IC7-G Questions (anyone own this board?)

Tim (15) · Jul 27, 2003

The last PC I built was about 3 years ago, my current Tyan Tiger 133 with dual P3 850MHz cpu's. It has 512MB in it (4x128MB PC133).

Needless to say, I'm ready to upgrade. But, I need a little assistance to be brought up on the speed of things.

I am looking at the following:

Intel Pentium-4 @ 3.0GHz, 800MHz FSB

ABIT IC7-G Motherboard
http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/products.php?categories=1&model=4

The other items I already have like Video Card, CD/DVD Drives, Floppy Drives, and a Case (with already a 330Watt P4 Ready supply in it)...... and I intend on keeping my Promise FastTrak TX2000 along with the hard drives with the array, so SATA is not important to me at this time.

Something I do not understand is the "Dual Channel DDR400" this board supports. By grouping them in two, I obviously assume you need two DIMM's to work (remember, I only have to put 1 in mine now... so this is new to me). Also this board says it supports "configurable ECC function" Does this mean I MUST use ECC memory? Or can I use non-ECC memory instead?

Has anyone used this motherboard? I have a SoundBlaster Live Platinum (the original platinum package they released...?... 3 or 4 years ago). I don't know whether or not to use it or the onboard audio. What I like about the SB Live is that I can output in all 4 speakers all the time (front & rear satellite speakers) using the card's Rear & Front Audio-out's. Does the onboard audio support something like that, or only support directional audio when playing a supported game? (or am I going to be better off keeping my Live card in the system and disabling the onboard audio? I really like the Optical Audio In & Out feature, a feature my Live card does not have in Optical but only the S/PDIF Coax).

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

TomG · Jul 27, 2003

lots of us have this board. the dual channel mode is sort of like using raid for ram... same sort of concept. with one stick, dual channel is not enabled. in fact, the ram has to be closely matched for best results.

ECC ram is not required. Personally, I would probably use the SB card for sound but that is just personal opinion.

Tim (15) · Jul 27, 2003

lots of us have this board. the dual channel mode is sort of like using raid for ram... same sort of concept. with one stick, dual channel is not enabled. in fact, the ram has to be closely matched for best results.

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but this means I could just put one stick in and it'll work just normally? That would be just fine with me for now. But, I think I still will get two 512MB DDR400's....

ECC ram is not required. Personally, I would probably use the SB card for sound but that is just personal opinion.

Thanks for the input, greatly appreciated!

Tim

FatHippy · Jul 27, 2003

In message <pg%Ua.137233$>, Tim
writes

lots of us have this board. the dual channel mode is sort of like using
raid for ram... same sort of concept. with one stick, dual channel is not
enabled. in fact, the ram has to be closely matched for best results.

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but this means I could just put one stick in and it'll work just normally? That would be just fine with me for now. But, I think I still will get two 512MB DDR400's....

Be very careful. This board knocks the shit out of your RAM, and is extremely fussy when run in DDR mode.

Buy the very best memory that you can afford, preferably as a matched pair.

Advice from Corsair (who make the very best memory in my opinion, and indeed that of many others) is to ensure that you buy a TwinX pack (which gives you an identically matched pair of modules). As a minimum, use PC3200 Low Latency memory.

If you are planning on overclocking at all, then buy further up the range, using either PC3500 or better.

Experience of quite a number of people that I have now spoken to (including Corsair themselves), is that you should up the memory voltage setting to at least 2.7v for stability. My personal experience is that you should go to 2.8v. You may also have to tinker with memory timings a bit.

ECC ram is not required. Personally, I would probably use the SB card for
sound but that is just personal opinion.

Too true.
The onboard sound picks up what seems to be electrical interference, manifesting itself as an oscillating noise. My current opinion is that it is picking this up from the cooling fans plugged into the board.

h2so4 · Jul 28, 2003

The onboard sound on the IC7-G is a disaster. Your SoundBlaster is a better bet but there is a lot of noise on the PCI bus. If sound is important to you, you may wish to consider a Canterwood or Springdale board from another manufacturer. I have the IC7-G with a PIV 3.0c, 512 PC3200TwinX, a Radeon 9700 Pro and use a Soundblaster Live. I can't suggest an alternative motherboard but would suggest that you browse fora associated with different mobo manufacturers to see whether other users are having problems with sound. Unfortunately most of the reviews amount to little more than brochures.

