Intel is starting to supply budget chipsets P31 and G31. Chipsets Intel g31 ich7 chipset

The 775th socket is far from new. For the whole hour of the yogo, the number of motherboards was released, it was simply impossible to override them all. It's easy to put it simply, like motherboard chipsets can support Intel Xeon server processors. Speaking in an accessible way, you should find out which chipset is installed on your motherboard, to understand what you want to work on a new Intel Xeon chip.

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Table of summation

Below it is small, but you can also add a table of summaries of chipsets and Xeon LGA771 processors.

Intel Xeon, what a crazy chipset
Chipset motherboard Xeon 5xxx Xeon 3xxx Intel 45nm Intel 65nm
P45, P43, P35, P31, P965
G45, G43, G41, G35, G33, G31
nForce 790i, 780i, 740i, 630i
GeForce 9400, 9300
So So So So
Q45, Q43, Q35, Q33
X48, X38
Hi So So So
nForce 680i and 650i So So Possibly (needs to be revised) So
Vidia 680i
nVidia 650i Sumy z usima 771 Xeon's
nVidia 780i Sumy z usima 771 Xeon's
nVidia 790i Sumy z usima 771 Xeon's
P35 Sumy z usima 771 Xeon's
P45 Sumy z usima 771 Xeon's
G31 Sumy z usima 771 Xeon's
G41 Sumy z usima 771 Xeon's
X38
X48 Sumіsnіst іlki z X33 series Xeons

That one table. If you are aware of the fact that the motherboard is completely summed up with chipsets shown in the left half of the table, you can easily choose the processor, pointing at the right side.

During the installation process, it is necessary to pay attention to those who, in the most important cases, have to upgrade the BIOS, upgrade the firmware with an eye on the foot:

5xxx series - all Intel Xeons with model numbers ending in 5xxx. You can connect with motherboards, if you support one or two physical central chips.

Problems can be blamed on Intel motherboards. It's rare to blame negativity with motherboards like MSI, Gigabyte, ASUS. It can also be found on Intel motherboards with a wet BIOS, which is practically not subject to manual flashing.

Nforce 680i and 650i chipsets from Nvidia official version do not work with 45nm process technology processors. Here everything lies in the winter. Deyaki motherboards with tsim chipsets fell apart and functioned normally with 45nm Xeon for 4 cores, but not. To recognize, as you will, marvel at the list of boards that successfully passed the test.

The intensity of the Zeon and the frequency of the system bus are due to be trimmed by the motherboard of your computer.

Chipset Intel G31 office computers. As a rule, the form factor MicroATX basic capacity extension. The graphic core of the Intel GMA 3100 is considered to be bad for robotics. office programs, as well as clumsy trivial programs. It is also significant that budgetary payments cannot be used for overclocking functions, and a few faults of this rule cannot be successful for computer enthusiasts.

In our present-day glance, we recognize two motherboards based on the Intel G31 chipset. One of them was prepared by Foxconn, as it can achieve a strong position in the public sector. Another board was distributed by the company abit, the products of which already practically appeared from the counters of stores. I, as if not summarily, but, better for everything, abit I-G31 - the rest of the payment if the famous company.

Specifications

- One port for FDD, ports for PS/2 mice and keyboards
- STR (Suspend to RAM)
- SPDIF Out - One port for FDD, one serial port, one parallel port, port for PS/2 mouse and keyboard
- STR (Suspend to RAM)
- SPDIF Out- temperature monitoring of the processor, system, PWM, monitoring of voltage, speed, wrapping of three fans
- FanEQ technology - Inspection of the temperature of the processor, system, voltage, speed wrapping of two fans
- Smart Fan Technology
abit I-G31 Foxconn G31MG-S
Processor - Intel Pentium 4 (Prescott (2M)/Gallatin/CedarMill) with 1066/800 MHz bus
- Dual core Intel Pentium D/EE (Smithfield/Presler) with 1066/800 MHz bus
- Intel Celeron-D (Conroe-L/Prescott) with 800 MHz bus
- Support for Intel Core 2 Duo (Kentsfield (4 cores), Conroe/Allendale (2 cores)) with a bus frequency of 1066/800 MHz
- Support for Intel Yorkfield, Wolfdale with a bus frequency of 1333/1066/800 MHz
- Plug Socket LGA775
- Support for processors with HyperThreading technology
Chipset - Pivnichny Mist Intel G31 (GMCH)
- Pivdenny Mist Intel ICH7
- Link between bridges: DMI
System memory - Two 240-pin DDR2 SDRAM DIMM slots
- Maximum memory capacity 4 GB
- Supports memory type DDR2 667/800
- Possibility of two-channel access to memory
Graphics - One PCI Express x16 slot
- Vbudovane graphics core Intel GMA 3100
Possibility of expansion - Two 32-bit PCI Bus Master slots
- One PCI Express x1 slot
- Wake up sound High Definition Audio 5.1
- Two 32-bit PCI Bus Master slots
- One PCI Express x1 slot
- Vіsіm portіv USB 2.0 (4 vbudovanі + 4 dodatkovі)
- Wake up sound High Definition Audio 7.1
- Merezhevy Gigabit Ethernet controller
Possibility for dispersal - - Change the frequency FSB vіd (200) 333 to 600 MHz from 1 MHz
- Change the voltage on the processor, memory
Disk subsystem - 1 channel UltraDMA133/100/66/33 Bus Master IDE (ICH7; supports up to 2 ATAPI add-ons)
- Support for SerialATA II protocol (4 channels - ICH7)
- Support LS-120/ZIP/ATAPI CD-ROM
BIOS - 4 Mbit Flash ROM
- Award BIOS Phoenix with Enhanced ACPI, DMI, Green, PnP Features and Trend Chip Away Virus
Life
Eating management - Wake up modem, mouse, keyboard, memory, timer and USB
- Main 24-pin ATX live socket
- Additional 4-pin life socket
Monitoring
Rozmir - ATX form factor, 244x210mm (9.62"x8.27") - ATX form factor, 240x208mm (9.6" x 8.2")

boxes

Foxconn packaging design:

We took Foxconn's product as a serial viconan, and the abit axis board was taken to our laboratory in a test version - only the board itself is in the package, apparently, it is not possible to evaluate the complete set.

Options Foxconn G31MG-S

The package bundle of the Foxconn G31MG-S board cannot be called rich, the pro for the product is $45 won and includes all the necessary components.


Pay

The development of a budget product is surrounded by engineers with a tough framework, system pay which type may have the same characteristics as in competing products. This is miraculously evident from the testing of motherboards: the offending teams of retailers saw the task "to create a board on the G31 chipset less than $50". Result - pay almost identical:



Massive radiators are installed on the boards for cooling the "pivot bridge":


The stench is necessary, including the fact that the graphic core of the GMA 3100 is installed in the "pivnichny place" to increase the heat output of thermal imaging. Please note that the Foxconn model has a radiator installed on the "pivdenny place", and in abit it was reserved for this detail.

You can pay for two 240-pin DIMM sockets for DDR2 memory modules, and the maximum amount of supported memory is 4 GB.


Each of the boards has one PCI Express x16 slot, one PCI Express x1 slot and one PCI slot.


Now let's talk about the possibility of expansion. Please pay to allow several SerialATA II channels, but the ability to create RAID arrays is not forwarded. On the right in the fact that on the boards there is one of the found versions of the ICH7 bridge.


Here it is significant that the "pivdenniy mist" ensures the operation of one ParallelATA channel. Dalі - obligatory pay mayut on all USB 2.0 ports. The port configuration is the same for both boards: the ports on the back panel and the ports on the back panel. Now - a couple of words about the High Definition Audio sound subsystem. On the abit board, the Realtek ALC662 (5.1) codec is installed, on the Foxconn - the ALC888 (7.1) codec. On the other hand, you can pay for high-speed interfacing - on the abit board, the Realtek RTL8111C controller is installed, and in Foxconn - the RTL8111B controller.


