My Abit IP35 -Pro Bearlake Review

[Heidfirst]

The board will set the minimum voltage according to your CPU's VID afaik.
There are several beta BIOS available.

 

[bryanW1995]

I can't get computer to power on and even attempt to post at over 440 fsb with my ip35 pro. I would say that it might be airflow but it literally takes no time at all. The fans barely have time to move before power shuts off. my chip doesn't seem to be doing too well either as I needed 1.47 v to get to 8x430. I should have gotten a Q6600...

 

[cmdrdredd]

Question about this board...I'll have one in my hands on tueday afternoon but my question is audio related. How does this board's audio fair in Vista vs a XFI? Obviously XFI has terrible drivers and support, but how is CPU utilization (probably not even a worry these days with dual core CPUs at 3+ghz)? How is the quality? Any issues?

Thanks for any help and info guys.

 

[bryanW1995]

wish I could help you on that. it uses 22k of memory, can't tell on cpu utilization but appears to be less than 1 %. I don't know of a game out right now that gets anywhere close to 99% on both cpus so you shouldn't suffer any lag from that. I heard that the new p35 mobos have MUCH better audio quality than older boards, but I do remember reading a couple of weeks ago here that the xfi is still a huge improvement. If you can get drivers for it in vista, of course.

 

[gilgamesh1]

Sorry lads

forgot to include all my BIOS setting to show you how i got that massive quadcore overclock

As you know im using water cooling


here are the bios settings
#]
CPU CORE 1.6650
ddr2 1.950
cpu vtt 1.23
MCH `.52
ICH 1.38
ICHIO 1.50
REGS D7
1:1 Divider ddr 2 960

=480 FSB

I knowsome of the figures are high, however with a q6600 you really have to push it to get results!

gilgamesh

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
wish I could help you on that. it uses 22k of memory, can't tell on cpu utilization but appears to be less than 1 %. I don't know of a game out right now that gets anywhere close to 99% on both cpus so you shouldn't suffer any lag from that. I heard that the new p35 mobos have MUCH better audio quality than older boards, but I do remember reading a couple of weeks ago here that the xfi is still a huge improvement. If you can get drivers for it in vista, of course.

Thanks for that.

Anyone else have any information regarding the onboard audio with the IP35 Pro? I will have one tomorrow to put together. Just not sure if I should attempt to use my XFI or scrap it in favor of onboard.

I'll be using Vista Ultimate x64

 

[nitromullet]

Well, you guys sold me on this board. I just got my IP35 Pro up and running with Vista 32-bit on a RAID0 array and it all went smoothly. So far, no problems whatsoever with this board. I'll post more as I dig more into it, but I just wanted to mention that I didn't have any issues with RAID0.

...On a side note, I am running an X-Fi because while Creative's driver support does irritate me, the X-Fi is still the best sounding consumer sound card out IMO. No reason to use on board when you have a $150 sound card.

 

[lessonz]

So, no double posting issues with the Pro?

Has anyone done any speed comparisons with regards to the LAN running on the PCI rather than a PCIe? What kind of difference is actually being seen?

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: lessonz
So, no double posting issues with the Pro?

Has anyone done any speed comparisons with regards to the LAN running on the PCI rather than a PCIe? What kind of difference is actually being seen?

No double post on the Pro.

Not much difference at all with LAn. Unless you're transferring very large files over a very fast LAN (gigabit) you'll never see the difference day to day.

 

[lessonz]

Okay, so stupid question time. A cable modem doesn't get near the bandwidth of a gigabit, right? So, for internet, there's no difference?

 

[nitromullet]

correct.

 

[lessonz]

How's the support from Abit? I've heard complaints about the lack of BIOS updates, problem?

What HSF have you successfully fitted?

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: lessonz
How's the support from Abit? I've heard complaints about the lack of BIOS updates, problem?

What HSF have you successfully fitted?

BIOS updates are really only an issue if/when there are problems with a motherboard. I haven't even bothered to check Abit's site for BIOS files because right now everything is working as it should. That being said, I hope that BIOS updates fix the cool boot issue with the IP35-E and IP35.

As far as support and customer service goes I have no idea, but I really don't expect great service/support from any motherboard manufacturers. I buy from reputable retailers, so if there is a need to RMA I can deal with them. For any technical support issues, AT forums is better and more knowledgeable than ANY tech support I've ever dealt with. If you can't find the answer here or at least a good suggestion, you won't get it from some tech support person either.

I'm using a Zalman CNPS9500AT on mine. It fit without any issues. There is decent amount of room around the cpu, so I doubt that cpu cooling will be an issue. On a side note, I like the Zalman cooler when it's installed, but inevitably I cut myself on the sharp fins as I do every time I work with this thing. Nothing like installing a rig with a thick band-aid on to keep you from bleeding on your components :|

 

[AlucardX]

Originally posted by: lessonz
How's the support from Abit? I've heard complaints about the lack of BIOS updates, problem?

What HSF have you successfully fitted?

I use a Thermalright Ultra-120 extreme on an IP35 (non-pro). It fits fine.

 

[lessonz]

Okay, how about RAM? Any conflicts?

Thanks for all of your help, guys. I think you may have saved me some money on an Asus Premium.

 

[Heidfirst]

Originally posted by: nitromullet
As far as support and customer service goes I have no idea, but I really don't expect great service/support from any motherboard manufacturers. I buy from reputable retailers, so if there is a need to RMA I can deal with them. For any technical support issues, AT forums is better and more knowledgeable than ANY tech support I've ever dealt with. If you can't find the answer here or at least a good suggestion, you won't get it from some tech support person either.

abit do have the best* manufacturer specific forum that I know of though http://forum.abit-usa.com/.
Yes, it's user to user rather than official abit tech support but the same holds true as quoted above.

