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Review: ABIT NV7-133R

by Ryszard Sommefeldt on 20 May 2002, 00:00

Tags: abit

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qalp

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Specification


CPU

• Supports AMD-K7 Athlon /Athlon XP Socket A 200/266MHz FSB Processors
• Supports AMD-K7 Duron Socket A 200/266MHz FSB Processors

Chipset

• nVIDIA chipset (nForce 415 & MCP-D)
• Integrated 128-bit memory controller (Dual independent 64-bit memory controllers)
• 4.2GB/sTotal Maximum Memory Bandwidth
• Supports Advanced Configuration and Power Management Interface (ACPI)
• Supports AGP 4X, 1.5V only

Memory

• Three 184-pin DIMM sockets support DDR SDRAM modules
• Supports up to 1.5 GB MAX (64, 128, 256, 512MB DDR SDRAM)
• Supports unbuffered Non-ECC type DDR DIMMs

Audio

• nVIDIA MCP-D built in Audio Processing Unit w/ 256 total voices
• Supports AC3 encoding
• Realtek ALC650 (AC-Link)
• Supports 6CH DAC for AC3 5.1 CH output
• Professional digital audio interface supporting 24-bit SPDIF OUT

BIOS

• SoftMenuTM II Technology to set CPU parameters
• Award Plug and Play BIOS
• Supports Advanced Configuration Power Interface (ACPI)
• Supports Desktop Management Interface (DMI)

Multi I/O

• 2 Channels Bus Master IDE Ports supporting up to four Ultra DMA 33/66/100
• 2 Channels Bus Master IDE Ports supporting up to four Ultra DMA 33/66/100/133 (RAID 0/1/1+0)
• PS/2 Keyboard and PS/2 Mouse Connectors
• 1 Floppy Port (up to 2.88MB)
• 1 Parallel Port (EPP/ECP)
• 2 Serial Ports
• 2 USB Connectors
• On board USB header for two extra USB channels
• 10/100Mb LAN port connector
• Audio connector (Line-in, Line-out, Mic-in, and Game Port)
• On board VIA VT6202 USB 2.0 header for four extra USB 2.0 channels
As you can see, the board is quite different from NV7m. For starters it's a full size ATX implementation, not micro-ATX as with NV7m. To offer the expansion that the target market requires a full ATX design had to be used.

You get 5 PCI slots (32-bit, 33MHz), 2 normal ATA100 ports provided by the southbridge, 2 ATA133 RAID ports that can also double up as normal IDE ports provided by a Highpoint HPT372 controller. Also, unlike NV7m, the NV7-133R also features the all important digital SP-DIF connector, rear and centre channel output sockets and also on the same backplane plate, 2 USB 2.0 ports to compliment the 2 USB 1.1 ports on board.

A lot of people complained bitterly, and with good reason, to Abit (and we've had various emails on the subject, hi Sean, I haven't forgotten about you!) about the failure to include the optical out plate with the NV7m to enable the use of the dedicated Dolby hardware in the MCP southbridge.

Given the target market of NV7m, it's non inclusion was a bit of a surprise but it makes an appearance here. I can't confirm if the header and plate work on NV7m and certainly the USB 2.0 ports will be redundant and Abit don't seem to be offering a plate for NV7m seperately. I'll certainly be talking to Abit about the issue however.

So full ATX with the expansion that brings, USB 2.0, ATA133 RAID (for the 133R part of the name funnily enough!) and the requirement for use of a dedicated AGP graphics accelerator because of the SPP-128 northbridge are what defines NV7-133R and what seperates it from Abit's other nForce implementation.