Abit IC7-G

[kdrifter440]

Is the only difference between IC7 and IC7-G is that the G has LAN?

[kdrifter440]

Now this is strange when looking at the Abit IC7 it has the Phoenix-Award v6.00PG bios. My pos Soyo also has the same bios why can't I overclock it ?

[Know Nuttin]

bios is not the only factor that determines overclocking. how the bios is programmed by the board manufacturer, as well as the hardware the manufacturer uses, determines this.


"G" has gigabit Lan and Silicon Image SATA Controller.

[batboy]

The IC7-G also has 4 SATA channels. The regular IC7 only has 2 SATA channels.

[kdrifter440]

I just bought the Abit IC7 what is the best ram for this? Speed wise? I have regular consair pc3200 512mb x 2. Should I buy something else?

[g0dM@n]

I got the IC7-G. I'm in the process of hooking it up (got it used from OCF). I have the MAXII... I don't even know what the diff between the MaxII and III and whatnot are.

[kdrifter440]

does the regular ic7 support dual channel?

[Know Nuttin]

yes, any board using 875 chipset supports dual channel

[kdrifter440]

how much faster is dual channel than regular ram

[g0dM@n]

Dual channel provides a lot more bandwidth than single channel, especially with intel. I would always suggest a dual channel board for intel, but for AMD that is your call. It does make a significant difference with AMD as well, but not nearly as much as it does for intel. That is why socket 754 A64s (only single channel) are not so far behind socket 939 A64s (dual channel support) in performance. I have only bought dual channel boards ever since the ASUS A7N8X-Deluxe and EPOX 8RDA+ (both for athlon XPs).

Also, you asked how much faster dual channel is than regular ram. Well it's not really the ram that decides if it's dual channel or not; rather, it's the board (as long as you don't have anything other than DDR and DDR2). You cannot do dual channel with any ram older than 184-pin, such as 168-pin and whatnot. Right now 2400-pin DDR2 and 184-pin DDR are the popular kinds of ram that can run on a dual channel board (for desktops).

[batboy]

I just bought the Abit IC7 what is the best ram for this? Speed wise? I have regular consair pc3200 512mb x 2. Should I buy something else?

Depends on how far you intend on overclocking. The nice thing about Intel systems is that you can use the 5:4 memory ratio. As long as you can crank up the FSB and use reasonable tight timings, you'll be fine. One hint about the IC7 series, the RAS to CAS delay don't like to be tight. If you have trouble, try relaxing RAS to CAS delay one notch. If you are trying to O/C your RAM on an IC7, try raising vdimm to at least 2.7v.

The IC7/IC7-G Max2 is basically the version 2 of those mobos. The Max3 was the top end IC7 series with 6 SATA channels and vdimm settings up to 3.2v (although VTT didn't track right above 2.8v). The Max3 also was the first to have the OTES cooling thing.

[g0dM@n]

Where can I (or we) find mods on these boards? I want to mod my VTT and VDIMM.

[Goateh]

I loved my IC7 with my 1.6a, damn did that thing overclock :D

[batboy]

Where can I (or we) find mods on these boards? I want to mod my VTT and VDIMM.

Yes indeed. Look in my sticky post that covers the IC7 series. There will be a whole bunch of links. Scroll down and find Hipro's guide to voltage mods.

[g0dM@n]

I'm assuming that that's located in the motherboards > intel > abit Section? Does it also discuss cooling which MOSFETs, etc... I want to FULLY mod it. :)

[batboy]

I'll post the volt mod link here to make it easier.

http://www.thelab.gr/reviews/ic7mods_en1.php

For sinking up the mosfets, there should be lots of threads that cover this subject. Just use the search button. Here is a pic of my IC7-G that shows what cooling mods I did. The red arrows point to mosfet sinks, the yellow arrow points to PLL chip and the blue arrow points to the southbridge sink. That pic was before I changed the northbridge cooler. The NB-1 is a good one to look for if you want a better N/B cooler.

http://www.overclockers.com/tips1179/mobo-cooling-mods.jpg

[g0dM@n]

I actually thought that NB cooler was good. I have a Vantec Copper Iceburq... not sure if that's better than the stock one on there. You really think I should change the stock cooler with my Vantec Copper?

P.S. Gonna get my thermal epoxy ready tonight for the mosfet sinkage. :)

[batboy]

The stock N/B ain't bad. The Vantec Iceberg probably won't cool too much better. Whether you should improve N/B cooling depends a lot on how high of FSB you are planning on running. The stock N/B cooler is certainly good for up to 275 FSB. I have a 2.4C on mine right now, so I'm running up to 292 FSB at times. Here is a pic of my current setup.

