More mainboards based on Intel's new i810 architecture are finding their way into Sharky Extreme's test lab.

Based on the premise that integration equals manufacturing cost reduction, the i810 has been widely adopted by larger mainboard designers. By using Intel's cost effective Socket370 CPU mount along with the elimination of the 440BX's AGP port as well as two DIMM slots, the i810 boards strive to break the low cost system barrier with one master stroke.

Today we're taking a look at the first i810 board (the MX3W) from AOpen, a company whose products have impressed us greatly over the past two years with their stability and feature support.

With jumperless CPU overclocking support, integrated audio and video, and a price tag of just over $100, AOpen's MX3W might appeal to the buyer who is determined to stick to a tight budget while upgrading.

All of the i810 mainboards we've seen to date are diminutive in their physical size. The MX3W continues this trend, as it measures in at a scant 9.5" wide and 8.5" tall.

For such a small work area, AOpen's designers have achieved a good degree of ergonomic usefulness in how they've laid out the MX3W's various features, including its Socket370 ZIF CPU mount. The two DIMM sockets as well as the ATX power connector are easily located and manipulated without much drama.

One gripe we continually have with AOpen's current mainboards however is the location of their floppy drive connector ports. In the case of the MX3W, the port is located snugly up against the AMR (Audio Modem Riser) port which forces the floppy drive's cable to be strung over the CPU on a long journey to its connection.

Save for the floppy connector bizarreness, we found it easy to change peripherals and settings on the MX3W, as well as switch out CPUs at will.