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AOpen AX4SG Max

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

Performance:

Setup:

Hardware:

Intel P4 3.0 GHz, 800MHz FSB, 512kB L2 Cache, HyperThreading Enabled CPU (Provided by Intel)
AOpen AX4SG Max Motherboard (Provided by AOpen)
ATi Radeon 8500DV All-in-Wonder Video Card
2x 256 MB Corsair XMS PC3200 CAS2 DDR RAM
Western Digital Special Edition 120GB Hard Drive
Lite-On 52x24x52 CD-RW
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1

Overclocking:

Even though I used Corsair XMS PC3200 CAS 2 RAM, my maximum CPU speed was limited by the my memory. I have listed below the maximum overclocks that I could get on this board (both with the RAM multiplier set to it's minimum level and with the RAM running at a stable speed). The CPU temperature remained under 105ºF the entire overclocking process.

Note: The Watchdog functionality did not seem to work on my board. I have seen it work properly with other AOpen boards, so it must be a problem with the engineering sample or BIOS related. When I was nearing my overclocking limit, the POST screen would flash random symbols and glitch out (but still complete the POST). Again, given the pre-production status of my board, these problems should be fixed with the final revision.

Intel P4 3.0 GHz
Max POST achieved - 243 FSB x 15 = 3.65GHz at 1.85V CPU Voltage
Max Windows stability achieved - 237 FSB x 15 = 3.56GHz at 1.85V CPU Voltage
Max Stability point achieved - 229 FSB x 15 = 3.44GHz (RAM at 3,5,3,2) (Voltages at 1.85V CPU, 1.55V AGP, 2.60V RAM)

Benchmark Numbers:

SiSoft Sandra 2003 (9.44) CPU Arithmetic: