*** Official ABIT IC7/G (875P) Thread ***

[cbuchach]

I have a quick question about the Silicon Image SATA controller on the Abit board. Does it support hot-swapping of drives like the SI SATA controller on the Gigabyte 8KNXP board? I assume they are the same controller and would assume they therefore support hot swapping of SATA devices.

 

[eastvillager]

Yeah, I added an extra '9' to the index for 180 gxp, that is corrected now.

If you put your optical drives in lower bays, your cables will reach fine. Top bay was reachable with SATA, didn't try it with ata, though. If you remove the right side panel when running ata cables, you can actually run them along the side of the drive bay on that side of the case, and then bring them back in where your drive is, which will make for a cleaner run, and probably give you the longest reach on the cable. I was having trouble getting my plextor to be a bootable device off of the SI controller and switched it to ide/ata to test, and noticed this. I did get that working, btw. Just gotta remember that once it is attached to one of the sata controllers, the bios no longer thinks of it as a cdrom when you start picking your boot devices/priority.

SI controller does support hot swappable drives, according to the gui you use to manage it.

As jaeger66 mentioned, only took a 5 minute call to microsoft to get xp re-enabled. Wasn't much fun sending that 30+ digit installation id, and getting a new one back, but it worked.

 

[eastvillager]

oh, yeah, stripe size was 128k.


My UNIX experience has been that tweaking RAID stripe size *only* helps you if you're only doing a specific type and size range of reads/writes on a stripe. For instance, if we have a stripe for oracle redo logs, we might tune that different than we would for the stripe with the live data files. In my PC, where it'll be doing all types/sizes of reads/writes, I don't worry about the stripe size. I could tune it for one activity only to hamper some other activity, so I don't bother.

 

[NicColt]

Check this out this guy o/c his IC7-G 3Ghz to 4Ghz. Here with pics.

First, my Corsair XMS 3500 had compatability issues with the board. BSODs everywhere. Couldn't get the OS loaded without BSODs raining on the parade. Changing DIMM slots, voltages, or memory settings did nothing to help.

Second, I was having trouble getting both of my new Seagate Baracuda V SATA drives to be consistently recognized off the Intel southbridge. My stripe kept breaking.

But, just as I thought I was about to puke, I went to the Abit forums and saw that Abit had already released an updated BIOS. Wow...that was real quick I thought. It fixes a bunch of stuff including memory issues and the ability to adjust the mem settings manually (which many other users had trouble with...the board seemed to set its' own timings).

For me, all my problems went away with a single flash. Now it is a solid as a rock and flying high. The only downside to the new BIOS is that those using Serrillel adapters were screwed up by the new SATA portion of the BIOS. I'm sure Abit will get those guys worked around soon.

 

[Wurrmm]

Originally posted by: NicColt
Check this out this guy o/c his IC7-G 3Ghz to 4Ghz. Here with pics.

First, my Corsair XMS 3500 had compatability issues with the board. BSODs everywhere. Couldn't get the OS loaded without BSODs raining on the parade. Changing DIMM slots, voltages, or memory settings did nothing to help.

Second, I was having trouble getting both of my new Seagate Baracuda V SATA drives to be consistently recognized off the Intel southbridge. My stripe kept breaking.

But, just as I thought I was about to puke, I went to the Abit forums and saw that Abit had already released an updated BIOS. Wow...that was real quick I thought. It fixes a bunch of stuff including memory issues and the ability to adjust the mem settings manually (which many other users had trouble with...the board seemed to set its' own timings).

For me, all my problems went away with a single flash. Now it is a solid as a rock and flying high. The only downside to the new BIOS is that those using Serrillel adapters were screwed up by the new SATA portion of the BIOS. I'm sure Abit will get those guys worked around soon.

I was leaning towards the 8KNXP, but this is definately shifting me towards the IC7-G direction. However, that SATA thing with the Serrillel problem is kinda of a bummer.

 

[O1dieburg]

Anyone know where the temp readings are comming from on this board (with the exception of the CPU one of course). I'm assuming somewhere around the northbridge and maybe down near the PCI slots. Can't seem to find it in the docs, and I'd rather not tear this thing apart again looking.

Thanks!