* fair disclosure: I may be biased as I'm a moderator

Originally posted by: lessonz
Okay, how about RAM? Any conflicts?

Pretty tolerant really - anything D9 based like Ballistix or G.Skill HZ will do nicely.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Heidfirst

Originally posted by: nitromullet
As far as support and customer service goes I have no idea, but I really don't expect great service/support from any motherboard manufacturers. I buy from reputable retailers, so if there is a need to RMA I can deal with them. For any technical support issues, AT forums is better and more knowledgeable than ANY tech support I've ever dealt with. If you can't find the answer here or at least a good suggestion, you won't get it from some tech support person either.

abit do have the best* manufacturer specific forum that I know of though http://forum.abit-usa.com/.
Yes, it's user to user rather than official abit tech support but the same holds true as quoted above.

* fair disclosure: I may be biased as I'm a moderator

Originally posted by: lessonz
Okay, how about RAM? Any conflicts?

Pretty tolerant really - anything D9 based like Ballistix or G.Skill HZ will do nicely.

DFI used to have good support through forums like that. Even at one time offerd recommended timings and voltages for various memory types/brands.

 

[gilgamesh1]

SETTINGS UPDATE
here are my overclock settings to get 480fsb on a quadcore

1.6650
DDR2 1.950
CPU VTT 1.23
MCH 1.52
ICH 1.38
ICHIO 1.50
REGS 67%
1:1 Divider DDR 970
=480 FSB

Cheers


gilgamesh

 

[randomocity]

Right now I'm having an issue overclocking my Q6600. I'm getting about 3.0Ghz set at x8 and 1.4275V but I notice that under load the multiplier does jump to x9 giving me about 3.2 Ghz. The only problem that I'm having now is heat and lockups. I idle around 33 at the 3.0 mark but if I try adjusting my FSB to 400 I also run into issues with heat and frequent lockups under load. Could the lockups be because my Vcore isnt high enough?

I believe when i changed the FSB to 400 my Vcore was turned up to 1.4975, is this not enough?

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: randomocity
Right now I'm having an issue overclocking my Q6600. I'm getting about 3.0Ghz set at x8 and 1.4275V but I notice that under load the multiplier does jump to x9 giving me about 3.2 Ghz. The only problem that I'm having now is heat and lockups. I idle around 33 at the 3.0 mark but if I try adjusting my FSB to 400 I also run into issues with heat and frequent lockups under load. Could the lockups be because my Vcore isnt high enough?

I believe when i changed the FSB to 400 my Vcore was turned up to 1.4975, is this not enough?

Turn off everything under CPU Features which is under advanced BIOS features. Make sure every option is disabled. See if this helps, also do you know if your CPU is a B3 or G0? If it's a B3 it will get hotter more than likely. Also set your MCH voltage higher.

If none of this works you can flash to the latest beta BIOS here http://fugger.netfirms.com/11B04.zip

When you flash the BIOS from DOS using awdflash use this sequence A:AWDFLASH.EXE M629B_11.B04 /py /sy /WB /cd /cp /cc /CKS

That will overwrite the bootblock as well and is tested to increase system performance.

edit: you don't need a floppy to flash the BIOS. If you have a USB Flash Drive you can format it as a DOS startup disk and run awdflash.exe from there. Instructions here http://www.xtremesystems.org/f...=2340844&postcount=897


Another note. Different memory ratios change the strap the board runs on. Info on that here http://www.xtremesystems.org/f...=2344891&postcount=986

 

[randomocity]

Sadly I picked up one of the last B3 models, so I knew it would get hot. Granted I got it for 270 so I suppose I cant complain. I'll try shutting everything off and seeing if that works. I'll also flash the bios and see if that improves performance and get back to you guys. Thanks for all the help.

edit: I cant get the boot image from that link you posted. All three mirrors the guy posted are down. Can anyone post a link?

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: randomocity
Sadly I picked up one of the last B3 models, so I knew it would get hot. Granted I got it for 270 so I suppose I cant complain. I'll try shutting everything off and seeing if that works. I'll also flash the bios and see if that improves performance and get back to you guys. Thanks for all the help.

Keep in mind the strap you're running as well. 1333strap is much more stable on this board than 1066strap. Check the forum I linked for you, it explains which settings are which.

Also don't forget to account for vdroop when you set vcore. 1.425 is more like 1.38 at windows. Try setting 1.465 which gives around 1.42v and see how that does. Your cooling is very very adequate. You should have no problems at this voltage.

 

[randomocity]

I'm definitely running in the 1333 strap as of now. As far as clocking it up to 3.2, I'm gonna need at least 1.50 to account for Vdroop and even then that might not be enough, the Q6600 needs an exorbitant amount of power to run at FSBs over 400. Again any chance I can get a link for the USB Stick image, since that site you gave me doesnt work?

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: randomocity
I'm definitely running in the 1333 strap as of now. As far as clocking it up to 3.2, I'm gonna need at least 1.50 to account for Vdroop and even then that might not be enough, the Q6600 needs an exorbitant amount of power to run at FSBs over 400. Again any chance I can get a link for the USB Stick image, since that site you gave me doesnt work?

the site is good I just checked...

Just today new BIOS available http://file.abit.com.tw/pub/do...os/ip35pro/m629b11.zip

Use this instead of the b04 I liknked earlier. This is the official release.

 

[randomocity]

Nono, if you click the 3 mirrors for the disk image in the link, none of them work.