**Official ABIT IP-35 Pro Review/Overclock/Guide Thread**

[Beetuna]

Ok, let me see if I got this right:


Intel Chipset 9.2.0.1021
--I can install if needed, but what does this get me over what W7 already has?



Intel Rapid Storage Technology 10.1.0.1008 (For ACHI and RAID)
Intel RST 10.1.0.1008 drivers for F6 install - 64 bit (For ACHI and RAID preinstall for XP)
Intel RST 10.1.0.1008 drivers for F6 install - 32 bit (For ACHI and RAID preinstall for XP)
JMicron JMB363 Storage Controller (e-SATA only)
-- So, did I label these right? You said HDD support is important, but again, I'm not using RAID or ACHI (maybe I should be?). I've never used an e-SATA drive or hotswap. Do I need these? I do not have an SSD.



Realtek 8110SC PCI Gigabit Ethernet Controller
Realtek High Audio Definition R2.56 for 2000 / XP / XP 64bit / 2003 / 2003 64bit
Realtek High Audio Definition R2.56 for Vista 32bit / Vista 64bit / Win7 32bit / Win7 64bit
-- What do these updates drivers get me over what Win 7 just installs automatically? Will the audio driver install all that extra crap I never used? (the audio gui stuff)


abit µGuru 3.109
-- You said the driver works fine, but didn't specify which one. Was I correct in saying the Vista one?

[glen]

Well if you aren't using esata or an SSD I would just update the ethernet and chipset drivers. There were definately issues with the win7 ethernet drivers and the chipset drivers are just the right thing to do,

[Ligushka]

Windows 7 has the necessary chipset drivers. You can still manually update the drivers if you extract the Intel Chipset driver installer and then point every "Intel..." device in System Devices & USB Controllers (and IDE/ATA Controllers since you're not using AHCI) to that folder in the "Update Driver Software..." wizard, but Windows' own drivers work fine. Likewise with the audio and Ethernet (Windows' own drivers will suffice), but I advise installing those. The Realtek audio driver will install its own sound control panel, but if you really hate it just extract the setup file and point Windows to the driver folder. If you only use IDE emulation mode, you do not require the Intel Rapid Storage Technology, but if you're using eSATA you need the JMicron driver. The Vista x64 µGuru driver works fine in Win7x64.

[Beetuna]

Ok thanks!

Is there any special reason your link to the audio drivers goes to the majorgeeks site and not right to the source?

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...&GetDown=false

[UrbanSmooth]

SLI hack for this board? Is it true?

[Ligushka]

Ok thanks!

Is there any special reason your link to the audio drivers goes to the majorgeeks site and not right to the source?

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...&GetDown=false

Realtek's site is ridiculously slow in my experience, so I use Majorgeeks' mirror whenever I link the driver to anybody.

@UrbanSmooth: theoretically, yes. I have not tested it and I do not have the capability to test it (two identical cards). I'm not too afraid of bricking my board as a buddy has an identical one I can hotflash with to fix mine. However I believe if I attempt inserting SLI strings into the BIOS I'd also have to insert SLIC 2.1 strings which would be questionable to post here as that would be a method of bypassing Windows Vista/7 activation. Plus I'd have that many more BIOS versions to "maintain".

[UrbanSmooth]

Well, shoot me a PM. I really like this board in my backup rig, but, I would love to add another GTX 460 to SLI with.

[Beetuna]

On the realtek website link for the network drivers, I noticed there are two sections.
One labeled: RTL8110SC(L)

The other is: RTL8110S-32/RTL8110SB(L)/RTL8169SB(L)/RTL8169SC(L)
RTL8169 (RTL8110SC(L))

Each section has a variety of downloads for many OSes. Which one of these do I want?

[Ligushka]

On the realtek website link for the network drivers, I noticed there are two sections.
One labeled: RTL8110SC(L)

The other is: RTL8110S-32/RTL8110SB(L)/RTL8169SB(L)/RTL8169SC(L)
RTL8169 (RTL8110SC(L))

Each section has a variety of downloads for many OSes. Which one of these do I want?

We have the 8110SC. Get the one from the top section.

[Beetuna]

We have the 8110SC. Get the one from the top section.

Hmm, sure? I looked in device manager and the network adapter is listed as: RTL8169/8110. This would lead me to think I want the bottom one.

[Ligushka]

Hmm, sure? I looked in device manager and the network adapter is listed as: RTL8169/8110. This would lead me to think I want the bottom one.

First page says 8110SC, BIOS OROM says 8110SC

8169/8110 is PCI-E IIRC, our Realtek implementation is PCI

Anyway Realtek uses the same driver zip for their PCI-E and PCI Gigabit controllers, so it doesn't matter really what you have, just as long as you pick the correct driver for your OS.

[Beetuna]

Great, thanks for your help!
I've installed the audio drivers from the zip file by just unzipping and installing through device manager. Same for uGuru. Going to install the ethernet here in a min. After that I'm all set for mobo-related stuff. Thank you guys for your help!

[Ligushka]

By the way, Realtek HD Audio R2.59 was released a few days ago.

