BIOSTAR Releases the BIH61-AHA Socket LGA1700 Industrial Motherboard with PCI Slots and Legacy IO

[btarunr]

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices today, introduces the BIH61-AHA industrial motherboard, designed for smooth, seamless industrial application from AIOT machines, Edge computing, HMI machine, Digital Signage and more. Built based on the Intel H610 chipset, the BIOSTAR BIH61-AHA motherboard is engineered to support the latest Intel Core i7/i5/i3 processors (LGA1700). Featuring the latest DDR5 technology with support for 2x DDR5-4800 MHz LONG-DIMM up to 96 GB max, it offers extensive customization to meet the intricate needs of various industries.

Targeting a diverse audience, from system integrators looking to build sophisticated AIoT machines to enthusiasts aiming to construct powerful automation or edge computing systems, the BIH61-AHA provides unparalleled connectivity and expansion options. With 10 COM ports, 5 PCI slots, dual Intel GbE LAN ports for reliable and high-speed network communication, extensive USB connectivity with 6x USB2.0 & 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and multiple storage interfaces, including 4x SATA 6 Gb/s and 1x M.2 M-KEY socket. Its support for a wide operating temperature range (0 ~ 60 degrees C) and ATX power input also ensures the motherboard's adaptability in challenging environments.



The BIH61-AHA features robust display output capabilities with VGA/HDMI/DP++ support, making it a perfect choice for digital signage, HMI machines, and edge computing devices.

BIOSTAR's dedication to innovation and quality is evident in the BIH61-AHA motherboard, designed to empower developers and integrators to harness the full potential of their computing solutions in automation, AIoT, and digital signage projects. The motherboard guarantees extended reliability, durability, and system stability, making it an ideal choice for demanding industrial settings with superior BIOSTAR product quality and durability.



For more information, visit the product page.

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[ir_cow]

you would be surprised how hard it is to find a motherboard with more than 1 PCI slot these days. Funny I was just about to buy a 8 COM port card this week too. Maybe I'll convince the boss to buy this instead.

 

[Ferrum Master]

you would be surprised how hard it is to find a motherboard with more than 1 PCI slot these days. Funny I was just about to buy a 8 COM port card this week too. Maybe I'll convince the boss to buy this instead.

Why do you need it and why you imagine it would work? This is such a sloppy PR, they don't care even to list the PCI bridge controller name, that is very important in this game.

 

[LabRat 891]

Why do you need it and why you imagine it would work? This is such a sloppy PR, they don't care even to list the PCI bridge controller name, that is very important in this game.

1st application that comes to mind would be

updating a CCTV system, that has several PCI input cards.

You're spot on on the lacking details.
Merely stating "PCI" and not even "33Mhz 5V PCI 32-bit", was telling.

1st 'new' board that openly states it can do 66+Mhz PCI 32-bit, I will be HIGHLY interested in.

 

[Panther_Seraphin]

1st application that comes to mind would be

updating a CCTV system, that has several PCI input cards.

You're spot on on the lacking details.
Merely stating "PCI" and not even "33Mhz 5V PCI 32-bit", was telling.

1st 'new' board that openly states it can do 66+Mhz PCI 32-bit, I will be HIGHLY interested in.

CCTV, Door control, CNC machining, Data Acquisition to name just a few areas where true PCI/RS232 is needed.

 

[Chaitanya]

you would be surprised how hard it is to find a motherboard with more than 1 PCI slot these days. Funny I was just about to buy a 8 COM port card this week too. Maybe I'll convince the boss to buy this instead.

You will get 2 extra COM port over that 8 port card your were about to procure.

Even among industrial boards its sad that number of COM ports these days is restricted to 2.

 

[mtosev]

I don't remember when was the last time I saw a motherboard with pci slots.

 

[LabRat 891]

I don't remember when was the last time I saw a motherboard with pci slots.

In the 'consumer' and 'enthusiast' spaces, it's long gone. "Industrial application" boards often have "Legacy" I/O (in spades).

