Abit IN9 32x Max Intel Socket 775 Motherboard
Introduction, Packaging and Package
Published: 14th February 2007 | Source: Abit | Price: |
abit are a revived company recently with enthusiast eagerley awaiting their next board to come out. The AW9D Max had rave reviews from around the web and seemed to harken back to the awesome Max series of motherboards in the past.
The IN9 Max seemed to take even longer to come out that everyone had hoped. Based on nVidia's 680i chipset and bundled with more features than you can shake a stick at, the IN9 Max seems ready to go on every front. Will it stand up to the usual round of OC3D tests? let's see...
Packaging
abit seem to be heading towards gargantuan proportions with their motherboard boxes nowadays, especially in their high-end boards. When the package came through my door it was certainly impressive.
With a rather bizarre horse/dragon/cyborg covered in flames the box certainly is very striking and large. The top panel flips up to reveal parts of the motherboard that highlight features. The packaging is certainly large enough to withstand a bit of a beating and will catch most people's attention when on retail shelves. Some rather amusing "beast" references are plastered over the box but all of the relevant information is there for you to read about the board.
abit use compartments to store the huge amount of extras you get with the board. As you can see included are two extra-long SLI connectors and abit's PCI-e Wi-Fi card. All in all a very well organised box.
Package
The box includes a plethora of stuff for you to use with the board. In fact I was quite overwhelmed when I took a look inside those neat little white boxes.
Here's what abit have put in the box for you:
* 1 x abit "AirPace" PCI-E x1 WiFi card
* 2 x Extra-long SLI connectors
* PCI backplate bracket to secure SLI bridge connectors (see below)
* Fan mount for NorthBridge
* I/O backplate
* 6 SATA data cables
* Rounded clear IDE cable
* Rounded Black FDD cable
* PCI backplate with 2 x USB and 2 x Firewire connecters (1 x large, 1 x small)
* 1 x Digital Optical audio cable
* 1 x AirPace manual
* 1 x abit IN9 32x Max Manual
* 1 x µGuru Users Manual
* 1 x abit IN9 32x Max Motherboard Jumper Settings quick-reference sheet
* 1 x Driver & Utilities CD for abit IN9 32x Max
Package
The box includes a plethora of stuff for you to use with the board. In fact I was quite overwhelmed when I took a look inside those neat little white boxes.
Here's what abit have put in the box for you:
* 1 x abit "AirPace" PCI-E x1 WiFi card
* 2 x Extra-long SLI connectors
* PCI backplate bracket to secure SLI bridge connectors (see below)
* Fan mount for NorthBridge
* I/O backplate
* 6 SATA data cables
* Rounded clear IDE cable
* Rounded Black FDD cable
* PCI backplate with 2 x USB and 2 x Firewire connecters (1 x large, 1 x small)
* 1 x Digital Optical audio cable
* 1 x AirPace manual
* 1 x abit IN9 32x Max Manual
* 1 x µGuru Users Manual
* 1 x abit IN9 32x Max Motherboard Jumper Settings quick-reference sheet
* 1 x Driver & Utilities CD for abit IN9 32x Max
The IN9 Max is an expensive top-end motherboard and a good bundle is expected. However I feel that abit have gone past the call of duty and this really is a complete package. I'm sure there's something else I would have wanted to see, but I can't think what it is!
On a more serious note, it's good to see abit stacking up this board with all that an enthusiast needs. It makes you feel that your money is well spent, so good job abit.
On a more serious note, it's good to see abit stacking up this board with all that an enthusiast needs. It makes you feel that your money is well spent, so good job abit.
Most Recent Comments
Great review Kemp, nice bunch of packaging akin to the rocketboy type of stuffz. I do wish the µguru thing was more of a 5.25 bay thingy tbh. Last time I checked, retailers were ramming these devices down peoples throats for like £11 or so - which amazes me why u never had one in the box ?!?
I would hope these good results will boost a tad more after some bios revisions, board to board I`d expect this one to be a bit better than shown - but meh..
Kewl, I recognize some of those photos too
I would hope these good results will boost a tad more after some bios revisions, board to board I`d expect this one to be a bit better than shown - but meh..
Kewl, I recognize some of those photos too
Excellent review as usual mate. The 680i's are toasty little sods for sure, and it's a pity that abit didn't even provide some form of active cooling to try and address the problem. Well done 
Their answer, and a few other manufs answer, seems to be to add this ugly looking heatpipe structure to stuff.
Heatpipes are great, but I don`t personally like the idea of 2 or 3 of the hs being connected together.
Heatpipes are great, but I don`t personally like the idea of 2 or 3 of the hs being connected together.
2 or 3 connected together is fine, but that needs active cooling to work ok
Great review, Kemp, thanks for doing it as I was thinking of grabbing one.
Now for my thoughts...
DAMN DAMN DAMN! I think the 680i chipset is good but not the king, would really like to see the 975X (or updated chipset) that can support nVidia's 8800 series gpu's in SLI... and done by ABIT. ABIT boards look great, and with the exception of the EZ PLUG for added graphics power, I like their layouts; not to mention my AW9D was rock-solid, even using an E6600 @ 3.7GHz... my 680i mobo can't touch it, only solid at 3.4GHz or lower.
Like the EZ CMOS as well, no more dip-switch installations!
(newer mobos don't have problems like the old mobos after a bad OC, but it's the thought that counts!)
