[Blue Dolphin Review] Jetway HI04, a P45 high-end motherboard

[alexio]

Project Blue Dolphin

Today will be the start of this new project. The goal is basically to get as much free stuff as possible for unbiased XS forum reviews. If I don't like an aspect of the product that I review I first try to fix it myself or I ask the manufacturer to do it. If I find problems that can be fixed by users themselves I write guides on how to do it.

If a product has major flaws that can't be fixed I won't hesitate to clearly state that the product is bad and nobody should buy it. I'm a dolphin, I need fish not cash ;)

Enough about that, my writing fin is itching :p:

The all-important sponsor: Dollarshops (http:/www.Dollarshops.eu)

This review was made possible by my sponsor Dollarshops (http://www.dollarshops.eu/index.php/language/en). This store is located in The Netherlands, but they also ship to Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg. If you live in another EU country, like the UK, you just have to contact them and I'm sure something can be arranged. The store has very competitive pricing and availability because they are basically part of a larger company that is a EU distributor. Just take a look at their website so I can keep doing this :up:

Jetway, a new kid on our block

The product being reviewed is the Jetway HI04 P45 motherboard. Jetway is the fifth largest manufacturer of PCB related electronics, like computer hardware, in Taiwan. Jetway is now venturing in to the high-end consumer market with its 'Hummer Studio' line of products. I guess this line can be compared to the Foxconn 'Quantum Force' line.

Jetway sells graphics cards, motherboards and a bunch of other stuff as well. Their English is pretty crappy, but apart from that the company looks very promising. Take a look at the Jetway website (http:/www.jetway.com.tw/). Not a lot of (non-Asian) overclockers know the Jetway brand very well, but as you can see they have a very large product portfolio. Like Foxconn they are really big in the OEM market.

Some information and teasers

Test setup

CPU: Intel E3110 (E8400 counterpart)
RAM: Several DDR2 2x1GB kits (Micron based)
PSU: Tagan 480w (waiting for new 750W Corsair)
GFX: Plenty of new cards ;)
Cooling Aircooling to start with (maybe SS later)
OS: XS SP3 + Vista 64-bit SP1/Server 2008

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04inbox_small.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04inbox.jpg)
Packaging

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04boxprint_small.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04boxprint.jpg)
Features according to the box

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04memtestteaser_small.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04memtestteaser.jpg)
Teaser: memtest at 4.6GHz (9*510 1:1) – CPU vCORE: 1.38v

That's all for now :)

[alexio]

Features & Pictures

Features

The Jetway HI04 is a P45 board aimed at enthusiast, yet it is very modestly priced at around €100-120.

According to the Jetway website (http://www.jetway.com.tw/jw/motherboard_view.asp?productid=512&proname=HI04) these are the features of the board:

* INTEL P45 Express Chipset +ICH10 CHIPSET
* Intel LGA775 Core Processor Family
* Supports PCI-Express 2.0 (For ATI Crossfire X)
* Solid Polymer, long life capacitors design
* Special Deluxe Heat-pipe design
* Special 6-Phase PWM design
* Make over-clocking more stable
* Supports Dual Channel DDR2 800
* Integrated Gigabit LAN
* Integrated 2 * e-SATA with RAID function
* Integrated ALC888 HD Audio CODEC with 8.0 CH
* Support CPU Vcore 8-Shift (vCORE control in 50mV steps)
* Ready for Windows® Vista™
* ATX Form Factor

Let's boil it down to the features that really matter to us overclockers (some are not mentioned in the list above):

* Intel P45 chipset
* Heat-pipe cooling (does it work well? Does it get in the way of after market coolers?)
* 6-Phase power design (how stable is vCORE regulation?)
* Solid capacitors
* Official 400MHz FSB support (1600MHz quad-pumped)
* 2 digit diagnostic LED display
* POWER-ON + RESET buttons
* 2 Clear-CMOS buttons (internal and external)
* A crapload of voltage options (that I am still figuring out)


If you are interested in a fairly cheap P45 motherboard with high-end features the Jetway HI04 looks to be a compelling option. Before I do any recommendations I'll put this board trough its paces, but so-far-so-good. Availability of this board isn't good yet, but my sponsor Dollarshops.eu (http:/www.dollarshops.eu) carries it in good quantities. Now visit them already! :D

