Friday, September 10, 1999

The Features (suite)

Additional features that we find on the BF6 are as such: Wake on LAN, Wake on Modem Ring, PS/2 connectors for mice and keyboards, an SB-Link, USB connectors, SMbus connectors, Power On from the keyboard or mouse, control of voltage and processor temperature, and hardware monitoring of fan speed, CPU temperature, and environmental temperature. A thermal sensor is also provided to allow you to monitor the temperature of another device of your choice.

Below, a photo of the Abit BF6 motherboard gives is a good view of its components layout. Note the presence of the DIP switch array (Blue) in the lower right-hand corner. Note as well the small square situated between the south bridge of the i440BX chipset, and the memory sockets, is destined to receive a Highpoint HPT366 controller. We can also see the emplacement of the ATA66 connectors to the left of the ATA33 connectors.

Installation

Installation of this motherboard is neither easier nor harder than the majority of motherboards from Abit, with its famous Soft Menu II. As mentioned, as we find on this board an array of DIP switches (at least on the version I'm holding), we can also configure the BF6 by their usage, if so desired.

Software Bundle

The following software is included with this motherboard: a CD version of the user's manual, Xstore Pro drivers, a floppy disk containing the HPT366 drivers, Intel Bus master drivers for Win95, a program for flashing the BIOS, Win95 PCI bridge drivers, Hardware Doctor for monitoring the system's health, and a program for low level formatting of hardrives. Other applications include a screen saver, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Dynadoc Reader, the Abit Web site, and a freeware package including: Pointcast network, and Inforia Quest98.

Suite: The Test Results.