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Being
afflicted with an addiction to PC hardware, I'm
always on the lookout for my next major computer
upgrade. Recently, Intel's
Pentium 4 arrived on the scene but for me
personally, that meant converting over to a whole
new platform. This was more than I wanted to
chew on at the time but regardless, I still had
that "power hungry" feeling. Right
around the same time as the P4 was making it's
debut on "the net", Abit's
much anticipated dual processor capable VP6 began
shipping, and the wheels started turning...
The VP6 is Abit's much anticipated follow up
product to the very popular BP6. The BP6 was a
dual-processor capable board based on Intel's
wildly successful 440BX. Abit's engineers worked a
little magic with the BP6 though, and designed it
in such a way that allowed users to run not only
Pentium IIIs, but inexpensive Celerons in an SMP
(Symmetrical Multi-Processing) configuration.
These "tweaks" finally put
dual-processor systems within reach of most users.
Since then, prices on Pentium IIIs have dropped
considerably and RAM prices have fallen through
the floor. Also, the BX started to show it's age
and Microsoft had released a far more user
friendly, stable and powerful version of Windows
based on the NT core, Windows 2000 (I didn't
mention WinME because the 9x core doesn't have
multi-processor support). Before we go too much
further, lets get up close and personal with
Abit's VP6.
CLICK FOR LARGER
VIEW
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| Specifications
/ Features of the Abit VP6 |
| VIA
and Intel X 2 |
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CPU
- Supports
Pentium III Coppermine FC-PGA 370
processor (Based on 66/100/133MHz clock)
Chipset
- VIA
chipset (VT82C694X and VT82C686B)
- Supports
Advanced Configuration and Power
Management Interface (ACPI)
- Supports
AGP 1X/2X/4X (Sideband) 3.3V device
Ultra
DMA 100
- High Point
HTP370 IDE Controller
- Ultra DMA
100MB/Sec data transfer rate
- RAID
0(stripping mode for boosting
performance)
- RAID 1
(mirroring mode for data security)
- RAID 0
+1(stripping and mirroring)
Memory
- Four
168-pin DIMM sockets support SDRAM
module
- Supports
up to 2 GB MAX. (8, 16, 32, 64, 128,
256,512MB SDRAM)
- Supports
ECC
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System
BIOS
- SoftMenuTM
III to set CPU parameters
- Award Plug
and Play BIOS supports APM and DMI
- Write-Protect
Anti-Virus function by AWARD BIOS
- Year 2000
Compliant
Multi
I/O Functions
- 2 Channels
of Bus Master IDE Ports support Ultra
DMA 33/66/100(up to 4 HDD devices)
- 2 Channels
of Bus Master IDE Ports supporting Ultra
DMA 33/66/100
- PS/2
Keyboard and PS/2 Mouse Connectors
- 1x Floppy
Port (up to 2.88MB)
- 1x
Parallel Port (EPP/ECP)
- 2x Serial
Ports
- 2x USB
Connectors
- On board
USB header for two extra USB channels
Miscellaneous
- ATX form
factor
- 1 AGP
slot, 5 PCI slots
- Hardware
monitoring (Including Fan speed,
Voltages, System environment temperature
and one Thermal header for CPU or other
temperature monitoring)
- Built-in
Wake on LAN/Wake on Ring header
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As you
can see, it is evident Abit designed the VP6 with
today's power user in mind, it's got all of the
features we want (RAID, Dual-CPUs, 4 DIMMS) and
none of the ones we don't (On-Board Video and
Sound). The VP6 is packed with all the features
found on the BP6 (with the exception of dual
Celeron support) and more. Because the VP6 is
based on VIA's Apollo Pro 133A, AGP 4X, true
133MHz FSB support and now that the VIA 686B
Southbridge is used, native support for UDMA/100
hard drive transfers is also included. Abit (as
usual) takes things one step further by
incorporating a High-Point Technologies HPT-370
IDE RAID controller also! If everything
works as advertised, the VP6 should be a top notch
performer. Included in the box you'll find a
comprehensive manual, two 80-Pin IDE cables, a
floppy cable and all necessary drivers...it's a
very complete package.
Unfortunately,
I
hit a few snags when our VP6 first arrived in the
lab. A dead power supply here... failed
Windows 2000 installation there...our initial
impression of the VP6 was poor. I was
personally was very disappointed. I was
hoping that the VP6 would earn it's way into my
main system and it seemed that there was no way
that was happening. Before giving up though,
we consulted with our contacts at Abit and made
arrangements for a new board to get sent to us,
and luckily the
new board resolved all our previous issues!
If Abit treats their customers as well as they do
reviewers, you won't be disappointed. Their
service and support was top notch.
Layout
and Quality
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