• Windows Vista/7
• 2K/XP/03

Here is a new BIOS compilation with:

• Phoenix AHCI Option ROM 01.07.10 (12-05-2008)
• Intel RAID/AHCI Option ROM 8.5.0.1030
• JMicron JMB363 Option ROM 1.07.25
• Realtek 8110SC PXE Option ROM 1.75c

Flash at your own risk. I've tested 18ZZZ only, no issues. There's almost zero chance of failure for other versions, however. Worst thing that'll happen is some option ROM throws an error, in which case you flash back to stock and post here so I can figure out why and possibly correct it (or put in an older working version of that option ROM instead).

Download

List of latest drivers:

• Intel Chipset 9.2.0.1025 (zip format)
• Intel Rapid Storage Technology 10.1.0.1008
• Intel RST 10.1.0.1008 drivers for F6 install - 32 bit
• Intel RST 10.1.0.1008 drivers for F6 install - 64 bit
• JMicron JMB363 Storage Controller R1.17.62
• Realtek 8110SC PCI Gigabit Ethernet Controller
• Realtek High Audio Definition R2.59 for Vista 32bit / Vista 64bit / Win7 32bit / Win7 64bit
• Realtek High Audio Definition R2.59 for 2000 / XP / XP 64bit / 2003 / 2003 64bit
• abit µGuru 3.109

abit IP35 Pro motherboard & µGuru manual

[Beetuna]

I spoke too soon on my excitement...
Even after updating the drivers manually through device manager for the audio, it still gave me that blasted audio panel in the system tray. Ugh...
Anyone know of a way to remove that garbage and just use the built-in Windows tools? As far as I can tell, that GUI gets me nothing special.

[Ligushka]

Try removing the startup entry for the Realtek HD Audio Control Panel using StartupCPL.

[Powerfull]

Hi Ligushka,

You may have already try these RAID/AHCI Option ROM : v10.5.0.744 & v10.0.5.916 & v10.5.0.976 & v10.5.0.1034. Just in case one is working on our board.

Thanks.

[Ligushka]

I do know that those OROMs are floating around, but I have not tested them yet. I probably will not because they are all over 64kb in size still, thus they will most likely not work. Thanks for the suggestion.

There was a RTL8110SC driver update about a week ago.

[Powerfull]

I do know that those OROMs are floating around, but I have not tested them yet. I probably will not because they are all over 64kb in size still, thus they will most likely not work. Thanks for the suggestion.

There was a RTL8110SC driver update about a week ago.

I didn't know about the size thing, thank you for this clarification.

[JuliM]

SLI hack for this board? Is it true?

Jep, it is working. But the second PCIe16 slot is to slow (x4). I have been running Quad SLI (2x9800GX2) but performance is quite low. Only 10-20% increase.

[Powerfull]

Jep, it is working. But the second PCIe16 slot is to slow (x4). I have been running Quad SLI (2x9800GX2) but performance is quite low. Only 10-20% increase.

Anyone ever try quad-fire on P35 (PCIe1.0 16x+4x)?
I would be interested to know the performance increase from dual to quad GPU.

I did a search with no luck.

[Ligushka]

New drivers:

• Intel Chipset 9.2.0.1030 (zip format)
• Intel Rapid Storage Technology 10.5.0.1027 (Windows installer, 32-bit and 64-bit floppy downloads)
• Realtek 8110SC PCI Gigabit Ethernet Controller (Realtek updated the LAN driver a few days ago, but the driver version stayed the same. The actual driver files did change somehow, however, so it's probably a good idea to update regardless.)
• Realtek High Audio Definition R2.62 for Vista 32bit / Vista 64bit / Win7 32bit / Win7 64bit
• Realtek High Audio Definition R2.62 for 2000 / XP / XP 64bit / 2003 / 2003 64bit
• JMicron JMB363 Storage Controller R1.17.63 WHQL

Utilities:

• abit µGuru 3.109

abit IP35 Pro motherboard & µGuru manual

No BIOS option ROM updates (short of Intel AHCI OROMs which almost certainly won't work properly) to report yet. See here for my latest BIOS compilation.

[salaminizer]

Hey Ligushka,

Thanks a ton for continuing to post updates for us IP35 Pro users...seriously awesome work!

This may be a tad off-topic, but I was hoping to pick your brain on RAID with this mobo:

I finally took the plunge and bought an SSD to use as a boot/system/programs drive. I want to use the rest of my old spindle drives as storage in a RAID config (18ZZZ BIOS, W7 Ultimate). After I migrate my system data to the SSD, I'm assuming I need to enable RAID in the BIOS, then install the latest Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver from your links to be able to configure the storage RAID array...?

Thanks again for any input you might have.

[Ligushka]

That makes sense, yes. I've never personally set up any RAID arrays so I don't know the exact procedure, but yours seems logical.

[Powerfull]

I might be able to help you with RAID on this board.

If you had the OS installed in IDE mode it won't boot, you need to follow this procedure before enabling the RAID mode and then install the RST driver. If it was installed in AHCI mode you are good, you just need RST driver after you enable the RAID mode.

If you do a fresh OS install use the RAID mode before starting the installation and use the RST F6 driver (if needed). You can set-up the array before of after the OS installation, it does not matter because your are not RAIDing the OS only data. When the installation is finished install the RST driver.

You can setup the array in the BIOS during the boot or it can be done with the RST manager, I personally prefer the BIOS method.

For information RAID mode is equivalent to the AHCI mode when no array (e.g. single drive).

Happy to help if you need more information.

[salaminizer]

Fantastic. I've got my project for the weekend and will let y'all know how it goes. Thanks again very much.