Editing ABIT BP6 (section)

{{Short description|ATX motherboard released by ABIT in 1999}}
[[File:Abit-BP6.JPG|thumb|ABIT BP6 with unpopulated processor sockets]]
[[File:Abit-bp6 rear-IO.jpeg|thumb|ABIT BP6 [[PC System Design Guide#Color coding scheme for connectors and ports|PC-99 colored]] peripheral connectors]]
[[File:Abit dual celeron pc motherboard.jpg|thumb|ABIT BP6 with CPUs and [[heat sink]]s]]
The '''ABIT BP6''' is an [[ATX]] [[motherboard]] released by [[Universal Abit|ABIT]] in 1999. It was the first motherboard to allow the use of two unmodified Intel [[Celeron#Mendocino|Celeron]] processors in dual [[symmetric multiprocessing]] (SMP) configuration. This combined with its [[overclocking]] capabilities made it a popular option among computer enthusiasts.<ref name="ars">{{cite web |url=http://archive.arstechnica.com/reviews/3q99/bp6/bp6-1.html|title=Abit BP6 Dual Socket-370 Motherboard |website=[[Ars Technica]] |author1=Gonzo |last2=Fisher |first2=Ken "Cæsar" |access-date=2017-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213185344/http://archive.arstechnica.com/reviews/3q99/bp6/bp6-1.html|archive-date=2016-02-13|url-status=dead}}</ref> The BP6 has been credited as the product that made multi-processor systems affordable for mainstream users,<ref name="abitmobo">{{cite web|url=http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/mobos_mattered_most|title=Mobos that Mattered the Most |date=2010-10-14 |last=Ung|first=Gordon Mah |website=[[Maximum PC]]| publisher=[[Future US, Inc.]]| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319073821/http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/mobos_mattered_most |archive-date=2015-03-19 |access-date=2017-07-19}}</ref> because prior to its release the expense of any multi-processor configuration made it a feature only to be considered for workstation-class systems.

The BP6 was based on the [[Intel 440BX|Intel Seattle 440BX]] chipset, consisting of the 82443BX [[Northbridge (computing)|Northbridge]] and the 82371AB [[Southbridge (computing)|Southbridge]].

Processors that are supported by the BP6 in SMP configuration are the [[PPGA]] [[Socket 370]] [[Celeron#Mendocino|Celeron]] processors (300–533&nbsp;MHz). Later [[Pentium III]] and Celeron [[Pentium III#Coppermine|Coppermine]] models can also operate on the BP6, albeit only in single processor configuration with the use of aftermarket socket adaptors. Intel never intended the Celeron to be able to operate in SMP, and later-generation Celeron processors had their SMP interface disabled, restricting the feature to the higher-end [[Pentium III]] and [[Xeon]] product lines.

The motherboard also features two extra [[Hard disk drive|HDD]] ports, one with the HPT366 [[Ultra DMA]]/66 adapter fitted on the mainboard itself. This allows up to eight [[Integrated drive electronics|IDE]] compatible drives to operate at the interface's maximum speed.

The motherboard features ''ABIT SoftMenu''<ref name="bp6overclock">{{cite web|url=http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/mainboards/display/abit-bp6.html |title=ABIT BP6 Review |last1=Gavrichenkov |first1=Ilya |date=1999-08-24 |website=X-bit labs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122205232/http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/mainboards/display/abit-bp6.html |archive-date=2016-11-22 |access-date=2017-07-19}}</ref> [[BIOS]] extension which allow for [[Jumper (computing)|jumper]]-less adjustment of system parameters such as system bus speed, CPU & [[Accelerated Graphics Port|AGP]] bridge multipliers, voltages from inside the BIOS and [[PC-99]] coloring.

The BP6, and many other of ABIT's motherboards produced between 1999 and 2005, were victims of the [[capacitor plague]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=February 2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rwIAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA24 |title=Busting Caps |work=Maximum PC |publisher=Future Publishing |page=24 |via=Google Books}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|+ Specification<ref name="ars" />
|-
| CPU socket || 2× [[Socket 370]]
|-
| Chipset || i440 BX
|-
| [[Expansion card]]s || 1× [[Accelerated Graphics Port|AGP]] 2x, 5× [[Peripheral Component Interconnect|PCI]] and 2× [[Industry Standard Architecture|ISA]] (1 PCI-ISA shared)
|-
| [[RAM]] || 3× [[DIMM]] slots, maximum 768 MB [[SDRAM]]
|-
| IDE support || 4× Ultra ATA/66, 4× Ultra ATA/33 devices
|-
| Peripheral || 2× USB 1.1, 2× [[RS-232]], 1× [[Parallel port]]
|}