I personally don't see all the fuss over the passive cooling for the NB/SB. My case uses 4 120mm fans on the side of the case, so I get a lot of extra cooling... not to mention the little fan that came with my mobo for the NB, so I don't have a heating problem. I think it works fine, even without the little fan made for the NB; on the other hand, an enthusiast board should give the user the option to remove the passive to add active (fan) cooling solutions. The only thing I wonder about is the need for pipes from SB--NB--PWM... do the pipes really do anything for the cooling?
TJS
Now for my thoughts...DAMN DAMN DAMN! I think the 680i chipset is good but not the king, would really like to see the 975X (or updated chipset) that can support nVidia's 8800 series gpu's in SLI... and done by ABIT. ABIT boards look great, and with the exception of the EZ PLUG for added graphics power, I like their layouts; not to mention my AW9D was rock-solid, even using an E6600 @ 3.7GHz... my 680i mobo can't touch it, only solid at 3.4GHz or lower.
Like the EZ CMOS as well, no more dip-switch installations!
(newer mobos don't have problems like the old mobos after a bad OC, but it's the thought that counts!)I personally don't see all the fuss over the passive cooling for the NB/SB. My case uses 4 120mm fans on the side of the case, so I get a lot of extra cooling... not to mention the little fan that came with my mobo for the NB, so I don't have a heating problem. I think it works fine, even without the little fan made for the NB; on the other hand, an enthusiast board should give the user the option to remove the passive to add active (fan) cooling solutions. The only thing I wonder about is the need for pipes from SB--NB--PWM... do the pipes really do anything for the cooling?
TJS
Thorough review as always.
You might have mentioned that they definitely are actively working on an updated BIOS though?
you mean like http://www.abit-usa.com/news/2005/20050511.php ?
You might have mentioned that they definitely are actively working on an updated BIOS though?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='Rastalovich'
do wish the µguru thing was more of a 5.25 bay thingy tbh.
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That's the µguru panel - felt it should have been included with this board - would have certainly been a welcome addition
And yes I was going to put that in, but must have missed it out (twast 2.30am). I'll add it now
And yes I was going to put that in, but must have missed it out (twast 2.30am
). I'll add it nowbtw , I do believe that this is the world's first full published review of the IN9 32X MAX
edit: at least in English. Possibly done on a Japanese/Chinese site etc. where I would only be able to look at pretty pictures.
edit: at least in English. Possibly done on a Japanese/Chinese site etc. where I would only be able to look at pretty pictures.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='BUFF'
btw , I do believe that this is the world's first full published review of the IN9 32X MAX
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Come on Google, update that Index Edit: And in that case - Digg It
Very thorough review like always. Seems like a rock solid board, at stock 
Dugg.
Dugg.
Gotta love how 680i gets its butt kicked by 965/975
Great review Kempez. Awesome pictures, using your new camera I'm guessing?
Great review Kempez. Awesome pictures, using your new camera I'm guessing?
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Originally Posted by name='NickS'
Gotta love how 680i gets its butt kicked by 965/975
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='NickS'
Great review Kempez. Awesome pictures, using your new camera I'm guessing?
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only going to 440mhz max seems a bit low...
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Originally Posted by name='Praxis1452'
only going to 440mhz max seems a bit low...
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I've seen a screenie at 525 on 1 of the betas plus it seems to be overclocking Kentsfields better than the Striker/eVGA.
P.S. I put a link to your review in [H]ardOCP's forum IN9 32X thread.
P.S. I put a link to your review in [H]ardOCP's forum IN9 32X thread.
Just waiting to hear back from abit atm but I may give it another go on one of the beta's if they ask me too. May need a dedicated fan on the NB though as it's toasty: which I didn't do for the other boards (I hasten to add)
EDIT: abit said they've had 550FSB in the labs
EDIT: abit said they've had 550FSB in the labs
I'm inclined to believe that if the NB was cooled on the ABIT board like it is on the EVGA board it should do much better than 440FSB. I can't see ABIT putting out the smashing AW9D-MAX and then fall on their faces with the IN9 32X-MAX.
TJS
TJS
The AW9D-MAX does far from smash, I hated that board, and so did 90% of the other poor ripped off owners of it.
Hey, Frag, mine worked like a charm... didn't know so many had problems (other than Herr Schmidt). I thought a lot of people were getting some pretty good clocks compared to the 680i (don't know too much about the RD600 yet).
TJS
TJS
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='TJS'
I'm inclined to believe that if the NB was cooled on the ABIT board like it is on the EVGA board it should do much better than 440FSB. I can't see ABIT putting out the smashing AW9D-MAX and then fall on their faces with the IN9 32X-MAX.
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Passive chipset heatsink + extremely hot running chipset = ?
I find all this passive heatpipe nonsense very annoying personally. It wouldn't surprise me if it's cheaper than adding a fan, and that's the reason so many manufacturers are taking it onboard.
They build a board for enthusiasts, but the first thing enthusiasts do is rip off the nb cooling and replace it with something else (something that isn't aluminium sprayed in a copper colour).
They build a board for enthusiasts, but the first thing enthusiasts do is rip off the nb cooling and replace it with something else (something that isn't aluminium sprayed in a copper colour).
If only they would implement a decent 3rd party solution or even get a decent solution in-house
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Originally Posted by name='Kempez'
If only they would implement a decent 3rd party solution or even get a decent solution in-house
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