My favorite industrial boards, are the ones w/ ISA.
(IIRC, ISA is used for some very old (but very functional) machine automation/control)

 

[Beginner Macro Device]

DDR5 doesn't quite fit there. Target systems rarely do use more than 20ish GB RAM and DDR4 is still much cheaper and much more available, oftentimes being issued in leftover RAM sticks on the owner's hands.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

In the 'consumer' and 'enthusiast' spaces, it's long gone. "Industrial application" boards often have "Legacy" I/O (in spades).

My favorite industrial boards, are the ones w/ ISA.
(IIRC, ISA is used for some very old (but very functional) machine automation/control)

Yerp!

But the catch is most people here are not professionals. Their computers start at gaming and end at RGB, though those are the same things now.

I also agree in putting legacy as "legacy" because it never actually went away. A lot of us in the professional area still need all that stuff and it's still widely used. Console ports, management ports, PCI, and yeah even ISA is a must at certain levels. Just as wile people here gawk over PCI-E storage and speeds even though that won't make their g4m1ng PC any better go up a few levels and SAS over an HBA is still used as it's vastly more reliable.

I'm still pissed about all the thin and light laptops out there now because they don't have what I need when I go into our IDFs and MDFs to do my job so now I roll a cart with me full of all sorts of crap.

 

[Panther_Seraphin]

DDR5 doesn't quite fit there. Target systems rarely do use more than 20ish GB RAM and DDR4 is still much cheaper and much more available, oftentimes being issued in leftover RAM sticks on the owner's hands.

Remember PCI was SDR/DDR1 days primarily, yet there is still a demand now and I bet for at least another 5-10 years in legacy areas. Also DDR4 isnt much cheaper than DDR5 now especially in OEM markets.

 

[Beginner Macro Device]

Also DDR4 isnt much cheaper than DDR5 now especially in OEM markets.

I dunno about OEM markets but I bought 8 8 GB sticks of DDR4 for $100 a couple days ago. 64 GB of DDR5 would've cost me... about 70 percent more at the very least.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

I don't remember when was the last time I saw a motherboard with pci slots.

Enterprise and professional IT is extremely different than mUh g4m1ng PC!!!!!!

PCI, ISA, com ports, VGA, even floppy drives are all still common on systems people use to make money. There's also no RGB or these ludicrus heatsinks that are designed to look cool rather than function. If it needs a heatsink it's just a mass of fins and has a Delta Screamer fan pointed at it.

Just as if you ever catch a glimps at professional monitoring you're going to be shocked to see CRTs all over the place.

Remember PCI was SDR/DDR1 days primarily, yet there is still a demand now and I bet for at least another 5-10 years in legacy areas. Also DDR4 isnt much cheaper than DDR5 now especially in OEM markets.

No, not at all. PCI was still common as fuck well into the DDR2 era even on mUh g4m1ng PC!!!!! nvidia boards. Go look at the 590s for AMD or the 680s for intel and they have gobs of PCI. In that era it was largely soundcards as for a while they just didn't really properly work over PCI-E. Of course g4m3rz never really cared one whit about audio because mUh g4m1ng PC, onboard got slightly better and then every single headset company cranked out something where the DAC/AMP stage was built into the USB connector and internal soundcards died off for the very casual low end side of audio (aka g4m1ng). And people that actually use computers for non casual stuff weren't using internal soundcards to start with. Even into the DDR3 era plenty of x58 boards shipped with PCI slots and I even had z77 and z97 boards that shipped with PCI. I've still got a functional 680i system with dual 8800 ultras on an ASUS Striker Extreme with a Creative PCI soundcard in the closet here.

Once you get professional, industrial, and enterprise you realize nothing every truly goes away. And a lot of these systems just care about gobs and gobs and gobs of IO. Systems for work are completely different from systems for screwing about on.

 

[Wirko]

you would be surprised how hard it is to find a motherboard with more than 1 PCI slot these days. Funny I was just about to buy a 8 COM port card this week too. Maybe I'll convince the boss to buy this instead.

But what's the use of such a board? I understand the need for PCI and RS232 but you can get new industrial S775 boards if old ones fail. If you want to upgrade your equipment a bit, you can get a new S1155 (Sandy Bridge) board - even from Biostar. The EIB7B-AXI has it all, and can run Windows XP native, and probably 2000 and NT4 too (those two were never supported and could be tricky to get running). And the performance of an i7-3770 should be far above what decades-old, millions-worth manufacturing or lab equipment (paired with decades-old software) should ever need, right?

