ASUS A7V600 - VIA KT600-based motherboard
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 The
first VIA-based mobo inspired pleasant feelings, though it hasn’t offered vast
functionality or bundle similar to other latest models.
The bundle includes:
- Strictly designed package;
- English manual;
- 2 x SATA cables (w/o power adapters), 1 x ATA66/100/133, 1 x ATA33 and 1 x
FDD cable;
- Back panel Game port;
- Back panel stub;
- Software CD with:
- Motherboard drivers;
- DirectX 8.1;
- Adobe Acrobat Reader;
- 3Deep;
- PC-cillin 2002;
- Winbond Voice Editor;
- ASUS Live Update;
- ASUS HotKey;
- ASUS Logo;
- ASUS PCProbe;
- ASUS Screensaver.
 Wiring
is designed for a fully-featured model, so despite the half-clear textolite behind
PCI slots, the layout is sometimes uncomfortable around audio connectors and a
whole number of sockets along the left side. Moreover, with 6 PCI slots and one
ASUS' proprietary Wi-Fi onboard, AGP is pushed to DIMM sockets, blocking them
when a graphics card is installed. Some jumpers appear obstructed during the board
installation. They’re briefly described on PCB as usual.
The dual-channel CPU voltage stabilizer features 8 x 1500µfarad capacitors.
The board also has AGP (featuring 2 x 1000µfarad capacitors) and memory
(4 x 1000µfarad capacitors) power stabilizers.
The following controllers are integrated onboard:
- Audio; Analog Devices AD1980 AC'97 codec supporting 5.1-ch. systems, front
audio-in/out and S/PDIF;
- LAN; 3COM Marvell 940-MV00 supporting 10/100/1000 Base-T (Gigabit Ethernet).
The following proprietary technologies are implemented:
- AI Net (Gigabit LAN with VCT (Virtual Cable Tester);
- ASUS Multi-Language BIOS;
- ASUS MyLogo 2 (boot logo customization);
- ASUS Q-Fan (automatic fan speed control);
- ASUS EZ Flash;
- ASUS Instant Music (for playing audio CDs w/o OS bootup).
+5V standby voltage is indicated by a usual green LED.
Unsoldered, but set are FireWire and IDE/SATA RAID controllers and their sockets.
The board supports ITE IT8712F-A hardware monitoring for:
- CPU voltage, +3.3, +5 and +12 Â;
- 3 fans rotation speeds;
- CPU temperature (via a CPU sensor), board temperature (via a board sensor),
external sensor.
The board has 3 sockets for speed-controlled fans.
Brief board specs: 3 x DDR SDRAM sockets; 1 x AGP/ 6 x PCI/ 1 x Wi-Fi
(supports ASUS cards); 2 x COM / 1 x LPT / 2 x PS/2 / 8 x USB 2.0; dimensions
– 305x245mm.
The following board setup method are implemented:
| By jumpers and switches |
CMOS clear jumper |
|
| PS/2 wake jumper |
|
| USB wake jumpers |
|
| OverVoltage jumper for increasing CPU voltage range |
|
| By Award 6.00-based BIOS |
Timing settings |
+ |
CAS Latency, RAS to CAS Delay, RAS Precharge Delay, Active
to Precharge Delay, 1T Command Control, Bank Interleave, Burst Length |
| Memory frequency selection |
+ |
Auto, 266, 333, 400MHz |
| AGP setup |
+ |
|
| PCI setup |
- |
|
| AGP/PCI ratio selection |
- |
|
| Manual IRQ setup |
+ |
|
| FSB frequency selection |
+ |
100—250 MHz by 1 MHz |
| CPU multiplier selection |
+ |
x5—x22.5 |
| CPU core voltage selection |
+ |
1.5—2.05V by 0.05V |
| Memory voltage selection |
+ |
Auto, 2.55—2.85V by 0.1V |
| Chipset voltage selection |
- |
|
| AGP voltage selection |
+ |
1.5—1.8V by 0.1V |
We used 1001 BIOS as the latest for the moment of testing.
As it’s the very first model on KT600, all comparisons will follow after competing
products arrive. However, we can already say that the fully-functional model (including
unsoldered controllers) will be one of the best candidates for purchase in its
class.
Test results:
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