uATX Results

[imported_Kreed]

As I had mentioned earlier, I ended up getting the Asus M2A-VM HDMI. My initial thoughts:

- Relatively simple installation.
- Drivers from Motherboard seem to work OK. I have yet to try the latest drivers from ATI because of all the bad reports from the Asus forum, in particular, bad reports about the Catalyst drivers versions 7.4 and 7.5.
- Relatively stable. System hasn't crashed yet.
- Undervolting works. I've been able to undervolt my AMD X2 3600+ to 1.1V. I haven't tried any other voltages.
- I haven't noticed the CPU fan speed changing at all, eventhough Q-Fan is enabled.

I am only using this motherboard for basic PC tasks. It's not being used for HTPC purposes, so I can't make any comments about it's HDMI capabilities or it's ability to play 1080p media.

It's also not used for gaming, so I can't comment on it's overclocking abilities.

The specs for my system can be viewed here:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/...viewtopic.php?p=348490

 

[JKing76]

Does the Gigabyte 690G uATX board (GA-MA69GM-S2H) come with or support s-video out? It looks like the full ATX, the S3H does, but haven't seen anything about the smaller board. Which would seem really dumb, to not put the s-video on the board more likely to be used as a HTPC.

 

[JKing76]

-bump-

And are the uATX reviews still going to start this week?

 

[FireTech]

Originally posted by: JKing76
-bump-

Nothing on Giga website but there is a Tweaktown Review

And are the uATX reviews still going to start this week?

We're quickly running out of weekdays but unsurprisingly, it was still possible to squeeze in another P35 article...

 

[JKing76]

Yep, that's the article that got me concerned, since it never mentioned s-video. Left a message over there, too, but no response yet (way, way less traffic than AT).

 

[yehuda]

Yes, the uATX supports TV output via an onboard header, much like the ATX board. If you look carefully at this image, you can see a green header to the left titled "TV":

http://www.tweaktown.com/popImg.php?img=g690l_4.JPG

The header connects to a bracket with composite, component and S-video connectors. I don't know if the bracket is part of the bundle, we'll have to wait for the final retail pictures from newegg to be sure.

 

[JKing76]

Nice catch! That makes me feel better, hopefully the bracket is included. I'm looking at this board or the ASUS 690G HDMI, but it's going into a very low-airflow HTPC and people are saying the ASUS board's chipset gets hot.

 

[Skott]

Looks like another no-show for the roundup. :disgust:

 

[FireTech]

Originally posted by: JKing76I'm looking at this board or the ASUS 690G HDMI, but it's going into a very low-airflow HTPC and people are saying the ASUS board's chipset gets hot.

I've only seen a couple of mentions, I'll know soon enough...

Originally posted by: Skott
Looks like another no-show for the roundup. :disgust:

Wow, is it Friday night already? :laugh:

 

[JKing76]

It's only 9am Saturday on Baker Island, Gary still has almost 15 hours!

 

[yehuda]

I've only seen a couple of mentions, I'll know soon enough...

I've seen enough to make me worried, I hope it turns out to the better for you. I should say however that in all fairness the northbridge's overheating hasn't been proven to cause system instability. At the moment it's more of a cause for concern to the conscious owner.

From the M2A-VM HDMI thread at SPCR forums:

• "One concern is that the northbridge heatsink gets burning hot." (johno)
  
• "[...] you can of course replace the heatsink with any clip-mounted chipset heatsink. Which it does get really hot without a lot of case airflow (to the touch, not to instability)." (Max Slowik)
  
• "I suspect that the 'underated' chipset cooler is the reason why this motherboard does not have any option to overclock." (mtavares)
  
• "The motherboard temperature is currently at 36C, yet touching the Northbridge for one second is quite painful" (Steve_Y)
  