TomG · Jul 28, 2003

"Tim" wrote:

lots of us have this board. the dual channel mode is sort of like using raid for ram... same sort of concept. with one stick, dual channel is not enabled. in fact, the ram has to be closely matched for best results.

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but this means I could just put one stick in and it'll work just normally? That would be just fine with me for now. But, I think I still will get two 512MB DDR400's....

yes, one stick will still work but Dual Channel mode will not be enabled. will perform fine but certainly not at its peak.

TomG · Jul 28, 2003

"FatHippy" <{$spamtrap$}@fathippy.net> wrote:

In message <pg%Ua.137233$>, Tim
writes
lots of us have this board. the dual channel mode is sort of like using raid for ram... same sort of concept. with one stick, dual channel is not enabled. in fact, the ram has to be closely matched for best results.

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but this means I could just put one stick in and it'll work just normally? That would be just fine with me for now. But, I think I still will get two 512MB DDR400's....

Be very careful. This board knocks the shit out of your RAM, and is extremely fussy when run in DDR mode.

I think you mean Dual Channel mode as opposed to DDR mode since the ram is always DDR.

Buy the very best memory that you can afford, preferably as a matched pair.

agree.

Advice from Corsair (who make the very best memory in my opinion, and indeed that of many others) is to ensure that you buy a TwinX pack (which gives you an identically matched pair of modules). As a minimum, use PC3200 Low Latency memory.

I didn't go the TwinX pack route and still have good results (with Corsair) but certainly nothing wrong with being absolutely sure.

If you are planning on overclocking at all, then buy further up the range, using either PC3500 or better.

agree, for sure.

Experience of quite a number of people that I have now spoken to (including Corsair themselves), is that you should up the memory voltage setting to at least 2.7v for stability. My personal experience is that you should go to 2.8v. You may also have to tinker with memory timings a bit.

again, no argument.

TomG · Jul 28, 2003

no sound issues at all here with an Audigy (ver. 1 not 2)

John Lewis · Jul 28, 2003

On Mon, 28 Jul 2003 18:26:17 -0400, "TomG" wrote:

no sound issues at all here with an Audigy (ver. 1 not 2)

nor with an Audigy 2...........

John Lewis

--

Thomas Geery
Network+ certified

ftp://geerynet.d2g.com
ftp://68.98.180.8 Abit Mirror <----- Cable modem IP This IP is dynamic so it *could* change!... over 115,000 FTP users served! ^^^^^^^

...

FatHippy · Jul 28, 2003

In message <tphVa.27150$zd4.293@lakeread02>, TomG
writes

"FatHippy" <{$spamtrap$}@fathippy.net> wrote:

In message <pg%Ua.137233$>, Tim
writes

Be very careful. This board knocks the shit out of your RAM, and is
extremely fussy when run in DDR mode.

I think you mean Dual Channel mode as opposed to DDR mode since the ram is always DDR.

Indeed I did.

Advice from Corsair (who make the very best memory in my opinion, and indeed that of many others) is to ensure that you buy a TwinX pack
(which gives you an identically matched pair of modules). As a minimum,
use PC3200 Low Latency memory.

I didn't go the TwinX pack route and still have good results (with Corsair) but certainly nothing wrong with being absolutely sure.

Ah, but you are wise and have the PC3500 modules.

If you are planning on overclocking at all, then buy further up the
range, using either PC3500 or better.

agree, for sure.

Experience of quite a number of people that I have now spoken to
(including Corsair themselves), is that you should up the memory voltage
setting to at least 2.7v for stability. My personal experience is that
you should go to 2.8v. You may also have to tinker with memory timings a
bit.

...

And I've recently discovered that the Corsair modules would appear to have a voltage regulator on them, which prevents you supplying them with too much voltage.

Tim (15) · Jul 29, 2003

I have built a P3 600MHz (Socket) for a friend using an Asus MB.... and I thought it was rock solid. I, personally, have never owned one. I've always used ABIT, except when I built my Dual P3 system. I chose Tyan because they are leaders in that market.

But now, I must leave Abit behind once again. Ordered a P4C800-E Deluxe from Asus. Hope to have it by Friday.....

I spent too much money....