Note, The PCI bridge chip on this S1155 board specified as IT8893, while in this new H610 board, I don't see it in specifications. If you need native PCI, how far in history need you go? Socket 775? Which are the most compatible PCI bridge chips anyway?

 

[Panther_Seraphin]

No, not at all. PCI was still common as fuck well into the DDR2 era even on mUh g4m1ng PC!!!!!

True but things were starting to move away from PCI into AGP/PCI-e. PCI was already being phased out in the consumer market.

Note, The PCI bridge chip on this S1155 board specified as IT8893, while in this new H610 board, I don't see it in specifications. If you need native PCI, how far in history need you go? Socket 775? Which are the most compatible PCI bridge chips anyway?

AM3+ (SB950) and Socket 1155 (Q77/75) was the last that had native PCI support I believe.

 

[bug]

Sorry Biostar, no LPT, no buy

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

True but things were starting to move away from PCI into AGP/PCI-e. PCI was already being phased out in the consumer market.


AM3+ (SB950) and Socket 1155 (Q77/75) was the last that had native PCI support I believe.

No the gaming market. Which is a joke. Snowflake incel white dudes don't define IT. They are just mockable.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Which are the most compatible PCI bridge chips anyway?

None, latency wise they all suck, some suck more some less... ASMEDIA used to suck more.

 

[ir_cow]

But what's the use of such a board? I understand the need for PCI and RS232 but you can get new industrial S775 boards if old ones fail. If you want to upgrade your equipment a bit, you can get a new S1155 (Sandy Bridge) board - even from Biostar. The EIB7B-AXI has it all, and can run Windows XP native, and probably 2000 and NT4 too (those two were never supported and could be tricky to get running). And the performance of an i7-3770 should be far above what decades-old, millions-worth manufacturing or lab equipment (paired with decades-old software) should ever need, right?

Note, The PCI bridge chip on this S1155 board specified as IT8893, while in this new H610 board, I don't see it in specifications. If you need native PCI, how far in history need you go? Socket 775? Which are the most compatible PCI bridge chips anyway?

My work is locked in 1993-1997. Most computers have ISA slots and PCI running windows 2000. Everything is controlled through COMs ports. The problem is a lot of trh PLC software until works on DOS code. The communication software works on anything 32bit... Kinda. I can monitor, but not make any changes.

The very last upgrade was a few P4 computers. Haven't been turned off in 24 years. How long do you expect them to go for?

It would be nice to have one modern computer to run VMs of 2000 instead of a bunch of these P4s

 

[Panther_Seraphin]

No the gaming market. Which is a joke. Snowflake incel white dudes don't define IT. They are just mockable.

RAID controllers, Network Interfaces, Storage interfaces etc all moved over the PCI-e as quick as they could due to the added bandwidth.

Please try harder to be a decent troll as PCI was very much on the back foot from about '08 in a lot of Enterprise systems.

 

[Wirko]

My work is locked in 1993-1997. Most computers have ISA slots and PCI running windows 2000. Everything is controlled through COMs ports. The problem is a lot of trh PLC software until works on DOS code. The communication software works on anything 32bit... Kinda. I can monitor, but not make any changes.

The very last upgrade was a few P4 computers. Haven't been turned off in 24 years. How long do you expect them to go for?

It would be nice to have one modern computer to run VMs of 2000 instead of a bunch of these P4s

Huh. Have you tried to virtualise this setup? Not just PCI, serial ports too can give you trouble if an application requires direct access to them ... I (very vaguely) remember Win 2000 still allowed that but newer Windows didn't.

Sorry Biostar, no LPT, no buy

Get with the times, replace your parallel dot-matrix printer with a real serial dot-matrix printer. One original plus nine carbon copies should be enough for everyone, including bureaucrats!

None, latency wise they all suck, some suck more some less... ASMEDIA used to suck more.

Hm. I suppose the data conversion between PCI and PCIe is simple and the chips alone can't really cause a lot of latency. But it may be the latency inherent to the PCIe interface, and the protocol stack associated with it, plus the drivers, that is to blame. The two chips I checked (Asmedia ASM1083 and ITE IT8893) also both have a PCIe 1.1 x1 interface, which means that any PCIe packet headers will take a relatively long time to get through.

