Testing IС7-G of Abit corporation

Intel chip set 875P (i875P, known as Canterwood) is oriented to the architecture of workstations and high-powered desktop PCs. Supports systems with processors of Intel of Pentium 4 with processing technique Hyper-Threading, 0,13 microns created on processing technique . The given processors are hooked up through Socket 478 plug and work with bus FSB of type QPB (Quad-Pumped Bus) which clock rate for the given chip set can make 133 or 200 MHz. However usage of the models calculated and on frequency of the bus of 100 MHz is possible .

The chip set i875P consists of two components — Memory Controller Hub (MCH) and I/O Controller Hub (ICH), jointed traditional for sets habovoj architectures bus Hub Link (256 Mb per second).

MCH component is presented by Intel chip 82875P, containing resources of interfaces of operation with the processor, AGP videoadapter, dynamic storage units, and also with chip I/O Controller Hub.

Built in Intel chip 82875P the memory controller provides support: two-and one-channel functional modes of memory DDR SDRAM (Double Data Rate SDRAM — SDRAM with data transfer on lobbies and back edges of clock pulses of the bus of memory), DDR400/333/266, a maximum memory size — to 4 Gbytes, chips 128, 256, 512 Mbit DDR SDRAM, units both with ECC, and without ECC. In patterns with support ECC in a two-channel mode the bus of 144 bits, without support ECC — 128 bits uses   .

Chip MCH supports different frequency functional modes for processor and memory buses.

For a synchronous functional mode of memory DDR400 and frequency of the bus of 800 MHz probably usage of the mode providing raised productivity of a subsystem of memory, — processing techniques of Intel PAT (Performance Acceleration Technology). In this mode the delays linked to synchronisation are minimised.

The built in controller of a drawing supports one arrangement 0,8/1,5 In AGP 3.0, working in modes AGP 8х/4x.

In the architecture of a chip of Intel 82875P the special interface is provided, allowing to realise Gigabit Ethernet. Carrying over of these resources from ICH in MCH speaks insufficient capacity of Hub Link local bus jointing hubs MCH and ICH.

Handle of computer peripheral devices is carried out by Intel chip 82801ЕB — ICH the fifth version which are a part of a base package of a chip set i875P.

The built in resources of a chip of handle of peripheral devices of a base set support: two channels IDE with support ATA 33/66/100 (to four arrangements IDE), two ports Serial ATA 150, eight ports USB 2.0, six PCI (32 bits/33 of MHz), LPC (Low Pin Count), AC ' 97 with support of three codecs of the audiochannels, integrated controller Ethernet 10/100 Base-TX, SMBas, ACPI 2.0, and also other resources and functions.

Instead of Intel chip 82801ЕB, as a part of a chip set i875P usage of the expanded version of hub ICH5 — ICH5R is possible . This expanded variant is presented by Intel chip 82801ЕR which differs from the predecessor support of function RAID of level 0.

Into package structure enter:

• Box;
• Motherboard Abit IC7-G;
• Compact disc with drivers and utilities
• Diskette with drivers Serial ATA;
• The user manual in English with short descriptions in different languages, including Russian;
• Cable (round) for hooking up of arrangements ATA 100/66;
• Cable (round) for hooking up of the flexible drive;
• Two cables for arrangements Serial ATA;
• Two adapters of power supply for arrangements Serial ATA;
• Adapter Serillel2;
• The cover plate of input/output corresponding to specification ATX;
• breket with two USB 2.0 plugs and with two IEEE1394 plugs.

The processor

• Support of processors of Intel of Pentium 4 with processing technique Hyper-Threading with the bus 800, 533, 400 MHz in 478-contact tank mPGA.

• Intel 82875P (MCH) and Intel 82801ER (ICH5R);
• Two channels DDR400 with ECC and PAT;
• USB 2.0;
• Two ports Serial ATA 150 c support RAID 0;
• Ultra ATA 100/66/33 protocol;
• Five PCI plugs.

• Four plugs (184 contact electrodes) for dynamic storage DIMM, DDR 400, DDR333, DDR266 (2,5 In, 128/256/512/1024 Mbit, unbuffered), is supported mode ECC, maximum size — to 4 Gbytes;
• Support of one or two channels of dynamic storage.

• One general-purpose AGP plug (Accelerated Graphics Port) with 1,5 or 0,8 In AGP 3.0, providing support AGP Pro 50 with modes AGP 8X/4X.

