Asus Vintage AH1

Biffa · 10 Nov 2005 at 21:44

Anyone found out if this supports Dual Core AMD's?

WJA96 · 11 Nov 2005 at 07:11

It doesn't at the moment and all the reports I have read indicate that even running fast processors it's dog slow. I bought one (even after reading the bad reviews) and took it back as I couldn't get sensible performance out of it.

Someone else on this forum reported a very poor Super Pi time, and I didn't see any responses helping him get any improvement.

I think they're probably great for normal people but possibly not for performance enthusiasts.

Biffa · 11 Nov 2005 at 10:01

Aye, that fits with my research as well. Decided to go a different route instead

Thanks for confirming. Agreed would be fine in the sort of environment say a Dell desktop would be suited to.

rs125 · 15 Nov 2005 at 13:17

Just how bad are they?.. a lot of people recommend them thats all..

WJA96 · 15 Nov 2005 at 14:59

I used to recommend them based on the spec. I even bought one and it just ran like a dog. 50 secs+ for SuperPi 1M with a 3500+ AMD 64.

That's pretty poor.

WA

WJA96 · 17 Nov 2005 at 19:38

New posts on the ASUS support forums suggest that the poor performance may be due to a bad driver config in the RAID drivers. New drivers and a BIOS upgrade have now been released (yesterday).

Deco32 · 21 Nov 2005 at 11:14

I would be that person that is having the trouble.
Latest, It is trying to right to an invaild page file location Which locks the machine.
Just spotted new bios so i will try it later, But according to readme it has not tacled preformance, Well offically
The asus forum is a joke

Basically If it doesn't improve its going back

Dec

WJA96 · 21 Nov 2005 at 23:08

I thought that the main problem was that the RAID driver was using extra clock cycles that the onboard graphics wanted and that as a result the whole machine ran slowly. No?

It's such a shame because otherwise it was a beautifully put together piece of kit.

rs125 · 23 Nov 2005 at 13:24

Deco did it solve the problem ?

Methanoid · 15 Dec 2005 at 13:54

Cough cough... any solution? Is it still poor?

WJA96 · 15 Dec 2005 at 19:56

I have one under test at the moment and it is significantly better, but it's still not nearly good enough. With the processor that's in it it should be doing 40 second superPi times, but it's doing 52 seconds - but it was doing 90 seconds!

To give a comparative example - I have an ASUS PH-1 sat next to it with a 2.8GHz Celeron D in it vs. the AH-1 with an A64 3500+. Both have 2 x 512Mb Corsair Value Ram and 80Gb SATA Maxtors in. And the Celeron is doing 48s for 1M superPi vs. 52s for the 3500+. Now that doesn't seem right to me.

If you can live with the poor performance, then it's very tidy, well built and silent.

Methanoid · 16 Dec 2005 at 08:40

Anyone seen any reviews.. just cannot seem to find any?

Does it come with custom HS&F or get your own (in which case how much space)?
ISTR it is a standard mATX board in one of the Vintage models. Is it in all models?
Does it include a 92mm fan temp controlled as in the T2 Terminator models?

The Asus site says 10/100 LAN but offers a driver download for a Gigabit controller... which is it?

Anything else we should know?

nolimit · 16 Dec 2005 at 14:49

I just ordered 1 for friend and would also like to know if it comes with HS&F? , just incase i ordered HS&F Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro just incase, but will it fit?

nolimit · 16 Dec 2005 at 15:10

finally found my answer.

http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=102895

might be useful to you Methanoid

WJA96 · 16 Dec 2005 at 18:33

Methanoid said:
Anyone seen any reviews.. just cannot seem to find any?

Does it come with custom HS&F or get your own (in which case how much space)?

No, no HS&F Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro fits fine, although I knocked the little rubber bits off on mine and it was a complete bugger getting them hooked back up again.

Methanoid said:
ISTR it is a standard mATX board in one of the Vintage models. Is it in all models?

Yes, AE-1, PE-1, AH-1 and PH-1 are all micro-ATX.

Methanoid said:
Does it include a 92mm fan temp controlled as in the T2 Terminator models?

The fan at the back is 80mm and it runs flat out all the time. There is space for a second 80mm fan at the front.

Methanoid said:
The Asus site says 10/100 LAN but offers a driver download for a Gigabit controller... which is it?

Gigabit LAN is standard.

Methanoid · 17 Dec 2005 at 13:14

Thanks guys!

Methanoid · 19 Dec 2005 at 12:15

One further question... is the PSU a standard ATX (ie can it be replaced with another STANDARD ATX PSU) ????? TIA!

WJA96 · 19 Dec 2005 at 21:22

It's MicroATX.

nolimit · 20 Dec 2005 at 10:29

It is standard PSU size.
I just built 1 yesterday.

Very nice system for only £100. And it works with X2 3800+, 3000+ Venice, Winchester etc.
The system is not very noisy.

Shuttle should no longer rip people off.

WJA96 · 20 Dec 2005 at 19:12

nolimit said:
It is standard PSU size.
I just built 1 yesterday.

I've just tried to get a standard PSU in there and it does fit lengthwise, but not easily. The one supplied is slightly smaller than standard ATX. I still reckon it's closer to MicroATX than full ATX. The length isn't the problem, its the height available between the little ledge and I/O shield housing at the back and the curved top of the case - an Akasa Paxpower doesn't fit but a Macron ATX does.

Have you definitely tried it with a dual core? The last time I checked they weren't supported, so is there a new BIOS version in yours?

Finally, can you do a 1M SuperPI time please?