Abit IP35-E Review (500MHz FSB board)...$90 @ NewEgg + $6.61 ship

[Heidfirst]

Originally posted by: SSD

Has anyone noticed their voltages in CPUz, AbitEq and even the PChealth section of the BIOS are significantly lower than the Voltages set in the BIOS?

Yes, it's well known.
DMM says that the reported values are pretty accurate as to what is actually being supplied.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

There's another $5 review bonus at PriceGrabber.

http://computers.pricegrabber....ds/m/40997313/details/

 

[Heidfirst]

Beta BIOS that supposedly fixes the dual boot.
usual caveats about betas apply
http://forum.abit-usa.com/showthread.php?t=122393

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Summary of Beta BIOS for IP35-E/IP35

-Fixed double post during cold boot but only if standby power to MB is not interrupted. If you disconnect the PSU from the wall, then board will double post at the next restart.
-Added FP Audio selector...HD audio/AC97
-Added more RAM timing options (as low as 3, plus 1T/2T)
-Fixed CPU temp (+1 to +3C higher than Coretemp)

To switch to latest Beta BIOS, download from link below and also the official 11 BIOS from the Abit global website. Copy all five files from official 11 BIOS to floppy. Rename Beta BIOS to M630A_11.BIN and replace it with the 11 BIOS on floppy. You should also edit the ABITFAE.BAT file to include the WB switch.

Command should look like this>>> AWDFLASH.EXE %1 /py /sn /wb /cd /cp /cc

http://www.abit.com.cn/bios/IP35-E/M630A_13.zip

 

[SerpentRoyal]

9-05-07 Update

Beta BIOS is slower than 11 BIOS (same settings). Was 16.3 seconds 1M SP. Now 16.7 seconds with Beta BIOS. Might be some minor memory timing adjustments.

I see the same numbers in Memset...Beta vs 11 BIOS. Beta BIOS is clearly slower by about 0.4 sec per 1M Super Pi. That's equivalent to a drop of 50 to 60MHz core speed.

 

[pdawg1717]

Originally posted by: SerpentRoyal
9-05-07 Update

Beta BIOS is slower than 11 BIOS (same settings). Was 16.3 seconds 1M SP. Now 16.7 seconds with Beta BIOS. Might be some minor memory timing adjustments.

I see the same numbers in Memset...Beta vs 11 BIOS. Beta BIOS is clearly slower by about 0.4 sec per 1M Super Pi. That's equivalent to a drop of 50 to 60MHz core speed.

That sucks...why not just fix the damn double boot issue and leave the rest alone?

UPDATE: I just ran SP 1M and mine is slower by 0.4 seconds as well

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Be sure you report this problem to Abit.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

There's a new BIOS interactive guide for Abit IP35-E. Click on BIOS GUIDE at the lower right corner of screen if you want to access and learn about various available options. This menu lacks PC HEALTH CONTROL for fan speed adjustment but you can download the manual (page 2-18) for more info.

http://www.abit.com.tw/page/en...=LGA775&pPRODINFO=BIOS

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: SerpentRoyal
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: ultra laser
I'm considering buying this board for my new computer and I have one question. Since I plan on using two IDE harddrives I have lying around, I've decided to buy a SATA dvd burner. As I've never used a SATA optical device before, I'd like to know if I'd have any problems booting from it to install windows.</end quote></div>

http://www.xpcgear.com/ide2sata.html

http://www.satacables.com/html/sata-acessories.html

You can purchase a SATA/PATA adapter which will allow you to hook up your PATA HDD/optical drive to the SATA port. Abit includes this device in the IB9 since the board does not natively support PATA. Set the optical drive as the 1st boot device in BIOS. The SATA optical drive will probably cost more than the adapter.

It is also possible to connect the boot HDD as Master and optical drive as Slave on the IDE cable when installing windows. Go into the BIOS and set the optical drive as 1st boot, and HDD as 2nd boot. Save and reboot PC with windows CD in optical drive. When done with the installation, swap the optical drive with the 2nd HDD.

I don't have any issue with two IDE devices connected to the IDE port (MASTER/SLAVE).

The Abit IP35 Pro has 90% positive review @ Newegg. This is amazing when you consider the large number of novice NewEgg customers. Per my previous post, this MB overclocks like crazy, without the need to tweak a bunch of parameters like most DFIs. It also comes with a lot of options for the extreme overclockers.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813127030

Just ended up buying this board today. Was considering between this and Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R. But that one goes for $133. Figured I dont need RAID or firewire so might as well save the money. Plan on putting a Q6600 and 2GB Crucial Ballistix 4-4-4-12 on it.

