Monday, June 23, 2003

Additional features

One finds several functionalities on ASUS P4G8X among which a certain number can be used for the starting of the computer. WakeOn modem boxing ring, WakeOn LAN, Power One PS/2 keyboard or mouse as well as the automatic mode make it possible to start the computer remotely or at a preprogrammed time in the case of the automatic timer mode. Note that some of these functionalities require a power supply unit which can provide 1 Amp. At 5 VSB.

The 6 USB ports (4 of which are on the back panel), Suspends To RAM, RX/TX connector for infra-red as well as SMBus are available.

The monitoring of the hardware for the speed of the cooling fans, for the temperature of the CPU and for the voltages are available in standard equipment on this motherboard that complies with PC99 standards. The monitoring of the temperature of the power supply unit, when built-in the unit, also comes in standard equipment.

A functionality that I find interesting on this motherboard in spite of its simplicity is the intrusion through the computer case. This makes it possible to the owner to know if somebody has opened the case of his/her computer. Of course, I find this functionality interesting for safety reasons. However, the case must offer the necessary device. For example, a micro switch which makes a contact when part of the case is open.

Moreover, ASUS P4G8X incorporates a SerialATA RAID supporting 0/1 modes controller (available in option), a Giga/Fast Ethernet 1000/100/10 network card (available in option), 2 IEEE 1394 FireWire’s (available in option) and a sound card integrated into 6 ways (available in option) complement the whole.

Below, a photo of the ASUS P4G8X.

Installation

The installation of Asus P4G8X is so simple that even grandma could start it. Since there is no jumper to set it up, everything is done from BIOS. The majority of “the default” values can even be used just as they are. Of course, I am not speaking about overclocking maniacs. Offering several parameters allowing the adjustment of Vcore, FSB, and others, this board allows a great control ease to its user. But woe to the one who exceeds the limits! If unfortunately, one exceeds them, just turning the computer off and on again will make it possible to recover the “by default” values. It’s as simple as that!

Software bundle

The CD installation contains the drivers for the sound card, for USB 2.0 controller, for RAID controller, a utility for ATA, the drivers for the network card, the PDF Adobe Acrobat Reader document reader, the CD version for the users’ handbook, the Asus utility update, DirectX 8.1, Asus PcProbe, Trend(r) Micro
PC-CILLIN 2002, a utility to change the messages of the POST Reporter, an Asus screen saver and the eColor 3Deep utility.

Hardware bundle

The material accompanying the P4G8X includes:

2 IDE 80 conductor cables with format ATA133,
1 cable with format ATA66,
1 cable for floppy disk reader,
2 10-6 pin cables for IEEE 1394 (optional),
2 cables for Serial ATA (optional),
1 support on which is assembled 2 Firewire 1394 ports (optional), 1 support for the back panel of the case on which are mounted 1 pair of USB connectors and 1 game port,
1 support for the second series port and an I/O plate for
connectors of the motherboard.

Moreover, a support with SPDIF I/O connectors is also included in the audio version.

Next: Specifications.

Asus P4G8X