 

[LabRat 891]

Hm. I suppose the data conversion between PCI and PCIe is simple and the chips alone can't really cause a lot of latency. But it may be the latency inherent to the PCIe interface, and the protocol stack associated with it, plus the drivers, that is to blame. The two chips I checked (Asmedia ASM1083 and ITE IT8893) also both have a PCIe 1.1 x1 interface, which means that any PCIe packet headers will take a relatively long time to get through.

There's (at least) 2 Gen1.0a/1.1 x4 PCIe<->PCI-X bridges.
-once commonly used in server/workstation boards, and once found on standalone adapters.

These bridges were 'played with' extensively, for 'new' Voodoo cards and adapters.
(I can't find the articles and pics anymore but, at least 2 folks had pushed factory Voodoo cards to 100+Mhz PCI, and saw improvements every step of the way, using configurable PCIE-PCI bridge chips)

related:

https://www.3dfxzone.it/enboard/index.php?PHPSESSID=uabparbjt5dt44ihv3oeat9pbmvn512g&topic=16658.330

I've been looking for a 4-lane adapter card for *years* to do very silly things* on ancient hardware. Sadly, the PEX8114 adapter has become long-EoL, and I've only ever seen the Diodes Intl. bridge integrated into workstation/server boards.
*I want to slot a PCIe x16 GPU into an ancient (workstation) mobo's PCI(-X 64-bit) 66Mhz.

 

[Ferrum Master]

But it may be the latency inherent to the PCIe interface, and the protocol stack associated with it, plus the drivers, hat is to blame.

You are totally right with that, but some chips fail to work with certain PCI cards either way, we don't know how many clock cycles it takes to translate each PCIe command to PCI and sync it. There are also erratas with each IC thus those come with ugly workarounds.

at least 2 folks had pushed factory Voodoo cards to 100+Mhz PCI, and saw improvements every step of the way, using configurable PCIE-PCI bridge chips

Well exactly why I sold my last native PCI board to a Voodoo collectionner. A ASUS Rampage II GENE X58(one of last great ASUS boards), he also tried adapters etc but those were buggy with already buggy Voodoo5 5500. LGA1366 is best you can have without modern UEFI problem stunts also. I have taken apart some super expensive pro audio controllers, DMX concert light control stations... guess what... a cheery X58 was living inside with a low power Xeon and ECC non reg RAM. Some most expensive instruments like RF equipment testers carry a X86 PC board with attached PCI devices... nobody will replace those. Further devices incorporate custom bridges, like made from SPARTAN 6 FPGA with a PCIe bridge and then you can customize it for what you wish, but considering the older ones, those will be still serviced for decades and PCI wont go away so easy.

 

[LabRat 891]

Well exactly why I sold my last native PCI board to a Voodoo collectionner. A ASUS Rampage II GENE X58(one of last great ASUS boards), he also tried adapters etc but those were buggy with already buggy Voodoo5 5500. LGA1366 is best you can have without modern UEFI problem stunts also. I have taken apart some super expensive pro audio controllers, DMX concert light control stations... guess what... a cheery X58 was living inside with a low power Xeon and ECC non reg RAM. Some most expensive instruments like RF equipment testers carry a X86 PC board with attached PCI devices... nobody will replace those. Further devices incorporate custom bridges, like made from SPARTAN 6 FPGA with a PCIe bridge and then you can customize it for what you wish, but considering the older ones, those will be still serviced for decades and PCI wont go away so easy.

Would I be correct in assuming that the Server-Workstation chipsets derived from X58, would also be native PCI? I really would like some native PCI(-x) 66mhz in my collection, somewhere along the line.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Would I be correct in assuming that the Server-Workstation chipsets derived from X58, would also be native PCI? I really would like some native PCI(-x) 66mhz in my collection, somewhere along the line.

They use the same ICH10R south Bridge, it provides one native 32MHz PCI. If you wish PCI-X 100/133MHz there are versions with companion bridge Intel PXH-V providing it. Like SuperMicro X8SAX (the name stucks for ar reason). That could be your holy grail. Maybe there are newer boards using that PCH, I know it was used in 775 boards also, I haven't seen personally, maybe someone else is.