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Intel Desktop Board DQ965GF
by safari004
I have used this motherboard for some time, and would like to share my opinion about this board.
Intel DQ965GF is based on Intel Q965 chip-set which is targeted at large organizations and business corporates. It contains features most suited for business activities. It has a number of advanced features. It also contain ... integrated graphics, which helps in building cost effective systems. I will be discussing some of the prominent features.
General Information:
* Micro ATX Form Factor(24.4 / 24.4 cm)
* Intel VPro Technology
* Support for Pentium 4, Celeron D, Pentium D, Core 2 Duo
* Processor Socket: LGA 775
* Bus Speed : 1066 MHz
* Raid Support
Other Information:
* RAM Technology: DDR2
* Max RAM Support: 8 GB
* Video: Intel GMA3000
* Audio: High Definition 5.1 Channel
* Gigabit Ethernet
Features:
* Support for Hyper-Threading Technology
* Trusted Platform Module
* Intel Matrix Raid TEchnology
* Lead Free
* Warranty: 3 Years
I found this motherboard very good for office use. As it is a micro ATX motherboard, it can be installed in a small form factor casing, which can save a lot of space.
It has got support for a number of processors ranging from Pentium 4's to Core 2 Duo's. It support Hyper-Threading technology for the old P4's. It also support 64-bit computing. The Gigabit Ethernet is very handy in office environment, as all the systems are connected to each other.
This motherboard supports Intel VPro and TPM technology for data security. It also contain Intel Active Management for enhanced management. The motherboard is also not that expensive(£70 to £75), which means it is a very cost effective solution for enterprises. It comes with 3 years warranty from Intel, which is always good to have. The motherboard is also very energy efficient, helping keep the electricity bills down!
In short this motherboard is a very good choice for business environment. I strongly recommend this motherboard for potential buyers.
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Asus A7V8X-MX SE
by codiak
I bought this board about 18 months ago to build a fairly cheap upgrade computer for a friend of mine, they are a very basic user and so as most of the required devices are on-board e.g graphics / sound, this was a good choice for the price
On opening the box you are presented with the manual, a driver cd-rom, motherboard back ... plate, Asus Case sticker and the usual HDD and floppy cables. Oh yes did I mention the board too, nicely wrapped in an anti-static bag.
I suppose it's at this point that I should list some of the features:
333 MHz FSB
2GB Max Memory
VIA KM400 Chipset
Socket A - Athlon XP Support up to 2.25 GHz
USB 2.0
Integrated Graphics, LAN and Sound.
The A7V8X-MX SE is a good choice in my opinion, I have built numerous machines over the years and found this board very easy to work with as there is ample room, this board takes full advantage of the Micro ATX board width and is not at all cramped. Its also good value for money and from a good quality manufacturer.
So after a brief stint with the screwdriver the board was installed
I set the DIP switches to support 166 MHz CPU Bus as I was installing an AMD Athon XP 2600+ I do have a problem with DIP switches as this option can easily be set in the BIOS on many other boards. I have seen in the past some people who fail to set switches or even jumpers and wonder why the performance suffers. Ive even pointed somethin like this out aftery they have been using a system for years!
Ok processor installed, then the memory, Floppy Disk, Hard Disk, DVD-Rom, plug in the cables for each device and presto, the PC works fine first time.
I was able to install Windows XP without a hitch and the drivers provided were more than adequate for the job.
(one point to make here, standard AMD CPU coolers and most regular coolers will fit here fine, but large overclockers coolers will not due to the location of capacitors on the motherboard) not that anyone would seriously ever overclock a board liek this anyway.
So moving on, this board provides the user with support for all of the AMD Duron, Athlon, Athlon XP, and Sempron processor ranges, up to 2800+ running on a Front Side Bus speed of 333 MHz. This does however prevent the user from upgrading in the future to an Athlon XP 3000+ or 3200+ which both require a 400 MHz Front Side Bus.
These are valid reasons why some users might want to avoid buying this board. But in this instance the requirement for a cheap upgrade computer that most likely won't be upgraded it ticked the boxes.
That aside the board offers 5.1 surround sound, 6x USB (if your case or back plate has a cable support) Front Panel Audio if supported by your case, Integrated graphics along with an AGP 8x slot for future expansion and full support for AMD processors ftom Duron to Sempron 2800+ on Socket A.
It can support up to 2GB of RAM and up to 4 IDE devices.
With 3x PCI slots there is also room to fit upgrades such as SATA support. TV Card or even a Wireless LAN Card.
This board is not aimed at the PC enthusiast despite coming from brand such as ASUS but that said it is well made and has some great features.
I have had this board running in my friends PC now for over 18 months and its still going strong. If this board had FSB 400 support and done away with the dip switches I would score it higher, but if things such as that dont bother you and you are looking for reliable board thats easy to work with then this is the board for you.
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Asrock P4I45GL
by norris
Really good board for the money, I only spent £40 on it as part of a system rebuild. I needed a mobo which was good value, could support a P4 processor and PC2700 Ram and thought this fitted the bill perfectly. I was actually very surprised by how well featured the board is. I fitted a P4 2.0Ghz Processor, 512Mb PC2700 Ram, 60Gb Hard ... Drive, DVD Rom Drive and floppy. I housed it all in a case I had knocking round.
Total build time was not more than 30 minutes, and everything worked first time. The Mobo allowed me to overclock the CPU to 2.3Ghz and still remained stable. Installed Win XP Pro in about 40 minutes and system was complete!
The only real drawback to this board is the lack of expansion. There is no AGP slot, so you have to make do with the onboard graphics. They are pretty good though, and help it to perform most tasks easily. You won't be able to play the latest games on a system built arounf the motherboard unless you get a PCI graphics card, and thankfully there have been some decent GeForce FX ones come out recently. I actually got quite attached to the machine and didn't want to give it back, it was mch more stable than my Athlon XP2700+ which is supposed to be a powerhouse! There are 3 PCI slots vacant, 4 USB 2.0 ports and the option to bring 2 more to the front. It supports CPUs of 400/533Mhz FSBs. It shouldn't actually support PC2700, but if you run the CPUs FSB at 533 instead of 400Mhz it works.
Documentation was clear and useful, drivers worked niceley. All cables included and everything felt solid. Hats off to Asus, their so called budget brand is a real winner.
Anyone who want's to build a system should consider using AsRock mobos. They are cheap, reliable and good quality. They may cost a bit more than some other budget brands, but you are paying for the extra quality. PC Chips may have the cheapest boards out there, but I like to build systems on stronger foundations than sand!
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