The Foxconn G31MG-S motherboard has one COM and one LPT port, while the abit I-G31 board does not support this interface.

BIOS

BIOS of motherboards based on Award BIOS Phoenix version.


Foxconn main board memory customization is in the "Fox Central Control Unit" distribution, and abit memory customization is in the "Advanced Chipset Features" distribution:


An important parameter that affects productivity is the setting of the memory frequency.


Now let's look at the distribution of system monitoring.


The payment will change the current values ​​of the processor temperature of the system (abit indicating the temperature of the PWM), as well as the operating voltage. The board determines the speed of the fan wrap (abit - three, Foxconn - two) and the function of adjusting the speed of the processor fan wrap depends on the temperature of the CPU. On the Foxconn board, this technology is traditionally called Smart Fan, and on abit - FanEQ:


Payments give you access to all new Intel technologies.


Moreover, on the Foxconn board, the energy-saving parameters are set to green system mode ("Green System Mode")


Also, pay allows you to regulate the obsyag memory, which is seen on the consumption of the graphics core.


Rozgin and stability

First, go down to the dispersal, we can look at the transformation of life. PWM board abit I-G31 can have a three-phase circuit, in which two capacitors are installed with a capacity of 820 μF, one with a capacity of 680 μF and another with a capacity of 1000 μF. The Foxconn board life module also has a three-phase circuit, in which six capacitors are installed with a capacity of 820 microfarads and three capacitors with a capacity of 330 microfarads.


On the Foxconn board, all overclocking functions are provided by the "Fox Central Control Unit":


Moreover, the functions are not rich enough, and the stench is scattered among the numerical subdivisions.


What is the cost of paying abit, then the BIOS will have a daily overclocking function.

However, the ability to disperse Foxconn payments may have little practical effect. Zocrema, the maximum stable FSB frequency is 350 MHz.

The versatility of Intel's chipset portfolio is important to understand, and features and functions often vary from model to model. Selecting a higher model number will not necessarily give you a larger chip set. So, for example, the G35 allows for more advanced graphics, but does not support DDR3 memory and does not work with the new ICH9 bridge, as it does the G33. However, the Intel G31 chipset is actually a chipset cob row that saves a minimum of energy.

G31 is included in the category of floor chipsets for the mass market, recognized for "main charges". This means that this set of system logic is not suitable for high-end systems and does not support everyday functions. The G31 chipset is a good choice for a great koristuvach. For this reason, processors are also used, such as Core 2, Pentium dual core or analogous to Celeron, which are based on the microarchitecture of Core 2.

The G31 chipset has 4 GB of memory, while the G33 and G35 can support up to 8 GB. The low-end chipset supports only dual-channel DDR2-800 memory (although it is similar to DDR3 at a price not too small) and works with the ICH7 full bridge instead of ICH8, ICH9 or ICH10. As a result, the G31 supports the entire SATA/300 port, and then two more UltraATA/100 channels, while the new chipsets support either one lower ATA channel or the other one. The G31 with ICH7 bridge allows for more USB 2.0 ports, HD audio, traditional PCI slots, and over 100 megabit wired controller. If you need a secure Ethernet connection, then check your motherboard for a PCIe controller to secure gigabit Ethernet. Offended by the mother's payments, presented to our looker, so. I, nareshti, although the G31 chipset can have one x16 PCI Express slot for upgrading, it's not a problem with PCI Express 2.0.

Although the FSB1066 frequency was indicated on the back, all G31 motherboards, as we have seen, support the FSB1333 processor as well. Motherboard fees support all Core 2 processors, including Core 2 Quad processors. Namely, but to add a three-phase voltage stabilizer on the Foxconn G31 motherboard is enough for a Core 2 Quad Q9550, as you can see from a dual-core processor to the core of a choti-core one.

Graphic core GMA3100

Vbudovanie graphic solutions will not give such productivity and functions as decent 3D-video cards, such as Radeon HD4850/4870 and Nvidia GeForce 260/280. Navit "mass" video cards graphics processors GeForce 9600GT strongly overturn the integration solution. Tim is no less, we tried to improve the schedule in order to reduce energy consumption as much as possible.

The G31 chipset replaces the integrated graphics core of the Intel GMA3100 based on the GMA3000 core. The same graphical core, as Intel first played in the 965 line of chipsets (under the name GMA X3000), and wanting G965 to support pixel shader 3.0, the G31, G33, Q35 chipsets to replace the SM 2.0 model, which means DirectX support However, there is enough for all functions of the Aero interface in the operating room Windows systems Vista. Motherboards with the G31 chipset, as a rule, can send one analog output to the D-SUB15 display, and sometimes digital exit DVI. GMA3100 chips are not suitable for HTPC (home cinema), motherboards are not equipped with HDMI outputs; do not check for such boards of two digital outputs.

Processor Intel Core 2 Duo and caused a sensation. Unsupported AMD processors The Athlon 64 X2 is an all-around product that saves you more productivity and saves less energy. Deviating from the clock speed of 2.66 GHz (2.93 GHz for the expensive version of Extreme), the Core 2 Duo has retained its miracle status over two years.

The first upgrade was to increase the frequency of the processor bus from FSB1066 to FSB1333 in 2007 with the release of the P35 platform and three modified processors. Another modification is the same frequency of the FSB1600 in high-end models and the change in the technical process from 65 nm to 45 nm. All processors Core 2 Duo E7000, E8000, as well as Core 2 Quad Q8000 and Q9000 are based on 45nm Wolfdale cores. Choice of core processors Yorkfield with two Wolfdale crystals.

Over the years, Wolfdale processors have improved; The last modification was the introduction of the M0 step, which made it possible to reduce the power consumption of the processor in idle mode in the same step L. Insanely, the L2 cache capacity has been changed - one more chance to reduce the power supply, but we didn’t forget to speed up.

AT present moment The E7000 line consists of two models: the E7300 with a clock frequency of 2.66 GHz and the E7200 with a frequency of 2.53 GHz. Both models are based on the Wolfdale core, but they may have less than 3 MB L2 cache and a lower frequency of the FSB1066 system bus (to match: all Core 2 Duo E8000 processors may have FSB1333 and 6 MB L2 cache). The E7000 line does not support any Virtualization (VT) technology or Trusted Execution (TXT) technology; for our purposes, this is not a problem, the shards of insulting technologies are not for corystuvachiv mass desktops. Changed L2 cache capacity with lower clock speeds to make this processor a wonderful choice for a computer with a high level of energy efficiency, so please follow the results of our testing. Despite the claims of a 65W thermal package, the Core 2 Duo E7200 saves energy a lot less than steel.



ZMIST

Also, Intel Corporation has paused for perhaps three years for the release of the revolutionary i9xx chipset series. Guessing, the same things in the desktop systems came at once: a new type of socket and a new rose of life, DDR2 memory, PCI Express bus (including the option for connecting video drivers) and High Definition Audio. In addition, two generations of chipsets (i945/955/975 and i965) were extended, followed by more FSB frequencies and memory, as well as the introduction of new families of processors (a bunch of dual-core processors, and then - Core 2).

Now mi zustrіchaєmo new generation of chipsets, like, the order of the radical change of numbering, proponovlennia of such important architectural characteristics of the system, like a bus zagalny recognition of that type of memory.

