Intel Unveils Desktop Motherboard for Nettops

[btarunr]

Offering more choice to entry-level desktop PC users, Intel Corporation today showcased a new desktop motherboard that packs a powerful price-performance value proposition. Running on the newly released 45nm dual-core Intel Atom Processor 330, the Intel Desktop Board D945GCLF2 Essential Series is the second generation of Intel's most affordable and differentiated motherboard that integrates a single unit of compute with a microprocessor, chipset, motherboard and heat sink.

Designed to specifically build nettops - a family of affordable desktops purpose built for Internet-centric usage models - the Intel Desktop Board D945GCLF2 targets entry-level computer users in the emerging markets, as second or basic home PCs for mature markets, or customized for unique vertical usage models such as Internet kiosks, thin clients or POS (point-of-sale) systems.



"Small on size and big on potential, the best of 45nm technology is used to deliver a rich and full experience in a tiny, power-packed package," said Tom Rampone, vice president of Intel's Sales and Marketing Group, and general manager, Channel Platforms Group. "Nettops represent a fundamental shift in system design and PC consumption. Over the next 20 years we will see nettops emerge as a powerful and significant force in computing."

Providing a big Internet experience in a small package, the Intel Desktop Board D945GCLF2 features the newest mini-ITX form factor. Backward compatible with ATX/MicroATX, this form factor allows PC manufacturers and system builders to create energy-efficient solutions with the ultimate small chassis flexibility. The board is integrated with a low-power dual-core Intel Atom Processor with 533 MHz system bus, and the Intel 945GC Express Chipset with built-in Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950. There is a single DIMM socket designed to support up to 2 GB of DDR2 667/533 SDRAM. For custom system configurations and future add-in upgrades there is a PCI expansion slot. In addition, the board includes an IDE connector supporting up to two ATA 100/66 devices, and an integrated 10/100/1000 Mb/s Ethernet LAN connectivity. Featuring High Definition Audio (6-Channel) with front panel header, the integrated stereo audio provides excellent value. The board also supports up to eight Hi-Speed USB 2.0 ports (four back panel ports and two onboard headers supporting four additional USB 2.0 ports), two Serial ATA ports (3.0 Gb/s), and an S-Video connector.

Availability
The Intel Desktop Board D945GCLF2 will be available for shipping worldwide in September this year. Furthermore, the ecosystem is strong at launch with over a dozen chassis manufactures who have confirmed building chassis compatible with the Intel Desktop Board D945GCLF2.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[lemonadesoda]

with over a dozen chassis manufactures who have confirmed building chassis compatible with the Intel Desktop Board D945GCLF2

Eh? That's mini-ITX, a standard format!

My mini-ITX just blew up. Looks like a good replacement. Might hold out for a month to get one of these. Shame it isnt 100% PASSIVE.

 

[Cuzza]

Shame it isnt 100% PASSIVE.

True; why they haven't made a low powered chipset to go with the Atom is beyond me. Maybe it's a cost thing, they've probably got 1000s of 945s lying around they have to fob off.

 

[Elijah86]

that 945 is still proly using more power than the dual core atom

 

[newtekie1]

True; why they haven't made a low powered chipset to go with the Atom is beyond me. Maybe it's a cost thing, they've probably got 1000s of 945s lying around they have to fob off.

They have made a low powered chipset to go with Atom, it is called the 945GSE. Why they don't use it in the desktops is beyond me.

 

[lemonadesoda]

that 945 is still proly using more power than the dual core atom

is the active cooler on the chipset or on the CPU?

 

[Cuzza]

its on the chipset.

 

[btarunr]

It's on the CPU.

 

[Cuzza]

It's on the CPU.

Quote from here

"Intel did not specify the Atom 330's dimensions, clock speed, or power consumption. But, the above picture of the D945GCLF2 suggests that the Atom 330 fits into the same 22mm x 22mm footprint as the Atom 230. Meantime, the new processor has been rumored to have a TDP of 8 Watts, twice that of its earlier sibling.

However much power it consumes, the Atom 330's will be a relatively minor contributor to motherboard TDP as a whole. That's because the relatively-thirsty 82945GC and 82801GB consume up to 25 Watts on their own, according to a previously published Intel roadmap. Reviewers have measured the D945GCLF's power consumption under load as falling between 50 and 60 Watts; for more details, see our earlier coverage, here. "


Hence, chipset needs the fan, not the CPU.

