FIC VL11PE - FIC VL11PE
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Intel 865PE Chipset Info
The Intel 865G should be a great solution for the typical desktop user and even those out there with a taste for performance. Sporting AGP 8X, Native Serial ATA, Dual Channel DDR at 400MHz and many others, Intel is serious about the performance of their new chipsets and this one is no exception, including all the bells and whistles of the standard Springdale platform AND Intel Extreme Graphics 2.
"The IntelŪ 865G chipset features support for an 800 MHz Front Side Bus (FSB) with dual-channel DDR400 memory configurations to get incredible performance from the memory interface. Optimized to support the IntelŪ PentiumŪ 4 Processor with Hyper-Threading Technology, the 865G chipset adds intelligence to help manage and prioritize multiple threads received from the microprocessor. "
"The 865G chipset-based platform integrates IntelŪ Communication Streaming Architecture (CSA) featuring a Dedicated Networking Bus interface, Hi-Speed USB 2.0, and Serial ATA. An enhanced AC '97 audio implementation with dual independent DMA audio engines delivers improved sound quality and new audio usage models. The 865G chipset helps to ensure that tomorrow's most demanding applications will run optimally on Pentium 4 processor-based platforms."
| Features | Benefits |
| 800-/533-MHz System Bus | Supports platform longevity for the fastest IntelŪ PentiumŪ 4 processor frequencies and delivers greater system bandwidth. |
| IntelŪ Hyper-Threading Technology Support | Increases memory and system-level performance by optimizing internal data paths. |
| Onboard Graphics | Integrated Intel Extreme Graphics 2 w/DVMT |
| 478-pin Processor Package Compatibility | Dedicated data paths deliver maximum bandwidth for I/O-intensive applications. |
| IntelŪ Hub Architecture | Flexible memory technology allows a full spectrum of DDR usage from highest performance to more cost-effective systems. ECC ensure data reliability and integrity. |
| Dual-Channel DDR 400/333 SDRAM Memory with ECC Support | Highest bandwidth graphics interface enables upgradability to the latest graphics cards. |
| Integrated Hi-Speed USB 2.0 | Eight ports offer up to 40x greater bandwidth over USB 1.1 for a variety of today's demanding high-speed I/O peripherals. |
| Dual Independent Serial ATA Controllers | Facilitates high-speed storage transfers and easy hard drive upgrades. |
| Integrated IntelŪ RAID Technology | Additional storage performance for Serial ATA hard disk drives(HDD), without the added cost of an external RAID controller. |
| Ultra ATA/100 | Takes advantage of the existing industry HDD and optical drive interfaces. |
| AC '97 Controller | Supports Dolby* Digital 5.1 surround
sound(1), delivering six channels of enhanced sound quality. |
| IntelŪ Communication Streaming Architecture | Wire-speed GbE with the Dedicated Network Bus for performance network connectivity. |
Layout and Feature Set
To me, the layout of a board is very important and can make your installation experience either a good one or a bad one. FIC engineering has done a really good job with the layout of this particular motherboard and I only have 1 small gripe. I would have liked to see the 4-Pin ATX power connector a little closer to the top so you wouldn't have to route wires to that connection down to the left middle portion of the motherboard. Even this is a bit on the nitpicky side and other than that, the layout here is very easy to work with. Lets take a look at some shots.
Above are pics of the DDR slots, IDE, Floppy and ATX connector. To the right are the 5 PCI lots and AGP. The inclusion of 5 PCI slots is very nice considering we already have onboard sound, LAN and Video if needed, therefore leaving you MORE than enough room for those extra peripherals that you may want to install, i.e. USB card, SCSI, etc.
Here we see shots of the Northbridge chipset cooler to the left and the 478 socket on the right. The chipset cooler is a fairly impressive piece of heatsink and should do an adequate job of cooling down the Northbridge. You'll see active cooling on the Canterwood boards but there really isn't much need for it here, especially if you have good case airflow. To the right is he socketed area where you'll be installing your CPU. Pretty standard fair and plenty of room to work with. Below is a shot of what was under the Northbridge HSF when we took a look.
FIC did a decent job with the application process which happens to be the standard TIM and not thermal paste. You can see the area where I pulled it off shows that there was full coverage over the chipset core so the cooling of this shouldn't be a problem for anyone. And as stated earlier, this is a beefy little HSF that looks pretty darn nice too.
Above is a shot of the Intel Southbridge (ICH5) which you can see is labeled "Secret" as this is a pre-production board. Although we have been assured by FIC that this board is very representative of what you can expect with final production. You can also see the the onboard SATA connections to the right of the ICH5 and then the outboard SATA controller towards the bottom. We also see USB hookups and the CMOS battery up top. Also notice the 3pin fan header for a total of 3 on the motherboard. Not as much as some of the higher end boards which have 4 or 5, but certainly enough to get the job done. One for the intake fan, one for a video card or chipset cooler and one for the CPU fan.
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