Build Your Own Media Center PC - Motherboard Comparison
by Chris Guinn© 2003 Chris Guinn
http://www.chrisguinn.com
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created: July 08, 2003
updated: July 08, 2003 |
I have decided upon the Intel 865PE chip set as implemented by either the Gigabyte GA-8PENXP, the ASUS P4P800 Deluxe, the Abit IS7 or the Abit IS7-G motherboards. Below is a detailed side-by-side comparison chart of these boards.
I say that I am finished "for now". The Gigabyte board is new and there are few reviews of this board. Also, I cannot find any web site that is selling this board - I cannot find a price. I will continue to watch for more information particularly on this board. Also, it is possible that other boards using this Intel 865PE chip set may come out soon to rival these boards.
I found a good article at Virtual Zone that explains why some 865PE chipset motherboards out perform the higher priced 875P chipset motherboards. Virtual Zone's June 27, Intel PAT Enabled 865PE Boards Roundup is a good article. They give their highest marks to the ASUS P4P800 Deluxe and the Abit IS7-G motherboards. After reading these reviews and others (found in the Component's section), I think my first choice is the ASUS P4P800 /deluxe motherboard.
However, I do want to look at the Gigabyte GA-8PENXP. This new board supports more disk drives (4 Serial ATA, 4 ATA 133 using RAID 0, RAID 1, or RAID 0+1, and 4 ATA 100 drives). It also supports dual power supply and has dual BIOS. It appears to have a better layout - fewer tight spaces. This is a newer board, so there are not many reviews or test comparisons. I will watch for more reviews and tests on this board.
My motherboard choice has also determined my CPU choice. I will be using an Intel P4 that supports the 800 MHz front side bus speeds and the new Intel Hyper-Threading technology. However, I do not need the fastest CPU, currently their 3.2 GHz processor. I am looking more for the bang-for-the buck, or price cut-off. The newest, fastest chips come with a price premium. Currently the cut-off point appears to be about the 2.6 GHz or the 2.8 GHz P4 processor.
Comparison Chart
| Gigabyte 8PENXP | ASUS P4P800 Deluxe | ABIT IS7 | ABIT IS7-G | |
| Price | $ | $ 121.80 @ PriceGrabber |
$ 104.54 @ PriceGrabber |
$ 151.29 @ PriceGrabber |
| CPU Interface | Supports Intel Pentium 4 Socket 478 processors with 800/533/400 MHz FSB Supports Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology |
Supports Intel Pentium 4 Socket 478 processors with 800/533/400 MHz FSB Supports Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology |
Supports Intel Pentium 4 Socket 478 processors with 800/533/400 MHz FSB Supports Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology |
Supports Intel Pentium 4 Socket 478 processors with 800/533/400 MHz FSB Supports Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology |
| Chipset | Intel 82865PE MCH (North Bridge) Intel 82801EB ICH5 (South Bridge) |
Intel 82865PE MCH (North Bridge) Intel 82801ER ICH5R (South Bridge) |
Intel 82865PE MCH (North Bridge) Intel 82801ER ICH5R (South Bridge) |
Intel 82865PE MCH (North Bridge) Intel 82801ER ICH5R (South Bridge) |
| Bus Speeds | up to 355MHz (in 1MHz increments) | up to 400MHz (in 1MHz increments) | up to 412MHz (in 1MHz increments) | up to 412MHz (in 1MHz increments) |
| Core Voltages Supported | up to 1.60V (in 0.050V increments) | up to 1.950V (in 0.0125V increments up to 1.60V, and 0.0250V after that) | up to 1.925V (in 0.025V increments) | up to 1.925V (in 0.025V increments) |
| DRAM Voltages Supported | up to 2.8V (in 0.1V increments) | up to 2.85V (in 0.05V increments) | up to 2.80V (in 0.05V increments) | up to 2.80V (in 0.05V increments) |
| Memory Slots | 6 184-pin DDR DIMM Slots Single/Dual Channel DDR333 or DDR400 SDRAM memory |
4 184-pin DDR DIMM Slots DDR200 / DDR266 / DDR333/ DDR400 support (Dual Channel) |
4 184-pin DDR DIMM Slots Single/Dual Channel DDR 400 memory |
4 184-pin DDR DIMM Slots Single/Dual Channel DDR 400 memory |