Intel X38 Express

It is logical to look at a new family of chipsets from the top representative, which, honestly, until it is released to the market and will appear only in the third quarter, as well as the whole world of new chipsets. Significantly, earlier the model number of the top product was given by a larger numeric index (i915 - i925), now the top product is easily identified by the X prefix, which Intel has a more or less vulgar character (not only for chipsets, but for processors, ) . Based on your approval of the block diagram, the key characteristics of the X38 are:

  • support for "new" processors of the Celeron and Pentium families, as well as all processors of the Core 2 family (Duo/Quad/Extreme) with a system bus frequency of 800/1066 MHz, including upcoming models with a system bus frequency of 1333 MHz;
  • dual-channel memory controller DDR2-533/667/800 or DDR3-800/1066/1333 with support for up to 4 DIMM modules with a total capacity of up to 8 GB (with ECC) and Fast Memory Access and Flex Memory technologies;
  • 2 graphics interfaces PCI Express 2.0 x16;
  • DMI bus (with throughput ~2 GB/s) to new ICH9/R/DH/DO bridge.

Note that the changers have recognized all the key characteristics of the chipset. Let's take a look at some of the innovations.

Support for processors. Here, it should be noted that officially all chipsets of the 3x series do not support the processors of the Celeron D, Pentium 4 and Pentium D families (as well as Extreme versions Edition). The performance of the support is not limited by the change in the characteristics of the processor bus, but by the new standard for the creation of motherboards FMB (specifically, the VRM processor life module), more) - nanometer technology. Obviously, there is no direct connection between the installed chipset and subsystem, but there are no other devices, in most cases, supported by the Intel expansion standards, so it’s extremely small, so we probably mean a lot of processing models on Intel 3x Core 2". It doesn’t seem like it’s about a one-hour fee for Prescott and Penryn.

As for the support of Core 2, then the X38 can go faster: with this chipset, all current models of the Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Extreme (including the choti-core versions), and for all of them will be supported by tires 1333 MHz. Three of the youngest families of new processors (Celeron 400 and Pentium E2000) can do everything on the X38, although Celeron 400 has not been announced for the top chipset due to marketing promotion.

Memory support. The availability of the DDR2 controller in all new chipsets has not changed (it is not possible to transfer the same design in this room, everything is already implemented in the specification), but if you pay for Intel 3x, you can use the DDR3 type memory. The peculiarities and theoretical productivity of the new type of memory are already analyzed in a series of articles on our website, here we will look at practical aspects. First, sound the blame for the power - how can one-hour boost DDR2 and DDR3? Here, the situation does not change in the transition from DDR to DDR2: Intel does not officially test such combinations and does not check them for confusion, but motherboard makers do not care about the reliability on their own. Our readers, who regularly look at the latest news, no doubt already know about models of combo boards, this year's tests were carried out on one of these (in fact, on the X38 itself, combo models are unlikely to work). Dearly, sho one hour robot DDR2 and DDR3 memory is obviously impossible: when starting, the robot starts to pay for the memory of one or another type.

In the context of the system layout, DDR3 is good for everything: less thermal imaging (the voltage is lowered, so DDR3-1066 is seen less, lower than DDR2-800), otherwise the change of the key in roses will not allow you to mix up the DDR2 and DDR3 slots on combo boards. As you already know, for DDR3, frequencies up to 800 (1600) MHz are transmitted, and X38 allows you to play even more swedish version - DDR3-1333. Axis of availability and timings of available memory The situation at the time of the launch of Intel 3x is abysmal. DDR3 modules are not widely represented on the market yet, and in such minds you can build "elite" binaries (for example, Corsair) allow you to sell modules with an average characteristic for a crazy price. It is recommended to all our sensible readers to buckle up, shards with an hour, wisely, to fall in prices and show signs. For the time being, analysts predict that DDR3 will have a 50% presence in the market less than in 2009, and until the end of 2007, this type of memory is unlikely to reach 10%. Well, obviously, in the practical part of the article, we marvel, but for what we should cry over.

PCI Express 2.0. Here Intel strikes forward, not only having done, but, a chipset with a support for two completely different PCI Express x16 interfaces, which has been praised for a long time by the top products of competitors and implementing the host controller to a different version of the standard. The practical aspect of the PCI Express 2.0 stalemate does not cause old video cards to vanish, as the roses vanish on your own, and the summation is brought to bear on the sides. At the addendum to the graphic interface, the innovation of PCI Express 2.0, which is better for everything, will be no more than a click, a cream of two. First, the productivity of the skin channel (lane) of PCI Express has been increased, so the connection with one channel (PCIEx1) can now have a throughput of 500 MB / s for the skin lane one hour, and for the 16-channel PCIEx16 interface, the total throughput of the building becomes 16 GB/s. Let's confirm that in the nearest future, no practical corrosiveness in the current system is taken away.

In a different way, in the same 2 times, the exhaustion, which is supplied by the bus, is reduced: the PCIEx16 slot of the first version of the standard provided up to 75 W, but now the video card can take 150 W. (Just as soon as I blame the power supply, how can I "load" the bus on the bus - will there be a special additional power supply rose on X38 boards?) Tim, as soon as the i915/925 was launched, video cards for PCI Express began to appear, ale With a good rose of life on board (the lack of 75 W of tires appeared), so now the top video clips are no longer condescendingly looking at the life of the PCIEx16 rose, proponuyuchi in the shortest time in one of the two sets of roses of life. Vtіm, here, obviously, the "merit" of SLI / CrossFire is great: top video cards in the first place, it is invested for a couple, and even though one theoretically can get life on the bus, then the other is quick, thoughtlessly allowing for a wet rose of life, it’s simply not possible to start in such minds. As far as it is possible to combine a couple of video cards on Intel X38 with a link, then everything is the same as before: CrossFire is officially supported, SLI is not officially supported and will not be in the nearest future.

Also, a pair of X38 will have a new place from the ICH9 family, the functionality of these relatives has been reportedly reviewed further.

Intel P35 Express

Briefly review the main functional characteristics of the pivnichny bridge of this chipset:

There are already a few innovations here, less than DDR3. The processor support is interchanged with the same models based on the 65-nm and potential 45-nm technical process, but through the description of other reasons (for boards on the P35, the FMB design is transferred) the Core 2 Extreme models (especially the chotiryadern) are not available in the boards on the P35. Also, the DDR3-1333 memory amplification chipset (all the time, thanks to the dilnik's concessions for setting such a memory frequency). Replace PCI Express 2.0 standard graphic. PCI interface Express x16 (earlier version), i, like P965 and earlier chipsets, P35 do not allow to configure the interface for CrossFire support. At the same time, like before, the fact is not known about motherboards - they create solutions for CrossFire based on P35, connecting another slot to the external bridge (where to go to the new PCIEx1 peripheral interface). Another bridge for this chipset is also one of the ICH9 family.

Intel G33 Express

The main integration chipset of the new family bears a rather illogical name G33, but for the functionality of wines it is equal to P35. The reason is that in the third quarter, Intel will release one more integrated chipset (now G35), with a smaller graphics core, and it was necessary that the newcomer does not match the number with the top X38. Also, G33, which is a variant of P35 with an integrated graphics core, has the following architecture:

Briefly review the main functional characteristics of the pivnichny bridge of this chipset:

  • support for "new" processors of the Celeron and Pentium families, as well as Core 2 Duo/Quad processors with a system bus frequency of 800/1066 MHz, including upcoming models with a system bus frequency of 1333 MHz;
  • dual-channel memory controller DDR2-533/667/800 or DDR3-800/1067 with support for up to 4 DIMM modules with a total capacity of up to 8 GB (without ECC) and Fast Memory Access and Flex Memory technologies;
  • graphics interface PCI Express x16;
  • integrated graphic core GMA X3100 from supported Clear Video technology;
  • DMI bus (with throughput ~2 GB/s) to new ICH9/R/DH bridge.

We repeat, in P35 this chipset seems to be less likely to be built in graphics.

Budova graphics GMA X3100. Let's be sure that the video drivers for the X3100 will be ready soon, and we'll take care of everything that we got about the X3000 (G965) watch. In fact, the new video core did not recognize any serious changes since the GMA 950 (i945G), which is exactly what the X3000 architecture does; we will analyze it, if it is possible to carry out all the tests in full. For the time being, we can guess that Clear Video technology has been called by hardware to speed up the brightness (deinterlacing + color correction) of video output (including HD), as well as enable digital video interface (including HDMI) for image display. Well, obviously, it’s all about support for the Aero interface Windows Vista. Also, for the GMA X3100, the release of HD DVD and Blu-ray discs has been announced, the details will be seen after the testing of boards on the G33.

Intel G31, G35, Q35 Express

Let's say a couple of words about other chipsets of the new line. All of them will be released to the market in the third quarter of 2007.

G31 is an integration chipset of cob row, new yoga can be called a stretch. As a matter of fact, its functionality is based on 945G chipsets, like replacement calls. Find a new place for this chipset with the same old ICH7 / R - in such a way, at the same time, the corporate sector saw the leapfrog with the support of PATA, as well as the clock of ICH8. G31 supports Core 2 Duo (although with FSB frequency not higher than 1066 MHz) that memory is up to DDR2-800.

G35 is a new chipset with a redesigned graphics engine, which, as Intel says, will become the first [integration] solution with support for DirectX 10. We will talk about the G35 (i th GMA X3500) in our time. Otherwise, the G35 will be even more similar to the G965 (be careful what you need to do with the video), and architecturally with Intel 3x chipsets, it will be better to use the 45-nm Wolfdale and Yorkfield and new Core 2 Duo with 33 MHz FSB memory (memory "DDR3 is also not supported. As a bridge for the G35, the old ICH8 / R / DH will be stuck.

Q35 (another variant of Q33) is the basis for Intel vPro business systems, chipset integration with enabled gaming capabilities. Naytsіkavіshim budnannya Q35 z pіvdennim bridge ICH9DO (Digital Office), yak to provide support for such technologies as AMT (Active Management Technology) 3.0, Trusted Execution Technology and Virtualization Technology. Q35 also does not support DDR3 memory.

Pivdennі Bridges Intel ICH9

For new chipsets - upgraded bridges. As a whole to become its brothers-in-arms, ICH9 may have a number of revolutionary upgrades compared to ICH8, as well as improve (only ICH9R) one technology, as a whole it can be revolutionary. Briefly review the main functional characteristics of the new family of air bridges:

  • up to 6 PCIEx1 ports;
  • up to 4 PCI slots;
  • 4/6 (4 for ICH9, 6 for ICH9R) Serial ATA II ports for 4/6 SATA300 attachments (SATA-II, other generation standard), with support AHCI mode i functions for NCQ (for ICH9, the implementation of this mode is guaranteed only under Windows Vista), with the possibility of individual connection, with the support of eSATA and rozgaluzhuvachiv ports;
  • ability to organize a RAID array (only for ICH9R) equals 0, 1, 0+1 (10) and 5 with the Matrix RAID function (one set of disks can be repeated twice in multiple RAID modes - for example, on two disks you can organize RAID 0 and RAID 1, under the skin of the array, you will see your part of the disk);
  • 12 USB 2.0 add-ons (on two EHCI host controllers) with individual wiring capability;
  • Gigabit Ethernet MAC controller and special interface (LCI/GLCI) for PHY controller connection (i82566 for Gigabit Ethernet implementation, i82562 for Fast Ethernet implementation);
  • support for Intel Turbo Memory;
  • High Definition Audio (7.1);
  • strapping for low-width and old periphery, otherwise.

The ICH9R is traditionally supported by the ICH9, which also supports RAID arrays, as well as two occupied SATA ports. Special versions of the ICH9DO (Digital Office) and ICH9DH (Digital Home) hybrid bridge are based on the ICH9R, and the first of them supports the additional functions of Active Management Technology 3.0, Trusted Execution Technology and Virtualization Technology, and the other - Viiv Technology (positioning .

Three minor evolutionary changes can be made to increase the number of USB 2.0 ports to 12, the implementation of the eSATA function and the expansion of the ports (which is relevant for older eSATA rosettes) for SATA chipset ports, as well as SATA USB ports now (like ICH8) are subject to individual inclusion. An alternative to creating RAID arrays to save data can be new technology Intel Rapid Recover Technology, which allows you to create a disk image on a different hard drive, quickly update it, do not change files and quickly restore data when the first hard drive is damaged. In the same place, as before, the Gigabit Ethernet MAC controller is integrated, but we did not bachel it in the current motherboard based on the i965 - maybe, for the best fencing systems, the controller of the Marvell, Broadcom, Realtek types and what is with them, what is connected via PCI Express tires seem to be the cheapest. At the same time, corporate vPro systems sing-songly evaluate the functions of the Intel corporate controller. Turning PATA support after it was introduced into ICH8 would have been wonderfully cleared up, and it didn’t work out - Intel vvazhє tse power will shut down the large number of problems due to chipset PATA “replacers”.

The most intriguing in the new series of industrial bridges is the introduction of Intel Turbo Memory technology (in the development process under the name of Robson Technology). The bottom line is that a module with a valid NAND flash memory is installed on the board (for the first time, there are a variety of options from 512 MB and 1 GB). Basically, perhaps, the module will be installed in the PCIEx1 slot, although in principle other connection options are possible (for example, to contacts for the USB port). Take off Turbo Memory short Windows Vista, moreover, on the vіdmіnu, let's say, vіd USB-keyfobs with flash memory, integration on the board, the module can be upgraded to the new Microsoft OS i for ReadyDrive, i for ReadyBoost.

Briefly, in the first case, we take into account the possibility of victorious flash storage as a cache memory for a hard drive - for linear read-write operations, a great win can not be done here (flash memory more zhorstkoy disk), so that the cost of ReadyDrive can be measured during regular operations of exchanging small portions of data, which is typical for reading and updating the download file (the hour of access for flash memory is noticeably less, lower for a hard drive). Dodatkova paravagaє at a reduced amount of downloads to a hard disk (data are downloaded to the disk in batches, during idle times, and reading is not carried out for the obviousness of the data needed from the Turbo Memory cache), which allows you to save electricity - obviously, a real win for you . outbuildings

ReadyBoost also expands the available memory for front-facing reading and data storage (from a hard disk), and if you want to use flash memory for flash storage, you can’t read it from a hard drive, but from flash memory. yatі її її low o'clock vipadkogo access allows you to significantly speed up the program loading and vіdkrittya files (numbers are called up to 2 times). Мінусом Turbo Memory є потенційна недовговічність флеш-накопичувачів, найкращі з яких характеризуються кількістю циклів перезапису близько мільйона (можливо, кількох мільйонів), що, навіть з урахуванням деякого резерву ємності, може призвести до втрати ємності накопичувача задовго до закінчення терміну служби ПК. to that of the installations.

