• Back to the review (Intel 845G Integrated Graphics Core and its Competitors (SiS 650, VIA P4M266, VIA KM266, NVIDIA nForce 420-D and 415-D)

• NVIDIA nForce 415-D

Abit didn't want to make a full-size board on the NVIDIA's chipset with an integrated graphics core and used only the mATX format (integrated graphics, even IGP128, is still a solution for entry-level computers). But the company couldn't help using an analog of the nForce 420-D with its excellent speed and functions but without a comparatively weak integrated graphics, that is why it squeezed everything it could out of the nForce 415-D.

Accessories:

• Package: a standard design;
• Documentation: a user manual in English;
• Cables: 2 ATA66/100/133 and 1 FDD;
• Bracket with two USB ports;
• Bracket with two USB ports, Rear and Center/Subwoofer outputs and SPDIF input and output (TosLink);

• Diskette with drivers for IDE RAID;
• CD with software including:
• drivers;
• user manual;
• 3Deep E-Color;
• Norton Antivirus 2002;
• Adobe Acrobat Reader;
• Buzzsoft programs;
• InterVideo WinDVD;
• system monitoring utility;
• DirectX 8.1.

The layout is good; but there are some downsides: IDE RAID connectors are located behind the PCI slots, and power connectors and audio-ins are between the AGP slot and a back panel of the computer. It's not difficult to reach the only jumper even when the board is already installed. Its function is shown on the textolite.

The 3-channel switching voltage regulator incorporates 9 capacitors of 1200 uF and several less capacious ones.

The following controllers are integrated:

• audio controller based on the chipset's capabilities and Avance Logic ALC650 AC'97 codec, supporting acoustic systems 5.1;
• network controller based on the chipset's capabilities supporting 10BaseT/100BaseTX;
• IDE RAID controller based on the HighPoint HPT372 chip able to connect up to 4 devices via the ATA133 protocol and create RAID 0, 1 and 0+1;
• USB 2.0 bus controller based on the VIA VT6202 chip.

Non-unsoldered connectors: VGA connector (it means that Abit has or had plans on boards with an integrated graphics core (on nForce 420-D) based on a full-sized PCB).

The system monitoring is supported by the Winbond W83627HF-AW chip. What is controlled:

• processor voltage (+3.3, +5 and +12 V), AGP bus, VBAT and +5 V Standby;
• speed of 3 fans;
• temperatures of the processor (a built-in sensor) and the board (a built-in sensor).

There are 3 connectors for adjustable connection of fans.

Brief characteristics of the board: memory slots - 3 DDR SDRAM; expansion slots - AGP/ 5 PCI; I/O ports - 2 COM/ LPT/ 2 PS/2/ 4 USB 1.1/ 4 USB 2.0; dimensions - 305x245 mm.

Adjustment can be carried out with:

jumpers and switches	Jumper to clear up the CMOS
BIOS based on the ver.6.00PG from Phoenix-Award	Setup of memory timings	+	CAS Latency, Memory Timings
	Setup of memory frequency	+	Auto, FSB:MEM = 3:4 and 1:1
	Setup of AGP bus	+
	Setup of PCI bus	-
	Changeable scaler of AGP and PCI buses	+	FSB:AGP = 3:2, 3:1.5, 4:2(???) and 4:1.5
	Manual assignment of interrupts	+
	Changeable FSB frequency	+	100-200 MHz in 1 MHz steps
	Changeable CPU multiplier	+	x5-x12.5
	Changeable core voltage	+	1.1-1.85 V in 0.025V steps
	Changeable memory voltage	-
	Changeable chipset voltage	-
	Changeable AGP bus voltage	-

We used the latest available version of the BIOS - 84.

The complete functionality of the full-sized board excellently gets along with the used chipset - the solution will easily find its customers ready to pay for everything at once.

Test results:

• Back to the review (Intel 845G Integrated Graphics Core and its Competitors (SiS 650, VIA P4M266, VIA KM266, NVIDIA nForce 420-D and 415-D)

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