Supplied by Gigabyte
The KT400A chipset has yet to find popularity amongst motherboard makers. Gigabyte
was the first to produce a retail KT400A which was dubbed the Gigabyte 7VAXP-A
Ultra. We always look forward to chipset revisions as they offer improvements
and what didn’t work so well and perfect what did. KT400A offers a few improvements
but are they enough to battle the NFORCE2 motherboards? Gigabyte’s KT400A predecessor,
the GA-7VAXP Ultra, is a powerful and feature rich platform and is a hard act
to follow. The KT400A may be dubbed “the little chipset that could.”
The question is why?
Specifications
| GA-7VAXP-A Ultra |
| VIA KT400A chipset |
| Processor |
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| Chipset |
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| Front Side Bus |
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| Memory |
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| Internal I/O Connectors |
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| Expansion Slots |
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| Rear Panel I/O |
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| CPU/AGP/DIMM setting |
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| Form Factor |
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| H/W Monitoring |
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| Other Features |
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| Bundle Software |
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KT400A; Big names and little differences
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The KT400A is, more or less, the same chipset as the KT400 with the most notable
difference being FastStream64. It’s a very slick name given to the improvements
in the memory controller. VIA states that “FastStream64 Technology enables
the single channel 64-bit memory controller of the KT400A to out perform the
NFORCE 2 Chipset in 128-bit mode.”
This is marketing-speak for “we made the memory work faster with less
latency”.
Just like the KT400 the KT400A supports 200/266/333 MHz Front Side Bus and
200/266/333/400 MHz memory. Both support an AGP8x peak bandwidth of 533MB/s
and 2.1 GB/s of dedicated bandwidth for the GPU. Essentially VIA “tinkered”
with the KT400 Northbridge and made it better hence the “A” of KT400A.
Southbridge Technology
Gigabyte chose to adopt the VT8235 South Bridge chip instead of the VT8237
most likely due to availability reasons of the VT8237. The only difference between
the two is the VT8237 has integrated 6-channel Audio, 8 USB 2.0 ports, SATA/PATA
133 support and Ultra V-Link. The VT8235 has integrated V-Link (not Ultra),
no integrated SATA and no integrated 6-channel audio support in the chip. These
features are offered by other chips on the PCB.
The Ultra V-Link doubles the North to/from South Bridge connection from 533
MB/s up to a peak bandwidth of 1.06 GB/s.
The “CE” version of the VT8235 South Bridge chipset does include
6-channel audio but audio on the Gigabyte 7VAXP-A Ultra motherboard is handled
by the Realtek ALC650 Codec. Codecs and DACs are constantly improving and this
may be a reason for Gigabyte’s decision to go with an AC’97 audio processor
that is outside the VIA South Bridge. The VT8237 may offer even greater improvements.
What’s in the box?
The first release retail version of the 7VAXP-A Ultra is comparatively lighter
than the KT400 7VAXP-Ultra package. The install CD is an improvement as it offers
individual control of driver installation or an EXPRESS route that will examine
the system and automatically install the needed drivers. This is a handy features
for the less enlightened when it comes to motherboard setup.
The EXPRESS INSTALL feature makes driver installation from the
CD virtually painless. The software examines the system and determines what
drivers are needed automatically. A user may also install drivers manually.
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A SATA cable is included but no SATA to PATA converter.
The S/P DIF bracket features COAXIAL and OPTICAL connections
as well as the 1/4″ jacks for 6.1 sound.
A USB bracket features two additional USB connections.
A FIREWIRE bracket features two styles of connections.
Gigabyte continues to be generous by including a third 80 wire
EIDE cable for a total of three 80 wire cables and a floppy cable.
The customary backplane guard is included.
Finally a case badge sticker for those who like to fly the company
colors.
Not included in the review samples were paper copies of the motherboard and
RAID manuals. They are on the driver disk which doesn’t do anyone a whole lot
of good if they don’t have another computer to view the files. It is a distinct
possibility that retail shelf release will have paper copies of the manuals.
Touring the board
The first sampling of the retail Gigabyte board may be in for an immediate
revision.
There are no holes around the socket for mounting a waterblock or heavy duty
heatsink. Regardless there is plenty of room for the larger clip heatsinks and
only one stray capacitor MAY present a problem.
There are two fan headers placed conveniently at the top of the board and in
good position. PSU and heatsink fan wires can be kept conveniently out of the
way.