Thermal imaging. On top of the riddle, the thermal imaging of new chipsets is credited. Regardless of the variability in the same 90nm process technology and folding logic, the 3x series chipsets are noticeably smaller, lower fronts. So, TDP for P35 is set to 16 W (for P965 - 19 W), even though the new TDP chipset is capable of changing FSB frequencies (1333 MHz) and memory (1066 MHz DDR3), then in equal minds the difference adds significantly more than 3 watts per P35 power. Similarly, the new chipsets have significantly lower maximum idle heat output (5.9 W for the P35 and 10 W for the P965), although there is a small indulgence allowed for newcomers here: idle simplification is carried out for the operation of 2 DIMM modules, and not 4, as before. The G33 is basically characterized by the same values ​​of cooling, but the chipset of this chipset can be broken even without an external video card, then the additionally induced thermal output for this mode: for simple ones - 5.75 W (against 13 W for the G965), and TDP becomes 14.5 W (G965 has a record 28 W).


check the reference heatsink for new chipsets and MSI updates

As a result, the difference of the flooring is commemorated, which is easy to point out to the dot, when turning on the chipset radiators. Before we speak, the decrease in thermal output, obviously, caused the overhaul of the standard cooling system, and in the Intel documentation, recommendations are made for a chipset cooler option, with a lighter weight and surface area. Fortunately, these boards based on P35, which have been used (including models with Intel cooling), have spared large-type radiators (fixed for i945/965 chipsets), and the top products of all types, obviously, will be equipped with tight designs with heat exchangers tubes - the site of goiters, although now it will become more relevant in times of serious dispersal. As a result, we may have a change in the marginally unacceptable trend, if after the hot i965 and nForce 600i, which are burned, it was given that new standards for the attachment of cooling chipsets will soon be developed.

Productivity follow-up

Test stand:

  • Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (2.4 GHz)
  • Maternity pay:
    • MSI P35 Neo Combo (BIOS version V1.0B16 dated 20.04.2007) based on Intel P35 chipset
    • Gigabyte 965P-DQ6 (BIOS version D25) based on Intel P965 chipset
    • EVGA nForce 680i LT SLI (BIOS version P03) on NVIDIA nForce 680i LT SLI chipset
  • Memory:
    • 2 modules 1 GB each Corsair XMS3-1066C7 (DDR3-1066)
    • 2 modules 1 GB each Corsair CM2X1024-9136C5D (DDR2-1142)
  • Video card: ATI Radeon X1900 XTX 512 MB
  • Hard drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 (SATA), 7200 rpm

Software Security:

  • OS and drivers:
    • Windows XP Professional SP2
    • DirectX 9.0c
    • Intel Chipset Drivers 8.2.0.1014
    • NVIDIA Chipset Drivers 9.53
    • ATI Catalyst 6.8
  • Test programs:
    • RightMark Memory Analyzer 3.72
    • 7-Zip 4.10b
    • WinRAR 3.41
    • codec XviD 1.0.2 (29.08.2004)
    • SPECviewperf 8.01
    • Doom 3 (v1.0.1282)
    • FarCry (v1.1.3.1337)

Test platform

In recognition of the fact that we took a sample of MSI motherboards based on the P35 chipset, tested one with a one-hour DDR2 and DDR3 memory, as well as a set of Corsair DDR3 memory modules. In the first place, we understand that the compatibility of DDR2 and DDR3 on the same platform (P35), but in another way, it is equally offensive to the variants of the platform with other chipsets presented on the market today. It’s still logical to take P965 (to change it, I’ll come with P35) and the top chipset of the rest of the NVIDIA series - nForce 680i LT SLI in our order was the board itself on the nForce 680i LT SLI).

The pairing of two types of memory appeared to be more important, shards of pre-sale BIOS versions MSI boards turned out to be practically not ready for DDR3: the BIOS of the P35 Neo Combo model did not allow you to set the normal (for DDR3) voltage (1.5 V) and timings (they were surrounded by a standard DDR2 scheme, so for the main timings it was impossible to set the values more than 6). With this Corsair module in DDR3-1066 mode, which we had, it was not possible to work with timings lower than 7-7-7, so the board had to be launched in the mode of setting timings by SPD. Additional problems were created by the novelty of the platform, as it did not allow checking the accuracy of setting timings (those other parameters of the robotic memory) by numerical utilities under Windows. Fortunately, the rest of the CPU-Z version is already intelligible and the P35 chipset, and DDR3, so without further ado, let's make it clearer.

In DDR3-1066 mode (timings with SPD), zgidno with CPU-Z, the timing scheme was shown as follows: 7-7-7-20. We didn't allow to set the values ​​of the main timings for more than 6 boards, DDR2 memory at a frequency of 1066 MHz was launched with a timing of 6-6-6-18 for the maximum possible approximation of the results. At the same time, at a frequency of 800 MHz, our DDR3 modules could not be paired easily with timings of 4-4-4-12, which made it possible to adjust the P965 configuration and nForce 680i LT SLI in the previous standard mode. [email protected] Since we didn't see a board for P965, as it would allow us to run our memory in DDR2-1066 mode, the previous generation of chipsets in this mode is only an NVIDIA product (guessing, it's close to i965 in tests).

Now, how to go to the list of test results, let's look at the nutrition theoretically. In equal minds (at the same frequency with the same timings), DDR3 cannot be significantly faster than DDR2, and the main hopes for accelerating the loading of a new type of memory can only be applied to modes with lower timings at high frequencies. True, for the absolute timings [email protected]і [email protected] Rіvnі, so that the memory makers can afford to release low-latency modules, DDR3 may appear to be effective in the "singular" minds.

Another possible DDR3 transfer can be used to increase the throughput of the building, so that memory can be used about higher frequencies. It's a pity that this may only work on future processors, so at FSB frequency of 1066 MHz, the bandwidth of the bus is less than ~ 8.5 GB / s, which means the bandwidth of the dual-channel DDR2-533! As practice shows, in such situations, increase the frequency of the robotic memory “for one slot”, it’s still not possible to bring a small win, but really to install DDR2-800 from the reserve, download it for future processors with a 1333 MHz bus, current processors do not have DDR3-1066, nі Tim more, scho DDR3-1600 is not needed.

Test results

Traditionally, we learn from the low memory potential for the help of the test, broken down by our programmers.

Let's guess that, regardless of the proximity of the indicators of the speed in real add-ons, the NVIDIA and i965 chipset even look differently in synthetic test RMMA, so we will not show respect for this retailer.

P35 cicavi effect: less than an hour of memory operation (like DDR2, and DDR3) at a frequency of 1066 MHz, the productivity is higher, lower in the DDR2-800 mode, while the nForce 680i LT SLI, the indicators are slightly reduced. For the time being, this fact, which is weakly consistent with our theoretical thoughts, is left alone, and we can’t bear it to other sympathies. Vlasne, we have lost sight of the fact that DDR3 looks noticeably louder than DDR2 at equal timings. We do not know the exact value of vіdmіnnosti, but it would be quick to estimate vіdsotkovі vіdminnosti before going to real tests.

When testing the speed of the recording, we will chirp the boundary indicators that reach the hour of the victory over the method of direct saving of data, the shards of the processor of the same architecture will be the same. According to the actual speed of the record in memory, the picture is approximately the same when reading: the new chipset is significantly better than competitors, DDR3 is better than DDR2 (especially at a frequency of 800 MHz), and so the transition to a memory frequency of 1066 MHz will sooner P35 with both types in memory, but upgrade the NVIDIA chipset.

Now, a test of memory latency, and here the first surprise is the implementation in the P35 memory controller of a technology similar to NVIDIA's DASP - if with a pseudo-reversible memory reading (not moving beyond one side), the latency decreases radically, in a difference. Obviously, we may be on the right with the same buffer as we cache, with a forward pick. Tim is no less, to inspire such a successful test of pseudo-violent reading from the memory of the P35 significantly outperforms its competitors (in this mode - nForce 680i LT SLI). In the case of DDR2 and DDR3 on P35, the old type of memory is changed again, especially note the difference in the DDR2 / 3-1066 mode, because DDR3 has higher timings.

Tsikavo, but here the transition to a robotic memory frequency of 1066 MHz should be brought up to speed, although it would not be enough to bring the speed of the absolute values ​​of the timings to a deadly one: to improve the clock cycle, CL4 for DDR2 / 3-800 is 10 ns, and CL6 for DDR2- 1066 - 11.25 ns (does not seem to be the same about CL7 in DDR3-1066 - 13.13 ns). Why so? Two possible explanations fall on my mind. First, consider the bus frequency performance of the Core 2 Duo E6600 and in the DDR2/3-1066 memory: it's possible that such a synchronous mode of operation will secure the bus frequency. However, the presence of a similar effect in the NVIDIA chipset suggests that internal optimizations of the memory controller are indicated, since the i965 itself allows you to take a small win in running the memory at a higher frequency.

