iXBT Labs - Computer Hardware in Detail

Platform

Video

Multimedia

Mobile

Other

Intel D845PEBT2 i845PE Based Mainboard



Out of two Intel's solutions on the i845PE chipset this one looks more interesting though its functions are inferior to the grands in this sphere. We received the board in the OEM package. 

Accessories: 

  • Documentation: concise user manual in English; 
  • Cables: FDD, SATA, ATA66/100/133; 
  • Stereo microphone; 




  • Bracket for the rear computer panel; 
  • 2 CDs containing: 
    • drivers;
    • user guide in PDF; 
    • Intel Active Monitor (for system monitoring) 
    • 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; 
    • Enigma Rising Tide game. 

The layout has typical drawbacks: audio-ins are in front of the PCI, it's difficult to handle the memory modules when a video card is installed and because of multiple cables around the memory. It's not difficult to reach the only jumper when the board is already installed. Its functions are shown on the textolite. 

The 4-channel switching voltage regulator incorporates 3 capacitors of 3300 uF, 4 of 1000 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; 
  • SATA RAID controller based on the Silicon Image Sil3112ACT144 chip supporting RAID 0 and 1 on the SATA150 protocol. 

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

Non-unsoldered connectors: CNR slot, FireWire chip and its connectors. 

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/ 5 PCI; I/O ports - 1 COM/ LPT/ 2 PS/2/ 6 USB 2.0; dimensions - 305x220 mm. 




Adjustment can be carried out with:
 

jumpers and switches Configuration jumper Normal/ Config/ BIOS Recovery
BIOS based on Intel 6.00 Setup of memory timings + CAS Latency, RAS Active To Precharge, RAS to CAS Delay, RAS Precharge
Setup of memory frequency + Auto, DDR266, DDR333
Setup of AGP bus -  
Setup of PCI bus -  
Changeable scaler of AGP and PCI buses -  
Manual assignment of interrupts +  
Changeable FSB frequency + +1%, +2%, +3%
Changeable CPU multiplier + x8-x39
Changeable core voltage -  
Changeable memory voltage -  
Changeable chipset voltage -  
Changeable AGP bus voltage -  

We used the BIOS P06 as the latest available version. 

It's outstanding that the Intel's board officially allows overclocking the system! However, the overclocking settings are rather scanty. On the whole, this is a traditionally stable solution with some pleasant features and a low price, but without any peculiarities (though the high-quality sound section might be considered such). 

Test results: 


 

Dmitry Mayorov (destrax@ixbt.com
 


Write a comment below. No registration needed!


Article navigation:



blog comments powered by Disqus

  Most Popular Reviews More    RSS  

AMD Phenom II X4 955, Phenom II X4 960T, Phenom II X6 1075T, and Intel Pentium G2120, Core i3-3220, Core i5-3330 Processors

Comparing old, cheap solutions from AMD with new, budget offerings from Intel.
February 1, 2013 · Processor Roundups

Inno3D GeForce GTX 670 iChill, Inno3D GeForce GTX 660 Ti Graphics Cards

A couple of mid-range adapters with original cooling systems.
January 30, 2013 · Video cards: NVIDIA GPUs

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1

An external X-Fi solution in tests.
September 9, 2008 · Sound Cards

AMD FX-8350 Processor

The first worthwhile Piledriver CPU.
September 11, 2012 · Processors: AMD

Consumed Power, Energy Consumption: Ivy Bridge vs. Sandy Bridge

Trying out the new method.
September 18, 2012 · Processors: Intel
  Latest Reviews More    RSS  

i3DSpeed, September 2013

Retested all graphics cards with the new drivers.
Oct 18, 2013 · 3Digests

i3DSpeed, August 2013

Added new benchmarks: BioShock Infinite and Metro: Last Light.
Sep 06, 2013 · 3Digests

i3DSpeed, July 2013

Added the test results of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 and AMD Radeon HD 7730.
Aug 05, 2013 · 3Digests

Gainward GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST 2GB Golden Sample Graphics Card

An excellent hybrid of GeForce GTX 650 Ti and GeForce GTX 660.
Jun 24, 2013 · Video cards: NVIDIA GPUs

i3DSpeed, May 2013

Added the test results of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770/780.
Jun 03, 2013 · 3Digests
  Latest News More    RSS  

Platform  ·  Video  ·  Multimedia  ·  Mobile  ·  Other  ||  About us & Privacy policy  ·  Twitter  ·  Facebook


Copyright © Byrds Research & Publishing, Ltd., 1997–2011. All rights reserved.