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Introduction
If you've taken a look at my recent ABIT AA8 DuraMAX
review, you might have come away thinking that you'd like to invest in some LGA775 action, but you don't want to jump in with both feet, something that the AA8's full platform nature would require you to do. Performance analysis of the new platform often points to the memory controller, specifically when it has to drive DDR-II memory, being the main reason for the new platform's inability to grind out any kind of meaningful lead over Canterwood and Springdale. So what if you could hop onto the new platform with your existing DDR memory, keeping almost everything else that's good about it?
ABIT have just that user in mind with their AG8. The differences between the AA8 and the AG8 are easy to comprehend. Swap the Alderwood northbridge for a Grantsdale one, that bridge fully supporting DDR memory. Swap the Realtek ALC880 HD Audio CODEC on the AA8 for an ALC658 on the AG8, to differentiate the products a bit further. That's it. The AG8 is simply an AA8 that supports DDR memory with the sound solution downgraded slightly; everything else is intact, including the 4-port Matrix Storage SATA AHCI controller, all the PCI Express expansion ports, and the LGA775 socket.
So while the upgrade hassles in moving to the new platform are present, such as sourcing a PCI Express graphics card and choosing a CPU that makes it worth your while, at least you can take your low latency DDR with you when you jump.
Let's take a closer look, comparing it to the AA8 along the way.
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