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Gigabyte 7VKML (VIA KM266) Mainboard



  • VIA KM266 chipset

The PCB is not traditionally blue, but yellow - the company uses this color for boards meant for OEM partners; and this integrated board of the mATX format is primarily designed for assemblers. That is why this model comes without a box, only in an OEM package.

Accessories:

  • Documentation: a user manual in English;
  • Cables: 1 ATA66/100/133, and 1 FDD;
  • CD with software including:
    • drivers;
    • Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0;
    • Norton Antivirus 2002;
    • Norton Personal Firewall 2002;
    • Several utilities for the smart-card reader;
    • System monitoring programs;
    • Gigabyte EasyTune III;
    • Gigabyte Face Wizard;
    • Gigabyte Management Tool.

There is nothing to find fault with, though the connectors and switches are so close to each other that it makes operation with the board not very convenient (but it's typical of all mATX solutions). It can be difficult to reach some jumpers when the board is already installed. Their functions are shown on the textolite.

The 2-channel switching voltage regulator incorporates 6 capacitors of 3300 uF and several less capacious ones.

The following controllers are integrated:

  • audio controller based on the Avance Logic ALC201A AC'97 codec with connectors for front audio-outs and SPDIF;
  • network controller based on the Realtek RTL8100L chip supporting 10BaseT/100BaseTX.

Non-unsoldered connectors: several connectors (for the smart-card reader as well).

The system monitoring is supported by the ITE IT8705F chip. What is controlled:

  • processor voltage (+3.3, +5 and +/-12 V), VBAT and +5V Standby;
  • speed of 2 fans;
  • temperatures of the processor (a built-in sensor) and the board (a built-in sensor).

There are 2 connectors for adjustable connection of fans.

Brief characteristics of the board: memory slots - 2 DDR SDRAM; expansion slots - AGP/ 3 PCI/ CNR; I/O ports - 2 COM/ LPT/ 2 PS/2/ 4 USB 1.1; dimensions - 245x215 mm.

Adjustment can be carried out with:

jumpers and switches Jumper to clear up the CMOS
Jumper to choose a FSB frequency 100/133 MHz
BIOS based on the 2.00 version from AMI Setup of memory timings + CAS Latency, Bank Interleave, DDR Command Rate
Setup of memory frequency + Auto, 200 and 266 MHz
Setup of AGP bus +
Setup of PCI bus +
Changeable scaler of AGP and PCI buses -
Manual assignment of interrupts +
Changeable FSB frequency + 100-200 MHz in 1 MHz steps
Changeable CPU multiplier -
Changeable core voltage + +5%, +7.5%, +10%
Changeable memory voltage -
Changeable chipset voltage -
Changeable AGP bus voltage -

We used the latest available version of the BIOS - F3f.

Like many other boards of this form-factor the Gigabyte 7VKML will excellently suit an office PC or any other close in functions which doesn't require great power and extending capabilities.

Test results:


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