Transcend TS-ALR4 ALI Magik DDR

Friday, May 25, 2001


Introduction

The Transcend TS-ALR4 motherboard is one of a rare number of boards based on the ALI Magik (1647/1535D+) chipset to arrive at our lab. Of course, the moment we unwrapped the TS-ALR4, we were quite eager to pit it against the leagues of competing boards that we've tested recently - a sentiment undoubtedly shared by our readers. So, let's say we skip the formalities, and head on to the testing ;) ....

Hardware Characteristics TS-ALR4 Socket A ALI Magik DDR
CPU
Support AMD Socket A CPU Duron & Athlon 600~1000+MHz
Chipset
ALI MagiK1 DDR (1647/1535D+)
Form factor
ATX - 30.5cm X 21.5cm
Expansion
6 PCI - 0 ISA - 0 CNR - 1 AGP - 4 USB
Memory
3 x 184-pin DDR sockets support up to 3GB of PC1600 or PC2100
FSB
100Mhz, 101Mhz, 102Mhz, 103Mhz, 105Mhz, 107Mhz, 110Mhz, 120Mhz, 126Mhz, 100Mhz, 133Mhz, 136Mhz, 137Mhz, 140Mhz, 142Mhz et 146Mhz,
Vcore adj.
NA
Vio adj.
NA
Audio chipset
embeded into the chipset


Configuration

Configuration of the TS-ALR4 can be done in one of two ways: through the use of Dip switches, or through the BIOS system.

User's opting for the former will find a Dip array labeled SW2, which can be used to set the CPU's clock multiplier to between 5X and 12.5X, and a second array labeled SW1, which can be used to set the FSB frequency to 100MHz or 133MHz.

Alternatively, within the BIOS menu labeled "Frequency/Voltage Control", users can set the FSB to operate at a frequency ranging from 100MHz to 146MHz .

The clock multiplier can be similarly configured to operate at between 5X and 12.5X.

Unfortunately, no options are presented for the configuration of the Vio or Vcore voltages.

Finally, the TS-ALR4 is gifted with an independent memory bus which can be set to 100MHz, 133MHz, or an automatic setting determined by the system. Tweakers should note that the last option is integral to the adjustment of the FSB, and is not presented as a separate menu option, as is usually the case.

Index:

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