The KT400A version, Just like the GA-7VAXP KT400, only sports three memory
DIMMS but the PSU power connector, floppy drive header and IDE 1 and 2 headers
are very well placed at the top Northeast corner of the board. IDE headers 3
and 4 (on the Promise 20276 Raid Chip) may have been better placed nearer to
the bottom Southeast corner of the board.
The North Bridge heatsink features a removable brass-look faceplate.
The faceplate can be easily removed revealing the northbridge fan from Dynaeon
Industrial Company.
It is 40x40x20mm. spinning along at 4500 RPM putting out a whopping (sarcasm)
4.8 CFM at 22.4 dB(A). It’s a rather noisy beast for the CFM but 22.4 dB(A)
is very quiet relative to 80mm. case fans.
This is a very smart move by Gigabyte especially for enthusiasts. If ever the
fan should fail it is easily replaced by another 40x40x20mm. fan. Most motherboard
feature a custom fan which is impossible to find except by RMA to the manufacturer
or replacing the North Bridge heatsink entirely.
The sink is brass-look and upon closer examination looked like a brass coating
over a regular aluminum heatsink.
It removes by squeezing out the two diagonally orientated spring pins.
The KT400A chipset is revealed underneath.
The bottom of the heatsink was covered by a thermal pad which was promptly
scraped off and a thin coat of Arctic Silver was applied as a more suitable
replacement for overclocking. The thermal pad will not present any problems
if left as is. Of course if you are looking at it then you have to scrape it
off and apply new compound as you just ruined it.
Gigabyte chooses to make a pull-out pin style of AGP slot. It is this reviewer’s
preference for a lift style clip as those assist with the initially loosening
of a video card from the AGP slot.
Ram lifters will not present a problem of “bumping” into longer video
cards.
Below the DIMMs are is the Promise 20276 Raid controller chip (Raid 0 and Raid
1 only) and the SATA controller chip.
Just to the West is the South Bridge VT8235 Chipset.
Down on the bottom Southeast corner of the 7VAXP-A are the front panel pins
and the two SATA headers. Note that Gigabyte has gotten into the habit of color
coding their front panel pins which is far easier to see than trying to read
the printing on the PCB.
Gigagbyte has also included their DUALBIOS feature. This is a saving grace
if ever there should be a time where a bad BIOS flash occurs. A second BIOS
chip will take over allowing a re-flash of the primary chip.
Someone was thinking at Gigabyte when the PCI slot-based FIREWIRE and USB connectors
were included. The PCI FIREWIRE bracket is a single and the USB is dual. Why
is this a flash of genius? The 7VAXP-A features 3 additional USB ports and two
FIREWIRE ports. That means there will be a spare of each which is perfect for
connecting 5.25″ bay front media port.
Midway up the PCI slots is a funny little dip switch.
It isn’t the main power switch. It is, however, a setting for the processor
Front Side Bus speed. ON will give a setting of 100 MHz and off is 133/166 (266/333).
This could mean the board is limited when it comes to the alleged 400 MHz FSB
Barton cores.
It amazes me that 5 PCI slots still remain on motherboards with on-board LAN,
audio, FIREWIRE and USB. 2 PCI slots could easily be removed allowing for greater
PCB room but we are creatures of habit and we still shun boards without 5 PCI
slots. Apparently we are under the impression that we’ll need all 5.
The Gigabyte 7VAXP-A features S/P DIF in and out evidenced by the red and black
connectors.
CD IN and AUX IN are the black and white connectors by the topmost PCI slot.
The jumpers control front panel media port connections re-routing some of the
back plane audio functions.
The backplane features PS/2 mouse and keyboard, LAN, 2 x serial, 1 x parallel,
game port and audio (front) MIC and LINE-IN.
Behind the backplane is Gigabyte’s Achilles heal; the multiplier dip switches.
Many competitors have multiplier control in the BIOS while Gigabyte chooses
to put it on the motherboard itself along with an “oh so easy to read”
chart.
Sure they look easy to read in the close up images from less than an inch away
but can they be spotted in the larger shot. They are there just above the AGP
slot.
BIOS
The release BIOS is somewhat disappointing for BIOS features
especially for overclockers. It is important to remember that Gigabyte includes
the EASYTUNE4 software allowing for overclocking on the desktop. It’s a six
of one half dozen of the other affair.
Changing the CPU Host Frequency WILL cause the PCI/AGP frequency
to increase automatically at certain increments. There is no independent control
with this BIOS release.
