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ABIT AI7

Sporting the uGuru processor and its deep features, the AI7 builds on ABIT’s already critically acclaimed line of i865PE boards. Its performance promises to make it an enthusiast favorite.

Introduction

ABIT is very well known in the enthusiast circles. They have always strived to push the limits of hardware and technology to bring the best overclocking experience to market that money can buy. Their current line of boards, featuring their uGuru processor, continues this trend across all platforms.

The AI7 is the latest ABIT i865PE based board featuring the uGuru technology. The Intel 865PE chipset has full support for all Intel processors, including the 800 MHz FSB processors with Hyper-Threading technology, as well as support for Dual Channel memory operation using DDR RAM of up to 400 MHz speeds. As with most current ABIT solutions, the AI7 is a feature complete board requiring only CPU, DRAM modules, video card, and drives. The following components are integrated in to the board for your convenience: 2 ATA 100 IDE ports; 2 SATA-150 ports with built-in RAID0 and RAID1 support through the Intel ICH5R Southbridge chipset; integrated Realtek 10/100 Ethernet controller; 8 total USB 2.0 capable ports(4 in rear panel, and 2 onboard headers supporting 2 ports each); 3 IEEEE 1394a capable ports (1 in rear panel, and 2 onboard headers supporting 1 full sized and 1 mini port); Realtek 6 channel audio featuring S/PDIF optical input and output ports; and the standard serial, parallel and PS/2 ports.

Main Specifications Overview:

Detailed Mainboard Specification List:

Packaging

The AI7 box design is very simple and to the point, center piecing ABIT uGuru technology. Since this board is the entry level board in the AI7 series, only a minimal of items are included with the board, including: ATA 133 and floppy cables, 1 SATA 150 cable, 1 dual ended SATA power plug, the rear panel shield, the USB2.0/IEEE 1394a bracket, and the normal complement of driver CDs and manuals.

Board Layout

In designing the AI7, it seems that ABIT took lessons from past mistakes to deliver a well planned out board layout. Everything on the board has adequate space so as to not get in the way of other components, as well as some unique implementation decisions as well. The board under scrutiny is very clearly a revision 1.0 board. Note that all capacitors used for the board are manufactured by the noted Japanese semiconductor manufacturer Rubycon.

The CPU socket area is fully clear of obstructions, allowing for easy installation and removal of a HSF unit using the stock P4 retention cage. Note that unusual orientation of the CPU socket itself. The socket has been rotated 45 degrees to the right of the plane of the CPU HSF retention cage. This orientation was most likely implemented for better power delivery to the CPU and to increase system stability while under heavy load. The Northbridge chipset is actively cooled with the standard ABIT issue HSF unit, with its BIOS monitored NBFAN1 header just above the Northbridge itself. The Northbridge HSF unit itself is held to the board by a length of wire fixed to two loops on opposite sides of the chipset. Between the CPU socket and the rear panel block are the USB-PWR1, USB-PWR2, and PS2-PWR1 jumpers which enable system wakeup based on activity on the rear panel USB ports or the PS/2 connections. The ATX12V connector is located above and to the right of the CPU socket. This location is good for power feed length to the CPU, but could pose some cable routing issues. The BIOS monitored CPUFAN1 fan header is located just below the socket along the very right edge of the board.

The AI7 has a total of 4 DIMM slots, with full support for PC3200 DRAM in all slots while operating in Dual Channel mode. The slots themselves are grouped in two sets of two, with each socket with a set color coordinated with a slot from the other set, to ease in enabling Dual Channel memory mode. ABIT positioned the slots themselves to that a seated AGP card does not interfere with memory installation or removal. Directly below the lower DIMM slots are the BIOS monitored AUXFAN1 and AUXFAN2 fan headers, the board’s 2 ATA 100 IDE slots, and the ATX power connector.

