ASRock Penryn1600SLIX3-Wifi Review Comment Thread

[SKYMTL]

In his reviewer debut, Eldonko has taken on ASRock's 680i-based enthusiast motherboard which is aptly named the Penryn1600SLIX3-Wifi. All in all it seems like a solid offering from ASRock...now if only they would get around to SHIPPING the thing to distributors.

You can find the review here: ASRock Penryn1600SLIX3-Wifi Motherboard Review

Enjoy!!!

[JD]

Seems like a fairly cheap way to get x16 SLI, but I think it's a bit late to introduce the 680i into their lineup...

I've never been a fan of ASRock's layout/design either. All the writing on the board and the ATX power connector is always in the most stupid place IMO.

One thing I would of liked to see in the review is a comparison to a reference 680i board or something to see if ASRock's BIOS is a better implementation or not.

Overall though, good review Eldonko, I'm sure your next ones will be even better

[SKYMTL]

Originally Posted by jdrom17

One thing I would of liked to see in the review is a comparison to a reference 680i board or something to see if ASRock's BIOS is a better implementation or not.

I would have too but at the time we received the sample, we didn't have a standard 680i mobo on hand and the two people I know who had them were in the process of RMAing them.

[encorp]

Isn't ASRock as subsidiary of ASUS? I guess budget boards means budget employees? I figured given ASUS' track record that if they were going to do a budget line/subsidiary they'd do it differently; I have no real complaints with this board - it's a budget one and you get what you pay for. I just think of all people ASUS might be able to do a project like this with more pizaz(sp?).

Edit: I'm wrong, I was googling to find out and it appears that ASRock is entirely it's own company and that ASUS dosn't like them much. Hahaha
Soo, scratch what i said!

[SKYMTL]

Actually, I believe ASRock was a subsidiary of ASUS until a little whole ago. Then the owners of ASRock decided to break off their ties to ASUS and forge out on their own.

I could be mistaken though.

[Eldonko]

Ah, my first real review /tear

Its a pretty good board overall I think, lots on nice features and such. The fsb walls are the limiting factor but if you dont need 4Ghz (a regular person doesnt heh) that is no big deal.

[3oh6]

very nicely done Zac, welcome to the bigs my friend

[Eldonko]

Thanks Jody, Im just waiting for yours to be posted so I look bad hehe. ;) Next one will be tested 100% on Vista 64, for vantage purposes.

[1Tanker]

Nice job, Eldonko. I have 2 ASRock mobo's...775DUAL-VSTA, and 4CoreDual-SATA2,and while not good overclockers.. they're a helluva good value. They are also very stable, and as you stated "do what they promise". I've had the 775DUAL-VSTA for ~14 months w/E6600@ 2674(no mods)... and no probs. Anyways.. back O/T, it looks like a decent board.. depending on the final price. The NB temps seem to be a serious issue , though a well-placed fan will probably solve that. I'm very skeptical of it running a QX9770 though, since your Wolfie topped out @ 400FSB... and the Quad would be far more stressful on the VRM's/MOSFET's.

Edit: Did it really take 1.35v+ to run the Wolfdale @ 3.6? That's putrid.

[Eldonko]

Originally Posted by 1Tanker

Did it really take 1.35v+ to run the Wolfdale @ 3.6? That's putrid.

Nah, chip does that @ stock vcore, I just wanted a little extra volts to test the vreg and heat.