ABIT IC7-MAX3 Gets "Essential Hardware" Award From HardOCP!

Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C., September 5, 2003 - Number One enthusiast hardware site HardOCP.com has, after extensive testing and comparisons, running the board through all available paces, awarded the ABIT IC7-MAX 3 with Game Accelerator Technology the coveted "Essential Hardware" Award. Here are some highlights:

"ABIT is the de facto standard among the enthusiast crowd. ABIT strives to meld the latest technology into their boards through both their innovative BIOS implementations and their motherboard design. This has become true especially of late, with ABIT's introduction of its OTES-based cooling solution and their dominance in the Intel-based motherboard arena.

ABIT again delivers a clean package with a packaging system inside like their last IC board to keep everything included organized. The add-ons ABIT chose to include with this gem of a motherboard definitely do not disappoint. The IC7-MAX3 is an enthusiast's dream come true.

One thing is certain with this board, ABIT put their best motherboard designers on this one. The motherboard layout is perfect, especially with the cool looking OTES cooling system encasing the board's power circuitry. According to the label, the motherboard in question is a revision 1 board. Take notice that all the capacitors used on the IC7-MAX3 are manufactured by the noted Japanese semiconductor manufacturer Rubycon.

Morry's Thoughts

What can I say, I have a new favorite board. I was impressed with this board from the first time I laid eyes on it. The layout was well thought through, with no problem areas encountered at all. Not to mention the cool looking OTES cooling system. Some manufacturers put heatsinks on the MOSFETS to cool the power circuitry, but ABIT has taken it to a whole new level with OTES. I was even more impressed upon seeing the results of the benchmarks and subsystem testing. The ABIT IC7-MAX3 is definitely the reigning mainboard speed champ.

Without a doubt, this board truly takes the i875P to a whole new level of performance. Couple this board with an overclockable 2.4C processor and some decent cooling (either high end air or water), and you'll be seeing 300+ FSB out of this board without a hitch. You may have to replace the Northbridge cooler, but that's a minimal price to pay for the performance you'll see. ABIT has accomplished a very difficult task with the IC7-MAX3 as they have taken the very strong IC7-G and made it even better.

Kyle's Thoughts

One of the features that have drawn much anticipation is the OTES adaptation to a mainboard. ABIT gets major points once again for innovating mainboard features. The OTES mainboard adaptation is simply a great idea that is twofold. Your power system is now, in most cases, running cooler than it would have been and your case temperatures are most likely coming down. Good things that any enthusiast will covet.

If you have been looking for a great overclocking board with more features than a new luxury sedan, the ABIT IC7-MAX3 should very likely be your first look and your last when making a mainboard purchase."

For the full review, click http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NTA5LDE=

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