The Integrated Video Solution
The integrated graphics accelerator, or Direct 3D as Intel named it, is
nothing impressive. Just like in the 810, 810E chips, Intel decided to implant
a low cost video solution. We can accept such an accelerator on the lower
cost motherboards such the ones featuring the 810 chips, but implanting a
similar accelerator on 815 motherboards is less acceptable. Perhaps Intel
is trying to make the 815 chip-set a new version of the low cost 810. It seems
like they will have to do so in order to stabilize their 820 sales and maintain
a relationship with RAMBUS in order to collect their royalties. In most scenarios,
the integrated video on the 815 chip-set should perform better than the one
on the 810, because the new one can operate at a higher clock speed.
Here is some 3DMARK 2000 numbers comparing the Integrated 815 accelerator
to the Matrox G400 32MB video card. Unlike the 810 based mainboards, the 815
motherboards include an optional AGP port supporting AGP X4 that can be used
to install a normal quality accelerator.
|
i815
Accelerator- 4Mb
|
Matrox
G400- 32Mb
|
|
1246
Marks
|
2874
Marks
|
I don’t think anyone will opt for the integrated
video accelerator, as its performance is close to being horrible, however
it should satisfy most office users. A better choice would have been not including
an integrated video solution at all, as even the ones that will never use
it will have to pay for it. Although some OEM assemblers will appreciate it
for they’re lower cost systems.
The bundle
The mainboard came packed with two IDE cables,
one standard ATA/33 (40pins) and an ATA/66 compatible 80pin cable. One FDD
cable was also present. Azza is one of the few companies that actually decided
to include these options. The included user’s manual covers almost everything
a beginner would ever need, such as installing the CPU and RAM, and a full
look at the BIOS with the explanations for every option. Not to forget a complete
chapter focused on installing the drivers for the integrated video and sound
solutions.
We applaud Azza for the quality software bundle,
which comes with every single motherboard. First is a bonus pack featuring
Virtual Drive, which is a CD-ROM emulator: you can run applications without
the CD-ROM drive. You can copy & compress the CD programs to the hard-drive
and run them from that source instead or inserting your CD every time. The
second bonus is Virus Buster; which as you may guessed, is an Anti-Virus based
application. The bonus CD#1 also includes all the required drivers for the
motherboard.
The second CD is Azza’s own branded CD. It includes
video clips on troubleshooting, including some interactive clips on their
newest products. The third bonus CD is definitely something that many customers
will appreciate. It’s the latest version of Linux Mandrake. Azza decided to
take a similar strategy to Abit’s whom a few months announced their official
Linux distribution. The Mandrake distribution coming packed with the kit is
the full official release, and is not modified or improved for Azza motherboards.