Well, now let's move on from the theoretical aspects to the real tests, and here, with the numbers in hand, we can estimate the victory of other configurations.

Also, for real results, you can work for the first time. On the other hand, we saved everything that we noted earlier, the speed: P35 is not rich (now we can say specifically - up to 7%) P965 and nForce 680i LT SLI, DDR2-800 on P35 faster, lower DDR3-800 with equal timings (by 3%) , and DDR2 / 3-1066 on P35 is better than the same type of memory at a frequency of 800 MHz (it is impossible to make an accurate assessment here, since the timings of DDR2 and DDR3 are different), moreover, without reducing the about more timings. On the other hand, varto indicates that 7% performance is less likely to be tested in one test, and a robot with DDR2-800 is clearly not a conic P35. Even more embellish the fact that [email protected]- tse memory from Mayzhe with extremely low zatrimki, also [email protected]- the standard option, for which Corsair and the company, without a doubt, will soon advocate an alternative with lower timings.

But do not hurry with whiskey, marveling at the results of other tests.

Vіd testuvannya on svydkіst koduvannі video (vіnіruvannі zgіdno s vіdkritoyu tekhnіkoyu) surprisіvіn chekatі not be brought, here, like zavzhdі, all competitors look the same, scho scho intermediary factor є protsessor's productivity.

The SPECviewperf package of professional 3D add-ons can show only NVIDIA chipsets, which, as a whole, is visualized by their optimized graphics bus controller, and the difference between different modes of memory operation (and navit different types memory) on swidkіst vplyvayut only daily nominally.

There is nothing new in the games, and the fact that in one of the Doom 3 modes (the first and the last time in the course of today's testing) is an absolute winner is P35 1066 MHz). However, the difference between chipsets in Doom 3 is quite small, no more than 3%, and if DDR3 is installed, the DDR2 replacement for P35 is even less - close to 2%. FarCry has three significant results, up to 4%, but all three we noted today are no longer valid.

Visnovki

It is important to evaluate chipsets, as they bring to the city a sprinkling of revolutionary innovations. In this case, we will smooth out the announcement of Wiishov, so PCI Express 2.0 will appear less in the third quarter, with the release of X38, and the problems of consistency through the transition to new version the standard is not validated. Another novelty, the DDR3 memory, did not particularly injure us with its swedish characteristics, but, fortunately, at least the first generation of chipsets will have an available choice between DDR2 and DDR3, which can easily be reduced in the price of a new type of promotion yati. A support for new processors - the axis, maybe, the main card of the Intel 3x series. True, until the availability of these new processors, it may be clear that they support other chipsets, including products of competitors, for example, at least for the nForce 600i series, the FSB 1333 MHz support is announced, and about the actual support of 45-nanometer models can't nobody. The newest place in the world is progressive, having added giblets here and there, and its main feature, which is intriguing, Intel Turbo Memory, will require practical testing before a guilty verdict.

Before moving on to productivity evaluation, I would like to check, first of all, to confirm the speed level shown by MSI boards. Indeed, all three boards that were consumed before us showed absolutely the same level of productivity when working with DDR2 (two of them support only the same type of memory), we took off the prote before the very completion of the tests new firmware for P35 Platinum, yak trohi (on a small scale) increased the speed of this model. In addition, although we cannot confirm that combinations of solutions are subject to the speed of "vision", there are a lot of problems of this kind, so it's too early to put a spot on the power supply about DDR3 productivity. If you call for the release of [inexpensive, then mass-produced] processors with a 1333 MHz FSB, the picture may change somewhat. Tim is no less, having made a meaningful commitment to the tests, it would have been unreasonable not to have made some whiskers on this basis. Our solutions are as follows: after fixing all the transferred and transferred guards, the chipsets of the new series still look three times better than the old ones (like i965, so NVIDIA nForce 600i), DDR3 memory in equal minds can cost up to 2-3% of productivity, and for the P35, the memory is better, which works at a frequency of 1066 MHz, regardless of the timings.

Speaking globally about the share of new chipsets on the market, X38 undoubtedly knows its own, not even a few, top solutions, being one of the shortest chipsets on the market in terms of functionality. P35, після виходу зі смуги раннього старту, повинен виявити гідний рівень продуктивності, а його добротна функціональність, низьке тепловиділення, підтримка перспективних процесорів та типу пам'яті дозволяють вже сьогодні рекомендувати до купівлі плати на новому чіпсеті замість рішень аналогічного класу від конкурентів та старих чіпсетів myself about and company. Turbo Memory technology, with a clear demonstration of all the claims of power, can be one more important argument of Intel 3x. About the integration of options, we are obitsiaemo rozpovisti pіznіshe okremo.

The rest of the fates of the motherboard market are marked by a steady trend of increasing popularity of solutions from the introduction of a graphic core. Tsya furnishing a lot of mind. The personal computer step by step moves from the category of luxury items to the category of such significant, but practically necessary items for the home state, like, for example, a TV set. Just ten years ago, the purchase of a PC from a link with an entrance to the university was considered crazy luck, then today the practice of giving a "digital friend" to a schoolboy of the first class is already the norm. Moreover, for the sake of fun, but that needs it. Naturally, far from skin dads / daddies can buy their child a better car, that is not necessary for everyone. For learning, mastering the basics of programming, music, films, simple games and knowledge of the world of digital technologies, the productivity of the modern graphic core of modern sets of microcircuits is enough. Whenever you need to buy a discrete video card, you can reduce the system unit wares by no less than 70 or $100, which is about 25-30%. Vіdpovіdno to drink zrostaє i proposition. Even before the mother's payment on the basis of a set of microcircuits with an integrated graphical core was rіdkіst, then in some stores stink up to half of the entire assortment. Vtіm, tsya the situation is zoomed in by the global light tendencies. Ledve vshukhnuv galas z drive purchase of ATI company by another large processors maker - AMD company, as їЗi bv representations vlasnym chipset, moreover, only the version with vbudovanim vіdeo. The world's first processor giant, Intel, didn't take a hit on itself, presenting at once a new line of microcircuits for Core 2 Duo processors with a 1333 MHz bus, a solution with an integrated graphics core Intel GMA 3100 - Intel G31 Express. We already looked at the features of this chipset when we knew the line as a whole, and today it is possible to learn about the first motherboard on its basis. Sharpen - FOXCONN G31MX-K.

