![[H]ardOCP](/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
- Date:
- Tuesday , July 13, 2004
- Author:
- Keith Dugger
- Editor:
- Sean Quinn
- Google +1
ABIT AA8 DuraMAX
Hoping to capitalize on the latest technology, ABIT offers PCI Express, DDR2, and the newest socket LGA775 from Intel in the AA8 DuraMAX. Is this just a push for a new flagship, or is the AA8 DuraMAX the board to have?
BIOS
ABIT chose The Phoenix – AwardBIOS for the AA8 DuraMAX. The main screen offers navigation to the more advanced features as well as options to save and exit.
The primary option available in the Advanced Chipset Features submenu is the ability to manipulate DRAM timings
Once the DRAM Timing Selectable is set to Manual, the additional options are available. The CAS Latency Time can be set to 3, 4, or 5; the Active to Precharge Delay can be set from a low of 4 to a high of 15 in increments of 1; RAS to CAS Delay can be set from one of 2, 3, 4, or 5; and the RAS Precharge can be set to 2, 3, 4, or 5.
Overclocking enthusiasts will find themselves spending lots of time in the OC Guru submenu. Fine-tuning controls for CPU clock speed, multiplier, and various voltages (among other settings) are available here.
The following settings are available: External Clock [100 – 300 MHz], Multiplier [14 – 18; only if CPU is unlocked], N/B Strap CPU As [By CPU (PSB800), PSB533, PSB800], DRAM Frequency (CPU:DRAM) [Auto, DDR400, DDR533], and PCI Clock [33.33 MHz, 36.36 MHz, 40.00 MHz].
Additionally, voltages settings may be made as follows: CPU Core Voltage [1.3875 V – 1.7375 V], DDRII SDRAM Voltage [1.80 V – 2.25 V], and NB Voltage [1.50 V – 2.05 V].
A unique offering on the AA8 DuraMAX is the Power Cycle Statistics as shown. If you’ve ever wondered how many times you have power-cycled a system, this board will tell you.
Additionally is the ABIT EQ. This is the hardware version of what is available in the Windows GUI. You can monitor systems temperatures, shutdown thresholds, and fan speed RPMs.