Conclusion
The AX6BC Pro would have been a number 1 choice for a
overclocker's motherboard a few months ago. However, since that time, Abit has
released the BE6-II with an amazing selection of FSB to chose from. The AX6BC
pro just pales in comparison.
Of course, the FSB doesn't really matter if you can't make
use of it. The main point is to get the highest possible speed out of your CPU.
The AX6BC was able to get the most out of my P3-500 but because it lacks a
110Mhz bus, my Celeron 366 was not running at its highest speed possible.
While the AX6BC Pro was super stable at an overclocked
speed, I found the overall motherboard less than compelling when used for
overclocking. Compared to the Abit BE6-II, the AX6BC Pro sells for the same
price but lack's thermal temp probe, ATA/66 support, extra fan connectors and
way less FSB adjustment.
If you look at the layout of the AX6BC Pro you will note
that floppy connector is located in a strange place. I had to route the floppy
cable around the back of the CPU. I found out later (after I installed the
motherboard) the reason for this is so you can route the floppy cable UNDER the
motherboard. This sure would have made it look a lot neater.
AOpen has done a good job on the AX6BC Pro. It's super
stable, well laid out and offers enough FSB adjustment to get good speed out of
most CPUs. Would I consider this motherboard? That would depend on which CPU I'm
running. The AX6BC Pro works great with the P3-500. If I was using a Celeron
366, then I would go for an Abit BE6-II or BP6 because of better FSB selections.
If you have no intention of overclocking your CPU or don't wish to push your CPU
to its limits, then the AOpen AX6BC Pro should be on your short list of
motherboards to look at.
The Goods
- Super stable when overclocked
- Gold plated heatsink looks super cool
- Good selection of bus speeds
- CPU Soft Menu
- Easy to install
- Comes with Norton Antivirus
The bads
- FSB of 105 and 110 would have been welcome
Our rating: 8/10
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