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Board

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 8:21 am
by Schlotkins
If only some motherboards supported the Mobile AMD chip better, I wouldn't be so hot for one of these. I know the M is a little better with power and faster, but the price of the 2800/MB setup is nice.

Chris

Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 6:17 pm
by Mats
dago wrote:but it's still strange that they don't follow their naming convention.

The name should be something like MX7GM ...
Yeah, but it's not the only one. Seems like they've started using the chipset number in the motherboard name lately.
For instance, all their socket T boards have 865 or 915 in it. This is a good thing, making 855GMEm look even more "normal".

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 8:50 am
by PhilgB
The board has made it to the US page.
http://usa.aopen.com/products/mb/

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 9:00 am
by dago
and the European one as well.

Was it due to numerous emails ?

Anyway, it's a pity their sales channels sucks here (it's really difficult to find a precise aopen component besides cases).

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 11:06 am
by Mats
This is exciting! Right now I'm reading the manual, really don't think I'll find something special. Just curious.

Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 12:22 pm
by Mats
Heatsink with fan are included with the mobo. It's a simple extruded aluminium heatsink with a 60x15 mm fan called "Lotes", never heard of it. Nevermind, I don't think I'd use any of them anyway.

Been looking at the retention bracket and done some measuring. It got the same distances between the holes as the P4 mobo I looked at, and the retention bracket has the same size (can't be totally sure though). So it looks like the biggest problem with changing heatsink could be the height, due to the lack of heatspreader on the CPU. Hopefully AOpen has used a retention bracket which is a bit lower.

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2004 12:42 pm
by Schlotkins
Now... just have to find a vendor with one. Who's going to be the guinea pig? ;)

Although, I do have to admit, I'm questioning some of the "greatness" of this setup. At 21W. do we need to still use a fan to cool the processor? (I'll assume we can use some good ones) If so, then I'm not totally sure (for my situation) if there would be a huge advantage. Certainly it would pump out less heat, but I have 1 case fan (5V), a Samsung drive and a SS400 w/ a PIV 2.4c. If I throw in a AMD 4000+, that's an extra 15W and I could move to a TM 120 HP setup and still run my processor fan at 5V. If I do the P-M and I still need a fan on the CPU, I doubt I could take out the 5V case fan. Maybe I'm missing something ... other than saving $16 a year in electricity costs.

Chris

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2004 1:10 pm
by sthayashi
I'll be more than happy to be the guinea pig if someone can point out to me where I can get a Pentium-M processor as well.

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2004 1:58 pm
by MikeC
Schlotkins wrote:Although, I do have to admit, I'm questioning some of the "greatness" of this setup. At 21W. do we need to still use a fan to cool the processor?... Maybe I'm missing something ... other than saving $16 a year in electricity costs.
Chris, smart thermal management with minimal airflow is really what we silencers practise and preach. The best starting point is to have the lowest overall heat in the system. That 21W vs 60~80W in a P4 means not just a CPU power/heat reduction of 40~60W (which is amazing by itself) but also translates into that much less heat in the PSU as well.

Take your current system. I'd guess that with your PSU, you're probably pulling 70~80W from the wall at idle and maybe 125-130W max. With a P-M in place of your P4, I'd guess the idle at <35W and the max at <70W. Maybe less. Can you run this CPU with no fan? With the right HS, I don't see why not -- there are great ones around these days. And can you fix the PSU fan voltage so it barely spins at all? Well with total 70W power draw, perhaps 20W of heat will be dissipated in the PSU, so why not?

These are guesses... the gist of it is:

** With such low overall thermals, you have many more choices about what kind of case to use, about going fanless with probably just about everything.

** Use a notebook drive and a modest video card and you could be down to under 50W max AC draw. That's getting into VIA mITX territory; you know how many fanless m-ITX system are offered by commercial sellers?

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2004 2:40 pm
by Schlotkins
Certainly, I agree it's easier to go completely fanless with a P-M: no argument. If it can be run with no fan on the HS, then that's awesome. Hopefully a XP-120 can be hooked onto this bad boy and we're off and running. But if not, then I don't know if there's that much advantage. I can already get a fanless PSU. (I know, I'm a silent moron, but hey.. :>)

I think, for me anyway, it's one of those things if you aren't going for under 70W, then it's really not going to be THAT much different. I'm using an ATI9600NP (low power - 15Wish I bet) and I think I'm going to move to the mobile drive at some point (2.4W). So, it may not be a stretch for me to go fansless and be happy.

