X-bit labs

ECS 755-A2 Socket754 Mainboard on SiS755 Chipset Review (page 3)

Category: Mainboards

by Ilya Gavrichenkov

[ 02/21/2004 | 12:59 PM ]

As I have already mentioned above, the support of all external devices and the corresponding features of ECS 755-A2 are implemented in the South Bridge of the chipset, the SiS964 chip: eight USB 2.0 ports, AC’97 audio, Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mb/s), Parallel and Serial ATA.

Four of the mainboard’s eight USB 2.0 ports are on the back panel, and another four are onboard. USB brackets are not included with the mainboard, so you will have to buy them optionally.

Sound capabilities of the ECS 755-A2 are implemented in the Realtek ALC655 codec. This codec complies with the AC’97 specification version 2.3 and supports new technologies for easy connection of audio peripherals (like Jack Sensing, for example). The audio driver itself identifies the type of the connected audio device and warns the user if anything is wrongly attached. The codec supports SPDIF, and the PCB carries an appropriate connector. Meanwhile, there is no bracket with additional audio connectors and an SPDIF output enclosed with the mainboard.

Realtek RTL8201 is a physical controller installed on the mainboard. It uses the abilities of the South Bridge to implement fully Fast Ethernet support (10/100 Mb/s).

Like other new-generation chipsets, SiS755 supports Parallel and Serial ATA interfaces. They are both available in ECS 755-A2: two ATA/133 and two SerialATA-150 channels are laid out on the board. The SerialATA controller of the chipset South Bridge supports RAID 0 and 1 arrays, so you can unite your pair of hard drives for higher data reliability or better performance. The SerialATA connectors on ECS 755-A2 differ from ordinary ones as they have a “curb” that protects the connected cables from accidental disconnect.

Strangely enough, ECS 755-A2 doesn’t support hot-plugging of SerialATA devices, although this is a standard feature written into the SerialATA specification. Anyway, this is a not a critical drawback. The capabilities of ECS 755-A2 mainboard end here. Every necessary function, save for IEEE1394, seems to be present.