• i845GE chipset  

This is a traditional product for this company with essential functions and settings. As usual, the board arrived in the OEM package. 

Accessories: 

• Documentation: brief user manual in English; 
• Cables: FDD, 1 ATA66/100/133; 
• Bracket for the rear computer panel; 
• CD containing: 
• drivers; 
• user manual in PDF; 
• DirectX 8.1; 
• Adobe Acrobat Reader; 
• NTI CD-Maker 2000 Standard; 
• RealOne; 
• DFX for RealOne; 
• Macromedia Shockwave 8 Test; 
• Norton Internet Security 2002 with Antivirus; 
• Intel Active Monitor (for system monitoring). 

Usually microATX boards are usually not handy in use, but in this case the minimal set of components make it very convenient to use this board. The weak points are only audio-ins located in front of the PCI and memory modules locked with an inserted video card. It's not difficult to reach the only jumper when the board is already installed. Its functions are shown on the textolite. 

The 2-channel switching voltage regulator incorporates 3 capacitors of 3300 uF, 4 of 100 uF and several less capacious ones. 

The following controllers are integrated: 

• audio controller based on the chipset's capabilities and Analog Devices AD1980 AC'97 codec supporting 5.1 audio systems and having connectors for front audio inputs/outputs; 
• network controller based on the chipset's capabilities and supporting 10BaseT/100BaseTX. 

+5 V supplied in the StandBy mode is indicated with an onboard LED. 

Non-unsoldered connectors: CNR slot. 

The system monitoring is supported by the SMSC LPC47M172-NR chip. What is controlled: 

• processor voltage, +3.3, +5 and +12 V; 
• speed of 2 fans; 
• temperatures of the processor (a built-in sensor) and the board (a built-in sensor). 

There are 2 connectors for adjustable and 1 for unadjustable connection of fans. 

Brief characteristics of the board: memory slots - 2 DDR SDRAM; expansion slots - AGP/ 3 PCI; I/O ports - 1 COM/ LPT/ 2 PS/2/ 6 USB 2.0; dimensions - 245x210 mm. 
 

Settings:
 

We used the BIOS p11 as the latest available version. 

The board can be a good choice for a cheap office computer. 

Test results: 

6 Intel 845GE Based Mainboards 

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