The AOpen AX4C Max is a definite high-end motherboard with tons of onboard features. These include all the top-end i875P options such as Gigabit LAN, 5.1 audio, Firewire, Parallel and Serial ATA (4x) options, along with Serial ATA RAID and a third Parallel IDE channel through the Promise controller. All the performance and overclocking features are present and accounted for, and AOpen also offers a host of safety features such as CPU and AGP Over Current Protection, a dual-BIOS DieHard system, and a resetable fuse for keyboard and USB. The AX4C Max also ships with EzClock software to allow overclocking in a Windows environment, along with the standard BIOS options.
Another interesting addition is the Hercules PCI slot, which supplies independent 3.3V power circuitry for mission critical PCI cards for SCSI or RAID duties. This means that under heavy loading conditions, the bottom-mounted, blue Hercules PCI slot will not be affected by the power requirements of adjacent PCI cards.
The AOpen AX4C Max retail box includes the motherboard, one black Floppy cable, one black ATA-66/100/133 cable, one standard ATA-66/100/133 cable, two SATA cables, one Serial ATA power connector, an I/O Shield, a Firewire bracket, an audio bracket, a USB/Gameport bracket, a driver and utilities CD, a Norton A/V CD, Serial ATA RAID & Intel RAID Accelerator floppy disks, a Quick Install Guide, and a hefty 186-page hardcopy user manual. AOpen is known for their fully loaded retail packs, and the AX4C Max covers off all the bases. The addition of a Serial ATA power connector is a nice touch, as are the jet black floppy and ATA cables.
The layout of the AX4C Max is among the best in the roundup, and is quite well designed when it comes to the important ports and connectors. The two power supply connectors are perfectly positioned, with the primary one on the top-right edge of the board, and the secondary connector placed between the CPU and the DDR sockets. This is exactly where hardcore users like them, as it provides easy access to the power connectors, and ensures that cords will not need to snake over and around heat-producing components.
The floppy drive connector is placed right below the main power cable, thus allowing the AX4C Max to fit easily into large tower configurations, and the Parallel and Serial ATA IDE connectors are just below that. The CPU socket is also well positioned, and the DDR sockets are color coded for easy dual-channel installation.
There are few issues with the layout of the AX4C Max, and these are more irritants than actual design flaws. The chipset fan's power cord is right next to the heatsink clip attachment, which could make installation of some coolers a bit more difficult. There is also a case fan lead adjacent to an IDE connector, which means that clip-on IDE cables should be carefully attached. Other than that, this is a well thought out motherboard, and AOpen deserves high marks for overall layout and design.
The exceptional design of the AOpen AX4C Max makes it a pleasure to install, and even adding in the basic components was simplicity itself. This is also a full-sized board, and it fits perfectly into the standard ATX layout with no board overhang. The BIOS is easy to use, and there was no problem in loading Windows XP Pro and the various software drivers.
AOpen has been making great strides in their overclocking features, and the AX4C Max is another very nice offering. The now-standard 1 MHz overclocking option is present, along with the ability to lock or overclock the AGP/PCI bus clock individually, though no facility for overclocking DDR speeds is present. The CPU, AGP and DDR voltages are quite nice for a performance motherboard, and although better-than standard, a bit higher maximum on the CPU core voltage side would have been appreciated. AOpen really has all their ducks in a row with the AX4C Max, and it offers virtually all the overclocking features an enthusiast could want.
The AOpen AX4C Max is a very impressive motherboard that hits on all cylinders. It offers a wide array of performance, multimedia and safety features, the overclocking options are at the high-end, and the board design is definitely at the top of the class. Overall performance levels are still in the middle of the pack, but the AX4C Max is certainly a product that delivers in a great many areas, including price.