I'd love to be able to have a tiny case with no fans. If that can be pulled off, then I'm REALLY in. :) The Shuttle solution could be interesting...

Chris

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2004 3:26 pm
by Mats
Schlotkins wrote:Although, I do have to admit, I'm questioning some of the "greatness" of this setup. At 21W. do we need to still use a fan to cool the processor?
Well the A64 fan stops in ASUS boards when hitting lowest P-state at max 35 W (depends on model/stepping) if I'm not mistaken. So i guess it's not impossible. On the other hand I think the 35 W is quite theoretical when using Cool 'n' Quiet, but not when running at 800/1000 MHz constantly (underclocked). A CnQ enabled computer never runs at full CPU usage for any longer time because it then ramps up in speed and changes P-state.

I think it's possible, especially if you use good parts for it. Remember that 21 W is for the fastest 2 GHz too, so it must be lower for the slower ones if those number are any logical. The XP-120 would be overkill I think, maybe even the XP-90. Using that construction you end up having the heatpipes reheat the CPU since theres no fan. A heatsink that transports the heat away from the CPU is better, like the Shuttle ICE or even Thermalright SI-97. What you need is a heatsink optimised for passive use. I don't think you can take some good heatsink and just rip off the fan and it'll work optimal. For passive use you maybe need a heatsink with wider gaps between the fins so the convection can work properly. But yeah, if you go overkill-but-not-optimal it will still work. Personally I don't think that's the point though.

Or, like this with a 80 mm fan at low speed, I really like this one!

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2004 4:00 pm
by Schlotkins
Here's some Pentium M processors:

http://www.excaliberpc.com/default.php? ... 1a&&page=2

There are some price cuts coming... I can't find the link on theinquirer at the moment. I have to check out the mb, but it's probably about $700 for the processor/MB @ 2.0ghz. The only downside is Intel is going with a 533mhz bus in Q1 and this MB is only 400mhz bus...

Chris

EDIT:

newegg.com has the 2.0 chip.

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2004 4:27 pm
by Mats
Well the 1.3 GHz Celeron M got ramped up to 154 MHz FSB by those french guys who tested the DFI mini-ITX board. No crazy overvolt either, 1.31 V.

First I was going to say something about rather having a more modern chipset than faster FSB (both goes hand in hand in this case i think), but I changed my mind. The 855 got everything I want and 4x AGP speed doesn't make that much difference from what I know. Faster FSB yes, and a PCI/AGP lock (dream on...).

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2004 4:43 pm
by Mats
Schlotkins wrote:I have to check out the mb, but it's probably about $700 for the processor/MB @ 2.0ghz.
Dunno about coming CPU prices, but the AOpen 855gmem IS expensive in Japan compared to other prices over there. The lowest price I've seen is like 29000 Yen (250 USD) while the DFI Lanparty UT NF3 250GB (which is one of the newest, most wanted A64 mobo with tons of features and THE best overclocker) is only 13000 Yen. (= 110 USD, goes for 129 USD at newegg).

Edit: BTW, the DFI board seems to be THE Mobile A64 mobo so far, and it's cheaper too...... :D

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2004 5:02 pm
by Schlotkins
Well, It's obvious that the Pentium M stuff is going for a premium. That article was interesting and basically they took the 100mhz and made it a 133mhz bus no problem with some overclocking.

The interesting thing is both the 1.8ghz and 2.0ghz are rated at 21W by intel even though they have the same voltage. Is that 21W a general number? In other words, if these processors are unlock and overclock that easily, maybe good just to get a 1.7 or something and O/C it to 2.0ghz.

Chris

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2004 5:16 pm
by Mats
Schlotkins wrote:Well, It's obvious that the Pentium M stuff is going for a premium. That article was interesting and basically they took the 100mhz and made it a 133mhz bus no problem with some overclocking.

The interesting thing is both the 1.8ghz and 2.0ghz are rated at 21W by intel even though they have the same voltage. Is that 21W a general number? In other words, if these processors are unlock and overclock that easily, maybe good just to get a 1.7 or something and O/C it to 2.0ghz.Chris
They're not totally unlocked, are they? No way. I think they're like A64. They got a maximum multiplier, and you can lower it.

