Introduction
ABIT BH7 i845PE
It seems as if the Socket 478 motherboard market is bracing itself for the much-awaited arrival of Intel's new dual-channel 800FSB-capable chipsets. Code-named Springdale and Canterwood, we see their arrival as Intel's Front-Side-Bus push taking a rather large leap from the present, official 533FSB. Missing out the 666FSB (166 quad-pumped), maybe for marketing reasons (Intel as the Devil ?, never), the faster 800FSB will be more than welcome in reducing the widening gap between processor and system speeds. Users of DDR-400 memory will finally be able to extract maximum performance from their modules, officially.
That's not to say that there's anything wholly wrong with the present i845PE and E7205 workstation-based chipsets. They've proved to be solid performers throughout the latter part of '02. Add SiS' 6xx series of single and dual-channel chipsets, VIA's improved P4X range through the use of more efficient Hyperion chipset drivers, and one has a reasonable choice of solid, mature platforms.
So you may be wondering why ABIT have decided to launch yet another i845PE-based motherboard so close to the unveiling of the Springdale and Canterwood offerings. A quick look at the specifications will tell you that it's another reasonably featured motherboard that will sit alongside the present MAX series. But it's a little more than just a standard i845PE board. The name is a nod towards a legendary ABIT motherboard in the BH6; that should give you some idea of its unique qualities. Let's find out what else it brings to the ABIT stable as we take a closer look at it.
