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Hardware Universal Abit First Out the Door With HDMI Motherboard
Kristopher Kubicki (Blog) - May 11, 2006 12:11 AM

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35 comment(s) - last by Oscarine.. on May 19 at 11:14 AM

The IL-80MV features both 15-pin analog and HDMI output

The ultimate small form factor dream is finally realized

We just got word from Universal Abit that the company is on its way to unveil the first HDMI certified motherboard. The motherboard, dubbed Abit IL-80MV, is a 945GT motherboard designed specifically for Yonah (and eventually Merom).

The motherboard features a 667MHz front side bus and the ICH7m-DH southbridge. A Core 2 Duo (Merom) processor is capable of taking advantage of the full DDR2 533MHz bus as well. Firewire, dual SATA 3.0Gbps interfaces and optical HDA input/outputs are all standard on the IL-80MV. Of course, the news shocker is that this motherboard features 15-pin D-sub analog and HDMI video out. With the AACS decoder, the HDMI output will support HDCP signals -- making it perfect for a Vista-compatible display or a high definition TV.

Most non-HTPC features have been removed on this motherboard, such as a PEG interface. The motherboard does feature a single PCIe x1 lane device, which might make sense for an HDTV Wonder or WiFi adaptor. The final board revision will feature a special OTES cooling solution that is not featured in the preliminary photos we have so far.

Universal Abit employees tell us the motherboard is in the final phases of getting AACS certification from Silicon Image. The board is expected to enter into mass production this June, with retail availability that same month. A price for the motherboard has not been set yet, but it is expected to retail on the lower end of 945GT motherboards since most features, like a PCIe x16 adaptor, are not present.

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PS/2, please die already

By ninjit on 5/11/2006 1:34:30 AM , Rating: 3

Why the hell do companies still put PS/2 ports on their motherboards?

It's high time we moved away from legacy ports completely.
And for those who still need em, you can always get a cheap PS/2 to USB adpater.

RE: PS/2, please die already

By Bladen on 5/11/2006 2:24:10 AM , Rating: 2

So you can have more free USB ports.

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RE: PS/2, please die already

By Tyler 86 on 5/11/2006 8:42:55 AM , Rating: 1

You can fit 4 or 5 USB ports in the place of 2 PS/2 ports.

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RE: PS/2, please die already

By George Powell on 5/11/2006 9:02:30 AM , Rating: 2

My keyboard doesn't work with one of these adapters, and it's not that old.

Last time I looked I had 5 USB devices attached directly to the PC and a further 4 on the hub on my monitor.

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RE: PS/2, please die already

By dnd728 on 5/11/2006 1:18:30 PM , Rating: 2

You're getting a Dell, dude! ;)

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RE: PS/2, please die already

By Trisped on 5/11/2006 1:49:30 PM , Rating: 3

PS2 is static in BIOS, so you have to have the interrupts for it weather it is there or not.
It is also more stable. I have used many USB mice and keyboards and sometimes the OS drops them, sometimes they drop themselves, sometimes a game bogs down your system and the IRQ is not capable of over coming it. You also don't want to bog down your mouse connection while you are playing an FPS with a USB drive or some other peripheral increasing the latency.

PS2 is quick, cheep, easy, safe, and until we replace BIOS, here to stay.

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RE: PS/2, please die already

By Wwhat on 5/11/2006 9:51:13 PM , Rating: 2

Safe is a controversial remark, ps/2 can fry your mobo if they didn't protect the ps/2 ports, and many mobo's don't.

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RE: PS/2, please die already

By Oscarine on 5/19/2006 11:14:50 AM , Rating: 2

I agree I bought a Abit Max whatever board ages ago that was legacy free and surprise.. I've never thought to myself.. gee I'm missing that PS/2 or Serial port right now

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Another ugly motherboard from ABIT

By toattett on 5/11/2006 9:04:19 PM , Rating: 2

Somehow I am finding ABIT motherboard very ugly too look at. The components, the PCB etc.

RE: Another ugly motherboard from ABIT

By bigboxes on 5/11/2006 11:42:46 PM , Rating: 5

Girl, I know what you mean. Those transistors just clash with my clutch purse and those controllers don't go with any of my shoes... :eyeroll:

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RE: Another ugly motherboard from ABIT

By SunAngel on 5/14/2006 11:20:44 AM , Rating: 1

Fabulous reply! Best I've read in a decade.

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RE: Another ugly motherboard from ABIT

By InternetGeek on 5/12/2006 5:36:46 AM , Rating: 2

Not to mention nothing in placed ina feng shui fashion.

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RE: Another ugly motherboard from ABIT

By Scabies on 5/12/2006 10:00:18 PM , Rating: 2

I cant attain the proper chi when my wifi card is green and my mobo is orange. I wont get this board.

