The Unofficial Abit AN8 Ultra thread

[fixmarky]

http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/products.php?categories=1&model=278

I've been waiting on this board for my new rig but it's supposed release of "05/05" has come and gone. Anybody know when its coming out? Any word on how decent of a board it is?

 

[The Pentium Guy]

isn't this out on Newegg?

 

[The Pentium Guy]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127196
NF4 ultra.

Why go for this when the SLi is cheaper
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127207

 

[RobbyG]

There was a discussion over in the Abit forums about the board possibly having 3.55 Vdimm, but that was not confirmed.

I emailed Abit about the board a while back and never heard back from them, so not sure when it is coming out. I've been waiting for it to come out, but looks like I will probably go with the Epox 9NPA Ultra instead.

 

[Algere]

Originally posted by: The Pentium Guy
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127196
NF4 ultra.

Why go for this when the SLi is cheaper
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127207

Pentium Guy, OP means the regular AN8-Ultra (non-Fatal1ty branded) that's coming out with Silent/Q-OTES, which will probably be cheaper than the A8N-SLI (also with Silent/Q-OTES) you've linked.

OP, also waiting on the AN8-Ultra too. So far NewEgg only has the regular AN8-SLI version in stock, as originally linked by Pentium Guy.

 

[fixmarky]

has anyone heard anything at all about a release date? i'm really itchy to build my new rig. abit hasn't gotten back to me, and unitedmicro said by the end of the week, but judging by their feedback on resellerratings i'll have to take that with a grain of salt...

 

[Algere]

Looks like this place has it in stock.

 

[TheFreakazoid]

Been waiting for this board myself. There has been discussion on vr-forums and supposedly Singapore got their shipment yesterday. Don't know when it will be in the US. Atacom doesn't specifically say "in stock" so I'm a bit wary, and ComputerHQ says "not" in stock. I'm hoping it comes soon because I'm really itching for a new system.

 

[Viperoni]

I've pre-ordered it from a local computer store a couple days ago... I hope I get it soon

 

[ackelind]

It's in stock at some dealers here in Sweden. Strange it hasn't hit the states yet.

 

[vailr]

The AN8 Ultra (with Q-OTES) will be shipping with either bios 13 or 14, which support Venice (& San Diego?) core CPU's. However, X2 CPU's are not yet supported, AFAIK.

 

[TheFreakazoid]

Anyone seen one in the States? Wondering if I should keep waiting or just waste the money on the SLI when I know for a fact I won't even use it (plus loose the Ultra chipset).

 

[vailr]

AN8 bios v. 15, which now adds X2 CPU support, is available:
ftp://ftp.abit.com.tw/pub/download/bios/an8/an815.exe

 

[dinos22]

i bought one of these and picking it up on monday....that board is confirmed with 3.55vdimm bios so go crazy...some serious OCing acting over at XS.org as well

check it all out here:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=62087&page=1&pp=25

 

[fixmarky]

Any online retailers in the US where I can pick this (the Ultra, not the SLI) up? I've been waiting for ages.

Dinos: Where are you getting yours?

 

[Zebo]

Yea this board is great only problem is side by side memory in dual channel... memory gets really hot this way. DFI stagers the memory for better cooling which is a better idea. No biggie for A8N Ultra if you don't put a lot or volts and heavy OC the ram though. If you do you may need to activly cool ram.


I'm either getting this board or DFI Ultra..

 

[vailr]

A review of the AN8 Ultra (reviewed while using v. 13 bios):
http://www.sgoverclockers.com/modules.p...e=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=13&page=1

BIOS is still buggy with regards to memory tables (our personal observation)
Due to the niggling problems and the most important one being unable to overclock well, we can only award this product, 6 "flames". However, should the issues mentioned above be rectified, this board would be a superb beginner's overclocking motherboard. It has a simple BIOS interface and is quite forgiving for bad overclocks, automatically defaulting to default speeds.

 

[fixmarky]

anybody know if you can turn off its LEDs?

