ABIT BH7 (845PE): Entry Level 800MHz FSB

ABIT BH7 Version 1.1: Basic Features

ABIT decided to go with a fairly cheap LAN solution in the form of Realtek's 8101L controller. This fairly basic 10/100 controller should satisfy just about any user looking for a reliable LAN.

ABIT also went with Realtek for the BH7's onboard sound controller. The well-known ALC650 DAC is used in the BH7's case, and is simply a decent 6-channel sound solution for most users. Unfortunately, Realtek nor ABIT includes any user-friendly software for novice users to help in the setup of their sound systems.

The BH7's I/O configuration features two PS/2 ports, one serial port, one parallel port, four rear USB 2.0 ports, a LAN port, an optical out port, and Mic In, Line In, and Line Out, which drive the onboard sound. This is a nice blend of different serial technologies, especially the optical out port for those users that don't want to use the analog out.

ABIT uses a Marvell 88i8030 Serial ATA controller on the BH7; for a better understanding of Marvell's 88i8030 controller, we've taken a paragraph from Marvell's web site explaining exactly what this controller does:

By converting Parallel ATA (PATA) to Serial ATA (SATA), the Marvell® 88i8030 SATA bridge product allows hard disk drive, PC/server motherboard and storage subsystem manufacturers to use their current PATA electronics for fast time-to-market. The 88i8030 device interfaces to traditional PATA hard disk drive (HDD) controllers as well as to host chipsets running up to 150 Megabytes per second (MBps).

So with the single Serial ATA connector present on the BH7, you will be able to connect one Serial ATA hard drive or one Parallel ATA (EIDE) hard drive to your system. This, of course, excludes the Primary and Secondary IDE channels.

The ICH4 South Bridge, as usual, supports USB 2.0 technology. In total, you're allowed to enable up to six USB 2.0 ports on the BH7; four of those USB 2.0 ports are available in the I/O panel and the final two are available via a USB 2.0 bracket bundled with the ABIT BH7. This is a standard high-end USB package for such an overclocker-friendly motherboard.

Unfortunately no FireWire was included with the ABIT BH7 via onboard headers, rear ports, daughter cards, or any other method of connectivity. However FireWire isn't cheap and the BH7 isn't an all-in-one-wonder of a motherboard (though it is close), it's a value performance motherboard.