Voltage control is also somewhat limited to percentage instead
of actual voltage.
AGP and DIMM voltage have only three choices.
The EASYTUNE4 does allow for fairly foolproof overclocking and
a GUI for system fan speeds, PSU voltage and temperatures.
Benchmarking…leading by a nose and trailing by a length
The Gigabyte 7VAXP-A Ultra test system.
- AMD 2600+ 333 FSB
Processor - Gigabyte
7VAXP-A Ultra motherboard - ATI 9700 PRO Video Card
Catalyst 3.2 drivers (Default settings w/VSYNC disabled) - 2 x 256 MB Corsair PC3200 DDR RAM
- Sony 52x CD
- LG 40x CDRW
- 60 GB Maxtor ATA133 Hard Drive
- Samsung 950p 19″ Monitors
- USB Keyboard and Logitech USB wireless Optical Mouse
- Globalwin CAK4-76T HSF
- AMK SX1000
modded PC case (window, fans, cables, loom) - Enermax 465 Watt FC PSU
- Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1
The CHAINTECH 7NJS test system.
- AMD 2600+ 333 FSB
Processor - CHAINTECH 7NJS
Zenith motherboard - ATI 9700 PRO Video Card
Catalyst 3.2 drivers (Default settings w/VSYNC disabled) - 2 x 256 MB Corsair PC3200 DDR RAM
- Sony 52x CD
- LG 40x CDRW
- 60 GB Maxtor ATA133 Hard Drive
- Samsung 950p 19″ Monitors
- USB Keyboard and Logitech USB wireless Optical Mouse
- Globalwin CAK4-76T HSF
- AMK SX1000
modded PC case (window, fans, cables, loom) - Enermax 465 Watt FC PSU
- Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1
The GIGABYTE GA-7VAXP ULTRA test system.
- AMD 2600+ 333 FSB
Processor - GA-7VAXP
ULTRA REV 1.2 motherboard - ATI 9700 PRO Video Card
Catalyst 3.2 drivers (Default settings w/VSYNC disabled) - 2 x 256 MB Corsair PC3200 DDR RAM
- Sony 52x CD
- LG 40x CDRW
- 60 GB Maxtor ATA133 Hard Drive
- Samsung 950p 19″ Monitors
- USB Keyboard and Logitech USB wireless Optical Mouse
- Globalwin CAK4-76T HSF
- AMK SX1000
modded PC case (window, fans, cables, loom) - Enermax 465 Watt FC PSU
- Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1
The ASUS A7N8X Deluxe test system.
- AMD 2600+ 333 FSB
Processor - ASUS
A7N8X motherboard - ATI 9700 PRO Video Card
Catalyst 3.2 drivers (Default settings w/VSYNC disabled) - 2 x 256 MB Corsair PC3200 DDR RAM
- Sony 52x CD
- LG 40x CDRW
- 60 GB Maxtor ATA133 Hard Drive
- Samsung 950p 19″ Monitors
- USB Keyboard and Logitech USB wireless Optical Mouse
- Globalwin CAK4-76T HSF
- AMK SX1000
modded PC case (window, fans, cables, loom) - Enermax 465 Watt FC PSU
- Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1
Programs used
Sisoft Sandra 2002- MadOnion
3DMark 2001 SE - Quake
III Arena - Commanche
4 - GL
Excess - Drone
Z - SpecviewPerf 7.0
- Unreal Tournament 2003 flyby benchmark
- Adobe Photoshop 7.0
- PS Bench
- Adobe After Effects 5.5
- SoftimageXSI 2.0.1
All tests were run at default video card settings with VSYNC disabled. Bios
was optimized for system but not tweaked for any performance settings requiring
specialized knowledge of overclocking. In other words the BIOS settings were
standard as far as anyone can set the time and date, ensure the ram is 2 or
4 way interleave and at CAS 2 and AGP is chosen as the first boot video card
(8x). The BIOS settings were kept as close to conservative or default value
or as otherwise specified. The ASUS A7N8X memory settings were set to OPTIMAL
and AGGRESSIVE as disclosed. Memory was kept at DDR333 settings for synchronous
timing with the 2600+ 333FSB processor. Individual performance will vary with
any particular or specific timings or tweaks enabled by you.
1024 MB page file moved to D: partition. Temporary Internet files moved to
K: partition at end of drive. OS installed to C: and programs installed to
E:. All programs were benchmarked at 1024×768@75Hz with the exception of SoftimageXSI
which requires 1280×1024 resolution.
