Friday, August 11, 2000

The features

First, we'd like to make it clear that is not really made in a "micro" format, and one really needs a full-sized casing to house it. Second, we'd also like to state that our analysis started with a pre-production (read: beta) version of the A7V, but ends analyzing the final version of the same board - which we received half-way through the review process. The only differences between the two units are that the integrated sound-card was yanked from the final version, and a series of Dip switches added to allow the manual setting of the clock multiplier.

The Asus A7V is expandable via its 5 PCI slots, single AGP Pro port, and AMR connector; once again, as we've often seen lately, no ISA slots. There are also 3 168-pin DIMM sockets which can support upto 1.5GB of PC100, PC133, or VCM memory. As we mentioned in the introduction, the A7V also possess an optional IDE ATA100 PDC20265 controller from Promise Technologies. With the controller in place, it becomes possible to install 8 IDE units.

Configuration of the A7V can be accomplished totally within the confines of the BIOS, though several sets of jumpers are provided to allow one to perform the same tasks by hand. As mentioned previously, a series of Dip switches are provided for the manual setting of the clock multiplier. While AMD has long since signified that they have internally locked the setting of all of their new Athlon CPUs - and the unit that we have in our possession seems not to be an exception, thanks to some magic on Asus' part, we were in fact able to change the multiplier value. The values available for use go from 5X to 12.5X in steps of 0.5X. Next come the jumpers used to set the FSB parameters. In this case, jumpers DSW, and JEN work in tandem. While JEN is used to decide whether the BIOS, or the jumper settings should be used to determine the bus frequency, the DSW series of Dip switches are used to set a given frequency value, or to allow the frequency to be determined automatically should JEN be set in manual position. Please note that in order to change the clock multiplier, JEN must absolutely be set to the manual position. If left in their default positions, we can use the Jumperfree feature to make these adjustments from within the BIOS. As for the FSB frequencies that are available in the BIOS, these range from 90Mhz, to 145Mhz. Among the frequencies available, we find: 90Mhz, 95Mhz, 100Mhz, 101Mhz, 102Mhz, 103Mhz, 105Mhz, 107Mhz, 109Mhz, 110Mhz, 111Mhz,113Mhz, 115Mhz, 117Mhz, 120Mhz, 125Mhz, 130Mhz, 133Mhz, 135Mhz, 137Mhz, 139Mhz and 140Mhz. In fact, the A7V's frequency selection is surprisingly similar to the MSI K7T Pro MS-6330 that we very recently reviewed, save for the addition of several frequencies higher than 140MHz.

As you might expect, a feature also exists to allow one to set the operating frequency of the memory bus to a setting of either 100MHz, or 133MHz. Here, though, we find that versatility is lacking. If, for example, one pushed the FSB to 110MHz, we end up choosing between memory bus settings of 110MHz, and 143MHz. Clearly, the memory bus is no acting totally independent of the FSB, which makes it impossible to conserve a memory speed of 133MHz on an Overclocked system. A range of memory parameters can be adjusted though, from within the "Chip Configuration" sub-menu (located itself within the "Advanced" menu). Here, among other things, one finds the "Memory Data Drive" feature, which can be used to address data either softly, or aggressively.

On the up side, the A7V also allows for the modification of the CPU's voltages. Jumpers VID1 through VID4 permit the processor's Vcore voltage to be set between 1.10v, and 1.85v in steps of 0.05v. This task can also be performed from within the BIOS menu labeled "Advanced".

From the motherboard itself, the VIO jumper also allows the processor's VIO voltage to be set to 3.35v, 3.56v, or 3.69v.

The particularities

Connectors JTPWR & JTCPU

Demonstrating a real flair for the dramatic, Asus has seen fit not only to include one extra thermal sensor connector, but two. So, we end up with 2 thermal sensor connectors asides from the 1 that in fact comes with its own sensor - JT2.

CPU Voltage Riser

Instead of surrounding the CPU socket with a small army of capacitors, and voltage regulators, Asus has chosen to place the entire troop one a small card which is inserted vertically into the main circuit-board. By doing so, a considerable amount of space is saved on the main board, and more clearance is provided around the processor socket itself.

AGP Pro

As for the eminently important sounding AGP Pro port, it is in fact a rendition on the AGP standard that is destined for professional graphics cards, and uses a somewhat longer AGP connector. That said, cards that actually use this standard are few, and far between.

Overclocking

While AMD at one time swore up & down that it would never ever, ever lock the clock multiplier on its CPUs, they recently reversed that policy by locking the Thunderbirds, and Durons. Asus though, came up with the brilliant idea of installing a series of jumpers on the A7V that permit this setting to actually be changed; though it's debatable how much longer this will actually work. There are, in fact, probably as many T-Birds, and Durons circulating without multiplier locks, at the moment, as there are with locks - so it's hard to say how long Asus's Dip switches will actually prove useful. Just because the A7V includes a series of Dips for changing the multiplier, after all, doesn't guarantee that it's possible. Intel-compatible boards have included such functions for quite some time, after all, but Intel's CPUs have long been locked, and thus ignored any attempts to change the multiplier. A simple way to determine whether or not your T-Bird or Duron is locked, is to see whether bridges L1 are intact. If so, the CPU is unlocked. If some of the bridges are open, then the CPU is locked. Of course, in theory, one could always reconnect these bridges, and all would be well for Overclockers. Whatever the case, we at least can play with multipliers to our hearts' content thanks to the A7V's Dips. Furthermore, the BIOS functions has settings to allow FSB Overclocking. Thus, one can chose to Overclock the processor FSB through the BIOS functions. All we can say is: Thanks Asus!

Next: The features