 

[vetteguy]

If I can ask the dumb question of the day...is the Abit IS7-G basically an identical board except it is based off the Springdale chipset rather than the Canterwood? Or are there some other fundamental differences?

 

[Fallen Kell]

Originally posted by: vetteguy
If I can ask the dumb question of the day...is the Abit IS7-G basically an identical board except it is based off the Springdale chipset rather than the Canterwood? Or are there some other fundamental differences?

I would basically say they are completely different in the sense that an ASUS NForce2 Board is different then an ASUS Granite Bay board. They really are completely different chipsets meaning completely different set of boot/bios issues, IRQ, etc.. Yeah it might have similar features, but they are different chips, so they will work differently as a result.

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: Fallen Kell

Originally posted by: vetteguy
If I can ask the dumb question of the day...is the Abit IS7-G basically an identical board except it is based off the Springdale chipset rather than the Canterwood? Or are there some other fundamental differences?

I would basically say they are completely different in the sense that an ASUS NForce2 Board is different then an ASUS Granite Bay board. They really are completely different chipsets meaning completely different set of boot/bios issues, IRQ, etc.. Yeah it might have similar features, but they are different chips, so they will work differently as a result.

Yes, but comparing an nforce2 to a Granite Bay isn't really fair, because now we're talking about TOTALLY different chipsets. Can these two boards be THAT much different?

 

[smahoney]

They are far more similar than comparing the nforce2 to granite bay - They are basically the exact same silicon. Only certain features have been disabled. The ICH5 has replaced the ICH5R on the IS7 - basically the RAID is disabled as is the PAT - most of the circuitry is actually still there but it is disabled - the chip works the same other than that.

Comparing Canterwood to Springdale is like comparing the 3.06GHz P4 to the 2.8GHz P4. Very similar with one have extra features but based on the same silicon.
Comparing NForce 2 to Granite Bay is like comparing Athlon to P4 or ATI to NVidia.

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: smahoney
They are far more similar than comparing the nforce2 to granite bay - They are basically the exact same silicon. Only certain features have been disabled. The ICH5 has replaced the ICH5R on the IS7 - basically the RAID is disabled as is the PAT - most of the circuitry is actually still there but it is disabled - the chip works the same other than that.

So the IS7-G doesn't have RAID? Hmm...maybe I'll have to end up with the IC7-G after all.

 

[Spicedaddy]

Originally posted by: vetteguy

Originally posted by: smahoney
They are far more similar than comparing the nforce2 to granite bay - They are basically the exact same silicon. Only certain features have been disabled. The ICH5 has replaced the ICH5R on the IS7 - basically the RAID is disabled as is the PAT - most of the circuitry is actually still there but it is disabled - the chip works the same other than that.

So the IS7-G doesn't have RAID? Hmm...maybe I'll have to end up with the IC7-G after all.

No, the IS7 and IS7-G use the ICH5 RAID south bridge, so they have RAID. The main difference between IC7-G and IS7-G is the CSA for the gigabit LAN. The IC7 doen't have LAN at all since there aren't 100Mbit chips that work on CSA, while the IS7 has 10/100 LAN onboard.


I think the best value is the IC7 for 150$. You get the better chipset, and Intel RAID is enough (Silicon Image running on the PCI bus isn't useful IMO). Only drawback is no LAN, but a good 10/100 card is like 10$.

 

[vetteguy]

Wow...now I'm really confused. I've tried to go through this whole thread as best I can, but basically the IC7 has a better RAID controller than the IS7/IS7-G?

Is there any document anywhere that lays out what all of this crap actually is? (CSA, ICH, ICH5R, PAT, etc.)? It's getting really confusing.

 

[Spicedaddy]

Originally posted by: vetteguy
Wow...now I'm really confused. I've tried to go through this whole thread as best I can, but basically the IC7 has a better RAID controller than the IS7/IS7-G?

Is there any document anywhere that lays out what all of this crap actually is? (CSA, ICH, ICH5R, PAT, etc.)? It's getting really confusing.

No, IC7-G and IS7-G have both the SATA RAID controller in the Intel south bridge and a separate Silicon Image SATA RAID controller onboard that goes through the PCI bus.

CSA is a proprietary bus for Intel's gigabit LAN (connects it to the south bridge so it doesn't have to pass data across the slower PCI bus.