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Pic links :)

By etriky on 5/11/2006 4:36:41 AM , Rating: 3

Thanks for the image links that show a picture worth looking at. Nothing is more annoying than linked pics that are 2% bigger than the one I'm already looking at.

RE: Pic links :)

By dmce on 5/11/2006 8:55:35 AM , Rating: 2

Try again. Linked images are huge

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RE: Pic links :)

By Jellodyne on 5/11/2006 10:02:51 AM , Rating: 2

Sarcasm detector is set too high.

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RE: Pic links :)

By Googer on 5/11/2006 1:02:26 PM , Rating: 2

I like larger pictures, I appreciate not having to squint to see what something is on a motherboard. Thanks Daily Tech.

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RE: Pic links :)

By Scabies on 5/12/2006 9:58:02 PM , Rating: 2

yeah you can count jumper pins and read the mfr printings. First place I have ever seen this other than a board physically in my hands (or case)

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DDR2 bus

By miahallen on 5/11/2006 1:23:48 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
...processor is capable of taking advantage of the full DDR2 533MHz bus as well.

Last time I checked, DDR2 533 is one of the slowest DDR2 bus speeds available.

RE: DDR2 bus

By shadowzz on 5/11/2006 1:25:51 AM , Rating: 4

Not if you're Yonah.

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RE: DDR2 bus

By rmaharaj on 5/13/2006 7:23:00 PM , Rating: 2

Wrong generation. Pentium M had 533Mhz FSB; Yonah has 667Mhz.

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HDCP for real?

By peternelson on 5/11/2006 10:31:46 AM , Rating: 2

So the board is claimed to have HDMI and support HDCP over HDMI.

Is this circuitry actually shipped programmed with HDCP keys so that it can form part of a secure chain or is this just like those ATI graphics cards that were shipping where it was so-called "HDCP ready" ie the chipset would support it but the fact no keys were programmed at the factory blew any possibility of actually USING that feature?

ALSO, even with that big blow up enlargement of the motherboard, I think I'm overlooking where IS the HDMI port?

With a gpu card its on the card but is this claiming to have one on the motherboard? From some integrated graphics chipset? If so where do I plug in my HDMI screen cable? Presumably not the analogue vga port?

RE: HDCP for real?

By peternelson on 5/11/2006 10:34:15 AM , Rating: 2

LOL I spotted the connector now, which just leaves can this ever actually be USED for HDCP yet?

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RE: HDCP for real?

By Johnmcl7 on 5/11/2006 7:03:18 PM , Rating: 2

You can't have an HDMI port without HDCP so this one must have the hardware to support HDCP on the HDMI port.

John

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RE: HDCP for real?

By DrFlick on 5/15/2006 2:38:33 PM , Rating: 2

They also would not be able to get AACS certification without support for an end-to-end Protected Video Path/Output Protection Manager infrastructure.

=D-

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Universal???

By bigboxes on 5/11/2006 12:33:38 PM , Rating: 2

You keep referring to Abit as "Universal Abit". Is that the official name? I accessed their website, both US and Global, and they still refer to themselves as "Abit" in all references. Just looking for clarification.

RE: Universal???

By KristopherKubicki

(blog) on 5/11/2006 1:29:08 PM , Rating: 3

It's still technically USI-Abit, but the employees and the company says Universal Abit is also prefered. However, plain old Abit might not work out anymore, there is a lawsuit pending in Taiwan about it.

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Twice the plugs?

By tjr508 on 5/11/2006 1:11:51 AM , Rating: 2

Can HDMI carry a VGA signal like the newer DVI plugsa or does it just mean now we have two plugs where we used to have one?

RE: Twice the plugs?

By BigLan on 5/11/2006 2:10:41 AM , Rating: 2

HDMI is only digital video, but also carries audio. For legacy VGA monitors you will need a separate connector, but you could potentially drop the digital audio out connector.

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Child Labor Alive and Well!

By feraltoad on 5/17/2006 4:43:37 AM , Rating: 2

Check out the little "x" on the chip in front of the PCIe 1x slot. Is that red crayon?!?

RE: Child Labor Alive and Well!

By Swaid on 5/17/2006 7:36:26 PM , Rating: 2

Yea, the 5 year old, head of quality assurance has to sign every board that passes his "neato" standards. The kid with "x" has the highest standard. Just watch out for the boards signed with smiley faces.

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Is 945GT definitely compatible with Merom?!

By Sumanji on 5/11/2006 9:21:21 AM , Rating: 2

Does anyone know whether i945GT is definitely compatible with Merom or not?! Are there any special power requirements (like the i975X/Conroe debacle) which would prevent them working together?

Thanks,

Suman