Audio

• Audiosubsystem on the basis of 6-channel codec RealTeak ALC650 CODEC;
• 24 bits S/PDIF Input/Output.

• The integrated network controller of Intel CSA Gigabit (RJ45).

• Two channels (two connectors) Ultra DMA 100/66/33;

• Two channels (two connectors) Serial ATA 150 with RAID 0 through ICH5R;
• Two channels (two connectors) Serial ATA 150 with RAID 0/1 through Silicon Image PCI.

• Eight USB 2.0 with support of a transfer rate to 480 Mbit/with.

• IEEE1394 c support of a transfer rate 400/200/100.

• AWARD BIOS in FWH Flash EEPROM;
• SoftMenu for processor parametre setup;
• Plug-and-Play (PNP);
• Advanced Configuration Power Interface (ACPI);
• Desktop Management Interface (DMI);
• Write-Protect Anti-Virus function.

• One AGP slot;
• Five PCI slots.
• One Floppy port (supports arrangements in size to 2,88 Mb);
• Two Ultra ATA 100/66/33;
• Four Serial ATA 150;
• Two USB 2.0;
• Two IEEE1394a;
• CD-IN, AUX-IN;
• IrDA.

• PS/2 The keyboard and PS/2 the mouse;
• One parallel port (Parallel), a serial port (COM);
• S/PDIF In;
• S/PDIF Out;
• AUDIO1 (Rear-Left / Rear-Right, Center/Subwoofer);
• AUDIO2 (Mic-In, Line-In, Front-Left/Front-Right);
• Two USB 2.0, one IEEE1394;
• Two USB 2.0, one RJ-45 LAN.

• Monitoring of powers, temperatures and operation of fans;
• Support Wake Up by LAN, Modem Ring RTC Alarm, inclusion from the keyboard and the mouse;
• Support STR (Suspend to RAM).

• ATX.

The design of motherboard Abit IC7-G developed and released by Abit corporation, as a whole corresponds to the referens-design of similar products created and recommended by corporations, releasing sets of system logic.

As card Abit IC7-G is oriented to application in high-powered systems, therefore in the systems created on the basis of the given card, usage of processors of Intel of Pentium 4 with processing technique Hyper-Threading and the bus of 800 MHz is recommended  . It provides reaching of a maximum level of productivity. However usage and less efficient models is possible. It can be, for example, the processors calculated for the bus of 533 MHz and even of 400 MHz. Thus together with motherboard Abit IC7-G created on the basis of a chip set i875P, application of models and without support of processing technique Hyper-Threading is possible. However together with this card can be maintained and models of processors Celeron though, it is necessary to recognise, that it does not provide the high levels of the productivity accessible to more efficient variants of processors and the given motherboard.

The functional mode of memory modules DDR SDRAM can be as one-channel (3,2 Gbytes/c), and two-channel (6,4 Gbytes/c). Thus first two DIMM slots of motherboard Abit IC7-G concern the first channel built in a chip set i875P the memory controller, last two — to the second channel.

It is necessary to mark, that the two-channel mode allows to receive completely depthbalanced system. It is provided in the event that pass-bands of the processor bus and the memory bus coincide and make equal values — 6,4 Gbytes/with. Thus operation of memory modules DDR SDRAM can be or synchronous — clock rate coincides with frequency FSB, or asynchronous — clock rate differs from frequency FSB. It is set in BIOS Setup — SDRAM Frequency.

The built in resources of the motherboard allow to change a standard set tajmingov ("SDRAM Cas Latency" and "Precharge to Active" (Trp), "Active to precharge" (Tras) and "Active to CMD" (Trcd), etc.).

In case of a synchronous mode for frequency of the bus of 800 MHz and memory modules DDR400 usage of the mode providing raised productivity of a subsystem of memory is possible. This processing technique realised in all products, created on a basis i875P, carries the name “PAT” (Performance Acceleration Technology). The idea laying in its basis, consists in an expedition of passing of data through chip MCH at the expense of refusal superfluous in this case synchronisations. Thus will not be involved special sinhronizatsionnye bufery in a chip set. As a result data are handled directly at the expense of what the accelerated passing of the information is provided. By estimations of experts of Intel, the reached scoring makes 2-5 %.

The design of the motherboard has a number of features.

