Biostar iDEQ 200T: Great Performance & Brilliant Design
by Wesley Fink on September 29, 2003 10:24 PM EST- Posted in
- Systems
Biostar iDEQ 200T: P4TBA Motherboard
| Motherboard Specifications | |
| CPU Interface | Socket-478 |
| Chipset | Intel 82865PE MCH (North Bridge) Intel ICH5R (South Bridge) |
| Bus Speeds | 100 MHz to 255 MHz (in 1MHz increments) |
| AGP/PCI Speeds | Disabled, Fixed at 66 |
| Core Voltages Supported | Default, +2.5%, +5.5%, +8.1% |
| AGP Voltages Supported | None |
| DRAM Voltages Supported | Default, 2.5 to 2.8 in 0.1V increments |
| Memory Slots | 2 x 184-pin Dual-Channel DDR DIMM Slots |
| Expansion Slots | 1 AGP 8X Slot 1 PCI Slot |
| Onboard Graphics | Intel 865G Extreme Graphics |
| Onboard RAID | Intel ICH5R SATA RAID 0/1 |
| Onboard USB 2.0/IEEE-1394 | Eight USB 2.0 supported through ICH5R VIA VT6307 FireWire Controller |
| Onboard LAN | Realtek 8100B 10/100 |
| Onboard Audio | CMedia 9339A 5.1 Digital Audio With SPDIF Optical In & Out |
| Onboard Serial ATA | Two Standard SATA connectors ICH5R |
As in any computer system, the motherboard controls the features and options available on the system. Comparing the Biostar SFF P4TBA motherboard to the SFF Shuttle FB65 motherboard or any recently reviewed Springdale, the Biostar provides all the features, memory timings, and adjustments that you will need to get the most from 800FSB operation. It also has the options for modest overclocks, but does not provide the kind of FSB range or AGP/PCI locks to take a 2.4C to 300FSB, for example. Since Biostar is using the 200W Enhance power supply, the available settings are well-balanced with the system capabilities. It is likely that Biostar would need to increase the PS to 220W or so in order to provide overclocking options comparable to the Shuttle or the top full-size 865 motherboards. Like Shuttle, Biostar does not implement any of the undocumented PAT features that we have seen used on some 865 full-size boards. However, the missing PAT schemes also do not affect performance very much. It appears the missing PAT also contributes to the rock-solid stability that we experienced in testing the iDEQ 200T.
We wish the small motherboards could find a way to use the 4 DIMMs allowed in the Intel 865 design, but Biostar setup the 2-DIMM slots wisely as dual-channel to make the most of the performance capabilities of the Intel 865PE chipset. While memory is limited to a maximum of 2GB, there are not many who would want to use more than 2GB in an SFF system. Most of the full-blown Athlon64 systems just introduced have this same 2GB memory limit — even with 3 slots.
In this view of iDEQ 200T motherboard, you can clearly see the 3 coils used in the 3-phase power design. One of the reasons that these small systems perform so well with small power supplies is the careful attention to power regulation on the motherboard. Like the Shuttle we recently reviewed, Biostar has also found a way to handle most anything that you can throw at the iDEQ 200T, despite the tiny 200-watt power supply.
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Anonymous User - Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - link
A 30dB box is possible, if you're very careful. Use very low-noise fans, be extremely careful with airflow, put passive sinking on everything possible, and maybe put some Dynamat on the side case.Anonymous User - Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - link
Great review. I havethe 200T and love it, SFF Tech has a dedicated biostar forum too if you own one of these boxeshttp://forums.sudhian.com/categories.cfm?catid=96&...
Anonymous User - Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - link
I think the dimensions of the box is important for SFF reviews. I can always go find em myself but It'd be nice to reference them from the review. Maybe even a size comparion between the Biostar and the Shuttles. Just a thought :)Wesley Fink - Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - link
#8 -You are correct, but the picture was to illustrate how the card slots are used on most SFF machines - not to point out a feature on the Biostar. I have changed the text to make it clear that the slot cage picture is a similar Shuttle SFF.
#10 -
I did test the SPDIF out with a Dolby Digital receiver and it works as it should. I did not check SPDIF in.
hirschma - Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - link
Some commentary from an iDEQ 200N owner...* I'd like to see confirmation that the SPDIFs function as listed in the review - in input, one output. The same was claimed for the 200N, and it was simply not true, despite Biostar's and many reviewers assertions to the contrary. Biostar ended up pulling that spec when I bitched about it (and did nothing else). Biostar does not stand behind its product in that regard.
* The box is very quiet, so much so that I use it as an HTPC. I did not do any scientific measurement, but it is simply not audibile from more than 2 feet away.
* The build quality is excellent, best in an SFF that i've seen.
* The stability of the AMD version is flawless.
Biostar is, IMO, building better SFFs than Shuttle, but due to their reluctance to address the SPDIF issue that bit me, I won't be buying any more Biostar product.
jonathan
Netopia - Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - link
The last photo on page 2 is in fact NOT a picture of an iDEQ box, but shows a picture of a the back of a Shuttle box and then describes (in words) the iDEC.Joe
Wesley Fink - Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - link
Benchmarks are only relevant as comparisons. The measured noise level of the Biostar is about the same as a Shuttle, which is considered the standard for quiet in an SFF.Measuring 4" from the center of each side is a carryover from earlier SFF tests done at AnandTech. That is likely the result of using test instruments with a threshold of 50db. Our new instrumetn can measure to 35db.
We will add a sound level measurement to future reviews from the working position - about 0.62 meters or 2 feet from the front of the SFF to the ear.
Shalmanese - Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - link
"We measured noise from the middle of each one of the four sides, 4" from the chassis."I assume most people are not in the habit of placing their computers 4" away from theirs ears. The biostar is about the same loudness as a shuttle which is pretty damn quiet.
Shalmanese - Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - link
It would be a good idea to hook up a good 500W power supply to the SFF to test just HOW limited overclocking is hampered by the 200W PS.Anonymous User - Tuesday, September 30, 2003 - link
Furthermore, 50dba is 10x the noise level of 40dba, correct, but your hearing does not work on the same scale. i do not recall the exact numbers but i think its quite lower than 10x