G45 And GeForce 9400: Integrated Chipsets For Core 2

Intel Desktop Board DG45ID

The DG45ID is listed as a product of the Media Series motherboards on the Intel Web site. It is a MicroATX motherboard that takes advantage of all of the features found in the G45 chipset, with the exception of expansion slots (due to the limited space in this form factor).

The board comes with four DIMM slots, allowing users to upgrade an initial dual-DIMM memory configuration by adding two more modules. One x16 PCI Express slot can be used for add-on expansion cards or a discrete graphics card, should you run into the obvious performance limits of Intel’s integrated GMA X4500HD graphics unit. Two more x1 PCI Express slots and a 32-bit PCI slot are available for upgrades.

Finally: Only Digital Video Outputs

We liked that Intel finally said farewell to the analog VGA connector and installed two digital outputs into the back panel: one DVI and one HDMI. You can add more display outputs by adding a discrete graphics card, as the BIOS permits using the integrated and a discrete graphics unit at once. 

The back panel also hosts a total of six USB 2.0 ports, audio jacks—including an optical audio output—a 1394a FireWire port, and an eSATA connector. The last of these is routed from the ICH10 to the back panel, leaving five SATA/300 ports for internal drives. There are three more headers that provide six more USB 2.0 ports.

This board supports all Core 2 processors with the exception of the 130 W Extreme Editions; the three-phase voltage regulator is very likely insufficient to provide enough power for those high-end CPUs.