Editing Universal Abit

{{short description|Taiwanese computer components manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
| name     = Universal ABIT Co., Ltd
| logo     = [[File:Universal Abit logo 2006.png|New ABIT corporate logo]]
| type     = Subsidiary of [[Universal Scientific Industrial]]
| foundation       = {{Start date and age|1989}}
| defunct          = {{end date and age|2008}}
| location_city    = [[Neihu]]
| location_country = [[Taiwan]]
| key_people       = Thore Welling<br />([[Marketing Director]])
| industry         = [[Computer hardware]]<br />[[Electronics]]
| products         = [[Digital photo frame|Digital Photo Frames]]<br />[[Motherboard]]s<br />[[Graphics Card]]s<br />[[Router (computing)|Routers]]<br />[[Server (computing)|Server Hardware]]<br />[[Small form factor (desktop and motherboard)|Small Form Factor]]<br />[[Wi-Fi]]
| market cap       = 
| revenue          = 
| operating_income = 
| net_income       = 
| num_employees    = 
| homepage         = http://www.abit.com.tw (defunct) <br />
http://abit.ws (mirror/clone)
}}

'''Universal ABIT Co., Ltd''' (formerly '''ABIT Computer Corporation''') was a computer components manufacturer, based in [[Taiwan]], active since the 1980s. Its core product line were [[motherboard]]s aimed at the [[Overclocking|overclocker]] market. ABIT experienced serious financial problems in 2005. The brand name "ABIT" and other [[Intangible property|intangible properties]], including [[Patent|patents]] and [[Trademark|trademarks]], were acquired by Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd. (USI) in May 2006.<ref name="merge">{{Cite news |title= ABIT Announces Merger with USI: Long-term strategic partnership marks new chapter for ABIT |work= Press release |date= 25 January 2006  |url= http://www.abit-usa.com/news/2006/20060125.php |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060212122403/http://www.abit-usa.com/news/2006/20060125.php |archive-date= 12 February 2006 |access-date= 23 July 2013 }}</ref>

The [[Holding company#Parent company|parent firm]] discontinued the brand as of 31 March 2009.<ref name=xbit>{{cite web|url=http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mainboards/display/20081217051651_Abit_s_Death_Date_Reportedly_Set_31st_of_December_2008.html | title=Abit's Death Date Reportedly Set: 31st of December, 2008. Abit to Close Its Doors Forever on the Last Day of the Year | publisher=X-bit labs | date=17 December 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814102804/http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mainboards/display/20081217051651_Abit_s_Death_Date_Reportedly_Set_31st_of_December_2008.html | archive-date=14 August 2010}}</ref>

[[File:ABIT Logo.svg|right|thumb|Classic ABIT Logo]]

== History ==
ABIT was founded in 1989. In 1991, the company had become the fastest growing motherboard manufacturer, claiming [[United States dollar|US$]]10 million in sales.<ref>{{Cite web |title= About ABIT: Company profile |work= Web site |url= http://abit-usa.com/html/about.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date= 21 December 1997 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/19971221083041/http://abit-usa.com/html/about.htm  |access-date= 23 July 2013 }}</ref>
In 2000, ABIT underwent an [[initial public offering]] (IPO) on the [[Taiwan Capitalization Weighted Stock Index|TAIEX]] [[stock exchange]]. To keep pace with their "good" sales figures, they opened a factory in [[Suzhou]], [[China]], and moved to new headquarters in [[Neihu District|Neihu]], [[Taipei]]. The number of motherboards sold was claimed to have doubled between 2000 and 2001.{{citation needed|date=October 2010}}

Abit chose to outsource two low-end boards for trial production from June 2002 to [[Elitegroup Computer Systems]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/Article.asp?datePublish=2002/07/19&pages=14&seq=85 | title=Abit outsources low-end mobo products to Elitegroup | publisher=DIGITIMES | date=19 July 2002 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802034914/http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/Article.asp?datePublish=2002%2F07%2F19&pages=14&seq=85 | archive-date=2 August 2002 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Confirmation of the [[outsourcing]] move was made public in July 2002, accounting for 10% of Abit's motherboard shipments for the first model, and by August 2002, this would increase to 15-20% for the second model, for the company's niche products, such as [[server (computing)|servers]] and [[router (computing)|routers]], Abit's factory in [[Taoyuan District|Taoyuan]], Taiwan factory will then serve as their base.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/Article.asp?datePublish=2002/07/30&pages=14&seq=89 | publisher=DIGITIMES | title=Abit: Likely to consider outsourcing all mobo production to ECS | date=30 July 2002 | access-date=9 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/abit-likely-to-consider-outsourcing-mobo-production-to-ecs,news-5774.html | publisher=Tom's Hardware | title=Abit likely to consider outsourcing mobo production to ECS | date=30 July 2002 | access-date=10 March 2015}}</ref>