• "As per almost everyone else comments on this forum and others the northbridge does get very hot imo. I have the stock AMD fan running full speed as its not too loud for the additional airflow it provides to the northbridge chip. It just seems a little too hot for my liking. I don't fancy replacing the heatsink but can't see hot to attach a quiet fan or get more air movement over it to bring its temps down." (NX3)
  
• "The NB heatsink burns to the touch, but ASUS Probe reports a dubious 37C." (yefi)

From the M2A-VM HDMI product page at Newegg:

• "Northbridge is hot hot hot - proprietary HS limits aftermarket options" (anonymous)

From this thread at NCIX forums:

• "[...] when I try to feel the tiny northbridge/chipset heatsink, it feels extremely hot. Hot enough I can't stand leaving my finger on for more than 2 seconds." (a_a)
  
• "I guess i'll have to replace the heat sync with something with a fan. " (Michael_M)
  
• "I checked the northbridge and like you said it was super hot, (not the 34 degrees the bios said)" (jesse_v)

So far only one person reported the contrary (also from the NCIX thread):

• "btw my northbridge/chipset heatsink feels pretty cool to the touch, reads 33C" (Surf-a-holic)

 

[JKing76]

Need to get these people an infrared thermometer. It'd be interesting to see how 'hot to the touch' and 'burning hot' measure up, and to test the accuracy of ASUS's probe.

 

[FireTech]

Cheers yehuda.

Unfortunately I'm currently half a planet away from my temp probe Jking76 but will try to let you know how it all goes. There's always the old glass thermometer

and it seems Skott was right

 

[JKing76]

Hey look, another Intel article.

 

[FireTech]

Originally posted by: JKing76
Hey look, another Intel article.

I started to make a comment in response and realised it would probably get me banned so.... :roll:

 

[deansdad]

Originally posted by: FireTech
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JKing76
Hey look, another Intel article.</end quote></div>
I started to make a comment in response and realised it would probably get me banned so.... :roll:

If it were to (get you banned) - that would be the final straw for me.

On seeing the -
"The uATX articles start next week. In fact, the rest of my June and early July schedule starting next week is dedicated to uATX articles except for a USB flash drive roundup. I deeply apologize for the delays, but..." comments of, now more than 11 days ago - I too, started to compose a response but bit my tongue for many of the same reasons.

Rationalized that there was, at least, (yet another) good faith response (and another group of reasons/excuses) and what would it hurt to cut just one more bit of slack?

I was out of touch for most of the last few days and returned tonight, hoping against hope, that I'd be proven wrong.....the roundup would be here - as promised.

The only thing worse than being proven wrong for being a cynic is being proven right.

Someone (too lazy and tired to scroll back and give credit) made mention of the fact that he/she felt "used" if things were as I described at that time.
I started to (again, too lazy) quote each of the "reasons/excuses" posts dating back to the original post of March 14 (now more than 3 months ago), which stated:
"The article is scheduled for April ??? (update this weekend), will be about 30 pages long.

Thanks!!!"

Edited: 04/05/2007 at 05:05 PM by Gary Key

Got frustrated with the long list of responses/promises/excuses that came in between and did nothing but continue to chip away at the level of credibility of the OP....

culminating in the most recent - (11 days ago, ie more than "next week")

"The uATX articles start next week. In fact, the rest of my June and early July schedule starting next week is dedicated to uATX articles except for a USB flash drive roundup. I deeply apologize for the delays, but.........."

suppose it's time for yet another round of "attaboy Garys!!!"????
or maybe another chorus of "let's give him one more chance"???

Where I come from, a man's word means something, trust is earned - not bestowed, and one who points out legitimate shortcomings is respected not banned.

 

[bpt8056]

I was disappointed as well to see that no such article was posted from Gary about uATX boards. To lighten up the mood around here, why don't we start a pool on when Gary will be publish the first promised uATX article?

 

[imported_Kreed]

Originally posted by: bpt8056
I was disappointed as well to see that no such article was posted from Gary about uATX boards. To lighten up the mood around here, why don't we start a pool on when Gary will be publish the first promised uATX article?