First of all, it is necessary to mark processor Socket 478 plug. Unlike the previous models, for example, popular model Abit IT7-MAX2, processor Abit IC7-G plug will turn on 90 degrees (counter-clockwise). Its offset deep into the motherboard allows to use heat sinks of the big size.

One more feature of design Abit IC7-G are resources of cooling of chip MCH. Engineers Abit used traditional solution for the products — rather small heat sink supplied with the fan. It on a plan of implementators raises stability of operation of the card, especially in modes of the dispersal advocated by Abit corporation in the products.

The second chip of a chip set i875P — ICH5R, responsible for input/output, thanks to insignificant teploobrazovaniju in cooling resources does not require.

In the motherboard architecture, except chips of Intel and Abit, units of such corporations, as Abit, RealTek, Avance Logic (division RealTek), Texas Instruments and others are used.

One more important feature of the architecture and design of motherboard Abit IC7-G is usage of the resources providing implementation of interface Serial ATA 150. In the card 4 channels Serial ATA are provided. Moreover, possibilities RAID are realised. Thus two channels are provided by the built in resources of chip ICH5R, and other two channels Serial ATA — chip Sil3112A.

Support of interface IEEE1394 known as Firewire, is carried out by means of chip Texas Instruments TSB43AB23.

audiosredsta are provided by chip ALC650. The given integrated controller provides a six-channel sound

In the motherboard architecture the integrated network controller of Intel CSA Gigabit (Intel 82547 Gigabit Ethernet), providing a transfer rate 1 Gbit/with. The given built in network tools allow to include easily the computer through built in RJ-45 plug in structure of a high-speed local area network.

As well as all motherboards of the given corporation, Abit IC7-G supports dispersal modes. Thus for enthusiasts of dispersal there is a possibility of installation of the forced functional modes of the processor. It is carried out by frequency rise (change of frequency of bus FSB in a band from 100 to 412 MHz with step 1 MHz) processor bus FSB (overclocking) and memory buses, and also a choice of best values of parametres of operation of DDR SDRAM units.

The built in resources of motherboard Abit IC7-G allow to change power of the processor (Vcore) in a band from 1.525 In to 1.9 In with step 0.025 Century

In addition to it there is a possibility of change of level of the power submitted on memory modules (Vmem). The band of change of the given parametre makes from 2.5 In to 2.8 Century

Besides, it is possible to change the power submitted on the videoadapter. A change band — from 1.5 In till 1.65 In with step 0.05 Century

Rise of dependability and stability of operation is promoted by implementation of the hardware monitoring providing the control over supply voltages and operation of cooling fans. This possibility simplifies the control in case of usage of modes of dispersal.

Card Abit IC7-G resources realise function Abit FanEQ which allows to regulate speed of rotation of a processor cooler depending on temperature. It provides essential lowering of noise level.

One more feature of Abit IC7-G architecture — usage of a fourline variant of the converter of power (VRM), characteristic for Abit corporation motherboards.

Usually VRM it is allocated between the processor and input/output plugs. As an example it is possible to result, for example card Abit IT-MAX2. However apparently on the resulted fragments of circuits (a Fig. 6), layout VRM on motherboard Abit IC7-G is nonconventional.

Tendency to be prepared for release of flagman model Abit IC7-MAX3 was one of the reasons on which implementators of Abit corporation have selected the given variant of design VRV for motherboard Abit IC7-G, possibly.

Estimating operation parametres of the described motherboard, it is necessary to mark, that at performance of numerous, durable tests card Abit IC7-G worked steadily, providing high efficiency of the computer.

In testing following components used:

• Motherboard Abit IC7-G (a chip set i875P),
• The processor of Intel of Pentium 4 (Socket 478, 512 Kbytes of cache memory L2, 200 MHz FSB of type QPB) with clock rate 3,0 GHz,
• Abit Siluro GeForce4 Ti4200 OTES videoadapter (64 Mb DDR SDRAM, CPU Core — 257 MHz, memory — 550 MHz),
• Dynamic storage Hynix PC3200 (DDR400) 1 Gbyte (2х512 Mb),
• IBM hard disk 180GXP 120 Gbytes (2 Mb of the cache memory, 7200 rpm),
• OS OF WINDOWS XP Professional.

For an estimation of comparative productivity the given executions of the test 3DMark99 for motherboards Abit IC7-G (a chip set i875P) and Abit IT7-MAX2 Rev.2.0 (a chip set i845PE) are more low cited.

Results of testing Abit IC7-G