X-bit labs

ATI Radeon Xpress 200P for Overclockers: Sapphire PURE Innovation PI-A9RX480 Mainboard Review (page 8)

Category: Mainboards

by Ilya Gavrichenkov

[ 09/02/2005 | 10:27 AM ]

PCB Design

The PCB design of Sapphire PURE Innovation PI-A9RX480 mainboard is also as ambiguous as its features. In the first place I should definitely say a few great words about the exterior looks of this product. The mainboard manufacturers have always tried to surprise us with the PCB colors of their solutions. However, we have never come a cross a mainboard of the same color as Sapphire PURE Innovation PI-A9RX480. So, Sapphire definitely wins a point for highly original and unique color design and creativity. Their Sapphire PURE Innovation PI-A9RX480 is white.

All the notes on the PCB are made in red, and the connectors and slots on the PCB are red, too. So, even the color of the board indicates what camp it belongs to: ATI. The bottom side of the PCB is as patriotic as its front: it is white with a big red logo pf the manufacturers.

Since we started with the looks, it would be nice to mention that the mainboard carries a few red LEDs onboard, too, which light up when the board is working. The board is equipped with LEDs signaling if there is power when the board is on, and five LEDs indicating activity of different ATA channels. Besides, there are another five LEDs next to the processor Socket 939, which light up according to the VID bits status setting the nominal CPU voltage during system operation. Besides the aesthetic looks, these LEDs will make it very easy to indicate when the CPU has gone into a power saving work mode activated by Cool’n’Quiet technology.

So, Sapphire PURE Innovation PI-A9RX480 looks very nice when it is working.