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THE BIOS:
On the Transcend TS-ABR4, we
found a very similar version of the Award BIOS of the
P4IBAD. So similar, that you may have a had time
seeing the differences in the below screenshots!
We did find one option that we
hadn't previously seen on any other boards to hit the H.H.
labs though. Take a look about half way down the
list in this shot, and you'll see an item labeled "CPU
THRM-Throttling". What this setting does is allow
users to adjust the percentage that the CPU with be slowed
if their processor gets too hot...which we thought was
very cool! (too corny?) The TS-ABR4 also had a
"Frequency / Voltage Control" section where the
overclocking options can be found.
OVERCLOCKING OPTIONS:
It was obvious that Transcend
didn't have serious overclockers in mind either with the
TS-ABR4 was "on the drawing" board either. We were
pleased to see that the FSB is adjustable in 1MHz.
increments between 100MHz. and 132MHz., but the CPU core
voltage could only be adjusted up to a maximum of 1.6
volts (again in .25 volt increments). Also absent on
the TS-ABR4 was the ability to adjust the AGP or DDR
voltage. We were however, able to hit the same
maximum FSB of 111MHz. with this board, which tells me
that without bumping up the core voltage 2.442GHz. may be
the max speed our particular CPU is happy with.
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The TS-ABR4's
Layout |
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What's to see? |
The Transcend TS-ABR4 doesn't
have a "flashy" colored PCB, like the P4IBAD, but there
are some other physical attributes that we were happy to
find.
The 5 PCI / 1 AGP Pro / 1 CNR
slot configuration isn't our favorite, but it is more than
adequate for most situations. Like the ECS board,
the TS-ABR4 had a basic heatsink mounted to the
Northbridge, but we liked the brushed aluminum look a bit
more. There are also two DIMM slots, allowing for
2GB. maximum of memory. Just behind the DIMM slots,
the IDE connectors are visible, but the floppy connector
is mounted further down, perpendicular to the edge of the
board.
ATX and other power connector
placement is better on the TS-ABR4. Its mounted way
at the upper corner of the PCB out of the way of every
other component. Also visible in the external
connector shot are the game and audio ports, because the
TS-ABR4 is equipped with similar AC'97 compliant on-board
sound.
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