Superbly amazing QUALITY! - Read How/Why!
Written: May 05 '00 (Updated May 06 '00)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: 8 expansion slots, 4 memory slots, Soft Switch BIOS, Upgradibility, Manufacturer
Cons: Price, Great for it's time but was created 2 years ago
|
|
|
| shauncool's Full Review: Abit BX6 |
Back in December, 1998 I set forth on a most enlightening journey... Constructing my first computer part - by part - by part. I had been upgrading computers for three years at this point and felt up to the challenge of giving birth to my very own creation.
I spent endless hours and countless nights reading, researching, reading some more, and asking questions in online forumns. I discovered the absolute most important part of the computer is the motherboard (mainboard). I learned that sub-standard (cheap) mainboards are main cause of problems and deficiencies in the mass-produced computers and the ones sold very cheaply wholesale (my brother fell victim to such a cheap computer). Even though there are many, MANY motherboards that one can purchase online to make a self-built computer cheap as dirt I decided I was NOT gong to travel down that path.
Further results of my research led me to discover the best motherboard brand and model that I could - but that also met my needs at the time (for a high-quality consumer-class PC). The answer was clearly the brand new Abit BX-6 which is based on the Intel 440BX Chipset (Fast Pentium Slot 1s (II & III) with a fast AGP video card slot).
Abit is by far one of the most trusted and reliable motherboard manufacturers on the planet (from what I read and read and read) and my results concur. I have just ordered my THRID Abit board this week but this review is on the BX-6 only.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
SPECIFICATIONS
Why I chose the BX6
++++++++++++++++++++++++
>> Jumperless Design
This is what drew me to the Abit line of boards in the first place. This feature (which they trademarked as Soft Switch is now common on the high-end boards but was a relatively-brand new concept in mid-1998. With this feature you can change ALL of the BIOS settings (except erasing the BIOS) through the software (AMD BIOS). If you have never played with the physical jumper settings on a computer to configure it for a new motherboard, additional ram, or to bypass an onboard video controller - consider yourself lucky!
The jumperless design makes configuring and tweaking your BIOS as simple and effortless as a few keystrokes. This was definatly what drew me to the Abit line.
>> AGP Video Port
While this is now a standard item in 99% of new computers/boards, it was also relatively new when this board came out. This allows the user to exploit the faster, newer technology of AGP (Advanced Graphics Port), while at the same time (or instead of) use the standard PCI video card. (Windows 98 now allows for the use of two monitors simultaneously if you also have 2 video cards).
>> Extreme CPU Upgrade-ability
With the jumperless BIOS settings and the ability to flash the bios (standard), this motherboard can support ANY foreseeable Intel Pentium Slot 1 chip manufactured. At the time I purchased and installed a P2-350 but the possibilities for upgrade are endless. Currently you can purchase the P3-1000 and it will work with this board without incident! As long as Intel continues the Slot-1 architecture this board will never be obsolete.
>> Impressive Memory Capacity and Options
There is a feature of this board which is truly rare it has slots for 4 (FOUR) memory cards (PC-100 or PC-133 Dimms). You may be unaware of this but nearly ALL of the boards on the market, including subsequent ones from Abit, only have three dimm slots. This added feature means that this board can support 1,000MB (A GIG!) while other computers can only handle 768MB. (Special high-end dual-CPU server mainboards can handle the 512MB dimms, this board can only theoretically handle the 256s though it might run at 2GB if the RAM is high quality but who can afford that!)
This is a great feature that has benefited me because over the years I slowly added additional chips to this computer. I started out with 64MB (single chip) but now this computer contains 256MB (64, 32, 32, 128 chips in that order of purchase). In most other boards I would have had to set aside one of the 32s to make room for the 128 that I purchased when the memory prices dropped but not this one!