One question though - is it better to use the IDE-to-SATA adapters for my optical drives or the PCI IDE controller card that I already own? I plan on keeping my current IDE drives on board's IDE connector. Will probably also get a new SATA drive

 

[SerpentRoyal]

If you've already populated both on board IDE connectors with PATA HDDs, then use an IDE to SATA adapter. It's less bulky than a PCI card. The speed of an optical drive is only DMA mode 2. Therefore, there should not be any performance degradation with an adapter or PCI card.

The Ballistix should boot fine if you resest CMOS after final assembly. Do this before your first boot. You may need to bump Vdimm up from 1.8 and manually adjust the timing if you overclock the memory. Use memtest86 test #5 to check RAM. 10 loops should be sufficient for a quick check. 50 loops is considered to be uber stable.

 

[asheet]

Hi
I need some advice
A. I am putting together my new rig & am buying parts as they come on offers.
I have already bought Abit IP35-E mobo & 2x1GB OCZ PLatinum Rev 2 PC6400 DDR2 RAM. Power supply is COolerMaster 850Watts.

B. Next I am buying COre2 Duo E6750, 8800GTS/GTX PCI-E card. I also want to buy more 2x1GB OCZ Plat Rev 2 PC6400 RAM stickes to take the total RAM to 4GB (4x1gb).

1. Pl advice what all Mobo settings/care I need to take. I don?t have anyother DDR2 RAM to boot the mobo to make memory voltage settings. OCZ works from 1.9V to 2.1V.
2. As I am yet to buy items at 'B' above, I can still make changes. SO pl advice what I should buy as I am looking mainly for Gaming machine. Budget is not a constraint but I want to be thrifty in choosing.

Thanks in adv

 

[Upgr8er]

Originally posted by: asheet
Hi
I need some advice
A. I am putting together my new rig & am buying parts as they come on offers.

**stuff deleted***

Thanks in adv

Serpent has been a wonderful guide and help to everyone in this thread. I had almost the same list when I showed up here and Serpent steered me in a different direction. I saved money and I'm very happy with my system!!

The answers to all of your questions can be found by going back in this thread. You can just read the posts from Serpent only as he quotes just about everything relevant so even if you read just his posts, you won't miss a thing!

Good luck and follow his advice!! I had to manually reset my bios several times during the overclock process and if I had to put a different memory chip in there EVERY TIME I needed to get into the bios, I would have tossed this thing in the swimming pool by now!! Buy the right memory!!

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Originally posted by: Upgr8er

Originally posted by: asheet
Hi
I need some advice
A. I am putting together my new rig & am buying parts as they come on offers.

**stuff deleted***

Thanks in adv

Serpent has been a wonderful guide and help to everyone in this thread. I had almost the same list when I showed up here and Serpent steered me in a different direction. I saved money and I'm very happy with my system!!

The answers to all of your questions can be found by going back in this thread. You can just read the posts from Serpent only as he quotes just about everything relevant so even if you read just his posts, you won't miss a thing!

Good luck and follow his advice!! I had to manually reset my bios several times during the overclock process and if I had to put a different memory chip in there EVERY TIME I needed to get into the bios, I would have tossed this thing in the swimming pool by now!! Buy the right memory!!

Glad to help. Enjoy your new rig. I may engage 45nm quad late next year if I can get it for less than $150.

 

[mxnerd]

My IP35 (not IP35-E) still double post after I updated my BIOS to 1.1, it's no big deal but kind of annoying.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

There's a new Beta BIOS. Download link @ the bottom of my 1st post. Board will not double post if you maintain standby power to PSU. Shut down PC and leave the PSU connected to the wall (red MB LED is ON).

 

[mxnerd]

Thanks, but I think I'll pass the beta BIOS. I have upped my E6750 to FSB 400 and is running at 3.2GHz. And the processor is still cool at 25C. E6750 really rocks!

 

[Upgr8er]

My final results are in if there are any others who are following in my footsteps (which, of course, are Serpents recommendations):

I have the E4300 and the IP35-E with the Kingston "N5" memory that Serpent recommended.

The fsb is 344. CPU volts is 1.465. The memory timing is 4-4-4-12. Memory volts 2.0 and memory ratio is 1:1.25.

I might have been able to go more but if I up the CPU voltage even one click, I lose my video. If I lower it one click, I fail Orthos. However, it did 1 hour at Orthos with the setting above. The "envelope" is small but I'm in it solid!

With Orthos "large" test setting my CPU reaches 60C and the PWM (what is that, really?) is around 56C.

This thing is SMOKIN (and I mean that in a good way because a "smoking" computer in the literal sense is NOT a good thing!!).

