OTES Onboard:  The ABIT IC7 MAX3

 Ever since ABIT launched its MAX line, the manufacturer has focused on providing absolutely cutting-edge features on a legacy free platform.  Although the original AT7 MAX flopped due to its lack of PS/2 ports (it turns out that most people still use a PS/2 keyboard), the MAX2 series (based on the KT400 and i845 chipsets) did much better.  Now we have the IC7 MAX3, a board based on ABIT’s extremely popular IC7 design.

 OTES-ing a Motherboard:

 The CPU socket (and the area around it) is easily the hottest spot on a typical motherboard.  Not only are the CPU and northbridge both significant sources of heat, but the MOSFETs and a great deal of support circuitry have significant thermal signatures of their own.  Even for a customer who isn’t overclocking, this equipment can generate a significant amount of thermal energy and, in badly cramped conditions, could even lock or destabilize the machine.

 ABIT’s OTES (Outside Thermal Exhaust System) first appeared last year on a line of GeForce4 Ti 4200 cards the manufacturer released.  Though the cards were bulky and required an additional PCI slot to function, their fabulous overclocking performance made them an extremely popular enthusiast choice.  ABIT followed them up with an OTES-based 5900, but the MAX3 is the first time we’ve seen the idea applied to a motherboard.

 As you can see, the OTES system wraps snugly around the top of the motherboard, covering the MOSFETS, transistors, and capacitors in this area.  The heat being generated is routed through the shrouded area and expelled via a small fan in the backplate, where the PS/2 ports would normally be located.  ABIT has carefully designed the OTES system to fit into an existing case without requiring any modification (save the use of a specific backplate. 

 The OTES system is almost completely inaudible (unless you’ve got your head next to it) seems to do an excellent job.  Although we lack the equipment to independently measure their claimed temperature drop of up to 30% (best case), the back of the board was noticeably cooler during operation.  Even for a user that isn’t interested in overclocking, this could prove crucial in effectively cooling a case in hot weather or an un-air-conditioned building.

 Board Layout:

 In addition to the OTES cooling system discussed above, the ABIT MAX3 uses a larger-than-normal northbridge cooling solution that, unfortunately, does not allow the installation of all heatsink types.  The Vantec VP4-C7040 doesn’t fit, due to problems between it and the northbridge.  It’s possible that aggressively filing one side of the northbridge cooler could make it easier for some CPU heatsink designs, but this is conjecture.

 
Its easier to see the northbridge cooler from this angle, as well as the OTES cooling and exhaust system.  Careful of the cooler--it can (and will) get in the way with the wrong heatsink / fan.

 Other than the larger heatsink (and of course, OTES itself), the board layout is more-or-less identical to that of the IC7, with one exception?the IC7 MAX3 supports a full six SATA ports rather than the four found on most high-end boards (two controlled by Intel’s ICH5R, four by an onboard Silicon Image controller).  The backplate has a nearly identical feature set as well. The OTES cooler takes the spot normally held by the PS/2 ports, they shift towards to where the serial / parallel ports might be (if they were on this board) and the SPDIF In / Out, USB ports, and Ethernet jack are all where you’d expect.  A single FireWire (IEEE 1394) port is also included, just as it is on the IC7-G.  There is also actually room to open the memory slots with a video card in the board?something we’re very happy to see.

 Save for the overly-enthusiastic northbridge cooler which may interfere with your plans, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with ABIT’s MAX3 board configuration and a lot to like about it.

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• Distinguishing Features (1 of 2)
• Performance, Stability, and Overclocking (2 of 2)