>> Amazing Windows 2000 Compatibility
I successfully installed Windows 2000 professional in January, 2000 onto this computer with NO complications whatsoever. Even though Abit has a Windows 2000 fix (3/10/2000 BIOS Upgrade) for this board on their website, I have not needed to investigate using it. The computer has crashed but only once in four months and that wasnt even a true crash the mouse just stopped working and I was able to exit cleanly with the keyboard.
In the time that I have used this motherboard I have operated many operating systems - Windows 95OSR2, 98, 98B, 98SE, and 2000 without incident. GOOD JOB BX6!
>> Assortment of Slots
This card boasts 7 (SEVEN) expansion slots (6 which may be used at any one time). This does not include the AGP (62 bit) which could theoretically count as #8. There are four PCI slots (32 bit) and three ISA slots (16 bit). The ISAs are grouped together at the bottom and the PCIs above them. There is one Shared slot between them, which can be used as either a PCI or ISA at any one time. So, including the AGP card, 7 cards may exist simultaneous with this board and I have INDEED operated 7 concurrently with success!
These kinds of options and expandability were extraordinary for me at the time. I currently had ONLY ISA slots from my old 486/586-class computer so I needed the three ISAs at first but as I continued to upgrade I kept phasing out the ISAs by purchasing PCI components. The structure of this mainboard made this possible AWESOME!
>> The Company
This company is very dependable in continuing to support old products. In the years that I have owned this they have released about 20 new versions of the BIOS to support complications and to add support with new operating systems, CPUs, and hardware. Although I never had any problems I have continued to download these when I noticed they were available (with the exception of recently though I may end install that new bios fix soon). I never had any problems with flashing my BIOS ever.
>> All The Standards
Of course, this board also has all of the standard options which are still up to date today. On the back of the board you can plug in 2 USB connectors into its one onboard USB hub, PS/2 Mouse, PS/2 Keyboard, (2) Serial Ports, and a parallel port. Furthermore, this is an ATX Form-Factor board, which supports the ATX Power supplies so that the computer can turn itself off without hitting the power-off button a great touch and was still new technology in 1998.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
What I DONT like about the BX6
(A short list)
++++++++++++++++++++++++
>> Price
The price was certainly a negative factor being that it cost $150 dollars back then when it was new. However, the brand-new Abit boards today also cost this amount when first released so in reality this is no big deal. And, if you didnt get this point from above I GOT WHAT I PAID FOR!
>> Only One onboard USB hub
The USBs were still new in 1998 so at the time I had absolutely no use for them. However the newer computers are coming with the same external configuration of two USB ports but with the availability of a second onboard hub which you can use with an expansion card to create two additional ports. This really isnt a bad thing but would prevent me from buying another one of this model board today.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
CONCLUSIONS
++++++++++++++++++++++++
I think that Ive said all that I set out to say AND THEN SOME! and without even consulting my trusted BX6 Users Manual. I suppose that I didnt have to refer to it because I have read through it SOO many times over the years I have it virtually memorized. Also, I have had my computer case off countless times so I know the architecture of this mainboard like a book!
This is a truly great board that has never failed me I continue to use it and Im sure I will continue to use it for many years to come as it will NOT get outdated in the near foreseeable future.
One closing remark that I would like to make is that I am not advising you to go out an purchase this board but definitely go with an Abit! There are many newer boards with more up-to-date chipsets that Abit makes today.
An example is the BE-6 Rev II, which allows for UDMA 66 speed data transfer as a second on-board controller (supporting 8 IDE devices!). and the BX6 only uses UDMA 33. Also, the three ISA slots are greatly unnecessary nowadays. I cant remember the last time I even had need OR desire to purchase an ISA add-on card. It is always good to have one on your board just in case you have the need but three are entirely excessive.
Thank you for reading through this long-winded review. If you get the chance to purchase one of these used or really cheap through a closeout sale dont hesitate It wont let you down!
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
shauncool
|
 - Top 1000 |
|
Member: Shaun Smith
Location: USA
Reviews written: 121
Trusted by: 236 members
About Me:
Website Applications Developer concentrating on Database Design & Integration into websites based on ASP Technology.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.