More Testing:

Stable Q6600 @ 1333MHz FSB

Stable E6600 @ 1700MHz FSB

This E6600 is capable of much higher frequencies (because I have had it there on occasions) even if it wasn't completely stable.  A couple hours of Orthos does the trick if you want to warm up your system's legs before overclocking. Leaving all voltage options on AUTO in the BIOS, the motherboard carried the E6600 from 1066MHz to a solid 1600MHz FSB before needing to add more voltage. Higher FSB settings became unstable thus requiring extra voltage set manually in the BIOS. The system then moved up to 1700MHz FSB. I believe another 50MHz is achievable with a bit more in depth tweaking. Many overclockers will appreciate the best and easiest overclock possible using the simplest settings, so this isn't bad at all.
 

Q6600 Stock Results

Q6600 Max Results

E6600 Max Results

As far as gaming performances go, anything operating with dual core processors and at least a 7900 GT will obviously be able to do well under pretty much every game and graphics environment around. The results of Fear were 109 frames per second with both the Quad and Core 2 processor at stock settings. The Q6600 reached 121 at its 3.0GHz maximum overclock, while the E6600 scored 132 frames at its own maximum overclock. Battlefield 2142 averaged about 99 frames on both stock processors and 110 with the Quad Core and 125 with the dual core due to their varying overclock speeds. These are all extremely playable frame rates.

If you are wondering about the included AirPace Wi-Fi card, this can be a very handy feature if you would like to access your wireless network. You may not typically find this platform in the next Home Theater PC, but it would make for an exceptional system. You could easily play your latest game titles on your 42" HD LCD TV and with the added connectivity that the AirPace provides. This is fast becoming the newest home product especially since many of the latest TVs are LCD and Plasma models capable of displaying decent resolutions. This is where the Extreme Home Theater PC could very well find a large customer base. There are very things as useful as accessing your entire movie, game, and audio selections via a reliable Wi-Fi system. It may not be one-touch, but it's a very connective feature to have if you want to consolidate your favorite features in to one machine.
 

AirPace Wi-Fi

Inserted in PCI-1x Slot

AirPace Wi-Fi Connectivity

Summary:

The last capable 680i motherboard I tested, reached a 1550MHz FSB with the same exact testing and tweaking. Now, there are quite a few comments on the web and countless forums that seem to consider any motherboard that is incapable of overclocking a processor an extra 1GHz over its specified rating to be substandard or lacking. Other 680i motherboards out there currently can achieve similar results and even boot up in to the 1800MHz + range, but aren't all truly stable. So, keeping these things in perspective, I typically consider any tested motherboard capable of at least an 800MHz processor overclock and maintain complete stability to be a great motherboard. Any motherboard reaching the 1GHz overclock range will be considered an exceptional motherboard.
 

Higher Is Better

The IN9 32X-MAX isn't currently astounding any 'hardcore' overclockers expecting 1800+ MHz or higher, but it does definitely range high up in the great motherboards category. An extreme frequency (EF) may not have been reached, but the platform did produce some great-to-exceptional results as anyone would expect. And besides, the DDR2 memory timings were kept to 4-4-4-15 the entire duration of the testing with the Memory-CPU HT set to Unlinked in the BIOS which should say something to those looking for stability. You don't need any extreme memory modules if you don't intend to overclock the memory. If you enjoy the extra performance benefits of overclocking the memory as well as the motherboard, you can expect great results as you increase both the memory and processor frequencies.
 

Bottom Motherboard LEDs

Blinking Effect

As I mentioned, stability isn't this motherboards problem. The BIOS is what needs just a little work to iron out a couple minor bugs that are more of an annoyance rather than a hindrance. Probably the most notable annoyance was the fact that when several BIOS changes were made at once after a CMOS Clear, the motherboard would stop at the ABIT logo longer than normal, or not continue at all. This happened a few times during the 10 or more days of serious testing. I was unable to narrow down which particular settings caused this, but it seemed to be more evident if memory timings and voltages were changed along with a CPU setting. Obviously, the potential is definitely there for even better future results with some new BIOS revisions. It's very, very close by extreme standards, and 'dead on' by regular user standards.
 

Full LED Display - This Looks So Cool!

Currently, the IN9 32X-MAX will cost you around $300 for the retail package. The price wouldn't feel too steep if the package included a game, rebate, or a little more upscale audio option. Realtek has done much better these days with their integrated CODEC on several motherboards around which will be much appreciated by those who choose to use the onboard sound. Something along the lines of an Oxygen Audio Card would definitely add a little more option and choice to the bundle and price. On the other hand, this board is manufactured with some very good quality parts from the capacitors to the nice copper OTES heat pipe cooling and controllable LEDs. And if the next BIOS revision suddenly carries the motherboard in to even greater uncharted performance territory, it could be then worth every penny! Go ABIT!


Conclusion:

It's a-live! ABIT's IN9 32X-MAX brings features, life, interaction, and power to your desktop. These days the meaning of connectivity has been ever changing and ABIT has put many of the features in to the motherboard to offer up a well connected platform by also including a bundled AirPace Wi-Fi PCI Card. There is ample internal or external storage and USB support to further keep you connected to as much devices as you may need. All of these features require plenty of support from its chipset and PWM (Power Management) components which stay cool with the very cool OTES copper heat pipe heat sinks.

For the serious game user, you get the satisfaction of triple PCI-Express graphics card slots for those intense gaming scenarios you may have dreamed about. And while you enjoy the look of your triple graphics capable system, you have the extra modded feature of board powered LEDs giving your new dream system that really cool blue glow. If you're upgrading from an aging Intel P4 processor based system, the new performance will be more than enough to keep you sitting by your new ABIT IN9 32X-MAX Motherboard.