FOXCONNG31 MX- K

The key opportunity to pay, the increase in the productivity of the graphics core, is the combination with the new Core 2 Duo processors on the Penryn core with a system bus frequency of 1333 MHz. Irrespective of those that the official set of frequencies supported by the Intel G31 Express chipset ends at 1066 MHz, the G31MX-K specification has a value of 1333 MHz. Otherwise, the characteristics of the FOXCONN G31MX-K look quite standard. Merezhevі possibilities of communication between the gigabit controller Realtek RTL8111, which directly interacts with the chipset behind the auxiliary PCI Express bus. The sound of impulses based on the Realtek ALC662 six-channel codec is a simplified modification of the most popular Realtek ALC888 eight-channel chip.

pay

FOXCONN G31MX-K

Support processors

Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, Intel Core 2 Extreme, Pentium 4, Pentium 4 Extreme Edition, Pentium D, Celeron D

QPB frequencies

1333/1066/800MHz

Chipset

Intel G31+ICH7

Memory slots

2 DIMM slots (two channels) for unbuffered non-ECC DDR2-800/667 MHz modules. Maximum total volume - 4 GB

Extension slots

1 x PCI Express x16, 1 x PCI Express x1, 2 x PCI 2.3

Parallel ATA

1 channel UltraDMA 133, implemented on the controller, integrated into the chipset

Serial ATA

4 ports implemented on 3 Gb/s controller integrated into the chipset

RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 5, JBOD

ethernet

Gigabit LAN Controller Realtek RTL8111

Integrated sound

Realtek ALC662 6-channel (5.1) HDA codec

8 ports (4 displayed on I/O panel)

IEEE 1394

System monitoring

Checking the voltage on the components, the speed of the fan wrap, the temperature of the processor (behind the built-in thermal sensor)

Possibility of dispersal

Increasing the frequency of the system bus, processor, operational memory(synchronously with FSB), the magnitude of the voltage on the components

AWARD BIOS v6.00PG on 8 Mb chips

Form Factor

MicroATX, 244x208mm

Orientation retail price, USD

Shards at the warehouse of the Intel G31 Express chipset beat the old ICH7 spot, the maximum frequency of the DDR2 memory is supported by the board, which is officially 800 MHz. There is nothing nasty here. As of today, DDR2-800 modules with a capacity of 1 GB are the most profitable for the price / productivity increase, and the variance of the GB DDR2-1066 module can exceed the variance of the payment. One of the positive aspects of the ICH7 chip is the presence of a built-in single-channel IDE-attachment controller, which makes it possible to add additional microcircuits. In the minds of a hard-to-follow budget, it is designated as a vartost.

Packing and equipment

The packaging of the FOXCONN G31MX-K motherboard is a box, which is in different sizes, in the design it is dark colors.

The set is standard. Є everything is necessary for the selection of the base level system, and more with the same subject. The box itself with FOXCONN G31MX-K includes the following accessories:

    80-wire IDE cable;

    loop for FDD;

    Serial ATA cable;

    adapter from a Molex live plug to two SATA;

    plug for I/O panel on the rear wall of the case;

    CD with drivers and software for Windows XP and Vista;

    Operating instructions;

    poster-helper of swedish folding.


Like bachite, do not be afraid of transcendentalities.

Design and layout

Motherboard FOXCONN G31MX-K is also miniature. Vikonan in the Micro ATX form factor, the width of the board does not reach the maximum size, designated by the standard as 36 mm. The layout of the elements, for all intents and purposes, suffered little.

It would be possible to scatter on the “spawn” in the central part of the lower edge of the textolite pad for the floppy drive, but about the practicality of our watch we have already said more than once.

The clasps of the DIMM-slots will be blocked by the shortest video card, but as much as possible, which I will attach the board to in no way and not "play". So, with a short time, the furnishing should not be varto. And the axis, which costs a lot of DIMM-slots for DDR2 RAM, then I wanted two more chotiri, so having bought two modules of 1 GB each, expand the memory up to 2 GB by buying two more strips Tomorrow, unfortunately, we won't see it. Get rid of the old ones and buy new ones, more modules.

Number of slots for additional outbuildings looks entirely logical. One PCI Express x1 and two PCI slots are soldered for the extension to the PCI Express x16 socket for the original video card on the PCB.

The layout of the elements is well thought out, and there are no problems when folding. Everything is done manually and compactly.

Impulse converter of life of the processor of vikonations for the standard three-phase scheme. As practice shows, in case of some implementation, it is too much to ensure a stable life of current processors, like in standard modes, so in case of a peaceful dispersal, it is necessary to go about the Core 2 Quad core. In standard modes, the MOSFET power transistors, which are used to change the main work of the voltage, do not heat up more than 44 "C. When dispersed, the temperature reached 50" C for an hour. Considerations for this type of element, with a maximum allowable operating temperature of 105 "C, we can say that MOSFET pays, as you can see, there may be a margin.

Mi Bachimo, that the G31MX-K was created by FOXCONN engineers for the most part in stosuvanya newfangled elements based on solid polymer. However, the electrical capacitors, soldered on the board, were let out only by overworked pickers, so there is no doubt about them. Practice shows that even the ventilation of the system unit, the electric power of the building serve until the moment when the PC is brought into the brut like a morally outdated one.

Chipset cooling system is mostly passive. Pivnіchny place is cooled by a great aluminum radiator.

Those that are installed on a pivdenny one are more like a heat sink, but, as shown by a series of tests for the help of a MASTECH MS650 digital thermometer, this is too much.

The temperature of the radiator of the air bridge (at room temperature 26 "C) did not exceed 36" C, and that of the air bridge - 39 "C. Also, the main heaters for heating after the PC system unit, based on the FOXCONN G31MX-K, the processor and the hard drive will become the best for everything You yourself must pay for any additional cooling as air is not required.

The rear panel of the FOXCONN G31MX-K looks quite traditional. Here you can know such spoils and roses:

    two PS/2 for mouse and keyboard connection;

    chotiri USB 2.0;

    one D-SUB (VGA);

  • one RJ-45 fencing;

    three three-contact input-output sound card(Mini Jack).

Perhaps, it would not have bothered to add a digital output to the monitor to the DVI standard, so that these roses today become budget models LCD monitors. But for the fact of the existence of claims, it is necessary to present not to the chipmaker, but to the chipmaker, the chips of this interface are not supported by the Intel G31 Express chipset.

Having finished the development of the elements and their layout on the board, we select a test stand and proceed to the BIOS installation.

Test bench configurationBIOSthat split

To clarify the power supply, let's take a look at the configuration of the test stand:

    Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400, 2133 GHz (8×266), 2 MB L2;

    cooler: Scythe Ninja Plus with 120 mm fan at 1500 rpm;

    RAM: 2 modules, 1024 MB each, Apacer DDR2-800, 4-4-4-15 400 MHz;

    Hard drive: Seagate ST3160811AS, 160 GB, 3 Gb/s SATA, 8 MB Cache, 7200 rpm;

    living unit: FLOSTON 560 W (LXPW560W).

View and structure of the configuration utility basic system FOXCONN G31MX-K introduced and introduced based on AWARD Phoenix BIOS 6.00PG microcode, all standard.

The settings required for the system configuration are presented in the general agreement. In the middle of the lower menus with the same names, there is one that is called the Fox Central Control Unit. We have already worked out a similar menu on a number of FOXCONN motherboards of the middle price range, but on a budget board based on a chipset, but with built-in graphics, it will sound better. Here the BIOS retailers chose a low level, which they use to overclock the system. For overclockers-early transfers, there are three modes of accelerated system: Step 1, 2 and 3, all parameters of the zoom boost are distributed by retailers. Zocrema, in the Step 3 mode, the FSB frequency increases to 287 MHz, the voltage on the processor - by 0.1500, on the memory modules - by 0.3 V.

With this, the bench model Core 2 Duo E6400 is clocked up to 2300 MHz, and the RAM is up to 860 MHz. Looking back at the overclocking potential of the E6400, let's put it bluntly: the speed is minimal. Before that, with such a weak acceleration, it is absolutely stupid to increase the voltage of the processor by 0.15. If you do it in manual mode, the results can be more hostile. Good, such a possibility is overdone.


Switching to manual mode, the FSB frequency can be changed in the range from 266 MHz to 600 MHz in 1 MHz increments.

The voltage of the processor can be reduced, so it can be increased between -0.0500 to + 0.2500 with a margin of 0.0125 V.

The voltage on DIMM slots can be increased by 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 St.

Also available are the available parameters for blocking the addressing of operational memory and frequency. Chotiri basic timings can be changed as usual, so it’s okay, having trusted the algorithm of the system to decide. Such a possibility can be a heartbreak for overclockers-pochatkivtsy.


Coefficients, vikoristovuvanih to rozrahunku frequency of operational memory, only two. With regular FSB clocking 1066 MHz, the stench is consistent with DDR2-667 and DDR2-800 standards.

