DFI AK75-EC Motherboard Review

Author : Wayne Date : 1st May 2001

3DVelocity would like to thank DFI and especially Eliza (Huang Yi-Chin) for their help and courtesy in providing this motherboard for review.

Features Cont :

If you're looking for a board to overclock, the AK75 offers a host of options, but may be a bit limiting for the advanced overclocker. Multiplier adjustments range from 5x to 12.5x, with an "AUTO" setting for those who'd rather not tinker. All multiplier adjustments are made using the on-board dip switch.

Available FSB settings are good, but they don't offer the 1MHz increments that many overclockers crave. The settings are :
90, 95, 100, 101, 102, 103, 105, 107, 109, 110, 111, 113, 115, 117, 120, 125 and 130 MHz. Switching a jumper on the motherboard then gives you further options all the way up to 160MHz, though unfortunately again they are not in 1MHz increments.
Vcore can also be set from 1.500 to 1.850 volts in 0.025v increments.

 

Flexibility:

UPGRADEABILITY, the buzzword of the mid 90's, is a word that people have learnt to accept with a pinch of salt. Despite the hyped claims that the PC was the platform to buy because it allowed you to simply slot in new technology as it emerged, it rapidly lost credibility as manufacturers began to switch form factors. CPU's went from socket to slot to socket again. Memory moved from 30 pins to 72 pins to 168 pins and now to 184 pins with the introduction of DDR. Vesa local bus lost out to PCI, which in turn lost out to AGP for graphics card use. So, all in all, there's no such thing as the future-proof PC, however, that doesn't mean that a little extra can't be built in to safeguard your investment in the short term. By using the KT133A chipset, DFI has immediately added to the lifespan of the AK75. The support for 133MHz (266MHz) FSB means that the newer Athlons can be slotted straight in and you'll see immediate performance benefits. The use of a more expensive 3 phase power schematic also means that this board should have the balls to cope with an increasing hunger for power from later CPUs without stressing components or generating too much heat, and the boards multiplier support right up to 12.5x gives a theoretical limit of 1.6GHz using a 133MHz FSB. While I can't promise this board will take the latest peripherals and processors in twelve months time, I think it's fair to say that DFI have taken all the steps available to them at the moment to build a little headroom in.

Voltage Handling :

This is one area where DFI have pulled out all the stops. The AK75 has a more expensive 3 phase power arrangement which gives increased flexibility as CPUs begin to demand more and more juice to keep them happy.

In a nutshell, the power to the cpu is split into three separate circuits, with each handling a third of the load. In doing this, less stress is placed on the individual components in each circuit, and also less heat is generated. Also, each circuit has a little more headroom for increased voltages than would a single line, meaning power hungry CPU's get a cleaner more stable supply. Most motherboards ship with a two phase arrangement, and DFI's inclusion of the three phase option should make this board an excellent candidate for AMD's Palomino processor.
Another power feature which I believe is a first, is the ability to divert power from the 5 volt circuit to the 3.3 volt circuit if it becomes unstable for any reason, ensuring maximum stability at all times.

Design and Layout:

At 30.5cm (l) by 22cm(w), the AK75 is actually a touch wider than my current motherboard, MSI's K7T Pro-2A.

As you can see, the layout of the two boards is quite different with MSI's KT133 based board opting for the power connector nearer the edge of the board, a practise that scores well with many reviewers, but which makes little practical difference in real terms. It does make it easier too keep your cables clear of the Heatsink/fan, but it's nothing a cable tie won't cure. DFI's arrangement does make for more space around the socket for fitting larger coolers, but it also creates a slight problem too.

Where this arrangement falls flat is when it comes to levering the clip of your HSF into place. Installing my ThermoEngine proved just about impossible with the RAM in place, or at least the bank nearest the socket. The only way I could get the angle on my screwdriver to locate the ThermoEngine's retaining clip was to remove the memory from the nearest bank.

You can see from the image above just how little space there was between the HSF clip and the memory.

DFI also decided to use the sturdier (but harder to grip) metal release lever on the socket. As I said in a previous review, I've never had any problem with the plastic levers, but I have heard tales of people somehow breaking them. If you can't release the lever without breaking it, maybe you shouldn't be in your case in the first place!

It's nice to find the four mounting holes included on the board, a sure plus point for anyone planning to bolt on a water block or custom cooling solution. The green blob in the centre there is the sensor for CPU temperature.

After Sales Support:

As I've never had to use this, I'm not the best person to judge it, but I can say that in dealing with DFI, they have really knocked themselves out to provide as much help as possible, even phoning specially to see if I had any problems they could help with while I was conducting the review. If their treatment of 3DVelocity is anything to go by, then they are without doubt a caring and professional company who hold their customers in the highest regard. As for their website, it not only looks classy, it offers plenty of information, and all the drivers and downloads you'd expect from a world class player.

Price:

This is another big selling point for the AK75. Despite its strong feature set and quality components, this board comes in at a price that makes it an extrememly tempting proposition. As a rough guide, I hopped over to TC Computers and took a selection of popular motherboard prices for comparison. Here's how it shaped up.

Motherboard	Chipset	Price ($)
Abit KT7A	KT133A / 686B	140.99
AOpen AK73 Pro	KT133 / 686B	129.99
Asus A7V133	KT133A / 686B	156.99
Microstar K7T Turbo-R	KT133A / 686B	136.99
Microstar K7T Pro 2-A	KT133 / 686B	118.99
Soyo SY-K7VTA-B	KT133 / 686A	120.99
DFI AK-75EC	KT133A / 686B	103.99

A clear price advantage, even over older motherboards still using the KT133 with the 686A Southbridge like the Soyo SY-K7VTA-B.

 

page4 Testing and Conclusion>>>

 

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