 

[Elijah86]

Now thats sad that the chipset needs a fan. and not the CPU.

 

[btarunr]

Quote from here
.

When was the last time you saw i945GC "active-cooled"?

http://www.tweaktown.com/news/9989/intel_shows_off_its_dual_core_atom_330_mobo_at_idfindex.html

 

[Cuzza]

When was the last time you saw i945GSC "active-cooled"?

I reckon they're wrong. When was the last time you saw Atom active cooled? Besides, the CPU is always the chip on the side of the mini-itx mobo.

 

[btarunr]

When was the last time you saw Atom active cooled?

I never saw a dual-core Atom before? (this is the first anyone has). It has a higher thermal envelope than single core ones, and hence the HSF.

 

[malware]

I have one of these at work. It came yesterday for test, pocker machine manufacturers will love the idea of this combo. We already finished around 100 pocker machines made out of mini-ITX mobos and CPUs just like this one.

 

[btarunr]

I have one of these at work. It came yesterday for test, pocker machine manufacturers will love the idea of this combo. We already finished around 100 pocker machines made out of mini-ITX mobos and CPUs just like this one.

Mal, is that fan cooling the CPU or Northbridge?

 

[malware]

It's the CPU as long as I remember, after the weekend I might take some real photos. The CPU is soldered directly to the mobo, in other words it's not interchangable. Also the CPU fan looks quite big, here on the pictures it gives the wrong impression.

 

[Cuzza]

*officially shot down*

 

[btarunr]

Most ITX solutions have CPUs hardwired....oh wait, Atom itself is uses a BGA package.

 

[lemonadesoda]

Something doesnt stack up.

miniITX does indeed have the CPU at the edge of mainboard (usually). No reason for Atom to have a different layout, BUT, how can 8W need active cooling but 20W of chipset needs only slim passive.

8W must be "average" and not peak, (peak is much higher and therefore needs cooler), OR, that cooler really is on the chipset, not the Atom.

Most ITX solutions have CPUs hardwired....oh wait, Atom itself is uses a BGA package.

Most embedded are hardwired, but most ITX are socketed except VIA. I have 3 ITX solutions, all sockets. (s370, s478, and s479).

 

[ktr]

The CPU is passive, the chipset is active.

The atom has a max tdp of 4w, while the 945GC has a max tdp of 22.2w. The 945gsc (the notebook chipset for the atom) has a max tdp of 6w.

 

[btarunr]

How badly Intel needs a NB revamp for the Atom in general...active cooling for the NB, and as Malware suggested, larger than what's seen in pics.

 

[Cuzza]

*flying again!*

Ktr, i'm sure i've seen those pics before, that is the D945GCLF i.e single core, and I think bta you have somehow got pics of that one posted above.

I believe this is the dual core D945GCLF2 with the larger CPU heatsink:

 

[newtekie1]

The CPU is passive, the chipset is active.

The atom has a max tdp of 4w, while the 945GC has a max tdp of 22.2w. The 945gsc (the notebook chipset for the atom) has a max tdp of 6w.

Exactly, and I don't know why they don't use the notebook chipset on the desktop boards and cut the power down. I know the 945GC has some advantages, but none of them really show on nettop machine. One loss is going from dual channel memory to single channel, but on a board like this with only one memory slot, it doesn't matter. You lose TV out also, which is probably the biggest loss, and really the only reason I can see people wanted the 945GC over the 945GSE. I'm sure there are more than a few that would like to have this connected to their HDTV's to have interent in their living room. Though with just an S-Video port, the picture will look like shit anyways, so I think I would have to put a video card in the one PCI slot and use that for an DVI/HDMI connection, and that would raise the power back up to that of the 945GC...

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

It's the CPU as long as I remember, after the weekend I might take some real photos. The CPU is soldered directly to the mobo, in other words it's not interchangable. Also the CPU fan looks quite big, here on the pictures it gives the wrong impression.

How mucho do they costo?

 

[ktr]

I believe this is the dual core D945GCLF2 with the larger CPU heatsink:

Yea, that is the dual core version.