Layout and features
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We'll continue our tradition of evaluating motherboards by starting at the top and working our way down, highlighting the salient points on the way. From a departure with other VPSD motherboards, this P4X333 is outfitted with a striking blue PCB, reminiscent of Gigabyte's recent offerings. This makes me feel that perhaps VPSD don't actually manufacture the 'boards themselves. Anyway, it makes for a welcome change from the generic brown PCB that normally greets us. I like the fact that the 12v P4 power connector is placed at the very top of the motherboard, thereby ensuring no trailing wires cause airflow disruption.
The CPU socket is rotated sideways, this actually makes the installation and removal of a standard heatsink that little bit easier as you have more room to play with. I found that I could fit an Alpha-class cooler (one that uses the mounting holes instead of the bracket) without too much difficulty. As always, we have 3 DIMM slots on this VIA 'board. The advantage this has over the competing Intel DDR solutions is that you can use three double-sided DIMMS concurrently. They are ECC-RAM compatible too. The stylish passive Northbridge heatsink is held on by either tape or epoxy as well as the two retaining pins. I couldn't prise it off without risking damage to the motherboard.
Sitting just above the AGP slot and to the left of the NB is something you overclockers will recognise. It's the ubiquitous HIP6301CB voltage regulator. Attaching a variable resistor to pin 7 on the bottom will give you as much voltage as your cooling can handle. This chip is in a far more accessible position than on other 'boards I've reviewed. Just below this is a space that I reckon is occupied by the optional Realtek controller ethernet controller. It was not specified on this particular sample.
Sitting below the two main IDE ports are some value-adding extras. We have 3 connections for memory stick, secure digital and smart card readers. As with all VPSD 'boards, the AGP slot is both 1.5v and 3.3v compliant. Note that this is not the newer 8x AGP slot specified on some P4X333s.
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