| Max Memory | 4 GB. | 4 GB. | 4 GB. | 4 GB. |
| Expansion Slots | 1 AGP 8X Slot 5 PCI Slots |
1 AGP 8X Slot 5 PCI Slots 1 Wi-Fi Slot |
1 AGP 8X Slot 5 PCI Slots |
1 AGP 8X Slot 5 PCI Slots |
| Onboard IDE RAID | ITE GigaRAID 8212F controller supports 4 Ultra ATA-133 drives (RAID 0, RAID 1 & RAID 0 + 1, and JBOD) | VIA 6410 provides 2 Ultra DMA133 ports (4 drives) with RAID0, RAID1, and RAID0+1 support. JBOD support | n/a | n/a |
| Onboard Serial ATA | Two SATA connectors via ICH5 Two SATA connectors via SI3112A controller |
Two SATA connectors via ICH5R (RAID 0 & RAID 1 only) | Two SATA connectors via ICH5R (RAID 0 & RAID 1 only) | Two SATA connectors via ICH5R (RAID 0 & RAID 1 only) Two SATA connectors via SI3112A (RAID 0, 1, 0 + 1) |
| Total # Supported Drives | 2 - Serial ATA/150 drives supported by ICH5 2 - Serial ATA/150 drives supported by SiI3112A 4 - Ultra ATA-66/100/133 IDE drives powered by ITE IT8212F 4 - Ultra ATA-66/100 IDE drives integrated in ICH5 12 drives total |
2 - Serial ATA/150 drives supported by ICH5R 4 - Ultra ATA-66/100/133 IDE drives powered by VIA 6410 4 - Ultra ATA-66/100 IDE drives integrated in ICH5R 10 drives total |
2 - Serial ATA/150 drives supported by ICH5R 2 - Serial ATA/150 drives supported by Sil3112A 4 - Ultra ATA-66/100 IDE drives integrated in ICH5R 8 drives total |
2 - Serial ATA/150 drives supported by ICH5R 2 - Serial ATA/150 drives supported by Sil3112A 4 - Ultra ATA-66/100 IDE drives integrated in ICH5 8 drives total |
| Onboard USB 2.0 | Eight USB 2.0 ports supported through South Bridge 4 on board and 2 additional on included header |
Eight USB 2.0 ports supported through South Bridge 4 on board and Header for another 4 USB2.0 ports (not included) |
Eight USB 2.0 ports supported through South Bridge 4 on board and 2 additional on included header |
Eight USB 2.0 ports supported through South Bridge 4 on board and 2 additional on included header |
| Onboard IEEE-1394 Firewire |
2 IEEE-1394 FireWire ports on included bracket | VIA VT6307 IEEE-1394 FireWire - 1 on board & 1 internal(?) | TI TSB43AB23 IEEE-1394 FireWire - 1 on board and 2 additional on included header | TI TSB43AB23 IEEE-1394 FireWire - 1 on board and 2 additional on included header |
| Onboard LAN | Intel PRO/1000CT Gigabit LAN (CSA bus) | 3COM 3C940 Gigabit LAN (no CSA) | 3COM 10/100 LAN (no CSA) | 3COM 3C940 Gigabit LAN (no CSA) |
| Onboard Audio | Realtek ALC655 codec | Analog Devices AD1985 codec | Analog Devices AD1985 codec | Realtek ALC650 codec |
| Digital Audio Connections | 1 included bracket with Digital & RCA S/PDIF Output | 1 RCA S/PDIF Output | 1 Digital S/PDIF Input 1 Digital S/PDIF Output |
1 Digital S/PDIF Input 1 Digital S/PDIF Output |
| Connections | 1 - parallel 2 - serial |
1 - parallel 1 - serial |
1 - parallel 1 - serial |
1 - parallel 1 - serial |
| Layout Issues | FSB Fan |
FSB Heatsink very close to AGP slot AGP slot close to memory slots |
FSB fan AGP slot close to memory slots |
FSB fan AGP slot close to memory slots |
| Other Features | 2 BIOS Optional DPS2 (dual power supply) |
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Information Links
Motherboard - General Links
Pentium 4 & 875P 800MHz chipset
Pentium 4 & 865PE 800MHz chipset
(differences with Deluxe version listed on page 2 of review)
(Deluxe has RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1 support and 2 additional IEEE1394 ports)
CSA Communication Streaming Architecture - a difference between 875P & 865PE chipsets
Virtual Zone's June 27, Intel PAT Enabled 865PE Boards Roundup - reviews of 6 boards
AnandTech's June 12, 2003 Motherboard Roundup - 1 page summaries of 20 boards
Vendor 875P motherboards 865PE motherboards Abit Abit IC7
Abit IC7-GAbit IS7 editor's 1st choice
Abit IS7-GASUS ASUS P4C800 Deluxe ASUS P4P800 Deluxe editor's 2nd choice Gigabyte Gigabyte 8PENXP
Pentium 4 & SiS648 400/533MHz chipset
Pentium 4 & SiS645 400MHz chipset
Pentium 4 & E7205 400 / 533 MHz chipset
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