Abit IP-95

[Preti9cboi]

I'm thinking about purchasing an ABIT IP-95 for my Core 2 Duo.
I want to reuse my DDR 400 Corsair ValueSelect memory and keep my x800xl.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127017

Has anyone tried this board?
I looked at the ASRock 775 but i don't believe the x800xl is supported.

 

[Preti9cboi]

Well.......what do you know. It's the same motherboard as the ECS.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813135023

I guess i'll stay away from this since i already own the ECS board and it creates memory errors with DDR 400 Corsair Value Select. Almost got sukkered again. =[

 

[VooDooAddict]

Are you sure it's the same exact board? or just the same chipset?

 

[Heidfirst]

it's certainly extremely similar but perhaps it's just a reference design?

 

[VooDooAddict]

Originally posted by: Heidfirst
it's certainly extremely similar but perhaps it's just a reference design?

That's what I'm wondering.

I'm much more confident in Abit supplying needed BIOS updates then ECS. Maybe I shouldn't be, but I've had good history with Abit.

I'll probably give the Abit board a shot since it's not much more then the ECS.

(Would much rather have a P965 based mATX board ... but no they all have to be expensive G965s that don't have the same overclocking potential as the P965s)

 

[Preti9cboi]

They both had the same design so i figured it was the same board but what are the chances that two boards are identical?

Tell me how it goes!! If it goes well then i might just get it. Last thing i want is more memory errors. When you first get it can you tell me what DDR 400 memory your manual says it supports?

Thanks!


Also, i did email ABIT and Newegg before christmas as to what memory this board supports. In the email i explained how my ECS creates memory errors. I have yet to receive a response from either.

 

[VooDooAddict]

Originally posted by: Preti9cboi
They both had the same design so i figured it was the same board but what are the chances that two boards are identical?

Tell me how it goes!! If it goes well then i might just get it. Last thing i want is more memory errors. When you first get it can you tell me what DDR 400 memory your manual says it supports?

Thanks!


Also, i did email ABIT and Newegg before christmas as to what memory this board supports. In the email i explained how my ECS creates memory errors. I have yet to receive a response from either.

When I said I'll probably try it, it's not an immediate thing.

I've got a few friends with nice DDR1 and old AthlonXPs that would benefit highly from the inexpensive Abit IP-95. They probably won't be upgrading till sometime in February though.

 

[Preti9cboi]

Ouch, that's a long time. I don't think im going to take my chances with this chipset again. Im going to try a 945P. Hopefully that goes well.

Would you happen to know if there are any decent deals on DDR2 ram? =]

 

[Heidfirst]

Originally posted by: Preti9cboi
They both had the same design so i figured it was the same board but what are the chances that two boards are identical?

if they just use a reference design then very high.
As these are budget boards I can't see either company investing a lot of time & money into doing much out of the ordinary with them.

 

[kdog03]

Not the same as ECS. This mobo supports dual channel ddr400 among some other tidbits like a locked pci express bus. Overall-Im gonna give this one a shot since iv'e got some OCZ EL Platinum Rev2 DDR ram.

Hasta la Pasta

 

[Zap]

They probably came out of the same factory in China.

ECS actually manufactures boards for some other companies.

 

[Heidfirst]

Originally posted by: kdog03
Not the same as ECS. This mobo supports dual channel ddr400

the P4M890 chipset has a single channel memory controller

 

[VirtualLarry]

Onboard UniChrome? No thanks.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: kdog03
Not the same as ECS. This mobo supports dual channel ddr400 among some other tidbits like a locked pci express bus.

ECS makes the board and it is identical to ECS's version, except for a couple capacitors more or less. ABIT admitted a few years ago that ECS was producing some of its boards. No secret there. ABIT uses ECS for many of its value segment boards (as do many others, whether or not you are aware of it):

ABIT KV-85 v. ECS K8M800-M2

ABIT NF-95 v. ECS C51G-M2

ABIT SG-80 v. ECS 661FX-M7

ABIT NF-M2S v. ECS GeForce6100SM-M

ABIT VA-20 v. ECS KM400A-M2

And yes, ABIT IP-95 v. ECS P4M890T-M2, too.

All identical except for optional features (e.g. AMR v. no AMR), different PCB color schemes and capacitor selection, which are typical options offered to private labelers by contract manufacturers.

 

[Preti9cboi]

Ha Ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought so. =]

But my question is, why is ECS branded as a low brand company??