Pictures

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04content_small.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04content.jpg)
In the box you will find a user's manual, quick installation guide, some cables and an I/O back panel shield (the usual piece of metal). Nothing fancy here, but nothing is really missing either.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04inbag_small.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04inbag.jpg)
The motherboard comes shipped protected by an anti-static bag. The white pieces in the picture consist of some type of foam to protect the heat-pipe contraption that covers the PWM area, Northbridge and Southbridge chips.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04fullboard_small.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04fullboard.jpg)
The roller coaster section of the heat-pipe cooling system isn't as tall as it appears in this picture, but
it might interfere with some high-end cooler like the TRUE (Thermalright Ultra Extreme). For this
review I installed a Gigabyte G-Power 2 PRO CPU cooler with about 3mm of space left to spare. You can check it out in one of my previous reviews (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=178181). If you plan on buying this board from my sponsor (http:/www.dollarshops.eu/) and also need a proper CPU cooler I may recommend this kit, but before I do that I'll put the board through its paces.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04cooling-DIMMs-PWM_small.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04cooling-DIMMs-PWM.jpg)
The roller coaster design looks fairly effective. The heat-pipe system feels solid and contact with the components that it is supposed to cool seems to be good. After I'm done with this review I'll take it off to see if this is true. The PWM area seems to be pretty solid, like most boards these days.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04externalconnectors_small.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04externalconnectors.jpg)
From left to right: PS/2 mouse/keyboard; 2x S/PDIF; Clear CMOS; 2x eSATA; LAN; 6x USB 2.0. The clear CMOS button can be reached through the I/O shield with a sharp object like a pen.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04LED-SB-SATA-buttons_small.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04LED-SB-SATA-buttons.jpg)
Most important in this picture are 6 SATA ports (yellow), the ICH10 Southbridge, POWER/RESET/Clear-CMOS buttons, diagnostic display, legacy Floppy + PATA support and internal USB 2.0 connectivity. There is no internal RAID support since the ICH10 (non-R) chip doesn't support it and the onboard JMicron chip controls the eSATA ports. I repeat: no internal RAID

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04fullsetup_small.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v342/AlexKok33/HI04fullsetup.jpg)
A picture of the (rather messy) test setup. For the actual testing I already replaced the PSU with a 750W Corsair unit. The one in this picture is so ancient it doesn't even have PCIe power connectors. You can see that there isn't a lot of space between the PCIe 2.0 16x slots (dual 8x in Crossfire mode).

NEXT UP: BIOS shots and overclocking!

[alexio]

**reserved**

[alexio]

*updated*

[ownage]

I'm looking forward to your review Alex. I liked your previous reviews, good, clean and unbiased.

That NB cooler looks like MSI. The board really doesn't look bad with the black PCB and angled SATA ports.

[DoomSayer]

anything with a stupid looking cooler on the NB like that i wouldnt buy ever.
Its like they stole it right of an MSI mobo and got away with it.
Nice review btw.

[HDCHOPPER]

ya that roller coaster is a bad idea

[zanzabar]

is there any chance of digital pwms

and i like were that poster is, its actually usable with multi card

[systemviper]

I have a question, why even buy a P45 motherboard, you can't do full Pcie 16x 16x crossfire? is it just another way for them to grab out cash without giving us a fully functional board?

Regards
steve

[ownage]

I have a question, why even buy a P45 motherboard, you can't do full Pcie 16x 16x crossfire? is it just another way for them to grab out cash without giving us a fully functional board?

Regards
steve

Same thing with P35 and still P35 is/was very popular. Not everyone will use 2 videocards and with a price tag of 120 Euro this board or any other P45 board is not that bad.

[Loser777]

Interesting Heatsink design. No ICH10R :(.

[REVHEAD]

Whats with the Dolphin?

[Zehnsucht]

I have a question, why even buy a P45 motherboard, you can't do full Pcie 16x 16x crossfire? is it just another way for them to grab out cash without giving us a fully functional board?

Regards
steve

Same thing with P35 and still P35 is/was very popular. Not everyone will use 2 videocards and with a price tag of 120 Euro this board or any other P45 board is not that bad.

Crossfire P45 vs P35 vs x38 vs x48:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2008/06/20/msi-p45-platinum/12


What is extremly interesting is that in that particular test the P45 boards beat x38 and x48 in two of three games.

[EnJoY]

Alex, who do you think you are with those that little figurine in every pic...WindWithMe? :p:

Talk to me on MSN. :)

[NaeKuh]

wind's figurines rocks!!!!

:rofl:

shiet sometimes i want them more then the board he shows off. :rofl:

and sometimes its a wheres waldo when he shows them too. :D

[alexio]

Sorry guys, I'll update this ASAP. I'm doing gaming benches now, since I'm not completely satisfied with the BIOS at the moment. The board does do 530Mhz already, so it's okay, but it can do a lot better. The BIOS engineer is on a vacation now, so some things that I'd like to be improved are not possible. I got the guy to unlock MCHBAR already (so now Memset works :)).

I'll update with an extensive gaming and benching evaluation shortly.

[andre X_X]

hey, im testing this board too... so far it tops out on fsb 550mhz, 560 was a no go :(. the bad parts is that even though i can boot on high fsb, but even fsb 500 wont enter windows.... so i do boot from fsb 480 and use setfsb to clock higher. do you have any new bios?

[VIctorj]

Guys, the ridiculous circu pipe thingy, works...proven by some reviews...its fugly anyway.

[alexio]

I never got to finishing this review because some things got in the way :( Sorry for the very late update.