ASUS M3N-H/HDMI (NVIDIA GeForce 8300)
Author:
Date: 19.11.2008 |
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We already covered the topic of NVIDIA's integrated chipsets of the GeForce 8ххх series in the review of ECS GF8200A. So, in this review of ASUS M3N-H/HDMI we are covering only the basic distinctions of the GeForce 8300 chipsets from the models 8200 and 8100.
The characteristic trait of the GeForce 8300 chipset is in the integrated graphic core of 500 MHz with the shader unit frequency as high as 1500 MHz. In the core of GeForce 8200, the core frequency is the same, and the frequency of the shader unit is lower - 1200 MHz.
We also note a separate unit for the hardware decoding of HD video and the option of simultaneous image output over the digital and analogous channels.
ASUS M3N-H/HDMI Specifications
| ASUS M3N-H/HDMI |
| CPU |
- AMD Phenom/Athlon 64/Sempron with the bus speeds 200 (and higher) MHz
- Socket AM2+ |
| Chipset |
- NVIDIA GeForce 8300 |
| System memory |
- Four 240-pin slots for DDR2 SDRAM DIMM
- Maximum memory capacity 8 GB;
- Supported memory DDR2 533/667/800/1066*
- Dual-channel memory access
- Power indicator |
| Graphics |
- One PCI Express x16 slot
- Integrated graphic core GeForce 8300 |
| Expansion options |
- Three 32-bit PCI Bus Master slots
- Two PCI Express x1 slots
- Twelve USB 2.0 ports (6 integrated + 6 additional)
- Two IEEE1394 ports (Firewire; 1 integrated + 2 additional)
- High Definition Audio 7.1
- Gigabit Ethernet LAN controller |
| Overclocking options |
- FSB adjustable within 200 to 600 MHz in 1 MHz increments; multiplier adjustable
- Adjustable voltages on the CPU, memory, HTT, and the chipset
- ASUS AiBooster |
| Disk subsystem |
- One link for UltraDMA133/100/66/33 Bus Master IDE (GeForce 8300; with support for up to two ATAPI devices)
- Support for SerialATA II (6 links - GeForce 8300, with support for RAID)
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| BIOS |
- 8 Mbit Flash ROM
- Award BIOS Phoenix with support for Enhanced ACPI, DMI, Green, PnP Features and Trend Chip Away Virus |
| Misc |
- One port for FDD, one serial port, a port for PS/2 mouse and keyboard
- STR (Suspend to RAM)
- SPDIF Out
- Express Gate Lite
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| Power management |
- Wake-up on modem, mouse, keyboard, LAN, timer, and USB
- Main 24-pin ATX power connector
- Additional 4-pin power connector |
| Monitoring |
- Monitoring the temperature of the CPU, system, voltages, rotational speeds of the three fans
- Q-Fan 2 |
| Dimensions |
- ATX form factor, 245x305 mm (9.63" x 12") |
Package
Package bundle
- motherboard;
- User's Manual in English;
- 1x software & drivers DVD;
- ParallelATA and FDD cables;
- two SerialATA cables + two power supply adapters;
- a cap for the rear panel of the housing;
- HDMI=>DVI adapter;
- bracket for a VGA-output;
- kit of additional connectors.
The package bundle is on par with the board's rank and includes only standard items.
We note that the bracket with a VGA-output and an HDMI=>DVI adapter are rarely found in other motherboards, but for ASUS M3N-H/HDMI they are required items because only the HDMI is on the board among the integrated video outputs.
We found nothing to complain about the contents of the bundled DVD. The board deserved a "4/5" mark for its package bundle.
ASUS M3N-H/HDMI - board layout and features
The board's design has only one annoying trait - inconvenient positioning of the main power connector. Therefore, the cables are inconvenient to plug in. Also, the reasons for this technical solution are not clear because the board offers a full-length form factor, and free space gives more freedom to the engineers.
Near the CPU socket, there is a 4-pin CPU_FAN connector for a matching cooler.
Besides it, there is a couple of 3-pin connectors: PWR_FAN - in the bottom right corner, and CHA_FAN1 - near the main power connector.
On the chipset, there is mid-sized radiator:
Under the chipset, there are four 240-pin DIMM slots each for DDR2 memory modules, with the overall supported memory capacity being 8 GB.
We note that the board supports DDR2-533/667/800 memory with any processor, and support for the frequency DDR2-1067 is possible only with AM2+ processors.
Expansion options
The board uses a PCI Express x16 slot which is meant for video cards.
Besides that, ASUS M3N-H/HDMI uses three more "regular" PCI slots as well as two PCI Express x1 slots. Due to the GeForce 8300 chipset, the board supports six SerialATA II ports with support for RAID arrays of the levels 0, 1, 0+1, 5.
Besides, the chipset provides support for one ParallelATA link and 12 USB 2.0 ports. The USB ports are implemented in full: 6 on the rear panel, with 6 more plugged in with brackets (missing in the bundle). The board supports one more type of the serial bus. These are two FireWire ports which are implemented due to the additional LSI FW322 chip (one on the rear panel, the other - via a bracket). ASUS M3N-H/HDMI offers eight-channel Intel High Definition Audio, with the RealTek ALC 1200 chip used as the codec. Now regarding the network support: the board uses a high-speed Atheros F1 (Gigabit Ethernet) LAN controller connected to the PCI Express (x1) bus.
The board's rear panel has the following configuration:
Engineers at ASUS have given up COM and LPT ports, a PS/2 outlet for the mouse, as well as standard video outputs (VGA and DVI). Instead of that, the board uses an HDMI output, and to plug in a monitor over the VGA or DVI one needs to use a bracket or an adapter (both are available in the bundle). But there is neither a bracket for a COM port (there is support for one port) nor brackets for USB and FireWire ports.
Here is the traditional layout of the board:
Now on to the BIOS settings.
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