 

[kdog03]

Either way, the Abit mobo is reporting far better overclocks then the Ecs by far, most reviews are showing e6300@ 3.2+++ eeeasily, lowest at 2.8. And yes, check the abit website comparison chart. It specifiaclly states "Dual" channal support in their beta bios. SNAP!

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: kdog03
Either way, the Abit mobo is reporting far better overclocks then the Ecs by far, most reviews are showing e6300@ 3.2+++ eeeasily, lowest at 2.8.

Do you mean unvetted 'user reviews' on Newegg and other websites, including manifold gems like "this motherboard sucks, it doesn't support my S478 processor (because its not a S478 motherboard)" or "I'm giving this OEM product a low rating because it didn't even come with a retail box!" (all of whom rate their technical competence as Super High, of course)? lol! Unvetted user reviews have definitively proven themselves to be informationally worthless time and again.

And yes, check the abit website comparison chart. It specifiaclly states "Dual" channal support in their beta bios.

No, its doesn't. The comparison chart states "Dual Memory Support" under the 'Special Features' category, as opposed to 'Dual DDRXXX' under the Memory Type category as is used for other dual-channel boards.

'Dual Memory Support' is referring to the DDR + DDR2 combo feature of P4M890, not dual channel. P4M890 uses VIA's FastStream64 memory controller, which is single channel. ABIT would have to re-engineer the silicon to get dual channel from P4M890, a BIOS isn't going to do it.

Any more questions or stupid assertions?

 

[kdog03]

[/quote]No, its doesn't.
Yes its does
How?
BETA BIOS-email Abit beta team terd brain- it locks pci speeds and provides dual channel....umm.....SNAP!

 

[tcsenter]

BETA BIOS-email Abit beta team terd brain- it locks pci speeds and provides dual channel....umm.....SNAP!

Then ABIT's beta team is wrong, the chipset itself is incapable of supporting dual channel. A BIOS update cannot undo silicon, but feel free to continue making up your own 'facts'.

 

[geecee]

Originally posted by: kdog03

No, its doesn't.
Yes its does
How?
BETA BIOS-email Abit beta team terd brain- it locks pci speeds and provides dual channel....umm.....SNAP![/quote]No need to be hostile. Via's website does confirm tscenter's assessment, if you click on the chipset comparison on the bottom of the page. I did notice that the ABIT board has a few extra caps here and there in the comparison picture with the ECS board. Would that mean that the ABIT board could be expected to be a little more stable/OC-able?

EDIT: Regarding the memory problems experienced by the OP with the ValueSelect DDR400. Is it possible to run the memory at a lower speed and get it to work? Or will that simply yield errors as well? Are these problems with the Corsair VS mem only or does it extend to other kinds as well? Just curious, as I too have gobs of old DDR memory lying around and could put together a really cheap C2D system with this board (I am not a gamer nor an OC-er so I usually go with low end boards where possible). However, if memory compatibility is going to be a major issue, then I would rather not get involved.

 

[dok0619]

So has anyone here actually used this board yet? Lot of heresay , but so far it doesnt seem like a lot of real user reviews on this board yet...

 

[Preti9cboi]

I've used the ECS verison and it created memory errors after 3 weeks with DDR 400 corsair value select ram. =[

 

[dok0619]

I had seen posts from others concerning the ECS board saying the same, but people are saying the abit version is slightly different....I dont know if its just the bios or what, but a few people supposedly have successfully OC'd with these boards with no memory errors.. but I have only seen a few posts so far. I cant find any "real" reviews yet on the board and only two customer opinions on Newegg...

 

[tcsenter]

That could be explained by a higher likelihood that the average ABIT purchaser may be pairing better grade components than the average ECS purchaser.

 

[vinnanater]

Originally posted by: kdog03
Either way, the Abit mobo is reporting far better overclocks then the Ecs by far, most reviews are showing e6300@ 3.2+++ eeeasily, lowest at 2.8. And yes, check the abit website comparison chart. It specifiaclly states "Dual" channal support in their beta bios. SNAP!

I wonder how they reached 3.2 Ghz with an E6300. I have this board and the max allowed fsb is 350, so with an E6300 the theoretical max possible core speed would be 7*350=2450 Mhz. Unless ofcourse there are some hidden screens giving access to higher FSB speeds??? Could this be true. Currently I am running an E6600 with this board, but can't seem to make it past even the 300 FSB mark, so, I am stuck at the 2700 Mhz mark. It is blazing fast in games, etc, but I know the CPU can go higher, much higher with a better board.

My other parts are 2 Gigs of DDR, and an 8800GTX.

Yes, would love to hear other people's overclocks and experiences with this board.