ABIT "IC7" vs ASUS "P4P800 SE" vs ABIT AI7

[NickCrocco]

Hey all. I'm about to upgrade to a new motherboard, and I have it narrowed down to the ABIT "IC7" and the ASUS "P4P800 SE" and the ABTI AI7. I'm going to be running a P4 3.0ghz and 2 sticks of 256mb pc-4000 RAM and a ATI Radeon 128mb 9800 vid card. I also want to use the onboard sound on both of these boards, so that will be a factor as well. I've heard good things about the ASUS sound and the ABIT AI7 sound, but not so much on the IC7. I have a network card, so onboard LAN won't be too much of an issue. Since there's less than a $20 difference between these boards, I can't figure out which to use. I will be overclocking a bit, but nothing extreme, since I'll just be using the stock CPU fan. Any help will be great! Thanks!

 

[Zap]

Earlier Abit IS7/IC7 motherboards had audio problems. Don't know how they fare now. Problems were faulty MIC input and crackling audio output which also picked up system noise (HDD access, mouse movements = buzzing). This was only noticeable on good headphones and home stereo speakers.

I've heard some good things about the newer Abit AI7.

 

[NickCrocco]

Ok, I the Abit AI7 is another option as well.

 

[NickCrocco]

After reading reviews, I'm really starting to like the ABIT AI7. How does the AI7 compare to Asus' P4P800 SE?

 

[NickCrocco]

anyone?

 

[TStep]

Never had the Asus. I've had the IC7 and still have the IC7-G and the AI7. I am currently going to sell either the IC7-G or the AI7 and I haven't decided which one yet, that is how close they are in my mind.

When it comes down to it, the UGuru thing is about the same as the Clockgen, so maybe a slight edge to UGuru.
Maybe be a little nicer sound on the AI7??
Better looks on the IC7-G??
Maybe a hair faster and a touch more stable at very high fsb on the IC7-G.
Maybe a bit more bios flexibility on the AI7, especially with memory.
Slightly better package with IC7-G (rounded cables, etc).
$20 lower cost with AI7.
More SATA headers with IC7-G if you need 4 vs 2.

All in all, I am very satisified with either.

 

[Triforceofcourage]

I have the P4p800 but not the SE, I'm not sure what the difference is but I am loving my P4p800. It has been rock solid stable since I bought it 5 months ago.

 

[dillydobbs]

I just scored my AI7 im the 3rd one of my friends to get one and we all love them.

The BIOS alone is enough to get me to buy ABIT agian.

 

[Odeen]

Originally posted by: TStep
Never had the Asus. I've had the IC7 and still have the IC7-G and the AI7. I am currently going to sell either the IC7-G or the AI7 and I haven't decided which one yet, that is how close they are in my mind.

When it comes down to it, the UGuru thing is about the same as the Clockgen, so maybe a slight edge to UGuru.
Maybe be a little nicer sound on the AI7??
Better looks on the IC7-G??
Maybe a hair faster and a touch more stable at very high fsb on the IC7-G.
Maybe a bit more bios flexibility on the AI7, especially with memory.
Slightly better package with IC7-G (rounded cables, etc).
$20 lower cost with AI7.
More SATA headers with IC7-G if you need 4 vs 2.

All in all, I am very satisified with either.

Remember that the AI7 has the mildly infernal Realtek LAN. The IC7-G has the angelic Pro/1000CT running on a dedicated bus.