July 1st.......................................................2008

 

[JKing76]

I can't say that I'm mad about this; Anandtech provides these reviews for free, and I don't click on ads. But while I originally scoffed at people who said this delay 'hurt AT's reputation,' now I'm kind of curious. The fact that today, instead of the uATX roundup, we get -another- Intel/P35 article, in fact a retest of a board that didn't have any problems, just didn't overclock well.

Is it really far-fetched to think Intel advertisement could be dependent on a 'rearrangement' of article priorities? uATX is definitely the low-end performance to Anandtech's audience, the one place where AMD is still competitive due to pricing. Intel would definitely want to keep eyes on the high-end, where C2D is the undisputed winner.

 

[bpt8056]

Originally posted by: Kreed
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: bpt8056
I was disappointed as well to see that no such article was posted from Gary about uATX boards. To lighten up the mood around here, why don't we start a pool on when Gary will be publish the first promised uATX article? </end quote></div>

July 1st.......................................................2008

I'll be a little more optimistic and say July 2, 2007.

 

[Mr Vain]

Originally posted by: JKing76
I can't say that I'm mad about this; Anandtech provides these reviews for free, and I don't click on ads. But while I originally scoffed at people who said this delay 'hurt AT's reputation,' now I'm kind of curious. The fact that today, instead of the uATX roundup, we get -another- Intel/P35 article, in fact a retest of a board that didn't have any problems, just didn't overclock well.

Is it really far-fetched to think Intel advertisement could be dependent on a 'rearrangement' of article priorities? uATX is definitely the low-end performance to Anandtech's audience, the one place where AMD is still competitive due to pricing. Intel would definitely want to keep eyes on the high-end, where C2D is the undisputed winner.

You may be onto something here.
If you did not hit the nail on the head, you are probably not far from it.

 

[FireTech]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Mr Vain
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JKing76
The fact that today, instead of the uATX roundup, we get -another- Intel/P35 article, in fact a retest of a board that didn't have any problems, just didn't overclock well.

Is it really far-fetched to think Intel advertisement could be dependent on a 'rearrangement' of article priorities? uATX is definitely the low-end performance to Anandtech's audience, the one place where AMD is still competitive due to pricing. Intel would definitely want to keep eyes on the high-end, where C2D is the undisputed winner.</end quote></div>

You may be onto something here.
If you did not hit the nail on the head, you are probably not far from it.

</end quote></div>
Un-bloody-believeable, another Intel P35 related article and another broken promise by Gary! :|

Intel are absolutely getting their investments worth out of Gary & Anandtech, aren't they? :thumbsdown:

 

[petrob]

If you guys and gals (?) are sick and tired of Gary's empty promises and getting pushed to the side in favor of bigger and better (read Intel) products, I suggest we all flood Anand's email with protests and demand that the article be given to somebody else than Gary so that we can finally see it. One email each day from everybody until something happens should do the trick. Click here to contact Anand. Me first...

 

[petrob]

Done. Who's next?

Dear Anand,

I, among others, have been waiting for months for the mATX roundup article that Gary Key has been promoting and kept pushing back. I, among others, am tired of his empty promises and demand that somebody with, say, more interest in the product take care of the review in his place. I hope my voice will be heard and that many more will follow so that we finally see that #@$% article that's been so long coming and that so many people want to see. Feel free to read the threads below as proof of Gary's nonchalance on the subject.

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...word1=mATX+AND+Roundup
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...AR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear


Respecfully,

 

[JKing76]

It seems like Gary has been trying to get some information to us, so I don't know if he deserve any blame. If he's given the go-ahead for the uATX roundup, gets excited and tells us the good news, then has the rug pulled from under him when the Intel check comes through, that's not his fault.

If you're concerned about an Intel payola, email Anand about his own behavior, not Gary's. And given that today's article is an AMD-product review where the conclusion is "It sucks," being concerned is justified.