GIGABYTE GA-6BXE, or Abit BF6? \ VOGONS

GIGABYTE GA-6BXE, or Abit BF6?

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First post, by nclakelandmusic

Posted on 2025-03-26, 17:36

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Hey all, I'm getting my hands on a board with SB-Link, and I'm currently able buy these two boards mentioned in the title.
Which would you choose and why? I appreciate the insight.

Both are obviously Slot 1. It looks to me from the photos that the Gigabyte has an 800 mhz PIII, and the Abit comes with a 550mhz PIII.
Caps look ok on both boards, and the Gigabyte has two ISA slots vs the one on the Abit. Anything else you think I should know, for better or worse?
I'm leaning towards the gigabyte for the CPU and extra RAM it comes with as well as the additional ISA.

Reply 1 of 7, by PcBytes

Posted on 2025-03-26, 17:52

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BF6. ABIT used a much better clockgen than Gigabyte, and can do 133FSB with zero issues. I have its sibling with onboard Highpoint controller and it ran 133FSB alongside Geforce GPUs with no issues whatsoever. Its socket 370 counterpart is the BX133-RAID, as far as I know.

"Enter at your own peril, past the bolted door..."
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Reply 2 of 7, by nclakelandmusic

Posted on 2025-03-26, 18:14

nclakelandmusic Offline

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PcBytes wrote on 2025-03-26, 17:52:

BF6. ABIT used a much better clockgen than Gigabyte, and can do 133FSB with zero issues. I have its sibling with onboard Highpoint controller and it ran 133FSB alongside Geforce GPUs with no issues whatsoever. Its socket 370 counterpart is the BX133-RAID, as far as I know.

Good to know. I just got this in from the Ukraine. I'm about to test it out right now in my other system and buy that board!

https://imgur.com/a/oyMlAq1

Reply 3 of 7, by PcBytes

Posted on 2025-03-26, 18:26

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Should definitely work. I have one as well and have had success with it on an ABIT BH6.

"Enter at your own peril, past the bolted door..."
Main PC: i5 3470, GB B75M-D3H, 16GB RAM, 2x1TB
98SE : P3 650, Soyo SY-6BA+IV, 384MB RAM, 80GB

Reply 4 of 7, by nclakelandmusic

Posted on 2025-03-26, 20:38

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PcBytes wrote on 2025-03-26, 18:26:

Should definitely work. I have one as well and have had success with it on an ABIT BH6.

Scored it, we shall see if it works. Thanks for the suggestion.

Reply 5 of 7, by Dan Solo

Posted on 2025-03-26, 21:29

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Its faster CPU and extra ISA slot could give you more room to grow later. The Abit board is fine too, but the Gigabyte just feels like it offers a bit more bang for your buck.

Reply 6 of 7, by shamino

Posted on 2025-03-27, 21:25

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A 550MHz CPU is most likely a Katmai.
Do all ABit BF6 boards support Coppermine voltages?
If not, then do you have a picture showing the voltage regulator IC (usually about 20-28 pins near the MOSFETs and caps next to the CPU slot)?

Reply 7 of 7, by PcBytes

Posted on 2025-03-27, 22:03

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BF6 is derived off BE6-II, except it trades the HPT366/370 controller for an additional PCI slot.

As for Coppermine voltages - it does. I have the BE6-II which the BF6 is based off, and it goes low enough for all kinds of Coppermines. I haven't got the required stuff to test Tualatins though.

"Enter at your own peril, past the bolted door..."
Main PC: i5 3470, GB B75M-D3H, 16GB RAM, 2x1TB
98SE : P3 650, Soyo SY-6BA+IV, 384MB RAM, 80GB

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