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Intel’s Core microarchitecture is a new foundation for today’s Intel architecture-based application from desktop to mainstream multi-core processors for servers. While Intel hails for its energy-efficient performance, enthusiasts and overclockers found their secret weapon with the Core microarchitecture. Desktop overclocking basically took off into another level when Intel unleashed their Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme desktop processors. At the time of launch, there wasn’t much motherboard to choose from and a few offered the ingredients that overclockers dreamt of. To help boost support for Core 2 processors, Intel also launched the P965 Express Chipset that supports Core 2 processors right out of the box. The P965 chipset was quite an overclocker especially when you have motherboards like Asus P5B series, Biostar TForce 965 series and even Gigabyte DS3 range. Most of these motherboards were overclocker’s dream as the P965 chipset made overclocking over 500MHz FSB possible, without spending a fortune. The P965 chipset isn’t really a Performance Desktop Chipset, which helps manufacturer sell their motherboards cheaper.

Meanwhile, the compatibility for Core 2 processors became better when motherboard manufacturers tweaked and released their 975X Express chipset. The 975X is a true Performance Desktop Chipset as it offers some impressive memory performance when compared to the P965. The 975X features Intel Memory Pipeline Technology which improves memory pipelining for higher utilization of each memory channel which greatly improves system performance. In short, the 975X chipset is superior to the P965 chipset, in terms of performance, but the 975X doesn’t overclock well. Overclockers expect the 975X motherboards to do 400MHz FSB easily, as they would have done it with the P965 based motherboards. However, this was not possible due to NB strap limitation on the 975X chipset, not until recently.

After a few months into the Core 2 revelation, things started to heat up as 975X overclocking-motherboards started appearing in the market. Among the few top overclocking 975X based motherboards includes the recently reviewed Asus P5W64 WS Professional, DFI Infinity 975X/G and Universal abit AW9D-MAX. While the P5W64 WS PRO was a top class motherboard with quad graphics card expansion and all, we haven’t had a chance to try out the Infinity 975X/G which is said to be quite an overclocker especially when DFI recently unleashed their tsunami BIOS. So, this leaves us with the AW9D-MAX. Being the most pimped out motherboard in the MAX series, the AW9D-MAX is targeted towards gamers, enthusiasts, overclockers and case modders. Without further ado, let us jump right into the review and check out if the AW9D-MAX lives up to our expectations.

Specifications

CPU
* Support Intel® Core 2 Quad, Core 2 Duo Extreme, Core 2 Duo, Pentium® D and Pentium® 4 processors with1066/800MHz FSB
* Support Intel® 2006FMB Conroe CPU

Chipset
*Intel® 975X / Intel® ICH7R Express Chipset

Memory
* 4 X 240-pin DIMM sockets support max. memory capacity 8GB
* Supports Dual channel DDR2 800/667 Un-buffered / Non-ECC memory

Graphics
* Supports Dual PCI-Express X16 slots (dual ATI® CrossFire™ Graphics)

LAN
* On-board Dual PCI-E Gigabit LAN controller supports 10/100/ 1000M Ethernet

Audio
* abit AudioMAX™ HD 7.1 CH
* Supports Jack Sensing and S/PDIF In/Out
* Dolby® Master Studio Certificated

Expansion Slots
* 2xPCI-EX16,2xPCI-EX1,1 xPCI, 1x AudioMAX™

Internal I/O Connectors
* 1 x Floppy port, 1 x UDMA 100/66/33 connector,
* 7 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors
* 2 x USB 2.0 headers, 2 x IEEE1394 headers
* 1 x FP-Audio header, 1 x CD-IN

Back Panel I/O
* 1 x PS/2 Keyboard, 1 x PS/2 Mouse
* 4 x USB 2.0, 2 x RJ-45 LAN,
* 1 x eSATA

Serial ATA
* ICH7R: 4 x SATA 3Gb/s supports Intel® Matrix Storage SATA RAID 0/1/0+1/5
* ICH7R: Support SATA AHCI, providing native command queuing and native hot plug & play
* Silicon Image:3132: 4 x SATA 3Gb/s, two SATA connectors of the same area can support SATA RAID 0/1

IEEE 1394
* 2 ports IEEE1394a at 400 Mb/s transfer rate

RoHS
* RoHS Compliancy

Form Factor
* ATX form factor 305 x 245mm
* PCB Color: Black & Blue

abit Engineered
* abit µGuru™ Technology
* abit AudioMAX™ HD 7.1 CH
* abit Silent OTES™ 2 Technology
* Quick Power & Reset Buttons
* Back-light Blue LED's
* Low ESR and high ripple conductive polymer aluminum solid capacitors


Intel 975X Express Chipset Features



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