I feel like I saved a large wad of cash and I have a very nice, fast computer now! No raid, no dual video, no quad core but that's okay because what would that all add in real time end use . . . 5 to 10%? Benchmarks look impressive and I ran the demo of "Call of Juarez" with zero problems (I heard that demo is supposed to choke just about any machine out there).

Thanks very, very much to Serpent for all of the time he spent with me getting this to where it is.

Glenn.

 

[pdawg1717]

Originally posted by: mxnerd
Thanks, but I think I'll pass the beta BIOS. I have upped my E6750 to FSB 400 and is running at 3.2GHz. And the processor is still cool at 25C. E6750 really rocks!

FYI...you're probably really running at 40C...what software are you using to check cpu temps? Most report those chips incorrectly and you need to add 15C...

 

[mxnerd]

FYI...you're probably really running at 40C...what software are you using to check cpu temps? Most report those chips incorrectly and you need to add 15C...

I'm using Abit EQ utility. In the night it could go up to 30C.

What other free utility you suggest that also reports temperature?

 

[SerpentRoyal]

CoreTemp 0.95.4. Limit max temp to 60C.

 

[mxnerd]

Originally posted by: SerpentRoyal
CoreTemp 0.95.4. Limit max temp to 60C.

Thanks.

Just downloaded. And it shows core 1 at 35C, core 2 at 38C. Abit EQ 26C.

Why such a big difference?
So Abit EQ is reporting wrong info?

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Originally posted by: mxnerd

Originally posted by: SerpentRoyal
CoreTemp 0.95.4. Limit max temp to 60C.

Thanks.

Just downloaded. And it shows core 1 at 35C, core 2 at 38C. Abit EQ 26C.

Why such a big difference?
So Abit EQ is reporting wrong info?

11 BIOS shows the nominal temp, which is approximately 15C hotter than coretemp. Coretemp reads the digital signal from each CPU core. The latest Beta BIOS is more in line with Coretemp.

 

[WEW]

So I'm making a new machine for the first time, these are the parts I have:

1. Antec P180B Case
2. Two Kingston PC5300 DDR2 Ram and Two PNY PC5300 DDR2 Ram, for a total of 4GB.
3. Ultra X 600W Power Supply (still not sure if this will fit fine in my case)
4. Two SATA Hard Drives, WD.
5. DVD Burner Drives
6. EVGA 8600GS

What's left:

1. Processor which I have decided on the Q6600
2. Motherboard! - The main item.

I have not OC'd before, but am open to it probably at a later time to try it out. I have not used RAID before either, nor have used a Firewire port. Now that does not mean I won't need it in the future.

I read a lot in past two days, it seems like the GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R was the choice for me, until I saw this thread. Now the P35-DS3R I believe costs $130 and the regular Abit IP35-E cost $80 after rebate. Basically, a $50 difference between the two.

My question is it worth it for me to the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R since it will support the new 45nm processor -- im not sure if this Abit does as well?

Lastly - not sure if the dual boot problem is resolved, but is a concern of mine as well.

Thanks

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Originally posted by: WEW
So I'm making a new machine for the first time, these are the parts I have:

1. Antec P180B Case
2. Two Kingston PC5300 DDR2 Ram and Two PNY PC5300 DDR2 Ram, for a total of 4GB.
3. Ultra X 600W Power Supply (still not sure if this will fit fine in my case)
4. Two SATA Hard Drives, WD.
5. DVD Burner Drives
6. EVGA 8600GS

What's left:

1. Processor which I have decided on the Q6600
2. Motherboard! - The main item.

I have not OC'd before, but am open to it probably at a later time to try it out. I have not used RAID before either, nor have used a Firewire port. Now that does not mean I won't need it in the future.

I read a lot in past two days, it seems like the GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R was the choice for me, until I saw this thread. Now the P35-DS3R I believe costs $130 and the regular Abit IP35-E cost $80 after rebate. Basically, a $50 difference between the two.

My question is it worth it for me to the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R since it will support the new 45nm processor -- im not sure if this Abit does as well?

Lastly - not sure if the dual boot problem is resolved, but is a concern of mine as well.

Thanks

IP35-E is $70 AR @ MWAVE. Board supports 45nm CPUs. Double post has been fixed with Beta BIOS (see my 1st post).

 

[WEW]

Thanks for the info Serpent - so you think based on what I laid out the Abit IP35-E would be the best buy at this time? Do you know mwave has a free shipping coupon or something? It's $10 to ORL.

Yeah I guess if its a $50 difference by the time I do need some of this stuff like RAID - if ever needed, there will be a good deal somewhere.

Thanks again.