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/batboybain/IC7+mods+2.jpg

[g0dM@n]

SEXY! What is your ram running? What frequency/timings/volts? :)

How about BIOSes? (to make your life easier, if you want just link me to a ic7 thread that will give me the basics)

I will probably be tweaking this weekend. :)

[batboy]

RAM is in my siggy (2X512 Hyperram PC4200). Right now I'm running 1:1 ratio at 283 FSB for 3.4 gig.

Don't remember off hand what timings, but they are fairly relaxed. Think the vdimm is about 2.7v or so.

I would just update to the most recent BIOS (version 28). I think maybe I'm still using version 24.

Here is a good link that will get you started on BIOS settings commonly used during overclocking.

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=258345

[g0dM@n]

Did you volt mod your board? I want to run high fsb as well, and I was told that I need a VTT mod for it (Assuming VTT refers to NB... I forgot).

[batboy]

My mobo is not volt modded. You don't need the VTT mod unless you do the vdimm mod for voltages above 2.8v. A standard unmodded IC7/IC7-G only goes up to 2.8v vdimm and VTT tracks fine up to 2.8v. Back when I was trying to get my 2.4C to run stable at 300 FSB (got screen shots, but was never quite stable), I just used the 5:4 ratio. I can run like 295 FSB stable, so an IC7 with no volt mods will do high FSB with good cooling. It's my CPU that was the weak point.

[g0dM@n]

1. Well, I have a 2.8e, so I was thinking of running the 533 on nvstrap (or w/e that's called)... this way I'd be able to run higher fsb... hopefully (intel newb).

2. Also, a VTT mod is for the NB chipset, right?
3. I'm definitely going to get higher vdimm somehow (booster or mod), so I'm assuming that I'll DEFINITELY need to mod the chipset.

[Goateh]

All this talk of IC7s makes me want my IC7 board back, damn it :(

[Ritek]

i just ordered mine from zipzoomfly for 139.99. Its gonna be fun!

[Goateh]

yeah, I wish I still had my intel system with a 2.4c. Unfortunately I only had a 1.6a, but damn did that thing clock :D

[g0dM@n]

Let's wish me luck. I want to have fun with my first Intel OC.

[Goateh]

gl :D

[xcuriousgeorge]

it's too bad that the stock NB coolers on these boards don't tend to last very long. the fan on my MAX3 started making weird noises then finally died a few weeks ago. the same thing happened to my friend as well... just a heads up.

i really want to do the VTT mod, but it looks a bit more difficult than Vdimm and some of the other mods :-/

[g0dM@n]

Everything's risky. The funny thing is that this damn board is so expensive!

[outhouse]

theres no risk lol i like my MB allotttt! just cool her down and she will love you. :)
top ten in 3dmark 03

when my NB fan started too fail i put her on water

[Ritek]

im planning on OC'ing the max once i get this mobo. My current P4SD-LA just is one of those locked up mobos that you cant do anything with.

[batboy]

My main rig is now an Abit AA8XE, but I ran those IC7 mobos for years. Got my first one when they first come available. I will always have a special place in my heart for the IC7. They were rock solid performers and held up well. One of the better socket 478 mobos for the Prescott too. I have an extra plain IC7 tucked away as a backup in case my current AI7 (HTPC) or IC7-G (backup rig) bites the dust.

[g0dM@n]

You guys think I can do well with my 2.8e on this board? I still haven't had the time to mess around. What are temps I should range in, and what should my max load not surpass? I'm on a Zalman 7700 copper (120mm)

[batboy]

I used one of the first Prescotts out on my IC7, it was an old 2.8E C0 stepping, and I was able to squeeze 3.8 gig from it. I was able to get 3.9 gig from a 3.0E D0 stepping. Try to keep CPU load temp down below low 60's and don't use much more than 1.5v vcore (actual). Since the IC7 undervolts a little, you might get away with 1.525v in the BIOS. Look at the link in my signature for cooling socket 478 Prescotts. Extra case ventilation is critical.

[g0dM@n]

What if I go above 1.525v? What's UNsafe voltage?

And low 60s? Damn... and that's safe? I never like to break 50C on my A64, and never liked to on my AXP either. I know intel is different, but 60s you say, eh?

[batboy]

Higher voltage than about 1.5v actual can fry the mobo mosfets. Yes, the Prescotts can easily handle temps up to the mid 60's.