AOpen AX4SG Max

Review by Michael Tran on 05.21.03
Managing Editor: Harry Lam
Motherboard provided by AOpen
MSRP $229, ESP $209

Canterwood versus Springdale:

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Canterwood is aimed for performance enthusiasts, and as a result is is slightly more aggressive than the Springdale, however both chipsets offer the same fundamental features, most notably support for DDR400 and 800MHz FSB. The Springdale is based off the same core as the Canterwood, but lacks PAT (Performance Acceleration Technology) which allows the chipset to perform slightly more aggressive and decrease latency times between the CPU and RAM.

Specifications:

The following table shows the specifications of the AOpen AX4SG Max:

Innovative Features:

AOpen "Watch Dog ABS" - The Watch Dog ABS monitors the POST process for failure, and will automatically reboot the computer and reset the BIOS to its default settings. This feature allows overclockers to experiment the with their CPUs while saving time and preventing the hassle of manually resetting the CMOS jumper every time the system crashes.

Evolution of Intel's Chipsets:

The Intel 865 family is designed to replace the Intel 845 family as the mainstream chipset solution. There are 3 variants of the Springdale: the Intel 865G, the Intel 865P, and Intel 865PE.

The Intel 865PE is the base Springdale chipset, with 800MHz FSB and DDR400 support.
The Intel 865P is the value version of the 865PE, and lacks DDR400 and 800MHz FSB support.
The Intel 865G is similar to the 865PE, but has the addition of integrated graphics.

Note: RAID support only works under Windows XP.