ORDER CONTENT:
1 x Corsair TWINX512-3200C2 512mMB DDR400 XMS3200 Dual-Channel @ $132.00

1 x Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 Processor (Northwood) 3GHz, 800MHz FSB @ $394.50

1 x Asus P4C800-E Deluxe i875P P4 (800FSB) Skt478 DDR ATX Mother @ $186.99

1 x ATI All-In-Wonder 9800 PRO AGP 8X 128MB DDR Video Card @ $392.00

Total $1105.49. Yikes! At least there is no tax or shipping

Tim
"h2so4" wrote:

The onboard sound on the IC7-G is a disaster. Your SoundBlaster is a better bet but there is a lot of noise on the PCI bus. If sound is important to you, you may wish to consider a Canterwood or Springdale board from another manufacturer. I have the IC7-G with a PIV 3.0c, 512 PC3200TwinX, a Radeon 9700 Pro and use a Soundblaster Live. I can't suggest an alternative motherboard but would suggest that you browse fora associated with different mobo manufacturers to see whether other users are having problems with sound. Unfortunately most of the reviews amount to little more than brochures.

ndrew · Jul 29, 2003

Well would have to say if you went for a Gigabyte I would almost understand ... but I have never had anything but trouble with the overpriced Asus boards .. I am loathe to say this but in my opinion they suck .. good luck. regards @ndrew

"Tim" wrote:

I have built a P3 600MHz (Socket) for a friend using an Asus MB.... and I thought it was rock solid. I, personally, have never owned one. I've

always used

ABIT, except when I built my Dual P3 system. I chose Tyan because they are leaders in that market.

But now, I must leave Abit behind once again. Ordered a P4C800-E Deluxe

from

Asus. Hope to have it by Friday.....

I spent too much money....

ORDER CONTENT:
1 x Corsair TWINX512-3200C2 512mMB DDR400 XMS3200 Dual-Channel @ $132.00 1 x Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 Processor (Northwood) 3GHz, 800MHz FSB @ $394.50 1 x Asus P4C800-E Deluxe i875P P4 (800FSB) Skt478 DDR ATX Mother @ $186.99 1 x ATI All-In-Wonder 9800 PRO AGP 8X 128MB DDR Video Card @ $392.00

Total $1105.49. Yikes! At least there is no tax or shipping

Tim
"h2so4" wrote:

The onboard sound on the IC7-G is a disaster. Your SoundBlaster is a better bet but there is a lot of noise on the PCI bus. If sound is important to
you, you may wish to consider a Canterwood or Springdale board from another manufacturer. I have the IC7-G with a PIV 3.0c, 512 PC3200TwinX, a Radeon 9700 Pro and use a Soundblaster Live.
I can't suggest an alternative motherboard but would suggest that you browse fora associated with different mobo manufacturers to see whether other users are having problems with sound. Unfortunately most of the reviews amount to little more than brochures.

TomG · Jul 29, 2003

"FatHippy" <{$spamtrap$}@fathippy.net> wrote:

In message <tphVa.27150$zd4.293@lakeread02>, TomG writes "FatHippy" <{$spamtrap$}@fathippy.net> wrote:

In message <pg%Ua.137233$>, Tim
writes

{snip}

And I've recently discovered that the Corsair modules would appear to have a voltage regulator on them, which prevents you supplying them with too much voltage. --

really? anything written anywhere to support your discovery?

FatHippy · Jul 29, 2003

In message <u4EVa.27971$zd4.16239@lakeread02>, TomG writes

"FatHippy" <{$spamtrap$}@fathippy.net> wrote:

In message <tphVa.27150$zd4.293@lakeread02>, TomG writes
"FatHippy" <{$spamtrap$}@fathippy.net> wrote:

In message <pg%Ua.137233$>, Tim
writes

{snip}

...

It's on the Corsair forum that someone pointed me to. Don't ask me which thread it was, cos I went through hundreds of them during the course of my investigations, but the "RAMGUY" (from Corsair themselves) that posts on there, said this.

I was as surprised as you clearly are.

Tim (15) · Jul 29, 2003

Oh I've had tons of trouble with gigabyte.... ew
"@ndrew" <andrewrattpg.no_spamcom.au> wrote:

Well would have to say if you went for a Gigabyte I would almost understand ... but I have never had anything but trouble with the overpriced Asus boards .. I am loathe to say this but in my opinion they suck .. good luck. regards @ndrew

"Tim" wrote:

I have built a P3 600MHz (Socket) for a friend using an Asus MB.... and I
thought it was rock solid. I, personally, have never owned one. I've always used ...

TomG · Jul 30, 2003

good to know...