ICH5 (and ICH5-RAID) is how Intel calls their south bridge.

PAT is a feature of the 875P chipset that lowers memory latency.

 

[jaeger66]

Originally posted by: Spicedaddy
(Silicon Image running on the PCI bus isn't useful IMO).

Why not? The Intel hub link only runs at 266MBps, so anyone who actually NEEDS RAID 0(about 1% of the people who have it or want it) is still hamstrung. And the 3112 is still an extra 2 SATA ports if you want put your optical drives on there too.

 

[jaeger66]

Originally posted by: vetteguy


Is there any document anywhere that lays out what all of this crap actually is? (CSA, ICH, ICH5R, PAT, etc.)? It's getting really confusing.

Any of the 900 or so Canterwood reviews might be useful.

 

[snidy1]

Probably not the right thread, but I'm sure a lot of you are looking for the 800 fsb cpu's.
Pentium 4 2.8 MGHz 800 FSB for $294
Link

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: snidy1
Probably not the right thread, but I'm sure a lot of you are looking for the 800 fsb cpu's.
Pentium 4 2.8 MGHz 800 FSB for $294
Link

None in stock though.

 

[Spicedaddy]

Originally posted by: jaeger66

Originally posted by: Spicedaddy
(Silicon Image running on the PCI bus isn't useful IMO).

Why not? The Intel hub link only runs at 266GBps, so anyone who actually NEEDS RAID 0(about 1% of the people who have it or want it) is still hamstrung. And the 3112 is still an extra 2 SATA ports if you want put your optical drives on there too.

It's not that the Intel hub link is much faster, but the fact that it's off the PCI bus and not taking away bandwidth from the other stuff on PCI. And if you have your hard drives on the ICH5 SATA, you have 2 parallel IDE channels free for optical drives.

Anyways, that's just my opinion. By the time SATA is the norm for optical drives, I'll probably have a new mobo with a south bridge supporting more than 2 SATA devices.

 

[Wurrmm]

I have recently decided to get IC7-G and am not trying to decide on the best memory for this thing. My choices are TwinX1024 PC3200LLPT, 2x512 XMS PC3500C2, 2x512 HyperX PC3200 or PC3200, 2x512 Mushkin Black PC3200 or PC3500. What do you all think would be my best choice??

Update:
Cancel the Mushkin, it is only CAS 2.5. Also, will the PC3500 stuff run at 2-2-2-5?? or 2-2-2-6?? I only plan on running the stuff at 400mhz, but I want overhead room incase I ever OC.

 

[butch84]

Wheres the review of ths bad boy . . . . Evan?? Come on buddy, dont make me wait on this one!!!

 

[RandySavage]

ACK, had big problems with flashing 1.1 bios. It required a fresh install of windows....

Now that it is in, the "bootable harddrive" issue is definitely fixed.... that's why I upgraded...

I will test the mem deal as well....

Overclocking results w/ my 2.4C will come soon. Just got my mcx4000 installed. I changed from an slk800u (total garbage for socket 478 imo). Getting 2C cooler @ idle. The installation is much easier, intuitive, and the WHOLE processor is covered by the heatsink base....

 

[jaeger66]

Originally posted by: Wurrmm
I have recently decided to get IC7-G and am not trying to decide on the best memory for this thing. My choices are TwinX1024 PC3200LLPT, 2x512 XMS PC3500C2, 2x512 HyperX PC3200 or PC3200, 2x512 Mushkin Black PC3200 or PC3500. What do you all think would be my best choice??

Update:
Cancel the Mushkin, it is only CAS 2.5. Also, will the PC3500 stuff run at 2-2-2-5?? or 2-2-2-6?? I only plan on running the stuff at 400mhz, but I want overhead room incase I ever OC.

Mushkin black is 2-2-2. It's also what I would get.

http://www.mushkin.com/cgi-bin/Mushkin.storefront/3ebc05c70b8d41aa273fc0a801030650/Product/View/990989

 

[vetteguy]

So many options for memory...about ready to pull my hair out! So far I've "narrowed" it down to

Corsair 2x512MB PC3200
Mushkin 2x512MB PC3200
Twinmos 2x512MB PC3200
Geil 2x512MB PC3500

Sigh...

 

[69matrix69]

for memory all i can say is

Deal