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I'm not sure what to quite think of the new ABit Max boards :? :?: Certainly I have been anticipating the new KT333 from Abit, however this one is far removed from what I would have expected. Abit has always stayed away from integration on their flagship boards, yet here the new Max methodology has been applied to the new KT333 chipset.
Max for those of you that might have missed it, is Abit's name for a new line of mother boards, ushering a new system that is far from standard motherboard design and typical Abit fashion.
The MAX Concept
ABIT's MAX Series anticipates the future and prepares users to meet the 21st
Century head-on. "We wanted to create something revolutionary," says Jerry,
Lead Designer of the IT7, "and with MAX, I think we've done what we set out
to accomplish. MAX is the solution for today's constantly changing
environment: we engineered MAX to be flexible, powerful, and personalized,
but especially to be adaptable to the demands of the future. With hardware
systems designed to integrate seamlessly with external devices, MAX allows
users to accommodate MAX's various features to their own current and future
computing needs. It's about providing everything the user will need in one
integrated cost effective package, without the commonly associated
compatibility problems." ABIT's MAX Series pushes today's motherboard
technology to its limits by incorporating the best technologies and
integrating them into a single platform. With the MAX Series, both Intel and
AMD users will finally have a platform with the capacity to expand along
with their increasing computing needs, allowing for a potent combination of
high performance, unparalleled versatility and unbeatable value. ABIT MAX
has been engineered with today's high-end users in mind, providing a
flexible platform that will conform to the needs of the user, while
remaining extremely cost-effective. "To me, MAX is the future," says Liao,
"MAX users will be ready for just about anything the future throws at them.
It's more than just new motherboard - it's a new way of thinking."
With MAX: you have a system that looks forward to the challenges of the 21st
Century.
Legacy-Free
In an industry first, ABIT's MAX Series omits the common PS/2 and serial
connectors. "Users may find it strange when they notice that there are no
PS/2 or serial connectors," admits Liao, "but ABIT has always been about
forward thinking. It's about out with the old and in with the new. The
legacy-free nature of MAX allows for the heightened performance and system
capability that today's high-end users demand." With the proliferation of
USB devices including keyboards, mice, and printers, PS/2 and serial-based
devices are quickly beginning to phase out. As such, ABIT's MAX Series
replaces them instead with additional USB connectors. By switching from a
legacy I/O to an all-USB I/O system, performance and value are maximized:
"The future is here with MAX. MAX users will be ready to take on all
challenges with MAX's unique and highly specialized combination of
performance and flexibility," says Liao.
With MAX: "Legacy-free" means go ahead, throw out your 8-track Elvis
collection, along with the Pac-Man joystick and dot-matrix printer you've
been holding onto, "just in case".
Maximum Memory
ABIT Engineering has created the best compatibility and performance for the
system memory configuration with a solid hardware and software design,
providing a system that can be grow and change with the user's needs. The
MAX Series design supports leading DDR memory technologies and contributes
outstanding performance to the system as required by today's most demanding
users. "Maximizing the memory capacity on the MAX Series was important to us
in the design stages," says Jerry. The IT7 incorporates 3 DDR DIMMS for a
maximum of 2GB of PC2100 DDR memory. On the AMD side, the AT7 sports 4 DDR
DIMMs for a maximum of 4GB of registered PC2700 DDR memory or 3GB of
unregistered PC2700 DDR memory. "More DIMMs means more options for our
users," says Jerry, "With the MAX Series, users are able to put together a
powerful desktop or alternatively a low-cost server solution. Users can
maximize memory for maximum performance."
Based on ABIT Engineering, ABIT developed the MAX series to fully utilize
the north bridge chipset in order to maximize system memory bandwidth. This
design provides the system builder with multiple selections of DDR modules
and combinations, minimizing the cost of PC memory configurations.
With MAX: superior memory engineering allows you to apologize to your
girlfriend on ICQ, browse the 'net, type out your 20-page report and
download the latest Star Wars trailer all at once - with no hiccups!