 

[dinos22]

Here is a review by Solo

http://www.net-forums.net/forums/Abit_A..._SLI_motherboards_reviewed-t22067.html



I got mine yesterday and it's great......initial OCs correspond to that of Asus and DFI boards I had and there is an option for 3.55vdimm in bios........it does a 1M superpi at 2433MHz in DDR333 divider in 33seconds......i'll be doing my second round of OCing tonight to check for 2.8GHz+ Speed my Venices is capable of and high vdimm OCing on my UTT

I always actively cool the RAM so no issue for me but it was a small surprise that the RAM actually sits next to eachother rather than usual slot 1&3 or 2&4 config most other manufacturer's are using..................I am impressed with the board so far

 

[MegaWorks]

My god these boards are hitting over 371HTT!!!!

 

[stickybytes]

overall, it sounds like a good board with the exception of some things:
------------------------------------------------
* Inconveniently placed floppy connector (On SLi models, the auxilary molex connector as well
* Thermal Interface Material used is a thermal pad, which ought to be changed to thermal paste to improve thermal performance
* BIOS is still buggy with regards to memory tables (our personal observation)
* Good airflow required to cool northbridge and heatpiped heatsink
-------------------------------------------------

im still trying to decide whether i should get this board or the asus a8n-e.

 

[TheFreakazoid]

I'm with stickybytes. I want this board IF it EVER comes out in the US. Atacom is saying the end of the month so I guess it's wait or go for the A8N-E.

 

[dinos22]

here is the best website you can come across in regards to Abit AN8 boards

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=62087&page=1

395MHz is highest HTT by Chew

325MHz 1:1 OC on TCCD RAM

268MHz on BH5 RAM.....

the bios needs to be optimised more for Venice and later cores.........it seems that the best results so far have been on Clawhammers...FX55s

I've only given mine a little nudge to 270HTT just to test the RAM at 3V in divider at 221MHz..... tonight i'll give it a crack at 311MHz in divider which is what i did with the Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe and see what happens..................there are a lot more people with funny temp readings on AN8 boards so looks like I'm not the only one with this issue....check out chew's thread on XS


there is plenty of stock of Ultra boards in Australia....someone asked where i got mine

Originally posted by: MegaWorks
My god these boards are hitting over 371HTT!!!!

 

[MegaWorks]

Originally posted by: dinos22
here is the best website you can come across in regards to Abit AN8 boards

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=62087&page=1

395MHz is highest HTT by Chew

325MHz 1:1 OC on TCCD RAM

268MHz on BH5 RAM.....

the bios needs to be optimised more for Venice and later cores.........it seems that the best results so far have been on Clawhammers...FX55s

I've only given mine a little nudge to 270HTT just to test the RAM at 3V in divider at 221MHz..... tonight i'll give it a crack at 311MHz in divider which is what i did with the Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe and see what happens..................there are a lot more people with funny temp readings on AN8 boards so looks like I'm not the only one with this issue....check out chew's thread on XS


there is plenty of stock of Ultra boards in Australia....someone asked where i got mine

Originally posted by: MegaWorks
My god these boards are hitting over 371HTT!!!!

395HTT!!!!!!! :Q Abit is the my brand, I'm so tempted on getting one of those now. Look what you've done to me dinos22.

 

[dinos22]

HERE ARE MY INITIAL OC Results with UTT......259MHz with corsairs at 2-2-2-5 and all other timings as tight as possible....

There is an issue with Venice and AN8 motherboards as far as i can see......i had to go 2T above 220MHz because memtest v1.55.1 was giving me errors in test#8 above that speed...check out the link for more info

OCed CPU to 2.8GHz in DDR333 divider.....so looking pretty sweet

http://www.i4memory.com/showthread.php?p=9260#post9260



:evil:

Originally posted by: MegaWorks
395HTT!!!!!!! :Q Abit is the my brand, I'm so tempted on getting one of those now. Look what you've done to me dinos22.