Conclusion
The SOYO has proved itself to be a capable performer in almost every area. It's presented well and looks the part thanks to its dark-brown PCB. The layout is generally good if you ignore the ill-conceived AGP card retention system. The CPU retention system, however, is a class act. I'm not sure about the RAID functions on this motherboard. Whether SOYO felt a little concerned about the real estate available on the motherboard or for some other reason, I feel as if a single RAID port whilst better than none at all, is bit of a letdown. A 2-channel HPT372 solution would have been so much nicer. More and more home users are using multiple drives and I'd have given up the S-ATA port for another IDE port.
I'd also have liked to have seen brackets provided that would maximise the 6 USB2.0 on offer - even a single bracket would have done. I feel as if two ports, as provided on this motherboard, aren't enough for today's average PC.
What I do like, though, is the inclusion of on-board LAN and decent on-board sound from the folk at CMI. It's a notch above what many manufacturers provide. The provision for 6 PCI slots is good. Expansion should be easy on this motherboard. The overall styling and board presentation is good. I like the way the on-board components contrast well with the dark PCB colour.
Performance-wise, the SOYO P4I is robust. Despite clocking the CPU at a slower speed than most, it was able to keep up with the other motherboards on test here. I also have no complaints of the board's stability. It was excellent through each benchmark. In fact I'd go further to say that SOYO boards are the most stable I've ever reviewed. The BIOS deserves praise too. Whilst not giving you component-frying voltages like some, it does give you enough juice to appease most enthusiasts. I also like the 4 fan headers provided as standard.
In summation, the SOYO SY-P4I 845PE is another good example of an Intel-based motherboard. The only trouble is that there's already a number of excellent motherboards that are vying for your cash. At around £115 it represents good value. Recommended.
Highs
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Extremely stable. A SOYO trait
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Aesthetically pleasing
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Performance is good
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Decent BIOS and voltages
Lows
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I'd have liked full-blown IDE RAID
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Competition is intense
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No extra USB brackets provided
Overall rating - 7.5/10.