4-Channel UDMA 133 RAID
The MAX Series has been specifically engineered with a flexible
configuration never-before seen on one motherboard. Both the IT7 and the AT7
have a controller chip that provides 4 channels of bus master ports
supporting up to 8 IDE devices at ATA 133 speeds. When combined with the 2
native channels present on both boards, it equals support for up to 12 IDE
devices. ATA 133 gives a phenomenal 33% improvement in CPU utilization,
memory bandwidth and PC bandwidth, giving MAX users a unique combination of
performance, value and stability. This radical performance improvement comes
from utilizing ATA. With ATA utilization, multi-channels are readily
supported. ATA also allows for vastly expanded memory at a substantial cost
savings. RAID 0, 1, and 0+1 functions are there as well. By using two hard
disks, a RAID 0 array can split information evenly between the two,
effectively doubling performance without doubling price: RAID offers users a
value-added solution for increased speed and security. RAID 1 is a mirroring
setup that dramatically improves your data integrity. RAID 0+1 gives the
user the performance of RAID 0 and the security of RAID 1. "It brings the
user a kind of device configuration flexibility never-before seen on a
motherboard," says Charlie, "we're thrilled to be able to bring this level
of functionality and value to our users."
With MAX: increased speed and security means you'll never lose those
"special photos" that you've downloaded before your boss could sneak up on
you.
6-Channel Audio
The MAX Series provides rich 6-channel audio with an on-board audio
controller, and comes equipped with on-board SPDIF IN and OUT functionality
with a professional interface. "Having 6-channel audio is vital to a rich
multimedia experience," says Jerry, "With a digital out, users can hook up
an MP3 or MD player to download their songs via high-speed optical cable.
What's more, hooking up a pair of ABIT digital speakers would really rock!"
With MAX: hearing your opponents around corners in Counter-Strike or
cranking the latest Britney Spears album are all possible in 6 channel
digital audio!
Media XP
"With digital devices quickly gaining popularity, the MAX Series has been
engineered to be highly compatible with the latest technology of today and
tomorrow. It will prove to be the motherboard of choice for those who want a
cost-effective, fully compatible, and flexible multimedia solution," says
Liao. "With the optional Media XP Interface, the IT7 or AT7 will be a
perfect complement for digital devices that use SONY Memory Stick, Panasonic
SD Card, or even compact flash cards. With the Media XP, users will easily
be able to use their systems to directly access data stored on any of these
media formats". Media XP is designed to be fully compatible with external
digital devices thus avoiding any problems commonly associated with
installation of multimedia devices, such as compatibility or resource
conflict problems. Media XP is available with both the AT7 and IT7, and is
conveniently mounted via front panel for easy access. What's more, Media XP
also includes 2 USB ports, headphone and microphone jacks, and SPDIF in and
out ports.
With MAX: downloading your recent vacation photos from your digital camera
or plugging in a mic for your next Karaoke party has never been easier or
more convenient!
On-board 10/100 LAN
Each of the motherboards in the MAX Series includes 10/100 Ethernet
capabilities. Users of home networking or high-speed Internet access will
benefit greatly with the MAX Series. "Many users are finding that high-speed
Internet is a convenient and effective way to stay connected," said Liao,
"The MAX Series was engineered specifically with these people in mind".
With MAX: get connected to the wired world. No more hassling your friends
for and neighbors to check e-mail. Send and receive annoying forwards at
high speed, 24 hours a day!
IEEE 1394a and USB 2.0
Many users today own an assortment of electronic devices such as a PC, CD
player, digital camera, and DVD player. As users continue to buy and use
more digital devices, they will want to integrate their PCs and other
devices for flexible, easy operation. In order to do this, MAX has been
engineered to enable effective high-speed data transfers. Both the IT7 and
AT7 include Firewire 1394a and USB 2.0 support, providing the ultimate
platform to create, edit, share, and store your digital content. "MAX owners
can take advantage of both of these standards and not have to worry about
buying a peripheral not suited for their data transfer standard," says
Charlie, "the MAX Series has been engineered to give you both for the
ultimate in flexibility, plus a user friendly environment to connect today's
hottest new consumer electronics to their home PC, thereby maximizing
versatility and value."
