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DFI AD77 Infinity (VIA KT400) Mainboard



Like in many modern boards, the AD77 Infinity supports a great deal of interfaces which earlier could be obtained only with extension cards. Such integration reduces the total cost of the system, and there are also lite versions with some functions stripped off for those who don't need such. Today we have a preproduction sample in our lab. 

Accessories: 

  • Package of a new design; 
  • Documentation: user guide, installation manual for the IDE RAID controller - in English; 
  • Cables: 2 ATA66/100/133, 1 SATA and FDD; 
  • Bracket with 2 IEEE 1394 ports; 
  • Bracket with 2 USB ports; 
  • Bracket for the rear computer panel; 
  • CD containing: 
    • drivers;
    • user guide in PDF; 
    • system monitoring utility; 
    • McAfee VirusScan Online. 

The layout has typical drawbacks: cables coming to the audio-ins, power supply connector and some other connectors along the left edge will prevent proper air circulation and make difficult handling of some modules. It can be difficult as well to reach some jumpers when the board is already installed. Their functions are shown on the textolite. 

The 3-channel switching voltage regulator incorporates 4 capacitors of 3300 uF and 4 of 1500 uF. 

The following controllers are integrated: 

  • audio controller based on the chipset's capabilities and Avance Logic ALC650 AC'97 codec supporting 5.1 audio systems and having connectors for front audio inputs/outputs; 
  • network controller based on the chipset's capabilities and supporting 10BaseT/100BaseTX 
  • IDE RAID controller based on the HighPoint HPT371 and Marvell 88i8030 chips supporting RAID 0 and 1 on the ATA133 and SATA protocols; 




  • IEEE 1394 bus controller based on the VIA VT6306 chip. 

+2.5 V supplied to the memory modules in the StandBy mode is indicated with the LED; also, there is a POST controller including 4 LEDS. 

Non-unsoldered connectors: none.

The system monitoring is supported by the Winbond WT83697HF chip. What is controlled: 

  • processor voltage, +3.3, +-5 and +-12 V, VBAT, +5 V SB; 
  • speed of 2 fans; 
  • temperatures of the processor (a built-in sensor) and the board (a built-in sensor). 

There are 2 connectors for adjustable and 1 for unadjustable connection of fans. 

Brief characteristics of the board: memory slots - 4 DDR SDRAM; expansion slots - AGP/ 5 PCI/ CNR; I/O ports - 2 COM/ LPT/ 2 PS/2/ 6 USB 2.0 / 3 IEEE1394; dimensions - 305x245 mm. 




Adjustment can be carried out with: 
 


jumpers and switchesJumper to clear up the CMOS 
Jumpers for setting a FSB frequency100, 133, 166 MHz
Jumper for starting up computer from a PS/2 keyboard 
Jumper to select a mode of the CNR extension cardPrimary/Secondary
Jumper to enable/disable an audio controller 
Jumper to set a mode of the IDE controllerSATA/RAID
BIOS based on the AwardBIOS 6.00PG of PhoenixSetup of memory timings+CAS Latency, Bank Interleave, Precharge to Active, Active to Precharge, Active to CMD, Burst Length, Queue Depth, DRAM Drive Strength, Command Rate, Write Recovery Time, tWTR.
Setup of memory frequency+By SPD, DDR200, DDR266, DDR333, DDR400
Setup of AGP bus+ 
Setup of PCI bus+ 
Changeable scaler of AGP and PCI buses- 
Manual assignment of interrupts+ 
Changeable FSB frequency+100-250 MHz in 1MHz steps
Changeable CPU multiplier+x5-x12
Changeable core voltage+1.1-2 V in 0.025V steps up to 1.85 V and in 0.05 V afterwards
Changeable memory voltage+2.5 and 2.63 V
Changeable chipset voltage+2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8 V
Changeable AGP bus voltage+1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8 V

We used the latest available version of the BIOS of 02.09.2002. 

The board will please those who are going to assemble an inexpensive system with rich functionality and fine settings for adjustment and overclocking. 

Test results: 


 

Dmitry Mayorov (destrax@ixbt.com


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