Difference between Abit IC7-G and IC7-MAX3 mainboards

[Ioman]

I am interested in purchasing either one of the boards, but cannot find out what the difference is between the two.

There is a $30 dollar price difference however. Any help would be appreciated.

[Ioman]

Only real difference I found is that the IC7-MAX3 has the SecureIDE™ feature: http://www.abit-usa.com/products/multimedia/secureide/

[llbbl]

what the heck is secureIDE ?

[Ioman]

Originally posted by TecknoGeek
what the heck is secureIDE ?

Check out the link I posted, it explains it man!!:D

[neuroking]

Also, the Max3 uses the uGuru software overclocking interface, which the IC7-G doesn't have. It also has the SI 4 port, vs. 2 port on the IC7-G, SATA Raid ability.

So, if you plan to overclock and tweak alot, you want the Secure IDE feature, or you plan on having 3 sets of Raid drives, the Max 3 is best. I have both my computers using the IC7-G, and they're great. Oh, and it's also worth noting that the SI SATA RAID chip is on the PCI bus (doesn't take up a slot, though), which means the PCI bus creates a speed bottleneck, so use the onboard Intel set first.

[Ioman]

I ordered the MAX 3, Intel Prescot 2.8GHZ CPU and Corsair 1GB (2 512mb sticks) of DDR 400 memory. Throw in a Radeon 9800PRO and this should be a killer gaming rig!

Just need to find a cheap gigabit router....

[BadAss84]

Originally posted by Ioman
I ordered the MAX 3, Intel Prescot 2.8GHZ CPU and Corsair 1GB (2 512mb sticks) of DDR 400 memory. Throw in a Radeon 9800PRO and this should be a killer gaming rig!

Just need to find a cheap gigabit router....

I had the same dilemma as you, and i went for the IC7-G on advice from a friend and also i was running a little short on money ;)

Either would have been a great choice imo :cool:

Anyways, i got a fairly similar rig to yours..

P4 3.0 northwood, 1gb (2x512) mushkin pc3200 222 special, rad 9800 pro, etc :)

Got it all put together last week, shame the PSU was faulty, :doh

Gotta get it RMA'd before i can get it up and running :P

[Ioman]

Originally posted by BadAss84
I had the same dilemma as you, and i went for the IC7-G on advice from a friend and also i was running a little short on money ;)

Either would have been a great choice imo :cool:

Anyways, i got a fairly similar rig to yours..

P4 3.0 northwood, 1gb (2x512) mushkin pc3200 222 special, rad 9800 pro, etc :)

Got it all put together last week, shame the PSU was faulty, :doh

Gotta get it RMA'd before i can get it up and running :P

Sounds like you have a killer rig. I wish that I went with a Northwood chip because after I got the Prescott, I read that the Northwood is faster clock for clock. And for the price I paid for the 2.8GHz Prescott, I could have gotten the 3GHz Northwood CPU.

I have an Antec 550watt PSU in my new system and I love it.

[BadAss84]

Originally posted by Ioman
Sounds like you have a killer rig. I wish that I went with a Northwood chip because after I got the Prescott, I read that the Northwood is faster clock for clock. And for the price I paid for the 2.8GHz Prescott, I could have gotten the 3GHz Northwood CPU.

I have an Antec 550watt PSU in my new system and I love it.

Yeh i almost went for a prescott but i read the same kinda thing as you, guess i got lucky =/

And 550W eh ? Nice :P

I got a 480W Thermaltake Purepower Butterfly, the one with all the flashy colours hehe :D

;)

[Ioman]

Originally posted by BadAss84
Yeh i almost went for a prescott but i read the same kinda thing as you, guess i got lucky =/

And 550W eh ? Nice :P

I got a 480W Thermaltake Purepower Butterfly, the one with all the flashy colours hehe :D

;)

I was just reading on the new Nvidia 6800 video cards and they say they recommend a 480w PSU and (2) PSU connectors for this card. That is crazy! It must really suck up the juice.

[BadAss84]

Originally posted by Ioman
I was just reading on the new Nvidia 6800 video cards and they say they recommend a 480w PSU and (2) PSU connectors for this card. That is crazy! It must really suck up the juice.

Yeh, need a 480w just to run one of the things :P

I won't be upgrading again for a good couple of years after this though, no need really, so i dont need to worry about that :)

By that time there'll probably be a new one out that needs a 600W psu just to run it :D

;)

[neuroking]

Yikes! That's alot of power! for the GPU. I'd be roto-tooling a vent hole int eh side at the AGP slot for sure. There's no way it will cool in a regular case.

Another note: I know the AGP voltage on both the Abit Max mobos tops out at 1.8V. You have to be careful, since some gpus require 3.3V, like the Asus Radeon 9800xt. Just FYI....

[Ioman]

Originally posted by neuroking
Yikes! That's alot of power! for the GPU. I'd be roto-tooling a vent hole int eh side at the AGP slot for sure. There's no way it will cool in a regular case.

Another note: I know the AGP voltage on both the Abit Max mobos tops out at 1.8V. You have to be careful, since some gpus require 3.3V, like the Asus Radeon 9800xt. Just FYI....

Hmm interesting. I am running a Radeon 9088PRO right now and there seems to be no problems. Maybe the Asus card is an isolated incedent?

[neuroking]

It's specific to the 9800XT. Will not work at all without the 3.3V agp opton. The Pros should be fine.