Originally Posted by jopers1986 how would you say this mobo compares to the Abit Fatal1ty AN8 SKT939?
It wouldnt because the Abit is for AMDs, this is for non dual core P4s.
If you want something for gaming then a 4000+ at stock performs the same as a 4.2GHz P4. And can you afford a 3.73EE?
If you want it for workstation performance and general ultra-fast computing id definately go for it if i could afford it. But then you dont get dual core support, but you do get the potential of extremely fast single core use.
Bindi, why would a workstation want just one core? Many major workstation apps have a support for multithread. Single core is more for gaming nowadays, it seems.
Well, yes and no. Depends on the application and the intensity of multithreaded/multitasking. A workstation can mean a variety of things. There are still many applications that are single threaded.
Fair enough. I guess I'm just used to the idea of workstations being for graphics or CAD or databases and whatnot. Most programs for that now have multithread capabilities.
And 8 SATA2 ports is mad crazy. Would build a hell of a raid array, though!
Store lots and lots of DVDs? ;) And really it would depend on the raid array how much of that space was useable. It could quickly get cut down to only 800gb worth of actual storage if you did a 2x 0+1 array.
The fact that this board overclocks like a bat out of hell on the stock Intel heatsink is a surprise in and of itself; the fact that it has been made by ECS makes this astounding. Perhaps we will be seeing ECS make a rise like that of DFI did in the past. I just hope that they get better aesthetic tastes :D
I think if they see more people buying their stuff they will probably take more care when it comes to aesthetics. So far they seem to be used a lot in systems sold at stores like Fry's and such. The comp my parents bought uses an ECS micro ATX board. None of these comps are built for enthusiasts who care about these types of things.
I just cannot see how this type of hardware will ever really be a "workstation".
Then again it depends on how you would define the term "workstation"! I would love know which companies would allocate funds for Dual Core based workstations. Such companies obviously exist but they are so specialised. This type of hardware just always seems to stay mainly at enthusiast level. It will become mainstream but not for a very long time.
Most companies are running horribly out-dated hardware, and the cost of upgrading to Dual Core systems is just too great. Would be nice though!
i have have just bought the extreme PF21 mb.and am having trouble installing winXP on a sata drive,it detects ok in the bios and i have formatted it ntfs.i have tried to copy the drivers from the cd to floppy but when i pressF6 to load driver i keep getting error messages.i have tried using silicon_v10033 drivers and they get me to the choose which drive,but windows does not see any drives.this is driving me nuts.i need sis 180 sata drivers.any help would be gratefull.
Don't know why everyone is surprised about ECS making a good board, yes they have never catered for overclockers/enthusiast before, but they have always made decent cheap stable mobo's.
i have tried useing the 4 intel ports,but it does not show the drive when i startup.is there something in the bios that i need to change
Hi there,
Have you disabled the RAID options? I've not personally used the ECS PF21, but it should follow the same format as any other board with native SATA ports that don't require drivers.
There should be something in BIOS relating to SATA RAID configuration. You need to disable all RAID options and the SATA ports will function as normal IDE ports.
What drive exactly? If it's a WD then you need to format it from when after it's been detected. Sometimes my raptor plays funny bugger and needs a low level format :/
Definately try to get it to recognise it off the intel SATA ports not the SIS ones. The silicon image drivers wont work with a SIS controller. Check your harddisk SATA cable too - try another? Or do what Bigz said and check you havent set it to RAID or ACHI instead of normal SATA.
Hi
there is no raid options in the bios.i have disabled on-chip serial ata.i have 4 intel ports and 2 sis ports,i can only see hd on sis ports.so cable must be ok.its a seagate 250gig drive,and i have formatted it ntfs.i have tried all 4 intel ports with no luck.it looks like i might have use an ide drive.
So, when you connect the SATA drive to the Intel SATA ports it doesnt show up in the BIOS as connected? Ie: plug it into the intel ports and hit delete when it's booting to go into the BIOS (i dont know your level of computational experience here so im telling you everything), then go into the first option on the left - it should show up there if i can remember the BIOS correctly. IDE 1/2 (or 0/1 depending on how they name it) then SATA 1/2/3/4 (or they may go 3/4/5/6 if they carry on from IDE), either way it should list your drive there. If it doesnt there's a problem with the port.
Sure your power cable to your SATA drive is all correct and your PSU has enough power? Otherwise id RMA the board, sounds like you got unlucky :/
i managed to get the intel ports to work.in the bios under on-board serial ata there are a few different options, i had it set to auto,i changed it to combined mode and it then detected the drive on the intel sata port.windows loaded now.im no expert.i dont know that much about sata drives,would it benefit me to use the sis ports,or are they all the same data rate.i am trying to build a media center.i just have to sort out the Wi Fi and tv card,more problems i expect.Thanks for everyone`s advice
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ReplyLet me just breath here a little...:o
'doc
It wouldnt because the Abit is for AMDs, this is for non dual core P4s.
If you want something for gaming then a 4000+ at stock performs the same as a 4.2GHz P4. And can you afford a 3.73EE?
If you want it for workstation performance and general ultra-fast computing id definately go for it if i could afford it. But then you dont get dual core support, but you do get the potential of extremely fast single core use.
The Asus Intel boards for 955X have 8 SATA2 now.
And 8 SATA2 ports is mad crazy. Would build a hell of a raid array, though!
Then again it depends on how you would define the term "workstation"! I would love know which companies would allocate funds for Dual Core based workstations. Such companies obviously exist but they are so specialised. This type of hardware just always seems to stay mainly at enthusiast level. It will become mainstream but not for a very long time.
Most companies are running horribly out-dated hardware, and the cost of upgrading to Dual Core systems is just too great. Would be nice though!
Oh sorry....Nice Review ;)
Hmm, yea, but Asus boards usually cost 150% more, like DFI.
i have tried useing the 4 intel ports,but it does not show the drive when i startup.is there something in the bios that i need to change
Have you disabled the RAID options? I've not personally used the ECS PF21, but it should follow the same format as any other board with native SATA ports that don't require drivers.
There should be something in BIOS relating to SATA RAID configuration. You need to disable all RAID options and the SATA ports will function as normal IDE ports.
Hope that helps.
Definately try to get it to recognise it off the intel SATA ports not the SIS ones. The silicon image drivers wont work with a SIS controller. Check your harddisk SATA cable too - try another? Or do what Bigz said and check you havent set it to RAID or ACHI instead of normal SATA.
there is no raid options in the bios.i have disabled on-chip serial ata.i have 4 intel ports and 2 sis ports,i can only see hd on sis ports.so cable must be ok.its a seagate 250gig drive,and i have formatted it ntfs.i have tried all 4 intel ports with no luck.it looks like i might have use an ide drive.
Sure your power cable to your SATA drive is all correct and your PSU has enough power? Otherwise id RMA the board, sounds like you got unlucky :/
i managed to get the intel ports to work.in the bios under on-board serial ata there are a few different options, i had it set to auto,i changed it to combined mode and it then detected the drive on the intel sata port.windows loaded now.im no expert.i dont know that much about sata drives,would it benefit me to use the sis ports,or are they all the same data rate.i am trying to build a media center.i just have to sort out the Wi Fi and tv card,more problems i expect.Thanks for everyone`s advice
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