All motherboards were test “right out of the box”. No special
BIOS timings were set except for the time and date, boot order and health monitor
features. The BIOS was purposely kept to the factory conservative settings to
provide a base comparison. From there is only up.
For all tests an AMD 2600+ 333FSB processor and two sticks of Corsair memory
were used.
These may result in lesser or greater scores dependent on variations in system
components and settings. Avoid smoking and excessive amounts of alcohol. Wait
at least 12 hours after scuba diving before flying or driving over 1000 feet
above sea level. Void where prohibited by law. No animals, especially my cat,
were harmed in the making of these benchmarks.
3D Mark 2001 SE
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The 7VAXP-A Ultra outscores them all except for its predecessor
at 800×600.
Codecreatures
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In reality this could be called dead heat but the KT400 Gigabyte
7VAXP manages to squeeze out a win by less than a full point.
Commanche 4
Commanche 4 manages to put the KT400 Chipset in the lead with
the ASUS NFORCE2 board edging out the KT400A 7VAXP-A.
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GL Excess
The same can be said for GLEXCESS as with Commanche 4.
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Quake III high quality
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NFORCE2 boards have the edge with the Quake III benchmark veteran.
Serious Sam
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Both the KT400 and KT400A Gigabyte boards manage to place in
the middle of the NFORCE2 pack.
UT2003 Flyby
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Sisoft Sandra CPU Arithmetic
The Gigabyte KT400A manages to squeeze out a win followed by
the KT400 Chipset.
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Sisoft Sandra CPU Multimedia
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Sisoft Sandra Memory Benchmark
The Gigabyte 7VAXP-A KT400A Chipset has shown definite memory
controller tweaks.
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Specviewperf 7.0
SpecviewPerf still grounds itself in the manipulation of 3D graphics
on a business application level rather than on a gaming performance level. The
KT400A and KT400 Gigabyte boards can be declared winners here.
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The following two tests are targeted mainly towards CPU performance and will
show if any “flaws” are in board design affecting the ability of the
CPU to crunch through the data. While in render mode the two test programs virtually
bypass ram and GPU.
PS Bench
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Adobe After Effects 5.5
Adobe After Effects is a tool to produce motion
graphics and visual effects for film, video, multimedia and the web. It is primarily
a 2D application using imported graphics or digital footage or self generated
effects. A project was created that was a combination of many video footage
files, resizing and rasterizing effects, text animations and multiple layer
effects. This “average” combination was felt to best demonstrate advantages
and/or disadvantages that a real world user may experience rather than isolating
and benchmarking a particular effect.
There is no official benchmark for After Effects
but tasks can be timed to show specific results. Rendering, or the task of building
and compiling frames, is mainly CPU intensive and After Effects generally bypasses
the video card and relies solely on the processor for speed. The time taken
to render 900 frames basically shows how fast the processor is working on the
given task.
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Softimage XSI can simply bring
any computer to its knees. It’s an incredibly powerful 3D animation program
that has the ability to become so complex that single processor systems have
been known to “think” for days when rendering an animation. Softimage works
on somewhat similar principle to After Effects. A faster and more powerful video
card will translate to a smoother interface where complex scenes can be manipulated
in real time. Note that Softimage does not have an interface to real-time preview
a finished frame as unlike After Effects. Users can manipulate objects in a
choice of views from wire frame mode to simulated real-time shading mode. In
order to look at a finished frame a user must render the frame to disk which
bypasses the GPU. A faster processor will result in the faster render. The amount
of RAM is not as great an issue as the user is working frame by frame and the
graphics card is doing the bulk of the work while working within the GUI.
This is a most basic overview and there are specialty
hardware components that can enhance the speed and interactivity of complex
3D scenes and programs. The designers working on the test system use Softimage
on a less complex level to provide enhancements and elements to commercials,
promos and station ID elements. Though their work is quite complex to some it
a far cry from that of special effects in major film productions.
Softimage performs its best on a dual processor
system and by far the recommendation for heavy 3D rendering is a dual processor
AMD system.
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The last benchmarks reveal that the 7NJS excels with 2D applications rather
than 3D followed by ties from the Gigabyte boards and the ASUS A7N8X brings
up the rear.
Overclocking and Stop the Presses!
The Gigabyte Ultra series of boards (KT400 and KT400A) feature dip switch multiplier
setting and Gigabyte’s own EASYTUNE4 overclocking software. The windows overclocking
interface may be just the ticket for newbies but veterans will most likely turn
a nose at EASYTUNE4.
