AOpen AX64Pro Apollo Pro 133A Slot-1 ATX

AnandTech Motherboard Rating

Performance

The AX64Pro comes in a few percentage points below average and up to 10% behind the class leaders.

Price

Historically, AOpen has never been the cost effective option, but normally the higher cost of their products has been masked by a clear superiority to the competition. This time, the AX64Pro is not clearly superior, but the quality level does partially justify the price increase.

Stability

The AX64Pro's stability is exceeded in the Apollo Pro 133A market only by the ASUS P3V4X.

Quality

AOpen has always been associated with quality and the AX64Pro reflects this association quite well. Even down to the 2200uF low ESR capacitors, AOpen puts their all into this board just like they would any other.

Features

The AX64Pro offers everything you would expect from a VIA Apollo Pro 133A board. By going with the 686A Super South Bridge and offering CPU core voltage tweaks in the BIOS, the AX64Pro would place it above average. Unfortunately, the 4 PCI slots hold it back. We'd also like to see more FSB settings.

Layout

The AX64Pro's layout is better than many we have seen, including previous AOpen boards.

Availability

AOpen boards are typically relatively easy to find among online, and even local, retailers. Don't expect to find them at something like a Best Buy or Circuit City, but many smaller local shops will have them. Besides, since it's so easy to find online, there's always a fall back.

Documentation & Software Bundle

Still no printed manual from AOpen, but the included Easy Installation Poster and PDF manual are both excellent.