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abit AB9 QuadGT

abit’s latest Intel P965 based board, the AB9 QuadGT, touts full support for both ATI CrossFire dual card configuration and the latest quad core Intel processors. But will that be enough to ward off the other top performing P965 based boards?

Introduction

abit is remains one of the favored tier one component manufacturers, even after its acquisition and reformulation by USI. But let's face it, abit has been off the enthusiast map for some time now. abit has in no way been making "bad" motherboards, they have just not been up to the level of working enthusiast features of their competition. In fact, abit has lost some of our attention around here...until we started see some of our readers asking us about the QuadGT. It looks that abit is again beginning to push the technological performance trend we have seen in motherboards with a new product that is among the top performers in the field as well as one of the most advanced.

The abit AB9 QuadGT is the newest member of the abit Intel chipset based motherboard line. The board is designed around the Intel P965 Express chipset, which supports the following technologies: all LGA 775 type processors; DDR2 DRAM modules operating in Dual Channel mode up to 800MHz officially; and dual card ATI based CrossFire support for ATI based PCI Express based x16 graphics cards. As is common place in the current market, the AB9 QuadGT is feature complete, requiring only an Intel LGA 775 style processor, DDR2 memory, drives, and a PSU for a working system. The following components have been integrated in to the AB9 QuadGT’s design: 6 SATA II ports (RAID 0, 1, 0+1 and 5 capable) on the Intel ICH8R controller; 1 ATA-100 IDE port and 2 e-SATA ports (RAID 0 and 1 capable) on the JMicron controller; 10 USB 2.0 capable ports (4 in rear panel, and 3 onboard headers supporting 2 ports each); 2 IEEE 1394 capable ports (1 in rear panel, and 1 onboard header); a Realtek GigE Ethernet port in the rear panel; Realtek 8-channel HD audio codec featuring an S/PDIF optical input and output ports; and onboard power and reset buttons; a 2 digit diagnostic LED; and a CMOS clear switch integrated in to the rear panel of the board.

Main Specifications Overview:

Detailed Motherboard Specification List:

Packaging

abit chose to get creative with the AB9 QuadGT’s box art design, depicting a red sports car in motion on the front panel. Both the processors supported as well as the boards supporting technologies are clearly marked on the box front as well. The following components are included in the AB9 QuadGT’s packaging: ATA-100 and floppy ribbon cables; SATA drive cables; the rear panel shield; a rear bracket for adding additional USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 ports; and the normal complement of manuals and drivers discs.

Board Layout

In typical abit fashion, the board layout is uncluttered and well thought out, with adequate room provided around all components. In a pleasantly surprising move, abit chose to place the CMOS battery just above the primary PCI-Express x16 slot, freeing up much needed space in the Southbridge chipset area. One other point to take note of is the power circuitry abit chose to use for the AB9 QuadGT – all capacitors are solid state type, and the CPU power is regulated by a digital PWM chip located just above the CPU, rather than the standard MOSFET type power regulation based design. The board name, version, and serial number are clearly indicated via silk screen and white stickers located just above the DIMM slots, with the board tested showing as a revision 1.0 board. The capacitors used in the AB9 QuadGT’s design are Japanese manufactured all metal solid-state type capacitors.

Due to abit’s ingenious CPU power regulation scheme, the area surrounding the socket is completely clear of all obstructions which should allow for use of any HSF or water based cooler. The CPU cooler itself mounts via the standard LGA775 based 4 hole mechanism. The Northbridge chipset is located to the lower left of the CPU socket, covered by one end of a copper heat pipe. The cooler is held to the chipset via 2 push-pins on opposite sides of the sink. The heat pipe terminates just above the CPU socket, in a tall open-finned copper based passively-cooled heat sink. This termination point is held to the board with 2 push-pins as well. Just above the Northbridge cooler, as the SYSFAN1 header, the CMOS battery, the video card auxiliary power port, and USB-PWR1 and USB-PWR2 headers. The USB-PWR1 and 2 headers control system activation based activity detected on the rear panel USB 2.0 ports. The 8-pin ATX12V power connector is located to the upper right of the CPU socket, while the CPUFAN1 header is located to its lower right.

The AB9 QuadGT comes standard with 4 DDR2 memory slots, arranged in a 2-by-2 bi-colored configuration. Dual Channel memory mode is activated by placing memory modules in like colored slots across the sets. The 24-pin ATX power connector and AUXFAN2 header are located just below the lower DIMM slots, while AUXFAN3 and AUXFAN4 headers are located to the right of the upper DIMM slots.

The Southbridge chipset is situated directly under and in between the 2 PCI-Express x16 slots. The chipset is passively cooled by a low profile copper cooler, attached to the chipset via 2 push-pins. Directly below the chipset are the onboard CMOS reset jumper and the ATA-100 port, which has been rotated 90 degrees so that the port opening sits parallel to the board’s plane. The chipset controlled onboard SATA 2 ports are located to the lower left of the chipset, with the onboard 2-digit diagnostic LED display, as well as the power and reset buttons, just above these ports. The floppy port is located in the lower left corner of the board, with the front panel header, the uGuru header, and the USB 2.0 headers directly above it. The uGuru header is used to attach an external display device to the board.

abit chose to include the following ports on the AB9 QuadGT: 2 PCI Express x16 slots, 1 PCI Express x1 slot, and 2 PCI slots. The onboard USB 2.0 and the AUXFAN1 headers are located on the outside edge of PCI slot 2. Just above PCI slot 2 are the onboard front panel audio headers, with the front panel HD header marked HDMI. The CD-IN header is located just above PCI slot 1, while the IEEE 1394 header is located above the PCI-Express x1 slot.

The following have been integrated in to the AB9 QuadGT’s rear panel: PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports; CMOS reset switch; 4 USB 2.0 ports; 1 IEEE 1394 port; 2 e-SATA ports; 1 Realtek GigE Ethernet port; 6 analogue and S/PDIF optical input and output audio ports.

uGuru

abit’s uGuru chipset technology allows for real time monitoring and tweaking of various motherboard parameters from within the Windows environment. The uGuru application works in tandem with the onboard uGuru chipset to receive data concerning hardware health, as well as to implement changes in current hardware settings such as FSB and voltage. Note that uGuru version 3.0.3.7 is shown below.

The uGuru applet is split in to three different sections, accessible when the associated button is selected from the left side menu: ABIT EQ, OC Guru, and FAN EQ. The ABIT EQ button shows real time statistics on monitored system voltages, temperatures, and fan speed. The OC Guru button shows system statistics on CPU frequency, board voltages, and power cycle related information. The FAN EQ button displays real time statistics on the threshold temperature and voltage setting for all onboard fan headers.

The Setting menu is access by click on the Setting button from the main applet screen. The menu itself is divided in to five submenus: ABIT EQ, AutoDrive, Fan EQ, OC Guru, and General. The ABIT EQ menu controls display and monitoring settings for the voltage, temperature, and fan speed statistics shown in the main interface. From the AutoDrive menu, you can configure programs to run based on the overclocking mode selected from the main interface. The Fan EQ menu controls threshold temperature and voltage settings for the onboard fan headers. The OC Guru menu allows for customization of the CPU FSB and board voltages. The General menu contains interface refresh and startup settings.