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Soltek 75FRN-L (NVIDIA nForce2) Mainboard



The first board from Golden Flame series that we received attracts with its golden textolite but it's just an ordinary product deprived of any unique  features. 

Accessories: 

  • Package of the new design in colors matching the series name; 
  • Documentation: user manual, software description in English; 
  • Cables: ATA66/100/133 and FDD; 
  • Bracket for the rear computer panel; 
  • 2 CDs containing: 
    • drivers; 
    • several system monitoring utilities; 
    • Adobe Acrobat Reader; 
    • Boostek; 
    • PC-cillin 2002; 
    • Virtual Drive 7; 
    • RestoreIT! 3 Lite; 
    • Partition Magic 6 SE; 
    • DriveImage 4. 

The layout has the following drawbacks: audio-ins and FDD are placed next to PCI slots, power supply connector is put in the center and an inserted video card will lock memory modules. It can be difficult to reach some jumpers when the board is already installed. Their functions are not shown on the textolite. 

2-channel switching voltage regulator incorporates 5 capacitors of 3300 uF and 4 of 1500 uF. 

Integrated controllers: 

  • audio controller based on the chipset and Avance Logic ALC650 AC'97 codec; 5.1 audio system supported, front audio inputs/outputs and SPDIF connectors provided; 
  • network controller based on the chipset; 10BaseT/100BaseTX supported. 

Technologies supported: 

  • ABS II (processor overheating protection). 

Non-unsoldered connectors: IDE(SATA) RAID controller and its connectors. 

System monitoring is supported by Winbond W83627HF-AW chip. What is controlled: 

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

There are 2 connectors for adjustable and 1 for unadjustable connection of fans (one of them is connected to a fan on the north bridge's heatsink). 

Brief board's characteristics: memory slots - 3 DDR SDRAM; expansion slots - AGP/ 5 PCI; I/O ports - 2 COM/ LPT/ 2 PS/2/ 6 USB 2.0; dimensions - 305x245 mm. 
 





Settings: 
 

jumpers and switches Jumper to clear up the CMOS  
Jumper for selecting FSB frequency 100/133 and 166 MHz
Jumper for starting up computer from a PS/2 keyboard  
BIOS based on Phoenix AwardBIOS 6.00PG  Setup of memory timings + T(RAS), T(RCD), T(RP), CAS Latency
Setup of memory frequency + By SPD, Sync, 50%, 60%, 66%, 75%, 80%, 83%, 120%, 125%, 133%, 150%, 166% and 200% from FSB
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 1MHz steps
Changeable CPU multiplier + x5-x18
Changeable core voltage + 1.1-1.85 V in 0.025V steps
Changeable memory voltage + 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8 V
Changeable chipset voltage -  
Changeable AGP bus voltage + 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8 V

We used the BIOS C1.2L as the latest available version. 

The board featuring average functions, a scarce accessory pack and moderate overclockability can be attractive for many users as it is the cheapest board on the most efficient Socket A chipset. 

Test results: 


 

Dmitry Mayorov (destrax@ixbt.com
 


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