The three IEEE 1394a ports on both the IT7 and the AT7 incorporate many
features, including support up to 63 peer-to-peer devices, operating speeds
of 100 Mbps to 400 Mbps depending on cable type, connects over short and
long distances, and supports both asynchronous and isochronous data
transfer.
USB 2.0 provides an expandable, hot-pluggable Plug and Play serial
interface. It will support up to 480 Mbps for high-speed devices, and is
suitable for high-performance devices such as high-quality video
conferencing cameras, high-resolution scanners, and high-density storage
devices. The AT7 supports up to 4 USB 2.0 and 6 USB 1.1 devices, while the
IT7 supports an unprecedented 10 USB 2.0 peripherals. "This unparalleled
versatility will allow MAX users complete flexibility in numerous
applications" says Charlie.
With MAX: publishing embarrassing videos of your friends and family on the
Internet is hassle-free! Edit your boring vacation videos with exciting
text, graphics and effects!
SoftMenuT III
ABIT's famous SoftMenuT III has made its way to the MAX Series. "Users
worldwide are raving about the flexibility of SoftMenuT III," says Liao, "we
're proud to have this amazing tool included with the MAX Series." ABIT's
SoftMenuT III puts you in the driver's seat, allowing you to adjust vital
system parameters. CPU core, I/O, and DDR VCC voltages can be tweaked with
ease, and FSB frequencies can be set anywhere from 100 to 200Mhz in
increments of one. SoftMenuT III eliminates the need for cumbersome jumpers,
as virtually all system parameters can be tweaked and adjusted within BIOS.
Moreover, it gives users a multitude of environmental settings to ensure the
kind of high stability and performance they've come to expect from ABIT. To
make it easy, detailed descriptions of each setting are included on-screen
as well.
With MAX: tweak your system like a finely tuned racecar, and squeeze out
that extra frame in Quake 3 Arena. After all, more FPS means more frags!
Hardware Monitoring
The MAX Series has been engineered with the concept that all user needs are
different; thus MAX comes equipped with extensive hardware monitoring
capabilities to ensure system stability. "Users can look to the hardware
monitor to see current fan speeds, voltages, and system environment
temperatures," says Jerry, "if any of these parameters are running too far
out of specifications, the system will automatically shut down, protecting
the hardware in case of a system failure. This allows MAX users to push
their system to the absolute limit."
With MAX: you can sleep easy at night while your system hums away 40% over
spec.
ABIT Engineered Features
ABIT Engineering brings users unique features that have power users
everywhere talking. "What made the TH7-RAID special has made it back to the
IT7," says Jerry, "users were very positive when these features were
introduced, and now its time to bring them to the MAX Series' IT7." ABIT
Engineering includes a debug LED for diagnosing boot-up problems. "Users
find it really helpful when they can determine exactly which part of the
boot process failed. It makes system maintenance a lot easier." The IT7 also
includes handy power on/off and reset buttons built right on the board
itself. "When we test boards in our labs, we used to have to short jumpers
with a screwdriver in order to reset the system or turn it on and off, "says
Jerry, "this ABIT Engineered feature began as a necessity in our labs, and
now users are raving about them!"
With MAX: not only will you be able to troubleshoot a PC faster than all of
your friends, but you'll also have more lights in your computer than anyone
else in the neighborhood!
Future Unleashed
"The MAX Series gives the kind of performance and flexibility ABIT users
will need in the coming future," says Calvin Liao, "with so many features
and advanced specifications, users want a system that has room to grow with
the demands of the 21st Century."
"Thanks to ABIT engineering, MAX offers the user complete flexibility to
adapt to whatever the future brings," says Charlie, "we are thrilled to have
designed a product that incorporates so many of our users' suggestions, with
an unprecedented array of standard features, offering users unbelievable
value, along with the ability to customize MAX to fit their individual
needs.
With MAX: Unleash the Future
I don't know Da-Veee....? Time will tell.
Bing