The Intel ICH5R Southbridge chipset is located just below the board’s 2 onboard USB 2.0 headers, which themselves are just below PCI slot 2. The ICH5R SATA ports are located towards the lower left end of the chipset. Below and to the right of the SATA ports is the CMOS battery, with the BIOS chip and CMOS reset jumper to the left of the SATA ports. Directly to the left of the BIOS chip is the onboard 2-digit Diagnostic LED display, with the uGuru chip just above it.

With the budget nature of this board, the onboard diagnostic LED is a very nice addition, especially in light of the fact that very few motherboard manufacturers outside of EPOX include them onboard. The uGuru chipset allows for hardware control and monitoring of the board via the Windows based uGuru application suite.

The 2 onboard IEEE 1394 headers are located between and below PCI slots 3 and 4. The front panel connector is in the lower left corner of the board, with the floppy connector above it along the left edge of the board as well. Also, the board’s two LEDs are located just to the right of the front panel header. The 5VSB LED illuminates red when an active power source is connected to the board, while VCC LED illuminates green when the system is physically powered on. Note that there are spots on the board for an additional SATA controller and additional SATA 150 ports, which are not included with this version of the board.

The board comes standard with a total of 1 AGP slot, and 5 PCI slots. To the upper left of PCI slot 5 is the BIOS monitored SYSFAN1 fan header, as well as the SMB1 System Management Bus header. The board’s CD_IN, AUX_IN, and front panel audio connectors are located above and between PCI slots 2 and 3. Note that the rear panel audio ports will not function unless pins 5/6 and 9/10 on the front panel audio header are jumpered.

The AI7 has the following items integrated in to its rear panel: PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports; 1 parallel port; 1 serial port; 1 IEEE 1394a port; 4 USB 2.0 ports; a 10/100 LAN Ethernet port; 5 audio ports; and S/PDIF optical input and output ports

uGuru

ABIT’s uGuru chipset technology allows for real time monitoring and tweaking of various motherboard parameters from within the Windows environment. The suite of applications work in tandem with the onboard uGuru chipset to receive data concerning hardware health, as well as to implement changes in current hardware settings such as FSB and voltage. The suite is broken in to a series of six applets: ABIT EQ, OCGuru, ABIT Audio EQ, FanEQ, FlashMenu, and ABIT BlackBox.

The OCGuru applet allows for real time modification to select board FSB and voltage settings. In Turbo mode, the user has access to modify the CPU FSB only via the Ext. Clock slider. Note that changing the CPU FSB affects the DRAM FSB only, but has no effect on the PCI or AGP FSBs. The CPU Info box within the Turbo section lists processor specific information. Within the F1 Mode section, the user is given control over the board FSB, as well as the CPU, AGP, and DDR voltages. For specifics concerning the allowed voltage and FSB settings, please see the BIOS section of the review. Note that settings are not applied until the Apply button is selected. One other feature offered is the ability to save selected settings under customized naming schemes.

The ABIT EQ applet allows for real time monitoring of all BIOS monitored fans, system voltages, and temperatures. The interface allows for full customization through the Monitor Settings and the Display Settings windows. In the Monitor Settings window, you can select upper and lower thresholds for all monitored items as well as the system response, such as system shutdown. The Display Settings window allows you to customize what monitors display in the main interface and how and where they display within the interface.

The FanEQ applet controls the behavior of the 2 BIOS monitored fan headers: CPUFAN1, and NBFAN1. For each fan header, you are able to set a reference temperature based on the BIOS monitored temperatures available and the fan operation mode. In addition, a graph shows how the fan’s performance will be affected by the selected temperature as it rises and falls.

The AudioEQ applet is ABIT’s replacement for the Realtek audio configuration application, offering the same options in a different interface. The FlashMenu applet allows for archiving of the currently loaded system BIOS as well as updating the system with a new BIOS from within Windows.

The BlackBox applet is an error reporting tool, with which you can record system specifications and submit the generated report directly to ABIT’s Support department. This BlackBox feature basically simplifies the technical support process in that it collects all critical hardware and software information needed from your system to help diagnose the issue. This way, all you have to focus on is telling support about the issue you are having instead of listing 3 pages of system specs.