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Date |
: Jun 24th, 2002 |
| Category |
: Motherboards |
| Manufacturer |
: EPoX |
| Author |
: Jin-Wei Tioh |
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Following another industry SOP, EPoX integrated AC'97 audio. However, they took the extra step by choosing the Realtek ALC650 CODEC, which among other things supports 6-channel audio and has a S/PDIF output. Processing power has come to the point where the CPU time used by AC'97 solutions is for all purposes insignificant. With onboard audio already sporting many of the same features as dedicated sound cards, many people (including this editor) are seriously questioning the need for them.
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The 8K3A+ is also equipped with a HighPoint HPT372 ATA-133 RAID controller, which supports RAID 0 (striped), RAID 1 (mirrored) and RAID 0+1 (striped + mirrored) arrays. Quite a few other motherboards utilize the Promise PDC20276 RAID controller, which lacks support for RAID 0+1. If you elect not to use the RAID functionality, it could just as well double as a second IDE controller, bringing the total to 8 IDE devices, more than most people could ask for.
As with the 8KHA+, the 8K3A+ also sports the POST display that has won many fans. The 2 digit 7 segment display at the lower front of the motherboard cycles through various POST (power on self test) codes upon startup. If for some reason the system malfunctions, a POST code related to the error will be displayed, facilitating easier system diagnostics.
Rounding up the bundle are a multilingual short installation guide and 2 CDs; one with the drivers and utilities; the other with a full version of Drive Image and Partition Magic. While differing from the usual antivirus software bundle, they are still very handy programs to have around; Partition Magic to create new partitions, change partition sizes or convert partitions, Drive Image for creating backup images of your hard drive. The package also contains two manuals, one for the 8K3A+ and the other for the onboard HighPoint RAID controller. The manuals are clear and detailed, although explanations of the BIOS settings are not present.
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