Media PC components
Abit I-N73HD
| Manufacturer: | Price: |
| £44.64 inc VAT |
| Reviewer: | Review Date: |
| James Morris | Aug 2008 |
|
| Speed | 20/30 | 67% |
| Features | 41/45 | 91% |
| Value | 20/25 | 80% |
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Verdict: Not the fastest Core 2 motherboard around, but the features for a media PC are present and correct.
Nvidia chipsets haven't always been the first choice for low-cost micro-ATX motherboards with integrated graphics, but Abit's I-N73HD shows that there are a few reasons why they could be a good option for a media PC. This Intel LGA775 socket motherboard supports 1,333MHz FSB Core 2 processors, and has precisely the right blend of features for an audio/visual entertainment system.
Sporting Nvidia's GeForce 7100 integrated graphics with an nForce 630i chipset, the Abit offers passable 3D acceleration. This will power Vista's Aero and run older DirectX 9 games, but best of all, it offers PureVideo, Nvidia's hardware-accelerated video playback. Abit has integrated both D-SUB and HDMI connections, but not DVI, so it isn't great for connecting to a TFT monitor, although it's excellent for use with an HDTV in your lounge.
The basic features match all the other motherboards this month, comprising a single 16x PCI-E slot, a single 1x PCI-E slot, and two PCI slots. On the downside, this is the only motherboard in this month's test to offer only two DIMM slots. You'll be better off installing the maximum memory from the outset, or you'll need to dispense with your original pair of DIMMs to upgrade.
However, the on-board audio is top of the heap, comprising the Realtek ALC888, with 7.1 surround support and enough mini-jacks on the back for a full set of speakers. The Abit is also the only motherboard with an optical S/PDIF output built in, facilitating connection to a home cinema surround-sound system.
The Abit isn't a stunning performer compared with Gigabyte's LGA775 motherboard. It was 3 per cent slower at image editing, and 2 per cent slower at video encoding. However, the 16 per cent deficit at multitasking meant that it was 6 per cent slower than the Gigabyte overall. Clearly, Nvidia's memory controller is no match for Intel's.
The slow performance, lack of DVI and paltry two DIMM slots mean that the Abit I-N73HD isn't the perfect micro-ATX motherboard for a general-purpose PC. However, for a media PC destined for lounge duties and attachment to a large HDTV and home cinema sound system, it ticks all the right boxes. Given a Blu-ray drive and TV tuner, it could form the basis of a living room-friendly system.
