Universal abit
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| Former type | Subsidiary of Universal Scientific Industrial |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware Electronics |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Defunct | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Neihu, Taiwan |
| Key people | Thore Welling, Marketing Director |
| Products | Motherboards, graphics cards, Small form factor, Wifi |
| Website | www.abit.com.tw/ |
Universal abit (formerly ABIT) was a computer components manufacturer, based in Taiwan, active since the late 1980s. Its core product line were motherboards aimed at the overclocker market. Abit experienced serious financial problems in 2005. The brand name "ABIT" and other intangible properties, including patents and trademarks, acquired by Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd. (USI) in May 2006.
Universal Scientific Industrial, the parent firm closed the brand as of 31 March 2009.[1]
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[edit] History
ABIT was founded in 1989. In the year 1991, they had become the fastest growing motherboard manufacturer, exceeding US$10,000,000 in sales. In 2000, ABIT underwent an IPO on the TAIEX stock exchange. To keep pace with their "good" sales figures, they opened up a state-of-the-art factory in Suzhou, China, and moved to new headquarters in Neihu, Taipei. The number of motherboards sold was claimed[cite this quote] to have doubled between 2000 and 2001.
On December 15, 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 capital[clarification needed] of only HK$2. 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.[citation needed]
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,[2] since the company had financial problems at this time, partly due to a class action lawsuit involving faulty capacitors on their products.,[3] but also because of marketing highly technical products to the general public while offering longer-than-average warranties and generous return policies.
On January 25, 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-competition restrictions. ABIT sold its own office building in Taipei to Deutsche Bank in order to raise money to cut its debt.
Following USI's acquisition of the motherboard business, the remaining divisions of ABIT switched to distributing components and networking products, while using its Suzhou, China plant only to offer some motherboard contract manufacturing services.
The acquired motherboard business and the 'ABIT' brand name are 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.
Universal Abit has announced that it will close on December 31, 2008, and officially cease to exist on January 1, 2009.[1] By 2009, Abit will no longer sell motherboards and may focus on CE field. Warranties will still be handled by Abit for another 3 years or so.
[edit] Location
Universal abit is located in Neihu, Taiwan with regional offices in the China, USA, Iran and the Netherlands. Due to recent moves, the numbers for the company have changed drastically. All numbers from the website as well as automated messages are incorrect.
[edit] Technical achievements
ABIT had a reputation among PC enthusiasts for producing motherboards that support overclocking. In the late 1990s, the company introduced their Softmenu feature, one of the first jumperless CPU configuration systems that enable overclocking to be adjusted from the BIOS instead of fiddling with 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 realtime while the OS is running. By providing instant feedback on the results of a particular overclock setting, μGuru greatly reduces the time required to discover optimal settings. μGuru also provides a special connector for a panel that can be installed in a 5¼" bay which will display current speed and voltage settings. They were also one of the first motherboard manufacturers to enable undervolting.
ABIT was the first motherboard manufacturer to introduce 133 MHz FSB operation for the Intel BX chipset with the aptly named AB-BX133.[citation needed] ABIT also achieved symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) operation for Intel's Mendocino Celeron CPU, in their BP6 motherboard.[4] This was an achievement because Intel had blocked SMP operation in the Celeron.
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 regulators and expel it out of the system through the rear I/O panel.
During Computex 2008, Universal abit unveiled the FunFab P80 Digital Photo Frame and Printer. It is the world's first digital photo frame with an integrated high quality photo printer which can also connect directly to a mobile phone.[citation needed]
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b "Abit’s Death Date Reportedly Set: 31st of December, 2008. Abit to Close Its Doors Forever on the Last Day of the Year". http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mainboards/display/20081217051651_Abit_s_Death_Date_Reportedly_Set_31st_of_December_2008.html.
- ^ "Wesley Fink". AnandTech.com. 2005-06-10. http://www.anandtech.com/tradeshows/showdoc.aspx?i=2443&p=6. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
- ^ "Class Action Lawsuit against Abit". badcaps.net. 2005-01-21. http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=394. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ^ BP6 motherboard overview at Abit-USA.com; accessed 13 October 2006.
[edit] General sources
- 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.
- Abit Press Office, "Abit announced a merger with Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd. (USI).", Abit.com.tw, 25 January 2006.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Universal abit |
- ABIT worldwide distribution partners
- Abit FTP in Taiwan USA Europe- for the most up-to-date drivers.