It's practical to check overclocker's abilities to pay for the 333 MHz symbols, so the Quad Pumped Bus format should be set to 1333 MHz for the overclocker, which matches the bus frequency of the new Core 2 Duo processors based on the Penryn core. The FOXCONN G31MX-K fit in easily.


Prote a little further, the re-verification ended up finishing fast - at 340 MHz. When moving over the border, the system didn’t hang up, but at the same time it was “driven” by the set frequency, and it tried to do it independently: the board simply dropped the FSB clock at nominal 266 MHz. That's why the overclocking abilities of the G31MX-K are not unambiguous. From one side, the overclocking potential of the pay is low and not suitable for serious overclocking. On the other hand, FOXCONN G31MX-K is a product intended for cheap home and office systems, and it is really possible to take from one of the most available Core 2 Duo models, the older E6700, which runs at the bus frequency of the new Penryn, looks even more comfortable. So, in the dark hall, paying the price and the specifics of the product, the overclocker's ability to pay looks good.

To complete our acquaintance with the BIOS Setup features of the FOXCONN G31MX-K, look at the PC Health Status submenu.

Here we would like to increase the possibilities of system monitoring, which allow you to control the voltage values ​​of the key vents, the temperature of the processor, the temperature of the monitor in the system block and wrap the fans. Crime of tsgogo, coristuvachevi available management Smart technology Fan, zavdannya kakoї - automatically adjusting the speed of the wrapping of the processor fan impeller according to the temperature value, so that the type of sensors inserted into the CPU cores is controlled.

Having become familiar with the main features of the customs of the analyzed fee, let's move on to the test part.

testuvannya

In this case, the main testing tasks, namely, the performance of the new Intel G31 Express chipset, and especially the GMA 3100 graphics core, is considered in front of the Intel G965 Express front-facing module with the GMA 3000 accelerator. ASUS board P5G-V.

Memory subsystem

Obviously, the memory controller for the Intel G31 Express chipset is more optimized. As a result, the FOXCONN G31MX-K board immediately appears in front.

Comprehensive tests

The most serious and "put through" package for complex system testing and updates is the SYSMark 2007 package from BAPCO. The main feature of SYSMark 2007 is the fact that for system testing it uses only really widely used programs. Tі, yakі day by day they run on their PCs and win for the work of millions of people in the whole world. The package is composed of several scenarios, which include low operations, which vibrate with a simple set of add-ons that are typical for the singing gallery of the PC.

At the entrance hall for an hour of testing with the SYSMark 2007 package motherboard FOXCONN G31MX-K is noticeably smarter.

Viperedzhennya for swidkistyu stably poserіgaєtsya and with a detailed examination of the skin scenario okremo.

Daly follow the popular package of tests PCMark 2005. On the SYSMark view, it is less likely to imitate the work of real add-ons, but, at the same time, it is no less, at the same time, to give an adequate assessment of the system's productivity.

There is a difference between the productivity of test boards. More practical memory controller, graphics and disk subsystems. The result is that the Intel G31 Express has been overpowered.

The upcoming test package CINEBENCH 9.5, based on professional software for creating 3D scenes - CINEMA 4D, has a graphic core GMA 3100 turned upside down.

Mathematical and scientific studies

The ScienceMark 2.0 program is used to calculate the kinetic and potential energy of the molecules of the crystal lattice of metal for different temperatures, the distribution of charges of the nucleus and electrons and other complex mathematical calculations.

Do not run this test between boards (chipsets) of any retail. Only when the potential energy of the molecule was released, ASUS P5G-V managed to program a supernice for one second.

The only task, as used by the Super Pi program, is the assignment of the value of the number Pi (3.14) with high accuracy. Tobto tse mathematical problem In a clean look. At our point of view, the rozrahunok was vikonuvavsya with accuracy 1 and 8 million signs after Komi.

The number Pi with an accuracy of up to 1 million signs, but the system is still important, and the axis іz with eight million G31 is two seconds faster.

Encoding video, audio data

The offensive is Nabir Dodatkiv, the Togetan Codannya DVD -Video, by the hollow codams - Divx I XVID, and this is the ioe envelope in the zrosumili bilshosti telephone format, the storage of the permanent pratsyuє stably shvidshe.

The same cost and the task of compressing the audio stream with the Lame 3.97 codec into the popular MP3 format.

Image processing

Adobe Photoshop is the most popular and functional raster editor. To improve the productivity of systems in this task, for an additional script, five megapixel photos were processed in compressed TIF format (about 15 MB per skin) with more than 30 filters.

The Panorama Factory is recognized for creating panoramic images from shots taken around the world. The program is recognized by the high accuracy of stitching, but, as a last resort, by great resourcefulness. Samples were given in five megapixel photographs.

With raster graphics G31 in particular FOXCONN G31MX-K copes remarkably smartly.

Data archiving

The WinRAR archiver is one of the most popular and most effective programs for compressing data.

There is no problem for me again on the G31 boats.

Nap_synthetic game tests

In non-synthetic gaming tests, the GMA 3100 video is perfectly swedish, but the difference is insignificant. Maybe, there is more respect for the varto to add the advantages of global productivity.

In games, the situation looks a little better, but in all seriousness, we can’t talk about those that the GMA 3100 is suitable for games 2-3 years ago, as before.

Throughput building interfaces and energy supply

Shvidkіsnі characteristics of USB- and SATA-controllers are practically identical.

The energy efficiency of the systems is controlled by the additional pressure indicator for the FLOSTON LXPW560W energy block.

The energy saving plan G31 is much better. The number of savings FOXCONN G31MX-Up to energy is noticeably lower.

The quality of the audio path

Testing of the audio path based on the HDA codec Realtek ALC662 was carried out by the RightMark Audio Analyzer 5.5 program in 16 bit, 44 kHz mode using an additional Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 4 SE sound card.

The subsumkova rating "duzhe good" allows us to talk about those that the ALC662 audio codec installed on the board plays the popular ALC888 only in the number of channels, but definitely not like the sound.

Visnovki

As shown by testing, the progress as a result of updating the Intel GMA 3000 graphics core to version 3100 is seamless. However, the kіlkisny vіn vіnі vіn is too small, schob to bring the need to appear on the market of a new chipset. The station could improve the addition of new functionality, but the Intel G31 Express alezim cannot boast. At the warehouse for a set of microcircuits, the old ICH7 locality is stopped, the industrial one does not officially support the bus frequency of 1333 MHz, but the new Core 2 Duo processors on the Penryn core. Zvichayno, about the DDR3 support here, you can’t just move it. On the other hand, for the role, although it is not rich, but more productive, replace the Intel G960 Express chipset, G31 is still suitable, even the price list for Penryn and DDR3 memory modules is far from the budget. Moreover, the advantage of the G31 in front of the front is not so in the graphics subsystem, as in the subtle optimizations of the memory controller and other tires, which significantly increased the productivity of the chipset in all addenda. For them, Intel prepared two products with video integration - G33 and G35.

The motherboard FOXCONN G31MX-K has its own features - it's good, solid implementation of the Intel G31 chipset. Having fully implemented all the capabilities of the chipset, the retailers went further, adding the possibility of increasing the system bus frequency to 1333 MHz. Obviously, buy through the Penryn circuit and put it on the board, like before, without a head, it’s too expensive for her, but the G31MX-K has a lot of space for overclocking the amazing Core 2 Duo. And the FOXCONN G31MX-K has a number of other advantages, more. From them, we would like to see a low level of thermal imaging. The board is defiantly "cold", it is good for miniature, read small cases. Tsomu spryaє i akіsno thought design.

Photos taken by the TECHLABS studio, photographer Dmitro Filatov

Diakuemo companyFOXCONN for a fee for testing.