FIC AU13 nForce2-ST Motherboard Review
When we tested FIC's original nForce2 SPP
motherboard the FIC AU11,
we were extremely impressed with what
we saw but found to be "bare" in terms of features. Well FIC must have taken
our words to heart because their newly revised AU13 is much more "future friendly". With the nForce2 chipset
now mature and extremely stable, it's obvious that anyone contemplating
purchasing an AMD based system or new motherboard should only go with
nVIDIA.
nVIDIA
certainly
has learned a lot in a very
short amount of time considering that the original nForce chipset fizzled due to delay after delay. It's an easy bet that nVIDIA was not about to make the same mistake when the nForce2 (Crush 18) was released.
Even though
the nForce2 was delayed
a few months when it was eventually released, the chipset was heads and shoulders
above anything else on the market. In fact, nVIDIA's performance lead is so high
that even VIA's up coming KT400A chipset cannot match the nForce2 in
terms of performance or features - price is altogether different matter though. That performance lead over basically unreleased chipsets certainly says a lot
about the nForce2 which has already been around with us officially for six months!
Rumor even has it that nVidia are revising the current
nForce2 chipset for yet more performance. The new chipset is expected to be dubbed the 'nForce2 Ultra' and it will be nVIDIA's
last K7 chipset partnered with the MCP/MCP-T southbridge. If the rumors are correct the NF2-Ultra is scheduled to be
released in the third quarter of this year, perfect time to compete with VIA's KT600 which has already been spotted at shows like CeBit and Comdex.
 |
nForce2-GT |
nForce2-G |
nForce2-ST |
nForce2-S |
| Chipset: |
IGP + MCP-T |
IGP+MCP |
SPP + MCP-T |
SPP+MCP |
| Front Side Bus (FSB): |
333/266/200 MHz |
333/266/200 MHz |
333/266/200 MHz |
333/266/200 MHz |
| Intergrated Graphics: |
GeForce4 MX |
GeForce4 MX |
No |
No |
| AGP Slot: |
AGP3.0 8X/4X (1.5v) |
AGP3.0 8X/4X (1.5v) |
AGP3.0 8X/4X (1.5v) |
AGP3.0 8X/4X (1.5v) |
| 128-bit Dual Channel: |
DDR400*/333/266/200 |
DDR400*/333/266/200 |
DDR400*/333/266/200 |
DDR400*/333/266/200 |
| Max Memory Size: |
3GB Max |
3GB Max |
3GB Max |
3GB Max |
| IDE: |
Integrated ATA133 controller |
Integrated ATA133 controller |
Integrated ATA133 controller |
Integrated ATA133 controller |
| Firewire: |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Networking: |
Dualnet, nvidia networking and/or 3Com networking |
nvidia networking only |
Dualnet, nvidia networking and/or 3Com
networking |
nvidia networking only |
| Audio: |
NForce Audio Processing Unit
(APU)
Nvidia SoundStorm Compatible |
AC'97 |
NForce Audio Processing Unit (APU)
Nvidia
SoundStorm Compatible |
AC'97 |
| HyperTransport: |
6.4Gb/sec |
6.4Gb/sec |
6.4Gb/sec |
6.4Gb/sec |
Back to the present; FIC's AU13 takes over where the AU11 left off and
add's the ever important Serial ATA ports. Even with new enhancements, FIC have managed to price the AU13 below that of the AU11 (about $90USD) This is easily one of the least expensive nForce2 motherboards we've tested to date.
| fic au13
motherboard |
 |
Ships with the following:
- IDE ATA66/100 Cable
- FDD Cable
- Serial ATA Cable
- Serial ATA HDD Power Cable
- Driver CD
- User Manual
- I/O Back Plate
|
| Brackets: |
|
USB 2.0 Bracket
IEEE 1394 Bracket
Audio Bracket
|
In terms of onboard features the AU13 is pretty
well equipped. The motherboard has 10/100 LAN, 5.1 audio, IEEE 1394, USB 2.0
(four on the back) and Serial ATA. If you find yourself needing more, the AU13
has six 32 bit PCI expansion slots and of course the
lone 8x AGP port. The AU13 supports any current 200/266/333MHz FSB AthlonXP and
even the upcoming 400 MHz Athlon as per FIC's website
. You can also install up to 3GB of PC1600/2100/2700/3200* memory. (* with all three DIMM slots used memory can only run PC2700 speeds)
FIC, like Epox use a standard green-coloured PCB for their motherboards. Looking at the AU13, the first thing that caught our attention were the matching black Northbridge/Southbridge heatsinks. Since the Southbridge can generate a lot of heat during extended operation many manufacturers have been adding small passive heatsinks on the chipset as well.
Since there are mounting holes around the northbridge, the passive heatsink could be removed and a 3rd party chipset cooler like the Vantec Iceberq CCB-A1 or Microcool Northpole added.
|
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