• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Anand's Asus CUsL2 Mb review!

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
JellyBaby: Yes, the CUSL2 will be expensive, but I think its worth it. I dont think many people here will go beyond 512MB of RAM, so it really isnt that big of a deal. Plus, i815E can do exactly what VIA 133A can, run CPU and memory at different bus speeds(133/100, 66/100).
 
Viper GTS, if you decide to replace your BF6, as an Asus CUSL2 user. I can say that you have made a good decision 😉

I have to agree with LXi about CUSL2 and SE6. I've tried both boards before I decide which one to buy. CUSL2 is better than SE6.
 
Charles: I heard that you have your CUSL2 already? Boy, things are always easy in China(you're in Beijing studying right?). I miss the old days, you can get almost anything from those local dealers.
 
Will anyone ever make a version without the onboard video though? I like the board, just hate having that. I know your going to say it won't matter, but I don't like it, and I don't like paying for it, I will NEVER use it.

I'm sorry about my seemingly being loyal to Abit. I just can't help it. If you'd been around here back in the days LXi, you'da seen EVERYONE recommending Abit's. They were pretty much the best choice for a gaming solution for a very long time. And people seemed to have great success with them, at least the hardcore overclockers. I'm kinda slow to change to. I've had two Abit's they worked great, so I feel comfortable with them. I like the Softmenu also.

Nothing against Asus, I've heard really great things about them, and if someone will release a board based on this chipset without that onboard video junk, I'd more than likely buy one.

On the bright side, at least Intel finally figured out how junky RAMBUS is. Look for their stock to plummet tommorow!
 
Oh yeah. LXi! Zhongguancun is the Silicon Valley of Beijing. If you come to visit Beijing now, you will be surprised cause the place has changed a lot! 😉
 
Chad, I hate abit (I was building my first machine...the BE6 was dead. Hadda pay $25 for them to RMA it...I had to pay $120 for a broken board and $25 for a working one basically. Plus, they held me up for a month...my computer parts depreciated greatly in that month. 🙁), but I do agree about onboard video.

Its pointless unless you are a crazy trader with online hardware trading and frequently find yourself without the latest and greatest because you just sold your card and haven't received the newest one yet. 😛 Not me, but people here do that.
 
Chad: The integrated video is integrated into the i815 chipset, I dont think any mobo manufacturer has the ability to remove it. Even if they do it probably wont lower the cost. I understand, its natural to be loyal to Abit, because they were really the best motherboard maker for a while, but they've been fading since last year. And they were never able to produce a true winner(except probably KA7). Asus is leading the way now, they have jumperless configuration(they dont call it softmenu though, but its similar). And they're blowing away the competition in stability/performance/reliability.

Charles: I've been to Beijing, but never to Zhongguancun, I've heard bad things about there, but I know it has changed. I should go there sometimes if I get a chance to.
 
Oh, ok I see. I guess I'm just not in the know enough really on motherboards all that well. You really starting to persuade me on Asus now though. Actually, I'm thinking of building and entirely new system, and this Asus board is starting to catch my fancy. Are you REALLY sure about the onboard video not hurting the systems performance though? What about taking up IRQ's?

A friend once had a nightmare with his onboard video thing, but it was an AMD setup. Ever since his story, I have always been petrified of onboard video.

Ok, also, if not the i815e, is there any other really good chipsets coming out anytime soon? Anything worth qwaiting a couple months for?
 
Chad: No, the onboard video will not hurt the performance. It uses the AGP bandwidth, but if the AGP slot detects a video card, it will completely disable the onboard video. I dont think it takes up IRQ, and it doesnt hurt performance either.
 
Onboard video (as well as audio) can be turned off by changing it from enabled to disabled in the bios. 🙂
 
What about the voltage adjustment on the CUSL2? It says you can only adjust .30 volts above the default in .5 volt increments. Is that going to be enough for overclocking tweaks? If so, then I think this is THE board I am going to get for a P3.

dave
 
Die Abit! Really, Asus has it covered. There will be no reason for Abit to exist. :Q

Friends don't let friends buy Abit boards
 
.30 volts over default is what hte board allows..

so a 650E Cb0 can be upped to 1.95 volts... ouch.. 🙂

EDIT: .3 volts over default for a p3-coppermine is more than enough... i'd say 1.9volts is really pushing a flipchip, wiht 1.85 being borderline and 1.8 being my logical maximum.

Mike
I also disagree with the Anti-Abit sentiment. THey did release two fo the better athlon mb's out there(hte KA7 and KA7-100).
 
Asus CUSL2 review is brill,now I hope the version without onboard audio is just as easy to find,it might be on my shopping list, now it`s between Asus CUSL2 or AV7 tough choice or do I wait for 266DRR boards? life is never easy.
 
compuwiz1 give it a f'n break will you? I'm very satisfied with my BE6-II, when I bought my computer I really didn't know much about the motherboard scene, and I'm just happy that the place I got it from put excactly that motherboard in the computer. They still have good stability, a VERY good BIOS menu, and lots of overclocking options.

Sure, this new ASUS board looks extremely cool, but Abit's boards are getting kinda old, and we can't all stay on top in the computer business.
 
Please enlight me...Why isn't there any comparison with the old 440bx?. Is it becuase the chipset isn't comparable or do we just have to live with the low performance of the i815 for the time being???.

AoD
 
Well, I think we can't say Asus is the sh!t and Abit is a piece of sh!t, Or Visa versa.

I think it's all depend on everyone's preference. Let's stop this argument before the mods takes action. 😉
 
AngelOfDeath - just updated the CUSL2 review with i440BX numbers. Sorry they got left out when I originally posted the review. As you can see, the BX is still slightly faster, but it's running in overclocked form to do so, whereas the i815 runs completely in spec, something that is quite appealing to many people. We've got a complete performance comparison between the BX, 815, VIA 133A and more in our 815 chipset review right here: http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1265. Hope that helps.

Everyone else - the 815's video is integrated in the chipset so there's no way to get rid of it. If you want 815, you have to pay for the integrated video even if you're not going to use it. It is automatically disabled when you put in an AGP card and takes up no resources (irq, dma, etc.) when disabled. There is also no way to use the integrated video simultaneously with an AGP card.

We'll have more 815 reviews for you guys soon, included the ABIT SE6 if all goes well (ie our evaluation sample arrives soon). Maybe we'll have a little head to head between the SE6 and the CUSL2 if there's interest.
 
Wow, I have been looking for a good review of this board since the good Dr. Tom leaked it back in mid June and I have to say I am totally impressed and more so. Weird, CUSL2 reviews are just pouring in today, makes me think that someday in the near future I might actually be able to BUY this board in a store or something =) Been waiting for a quite a while.

Here is a Firingsquad review of the board.
http://firingsquad.gamers.com/hardware/cusl2/default.asp

Also, if you are looking for the board (preorder), I can only find two places in English (quite a few in Japanese). One is www.dabs.com over in Great Britain I think, and the other is www.scan.co.uk, also in Great Britain. The board has been quoted (according to an earlier post) to be available in the US next week/the third week of July.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top