Abit had somewhat of a blow in March 2003, when Oskar Wu, a leading engineer on the famous ABIT NF7-S motherboard, [[Resignation|resigned]] after the [[NForce]] series to become head of the LANParty range at competitor [[DFI]].<ref name="The 0scar Wu BIOS revisited">{{cite news|url=http://www.madshrimps.be/articles/article/865/DFI-X48-T3RS-review-redefining-the-high-end-/3#axzz3Tflhakyd | publisher=Mad Shrimps | title=The 0scar Wu BIOS revisited | date=16 November 2008 | access-date=10 March 2015}}</ref>

On 15 December 2004, the [[Taiwan Stock Exchange]] downgraded ABIT's stock due to questionable [[accounting]] practices. Investigations revealed that the majority of their import/export business was conducted through seven companies, all located at the same address and each of which had a [[Financial capital|capital]] of only [[Hong Kong dollar|HK$]]2.<ref name="ABIT Keeps Supplying Mainboards">{{cite web | url=http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/other/display/20041221142822.html | title=ABIT Keeps Supplying Mainboards Amid Accounting Scandal | publisher=X-bit labs |date=21 December 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123223446/http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/other/display/20041221142822.html |archive-date=23 November 2007}}</ref> This made it easy to inflate the reported number of motherboards sold. The [[Hong Kong]] media also reported that the management was being investigated for [[embezzling]] funds from the company.<ref name="Abit stock downgraded">{{cite news|url=http://www.digitimes.com/mobos/a20041215B2074.html | publisher=DIGITIMES | title=Abit stock downgraded to requiring full delivery | date=15 December 2004 | access-date=7 March 2015}}</ref>

In June 2005, ABIT partnered with Wan Hai Industries. This [[container shipping]] company, also a principal investor in [[China Airlines]], brought the company much needed capital,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/1709/6 | publisher=AnandTech | title=Abit Discusses their Finances and Future | date=10 June 2005 | access-date=1 September 2008}}</ref> since the company had financial problems at this time, partly due to a [[class action lawsuit]] involving [[Capacitor plague|faulty capacitors]] on their products,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=394|title=Class Action Lawsuit against Abit|publisher=badcaps.net|date= 21 January 2005 |access-date=2010-11-16}}</ref> but also because of marketing highly technical products to the general public while offering longer-than-average [[warranties]] and generous [[Return policy|return policies]].{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

On 25 January 2006, ABIT announced that USI intended to purchase ABIT Computer's motherboard business and brand and announced a special [[shareholders' meeting]] to discuss the sale of ABIT's Neihu building, changing ABIT's company name, the disposition of the company's assets, and the release of the directors from [[Non-compete clause|non-competition restrictions]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usi.com.tw/press_content.asp?NID=204 | title=USI Announces to acquire motherboard division of ABIT computer | publisher=Universal Scientific Industrial | date=25 January 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060426050038/http://www.usi.com.tw/press_content.asp?NID=204 | archive-date=26 April 2006}}</ref><ref name="USI and ABIT form">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytech.com/ABIT+Gets+a+Shot+in+the+Arm/article1354.htm | publisher=DailyTech | title=USI and ABIT form new joint venture company | date=21 March 2006 | access-date=27 February 2015}}</ref> ABIT sold its own office building in Taipei to [[Deutsche Bank]] in order to raise money to cut its debt.<ref name="toms">{{cite news|url=http://www.tomshardware.com/news/abit-motherboard-exit-universal,6278.html | publisher=Tom's Hardware | title=Universal Abit Reportedly Leaving Motherboard Market | date=29 August 2008 | access-date=23 July 2013}}</ref>

Following USI's acquisition of the motherboard business, the remaining divisions of ABIT switched to distributing components and [[Networking hardware|networking]] products, while using its [[Suzhou]], China plant only to offer some motherboard contract manufacturing services.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

The acquired motherboard business and the 'ABIT' brand name were used by USI under the new brand name '''Universal Abit'''. In the US, it was known as Universal Abit USA Corporation. The old company, ABIT Computer Corporation (USA), is now dissolved and is no longer in existence.<ref name="Abit and USI Merge">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytech.com/Abit+and+USI+Merge++Exclusive+Interview/article440.htm | publisher=DailyTech | title=Abit and USI Merge – Exclusive Interview | date=25 January 2006 | access-date=27 February 2015}}</ref>

Universal Abit later announced that it would close on 31 December 2008, and officially cease to exist on 1 January 2009.<ref name="xbit" />
By 2009, Abit no longer sold motherboards.<ref name="toms" />

Universal Abit was located in [[Neihu District|Neihu]], [[Taiwan]] with regional offices in [[China]], [[United States|USA]], [[Iran]] and the [[Netherlands]].

