Sparse BIOS Settings - Compared to some other boards on the market (not to mention some of Iwill’s other boards), the P4R533-N offers relatively few BIOS settings for those who like to dabble. Arguably the most important for an 850E board -- the ability to manually specify a 3X or 4X RDRAM multiplier -- is present, but little else. Core voltage is adjustable through the BIOS, as is the FSB speed, however settings are limited to a handful, with FSB speeds limited to a maximum of only 156 MHz (624 MHz FSB). This situation could be at least partially remedied with a BIOS update.




Optional Sound Risers - We like the on-board audio, but we feel that the 6-channel analog riser should be standard, with the digital riser as an optional extra. It would increase the cost of the board by a mere dollar or two at worst, and would give everyone 6-channel audio. What’s the point in shipping a board with an on-board 6-channel controller when no riser is included, and only two channels can be used?

Price - Don't get us wrong; you get your money's worth with the P4R533-N. Nevertheless, it is, and will continue to be near the top of the pack in terms of 850E board pricing, and that will certainly factor into most users' decisions.