Another mainboard from the manufacturer, whom we haven't reviewed
yet. Its main difference from "the elder sister" 915M03-G-8EKRS2
is that it supports common DDR400 instead of new "progressive"
DDR2. However, even DDR400 is more than enough for a budget solution
(especially in combination with a dual channel controller). The mainboard
is rather functional for its format, perhaps its only drawback is
the scarcity of PATA connectors (only one actually), but this limitation
is imposed by the chipset as well as by the form factor.
PCB layout is usual and... inconvenient – the form factor dictates its terms. Access to jumpers may be hampered when the mainboard is in a case, their description is provided on the PCB. The 3-phase switching voltage regulator of the processor incorporates three 1800 uF capacitors and eight 560 uF capacitors. The PCB also contains voltage regulators for the PCI-E x16 bus (2x1000 uF) and for memory (4x1000 uF).
The mainboard lacks the AUX-In and Modem-In connectors, which are provided by the PCB layout. Mainboard dimensions – 245x245 mm ("wide" mATX, eight-screw mount, the fore-left PCB edge may sag). The ITE IT8712F-A chip is used to monitor:
CPU and memory voltage, +3.3 and +/-12 V, VBAT
RPM of 2 fans
CPU temperature (by the embedded CPU sensor)
board temperature (by the on-board sensor)
Onboard ports, sockets, and connectors
CPU socket (Socket 775)
4 x DDR SDRAM DIMM (differ by color, grouped in pairs)
1 x PCI-E x16 (with a latch)
1 x PCI-E x1
2 x PCI (32bit, 33MHz)
Power connectors: standard EPS12V (24 pins) and 4-pin connector for 12 V
1 x FDD
1 x IDE (Parallel ATA) – in the chipset
4 x SATA (Serial ATA) – all in the chipset
2 connectors for brackets with additional USB (2.0) ports
Connector for the bracket with an additional FireWire port
1 x CD/DVD audio connector
1 x standard IrDA connector
Connector for a case open sensor
WOL connector (Wake-On-LAN)
TPM connector (Trusted Platform Module)
Headers for additional Audio-Outs and S/PDIF
2 x fan connectors (both with RPM control)
Pay attention that the orientation of this mainboard toward old solutions is
expressed not only by DDR400 memory support but also by a different
balance between the new (PCI Express) and old (PCI) expansion slots:
instead of two PCI-E 1x slots and one PCI slot as in 915M03-G-8EKRS2,
it contains two PCI slots and just one PCI-E 1x.
Back panel (left to right, blockwise)
PS/2 mouse and keyboard
1 x LPT, 1 x COM, 1 x VGA (D-Sub)
2 x USB and FireWire
2 x USB and 1 x RJ-45 (Gigabit Ethernet)
3 x Audio (Mic-In, Line-In, Front)
3 x Audio (Center/Sub, Rear, Side)
Package Contents
Standard design box
Documentation (in English):
user's guide
SATA RAID setup guide
poster with short instructions how to install and setup the mainboard
Cables:
ATA66/100/133
1 x FDD
1 x SerialATA (with a SATA power converter)
Rear panel bracket
Floppy with SATA RAID drivers
CD with software:
mainboard drivers
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Norton Internet Security 2004
Foxconn SuperUtilities
DirectX 9.0b
One can note the SATA power converter (useful accessory for the owners of power units without Serial ATA power connectors) and Norton Internet Security 2004 – fairly good personal firewall (the latest version). Foxconn SuperUtilites is a set of utilities, which functionality can be easily guessed from their titles: SuperBoot, SuperBIOS-Protect, SuperStep (overclocking), SuperLogo, SuperUpdate.
Integrated Controllers
Avance Logic ALC880 HD Audio Codec supporting 7.1 surround sound audio, with front line-in/out and S/PDIF jacks
Network controller based on the Realtek RTL8110S-32 chip supporting 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T
FireWire based on the VIA VT6307 chip supporting two FireWire ports
It's interesting to see the FireWire support in the mainboard of the mATX format, which is traditionally associated with inexpensive budget solutions.