== Technical achievements ==
ABIT had a reputation among [[PC enthusiast|PC enthusiasts]] for producing motherboards that support [[overclocking]].<ref name="toms" /> In the late 1990s, the company introduced their ''Softmenu'' feature, one of the first [[Jumper (computing)|jumperless]] CPU configuration systems that enable overclocking to be adjusted from the [[BIOS]] instead of fiddling with [[Jumper (computing)|jumpers]]. Softmenu was later extended with the development of the ''μGuru'' chip. μGuru is a custom [[microprocessor]] on Abit motherboards which, in conjunction with ABIT software, gives the ability to modify overclocking settings in real-time while the [[operating system|OS]] is running. By providing instant feedback on the results of a particular overclock setting, μGuru reduced the time required to discover optimal settings. μGuru provided a special connector for a panel in a 5¼" [[drive bay]] to display CPU speed and voltage settings. They were also one of the first motherboard manufacturers to enable [[Dynamic voltage scaling|undervolting]].{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

ABIT was the first motherboard manufacturer to introduce 133&nbsp;MHz [[front-side bus|FSB]] operation for the [[Intel]] BX chipset with the aptly named AB-BX133.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/593 | publisher=AnandTech | title=ABIT BX133-RAID i440BX Socket-370 ATX | date=28 July 2000 | access-date=7 March 2015}}</ref> ABIT also achieved [[symmetric multiprocessing]] (SMP) operation for Intel's [[Celeron#Mendocino|Mendocino]] [[Celeron]] CPU, in their [[ABIT BP6|BP6]] motherboard. This was an achievement because Intel had blocked [[Symmetric multiprocessing|SMP]] operation in the Celeron.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

In 2004, they introduced the OTES cooling system. This [[heat pipe]] based cooling system is intended to transfer heat from the chipset or the motherboard's [[Voltage regulator module|voltage regulators]] and expel it out of the system through the rear [[I/O]] panel.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

During [[Computex]] 2008, Universal Abit unveiled the FunFab P80 Digital Photo Frame and Printer. It integrated a [[photo printer]] directly to a [[mobile phone]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tomshardware.com/news/abit-funfab-photo-printer-computex,5588.html | publisher=Tom's Hardware | title=Abit Unveils The FunFab P80 Digital Photo Frame And Printer | date=4 June 2008 | access-date=7 March 2015}}</ref>

== Products ==
<gallery heights="90" widths="120">
Abit NF7 Rev. 1.0 2004-06-24.jpg|Abit NF7 Rev. 1.0 [[nForce2]] chipset
Abit Siluro MX200 2007-07-01.jpg|Abit Siluro [[GeForce2]] MX200 Graphic card
Abit Air Pace PCIe - 3347190241.jpg|Abit Air Pace [[PCIe]] [[Wi-Fi]] card
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
* S. Chen, S. Shen. "Abit cuts debts by selling properties, but trouble remains", DigiTimes.com, 28 December 2005.
* E. Wang. "Abit reaches tentative agreement with creditor banks", DigiTimes.com, 21 January 2005.
* E. Wang. "Abit stock downgraded to requiring full delivery", DigiTimes.com, 15 December 2004.

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Universal abit}}
* [http://abit.ws/ Archive of the Abit Website prior to closure]
* [http://91.121.194.115 Archive of the Abit FTP Server prior to closure] (including BIOS updates, Manuals and proprietary Abit software)

{{Portal|Taiwan|Companies}}
{{Electronics industry in Taiwan}}

[[Category:1989 establishments in Taiwan]]
[[Category:2008 disestablishments in Taiwan]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1989]]
[[Category:Companies disestablished in 2008]]
[[Category:Computer companies of Taiwan]]
[[Category:Computer hardware companies]]
[[Category:Electronics companies of Taiwan]]
[[Category:Motherboard companies]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Taiwanese brands]]