Anyway, that's maybe not so interesting, but a high FSB is. Look at the A64 people, they lower the multiplier to achieve faster FSB. So a totally unlocked CPU wouldn't make any difference for them at least.

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2004 6:19 pm
by Mats
Since Pentium M both exists as socket 478 and 479 I'm wondering what the difference is. For instance, Intel tells that the 2.0 GHz version is only available with 478 pins.

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 3:01 am
by Schlotkins
That's a good question:

http://processorfinder.intel.com/scripts/list.asp

The motherboard manual says: "This socket supports both uFCPGA and uFCBGA." I don't see anything about PPGA support. Also, is this right:

http://processorfinder.intel.com/script ... CorSpd=ALL

"Thermal Guideline: 100C"?!

And one other note, it appears the MB only supports drives up to 137GB.

Chris

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 3:39 am
by Mats
Schlotkins wrote: "Thermal Guideline: 100C"?!
Well that's typical for mobile CPUs, it's 95 for AMD.

Schlotkins wrote:And one other note, it appears the MB only supports drives up to 137GB. Chris
WAIT!, You gotta be kidding me!!? Is it true? Where have you seen that? If the ATA got that limit, but not SATA, I could live with it.

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 3:54 am
by Schlotkins
Under specifications, here's what it says:

Integrated ATA100 Controller
Promise Serial ATA Control Chip [Support Serial ATA RAID 0 or 1]
Max Disk : : 144,000,000GB [by 48 bits LBA Spec.]


It doesn't say if that's both or what. I didn't think SATA has that problem and I'll be honest I'm not totally up on my IDE specs so I'm not sure.

Chris

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 5:57 am
by Pakkapakka
The european page for this board now reads 'Japan Only' above the part number :-(

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 5:58 am
by Mats
Schlotkins wrote:Under specifications, here's what it says:

Integrated ATA100 Controller
Promise Serial ATA Control Chip [Support Serial ATA RAID 0 or 1]
Max Disk : : 144,000,000GB [by 48 bits LBA Spec.]


It doesn't say if that's both or what. I didn't think SATA has that problem and I'll be honest I'm not totally up on my IDE specs so I'm not sure.

Chris
Well that's more or less standard now, just look at any mobo at AOpen. Phew, you almost got me there... don't understand where you got 137 GB from.

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 6:26 am
by Schlotkins
Duh, moron alert. I looked quickly and though that was in Kbs. <slapping head>

Although the Eurpoean page has been changed, the USA page has not been updated. Still, that's cause for concern!

Chris

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 6:34 am
by MikeC
I was in contact with the US AOpen office, and they say their first shipment is due to arrive in 2 weeks... and because of the language used, I am not sure, but it appears that they're promising SPCR a sample.

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 6:48 am
by Pakkapakka
MikeC wrote:I was in contact with the US AOpen office, and they say their first shipment is due to arrive in 2 weeks...
But where are these units shipped to? :?

Inquiring Minds Want to Know :twisted:

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 7:04 am
by Schlotkins
Well, This is confirmation it's coming. The only question for me is how hard it is to mount a HS and do we need a fan... :)

I hope they send you a sample Mike - that would be awesome.

Chris

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 7:15 am
by Mats
MikeC, are you able to get some info about the price? That is the biggest question for me. Heatsinks can I do with some milling... :) But that won't be necessary if it uses a lowered P4 retention bracket like I mentioned earlier.

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 7:44 am
by MikeC
No idea about price.

Look at this image, it looks to me like a standard P4 HS retention frame:
http://club.aopen.com.tw/pss/largeview. ... 55GMEm-LFS

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 7:57 am
by Mats
MikeC wrote:No idea about price.

Look at this image, it looks to me like a standard P4 HS retention frame:
http://club.aopen.com.tw/pss/largeview. ... 55GMEm-LFS
Yes, I've done some measuring (see my earlier posts) and it seems to be the same. If you can use P4 heatsinks that would be awesome, lots of heatsinks to choose between.

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 8:35 am
by MikeC
Just downloaded the manul and canned through it. There's no question it's a standard P4 bracket.

Impressive features and specs, btw, looks more like a fully loaded ATX rather than the typical more limited mATX board.