ABIT announced that they would start shipping four new mainboards in the nearest future. Here they are:
- KT-20. This MicroATX Socket A board is based on VIA KT133 chipset. It supports AMD processors with 200MHz FSB. As for the memory, there are 2 DIMM slots for up to1GB PC100/PC133 SDRAM. the expansion slots include 3 PCI, 1 CNR and 1 AGP 4x. The board also supports ATA/100 (VT82C686B South Bridge), AC’97 sound. It doesn’t have ABIT’s brand SoftMenu technology that’s why all the settings can be changed with the jumpers only.
- KT7E. This ATX Socket A mainboard is based on VIA KT133E (this is a KT133 chipset manufactured with 0.18micron technology). It features 3 DIMM slots for the maximum of 1GB PC100/PC133 SDRAM, 6 PCI, 1 ISA and 1 AGP 4x slot. The board also supports ATA/100 (VT82C686B South Bridge) and SoftMenu III technology.
- SL-30. This FC-PGA/Socket370 board is built on i815E chipset and designed in MicroATX form-factor. It is equipped with 3 DIMM slots for up to 512MB PC100/PC133 SDRAM. There are 3 PCI, 1 CNR and 1 AGP 4x slots, integrated AC’97 sound, integrated graphics and ATA/100 support (ICH2). The mainboard also allows installing AIMM modules. Like the very first mainboard we mentioned today, this product doesn’t support SoftMenu and features some jumpers for settings adjustment.
- WF-22L. This FC-PGA/Socket370 FlexATX mainboard is based on Intel 810 chipset. It is provided with 2 DIMM slots for up to 512MB PC100 SDRAM. There are 2 PCI and 1 AMR slot onboard. The chipset features integrated graphics core and AC’97 sound, integrated 10/100Mbit Fast Ethernet controller, supports UDMA33/66. Again, no SoftMenu support.
Let us make a few comments on what we have just told you.
- We consider KT7E to be the most interesting solution among these four. This mainboard should come to replace a very successful ABIT KT7 mainboard. Taking into account that KT133E chipset is considerably cheaper than KT133, we believe KT7E also has every chance to sell at a lower price than its predecessor.
- KT-20 is an attempt to develop a Socket A product for AMD CPUs. However, wouldn’t it have been much easier to use a cheaper KL133 chipset? Though on the other hand, this mainboard could fit for PCs with a "Desktop" case.
- The same impression was made by SL-30. The only unclear thing about it is again the chipset. Why did they decide on the expensive i815E when there is a cheaper i815EP available? Especially since integrated graphics is very often of no use...
- As for WF-22L, we can’t hardly say much here. In fact, the launching of a mainboard built on i810 (not on i810E or i810E2) in March 2001 is kind of shocking. Especially since Intel is said to be discontinuing its i810 very soon.
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