Return From Computer Show: Bought an ASUS P4B266

[JOSEPHLB]

After walking around numerous times... I was in a debate on whether to get the Abit BD7 or the Asus P4B266. From all of the good experiences of other users on the boards, I decided to go with the P4B266, based on the stability and performance of the board. It was a really hard decision, based on the fact the Abit BD7 has the PCI locking feature.. which I was seriously considering...

currently formatting my drives right now, and will see how smooth my move back to Asus will go..

Specs :

ASUS P4B266 REV 2.02
INTEL P4 2.0A GHz
CORSAIR XMS PC2700 CL 2 DDR

[AGP SLOT] ELSA GLADIAC 920 GEFORCE 3 (NVIDIA REFERENCE BIOS MODDED TO CORE: 225 | MEMORY: 500)
[PCI 1 ] EMPTY
[PCI 2 ] 3COM OEM #2977 FAX/DATA MODEM
[PCI 3 ] AUREAL SQ 2500 VORTEX 2
[PCI 4 ] EMPTY
[PCI 5 ] EMPTY
[PCI 6 ] EMPTY
[ACR/CMR ] EMPTY

IDE PORT 1: (2) IBM 60GXP 40GB HDD'S
IDE PORT 2: (PRIMARY) TEAC 40X CDROM (SECONDARY) TEAC 24X/10X/40X CD-RW

SERIAL 1 / SERIAL 2 / LPT 1 : DISABLED

USB : ENABLED
NEC USB 2.0 ENABLED

 

[panhead49]

i have one of those in front of me right now ...helping a friend set it up ......first time with intel.......
it is running a 2.0 like yours.........should be a killer!!

 

[JOSEPHLB]

wow...

I'm impressed..

Aureal SQ2500 Vortex 2 even works

Of course, this is all with Windows 98SE

flawless install

Install the Intel INF chipset installation.. and thats it.. No Via tweaking, registry hacks.. or whatever...

 

[JOSEPHLB]

two settings in the BIOS I have questions about, and what they mean.. and what they should be set on for optimal performance:

SDRAM IDLE TIMER (Default: Infinite)
Configuration Options: [Infinite] [0T] [8T] [16T] [64T]

OPTIMIZATION MODE (Default Normal)
Configuriation Options: [Normal] [Turbo 1] [Turbo 2]


The SDRAM Idle Timer is the one I have particular questions, and no clue.. Some elaboration on this setting please.. if anyone is familiar with this.. thanks!

 

[Buz2b]

If I understand this correctly (after some research), this refers to the number of cycles that the RAM will go through before closing a "page". There are various schools of thought on this one but one quote I found seems to cover this well enough:


"This setting relates to the Page Hit Limit. Because there is not only a spatial constraint on how many consecutive hits can go to the same page but, moreover, a temporal component as well, the controller can be programmed to close a page if there have been no read requests in a given number of bus cycles. Recommended setting: 8 cycles"

This came from "Lost Circuts" Mainboard Guide. I'd set it at the recommended 8 cycles and forget about it. Keep in mind that the better (or worse) quality of your RAM will determine the amount of tweaking you can do to it.

 

[DashK]

How is this board? Does it have any PCI dividers? I'm about to get the Abit BD7, because I heard its a better overclocker and has more bios settings (like PCI fixing). Both the boards are rock stable and around the same speed anyways, they do use intel chipsets after all.

 

[JOSEPHLB]

I'm still running stock right now. I dont believe the Asus board has the "Fixed 33Mhz PCI" feature.... Unless I am wrong on this?

Are there any reviews on Abit's board? I have yet to see one.. at least recently.