Overclocking is very easy with the Gigabyte software. Just click until the
board doesn’t want to click anymore. The oddity is that Gigabyte boards seem
to be a few beats over the stock CPU specifications even when at default.
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There was something that caught our eye in the last stages of the review.
Whether TOP PERFORMANCE in BIOS was enabled or disabled, timings were at AUTO,
BY SPEED or 166-333 the base AGP and SYSTEM BUS settings were higher than default.
It was only 2 MHz on the AGP and 4 MHz on the SYSTEM BUS but that made another
75 MHz on the CPU.
EASYTUNE4 and WCPUID both confirm that the AMD 2600+ 333 FSB processor which
should be 2.08 GHz sits at a comfortable 2.13 GHz. It isn’t a fair default for
performance tests and may make the difference between the GA-7VAXP-A winning
and losing the benchmark race. We aren’t making any accusations but it just
appears odd that Sisoft Sandra, WCPUID and Gigabyte’s EASYTUNE4 confirm a higher
than expected “default” setting. (50 MHz higher).
We did manage to edge up over 2.3 GHz before the EASYTUNE4 told us “no
way” and rebooted back to the slightly fortified “safe” defaults.
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Conclusion
The Gigabyte 7VAXP-A Ultra could be
a diamond in the rough. The performance is on par if not ahead of NFORCE2 competitors
thanks to the improved memory controller of the KT400A chipset. The 7VAXP-A
Ultra is only one or two inclusions short of matching the 7VAXP Ultra. Gigabyte
continues to work with present demands and look to the future with SATA and
PATA RAID headers while most motherboards have either SATA RAID or IDE RAID
but not both.
Enthusiasts may shy away from the EASYTUNE4 overclocking features and Gigabyte
may stand to take a page from the lesson book of overclocking by increasing
the available control features in future BIOS revisions. The attractiveness
of a multipliers, non-interdependent AGP, divider and CPU adjustments will appeal
to the hardcore overclockers. EASYTUNE4 is more appealing to newcomers looking
for that easy thrill of extra MHz. Better voltage control would also be a benefit.
Gigabyte may be playing it safe but overclockers push the limits knowing the
risks so why not let them have their fun.
Audiophiles have the lure of optical and coaxial S/P DIF with the Realtek
ALC650 but, sadly, Dolby Digital 5.1 support is missing. Gaming enthusiasts
are at the forefront with Gigabyte but those who want DTS or Dolby Digital 5.1
sound for DVD are overlooked.
It would be remiss not to mention the problems encountered with the VIA chipset.
The 7VAXP Ultra Short-Media previously reviewed was a very stable platform but
there have been reports of VIA KT400 Chipset creating some frustration with
video cards set to AGP8x. The 7VAXP-A did stumble and for the first time we
encountered the same problems we had read about. The first review sample would
not run stable at AGP8x. The desktop would quickly and eventually freeze. It
isn’t a Gigabyte problem as many other KT400 boards have had similar experiences.
Gigabyte pulled another board from their production line and quickly sent it
to us. Happily we can report that AGP8x and the ATI 9700 PRO worked well with
the exception of a cranky 3DMARK 03 which would kick out to the desktop during
demo mode.
We can also report that all benchmarks were re-run with DirectX 9.0a installed
but with no improvement in scores. Results were +/- 1% of the DirectX 8 software.
DirectX 9.0a may have some visual benefits with DirectX 9 games but no appreciable
benchmark improvements to warrant its installation in the test system.
The last question remains is that of the “fortified” default settings.
Sisoft Sandra, WCPUID and Gigabyte’s own EASYTUNE4 showed a 50 MHz bump over
CPU defaults as the stock setting. If true it could change the entire picture
of the benchmarks in this review.
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To look back we are reminded of the KT133 then the KT133A days where the birth
may have been a little touch and go with each of the chipsets but in the end
the product rose to the ocaission and became immensely popular. Future BIOS
revisions may help the 7VAXP-A Ultra to become a formidable adversary to the
NFORCE2 as it already has a good start. The 7VAXP-A Ultra be a “diamond
in the rough.” Many motherboard manufacturers have yet to jump on the KT400A
bandwagon where Gigabyte has taken the lead. There is still the rumors of KT600
to consider.
Our thanks to Gigabyte
for their support of this and many other sites.
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