Overclocking:

    Once again, the 225 wall was hit when overclocking was performed. Honestly, I don't mind in the least that I can't push it much further, since this motherboard is designed to be in a home theater setup and not a high-end gaming rig. The SoftMenu has some basic features to get you going, but don't expect miracles.

Games:

    F.R.A.P.S was used to benchmark the frame rate of the games. All tests are done at 1280x1024.

Conclusion:

    The abit AN-M2HD, without a doubt, is a rock-solid motherboard for the proper intended use. Don't expect to get some massive overclocking numbers out of this, but do expect stable and quiet performance. The BIOS is stocked with plenty of features to lead the CPU and RAM in the correct direction for some overclocking, and that is where I'm going to leave it since this is meant for a home entertainment setup.

    The onboard HDMI port is a major bonus, and the included HDMI to DVI cable is a plus as well. The ability to have onboard HDMI drastically reduces the headache of expansion cards - cards which ultimately generate that unwanted heat we don't want in a HTPC. Also with HD-DVD drives on the down swing in price, along with more monitors/projectors/TV's being equipped with HDMI inputs, the reality of a small scale HTPC setup is not far off.

"The High-Definition Multimedia Interface delivers pure and uncompressed digital video. Watch videos and TV in high definition. It has never been brighter and more vivid. High definition gaming offers the most enthralling and discerning moments in entertainment. The integrated on-chip HDCP key for protected content on Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs makes sure that you can always enjoy the full quality of your movies."

    If you are wanting to build a solid, stable, and small home entertainment system, then the abit AN-M2HD motherboard is a good place to start. I would like to thank abit for sending this item out for VH to review. 

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