesyesyesyes
Voltage
Vcore Range / Increments?1.65 - 1.85 V / 0.025 V+0.075 / 0.025 V-+5 / +7.5 / +10 %
Vram / Increments?2.55, 2.65, 2.75, 2.85 V2.5 - 2.8 V-+0.1/+0.2/+0.3 V
Vchipset / Increments-Vagp 1.5 - 1.8 V / 0.1 VVagp 1.5 - 1.8 V-Vagp +0.1/+0.2/+0.3 V
Board and BIOS Details
BiosPhoenix/AwardPhoenix/AwardPhoenix/AwardRow 53 - Cell 4 Phoenix/Award
Version?10060910F1.0F4.M
Date?Sept 13, 2002Sept 10, 2002Sept 4, 2002Aug 22, 2002
Motherboard Revision?1.031.01.01.0
Boot DevicesFloppy, LS120, HD, SCSI, CDROM/DVD, ZIP, USB-ZIP, USB-FDD, USB-CDROM, UDB-HDD, LANFloppy, LS120, HD, SCSI, CDROM/DVD, ZIP, USB-ZIP, USB-FDD, USB-CDROM, UDB-HDD, LANFloppy, LS120, HD, SCSI, CDROM/DVD, ZIP, USB-ZIP, USB-FDD, USB-CDROM, UDB-HDD, LANFloppy, LS120, HD, SCSI, CDROM/DVD, ZIP, USB-ZIP, USB-FDD, USB-CDROM, UDB-HDD, LANFloppy, LS120, HD, SCSI, CDROM/DVD, ZIP, USB-ZIP, USB-FDD, USB-CDROM, UDB-HDD, LAN
Manual Interrupt AssignmentyesyesRow 58 - Cell 3 noyes
Special Features---South Bridge Heat SinkDual BIOS, Memory Stick / Smart Card Reader Connector
Shared Interrupts???Row 60 - Cell 4 ?
Clock GeneratorRow 61 - Cell 1 ICS94228BFCYP-613242Row 61 - Cell 4 ICS 94230BF
Miscellaneous
Layout Issues----IDE connectors close together
Model Variations-----
Shipment / Utilities
Manual / QualityExcellentExcellentGoodGoodExcellent
LanguagesEnglishEnglishEnglishEnglishEnglish
Quick Setup Guideyesyesnonoyes
CablesRow 69 - Cell 1 2x IDE-80, 1x IDE-40, Floppy, 2x SATA, SPDIF out/in1x IDE-80, 1x Floppy, 2x SATA1x IDE-80, 1x Floppy3x IDE-80, 1x Floppy
AdaptersRow 70 - Cell 1 2x USB, 2x Firewire, IDE-80-to-SATA3x Firewire-3x Firewire, 2x USB, SPFID koax+optical
SoftwareRow 71 - Cell 1 PC Cillin 2002 Anti-Virus, Asus PC Probe, Asus Live Update, CyberLink DVD-PlayerNorton Anti Virus 2002, Ghost 2002, Personal Firewall 2002?Norton Anti Virus 2002, Personal Firewall 2002
Patrick Schmid