DFI 855GME-MGF Motherboard Review - Images, video and audio
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Since it is based around the ICH5, also included is Serial ATA RAID functionality, and a total of 8 USB 2.0 ports. However DFI only saw fit to include 4 ports on the backplane, and didn't offer up any extra internal pinouts to hook more up to through a front panel connector. This is something I'd consider to be an oversight on their part if they are looking at having this hooked into a home theatre. Many of those cases do have available connections at the front part of the case for easily adding on digital cameras or other devices.
However, there is an IEEE 1394 Firewire hookup that can be ported to the front, on top of the connection on the backplane. That makes it useful for digital video cameras at least, or quickly offloading data to an iPod while saving one of those precious PCI slots. In fact all that needs to be added is a sound card, and even that is optional. Due to its laptop roots, the DFI 855GME-MGF includes onboard video, in the form of Intels "Extreme Graphics 2." While for any 3D task the graphics are far less than extreme, it's certainly sufficient for a headless server that only needs graphics for initial configuration and on site administration.
A discreet video card will need to be added, though, for home theatre use: unless your TV accepts a signal from the ubiquitous 15 pin Dsub connection, there is no S-Video or DVI out obviously. I think that, for the vast majority of people buying this for a power desktop (like myself) you'll want a more powerful graphics solution. After all, most laptops without a separate solution from nVidia or ATI aren't exactly known for their gaming or workstation prowess.
Why did I say you might want to use a PCI slot for audio? For most people, there probably is nothing wrong with the included Realtek ALC655 AC'97 codec packaged along with the board. After all, it does support 5.1 audio. However in order to get S/PDIF, you'll need to purchase something to attach to the board, as all DFI includes is the pin header. As well, Realtek onboard solutions are not exactly well known for their sonic purity, but what do you really expect for "free"? It has certainly not hurt sales of the their chips, as you can find them in just about every single retail motherboard these days. It's just not ideal for a consumer who has specialized their product choice enough to think "outside the box" in the direction of DFI and their board that brings Intel's mobile chip stationary. Of course in the server realm that extra money spent on a higher class sound solution would not be counted as money well spent, for the same reasons that mediocre graphics are acceptable.
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