Intel DP45SG (Skyburg)

[Sandog]

Introducing the new Intel Extreme Edition P45 chipset board...looks like I have found my next board

Intel® Desktop Board DP45SG Overview

"Welcome to the extreme performance platform brought to you by Intel® Desktop Board DP45SG, supporting the Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme processor with up to 1333 FSB. Built in the full size ATX, this board comes with dual PCIe 2.0 x16 graphics connectors, DDR-3 1333 support and overclocking capabilities. Intel® Desktop Board DP45SG will take your gaming experience to a higher level.

Intel Desktop Board DP45SG supports Dolby* Home Theatre and is Microsoft Windows Vista* Premium WHQL certified."

[S.SubZero]

No floppy
No PS/2
No *IDE*

it's... it's beautiful ; ; But DDR3 is still pretty expensive.. I'm sure the board won't be cheap either.

[Sandog]

Yeah, it also has 12 USB 2.0 ports available and even has a serial com header for those who wish to program serial devices like myself.

Actually DDR3 is falling fast. Been watching prices for a long time. My fav SuperTalent is some of the best value DDR to buy. I've seen 2x1GB sticks for under $200 and good 2x2GB pairs are also under $400 and dropping.

This board is perfect IMO, I am amazed Intel brought out another EE board based on the P45 and I wasn't even expecting it. It supports almost every CPU out now and is OC ready. I am stoked about it. It supports 1333 FSB but it will be equal if not better at OCing like the P35 which will go above 1600 easily and will have better OC features/options because its and EE board. I want the P45 because its less of a power hog and shouldn't get as hot as the X38/48 (chipset).

By the way, the price is looking to be around $165, whoot!

[ATINUT]

Board looks good.

I would probably use this board in a build, if I was getting ready to build a new system or a total system upgrade. I myself will give it a little time to mature.

[Sandog]

Board comes with the same box contents as the X48 including 'Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter DVD' and the ICH heat sink decorative cover. Also this board has a single back port eSATA connector. The X45 oops I mean DP45SG also has an impressive looking new IDT 92HD73E audio CODEC. You can review the description of it here.

[Sandog]

Some P45 chipset info. (ICH10/10R)

Download product brief

Intel® P45 Express Chipset Overview





Some new features and benefits of this chipset are:
1. Intel® Turbo Memory Intel's innovative NAND cache designed to improve the responsiveness of applications, application load times, and system boot performance. Intel® Turbo Memory, paired with the Intel P45 Express Chipset, also allows the user to easily control the applications or data in the cache using the new Intel Turbo Memory Dashboard interface, boosting performance further. (You can buy a PCIex1 flash card.)

2. Individual USB and SATA port feature lets individual USB and SATA ports to be enabled or disabled as needed. This feature provides added protection of data by preventing malicious removal or insertion of data through USB and SATA ports. Especially targeted for eSATA ports.

3. Intel® Flex Memory Technology Facilitates easier upgrades by allowing different memory sizes to be populated and remain in dual-channel mode.

4. Intel® Fast Memory Access Updated Graphics Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) backbone architecture that improves system performance by optimizing the use of available memory bandwidth and reducing the latency of the memory accesses (I believe this refers to GPU versions and not the DP45SG.)

5. PCI Express * 2.0 interface The PCI Express 2.0 provides 16 GB/s bandwidth for platform graphics.

6. Intel® Quiet System Technology Intelligent system fan speed control algorithms use operating temperature ranges more efficiently to reduce system noise by minimizing fan speed changes.

[Sandog]

The Gigabit Ethernet Controller chip used on the DP45GS looks to be updated as well. Appears to be a mobile part and has power saving ability/uses less voltage.

LAN Support Gigabit (10/100/1000 Mbits/sec) LAN subsystem using the Intel® 82567LF Gigabit Ethernet Controller. Data sheet.

[Sandog]

Also notice the Extreme Tuning Support block up there on the Chipset Diagram I don't OC 24/7 but I like to play around every once in a while. I prefer nowadays to have a system that doesn't turn my room into an oven.

[Sandog]

FYI, the DP45SG is compatible with every Core 2 processor out there plus Celerons. IMO, for the low price, this board should be extremely popular.

Intel® Desktop Processors and Desktop Boards Compatibility Tool - Search Results Page

[ATINUT]

I think this will be an excellent board, even if you don't overclock.

I noticed the updated HD Audio codec myself, when looking at Intel's specs for the board.

[Sandog]

Originally Posted by ATINUT

I think this will be an excellent board, even if you don't overclock.

I noticed the updated HD Audio codec myself, when looking at Intel's specs for the board.

Hey ATINUT,

I had dreams of over clocking a cheap quad to 1600FSB late last year but gave up on the idea a while ago because of heat and power required for the likes of the QX9770. Now it might be more possible with this new 65nm chipset and with the revised Yorkfield core coming out which is suppose to improve TDP also.

The audio codec looks good. It looks like Intel is giving up on Sonic Focus and sticking with Dolby. There are several good sounding features (pun intended) such as MS Windows Logo Program compliant, pop/click mitigation, digital mic input, 4-stage microphone bias ability, and common A/D and sample rate performance for HD. Software wise of course is support for all of Dobly's technologies, new MaxxPlayer plugin for WMP, and WOW Tru Sound. Also it looks like it supports beam array mics which the BA2 didn't possess. It all sounds good and makes me happy (I'll surely be getting this board in case you can't tell.)

It's a relief actually, I was worried I was going to have to move over to Asus for a P45 board that would have decent features and OC or be stuck with the mundane Intel P45 board. Intels P35 (barely over $100) won't handle top CPU's, has no OC, and has reduced audio features and I figured the P45 would be the same. This new EE board has the cooler chipset with all the great features I am use to from Intels top-line boards. Like I said earlier, it even has a comm port header which I want but is no longer an option on the X38/X48. I will also invest in a flash card sometime later for it (something the previous chipset didn't support.) It'll be a while before I get this board but it will be soon enough.

[ATINUT]

Good luck with this board when you finally get it.

[drayon]

meh, why bother down this path? FSB's should have been obsolesced 5 years ago. Can we leave the primitive legacy technology and focus purely on SOC/Unified Memory Architectures. SGI was using UMA's over 10 years ago, AMD has been using Integrated Memory controller on die for how many years?

I really can't understand why you guys get so excited by the continual minor enhancements on decade old designs :-(

[drayon]

Originally Posted by Sandog

2. Individual USB and SATA port feature lets individual USB and SATA ports to be enabled or disabled as needed. This feature provides added protection of data by preventing malicious removal or insertion of data through USB and SATA ports. Especially targeted for eSATA ports.

Ill believe that BS when i see it. The last Intel board i board based on this advertising feature turned out to be a crock of crap. After many firmware updates the still nothing showed up that resembles this. Provided feature is simply "USB Enable/Disable". Thats it 12 USB ports enabled or disabled absolutely no setting to individually disable any port.

meh deceptive marketing at its finest.

[Sandog]

Originally Posted by drayon

meh, why bother down this path? FSB's should have been obsolesced 5 years ago. Can we leave the primitive legacy technology and focus purely on SOC/Unified Memory Architectures. SGI was using UMA's over 10 years ago, AMD has been using Integrated Memory controller on die for how many years?

I really can't understand why you guys get so excited by the continual minor enhancements on decade old designs :-(

Blah, (off topic) if finally having a IMC on an Intel chip satisfies you then great, it doesn't mean what available now is crap. Technology improvements on chipsets are incremental. The next Nehalem chipsets won't have many extra features 6mos from now from the latest chipset, just that it will have more performance and HT again with Nehalem. Affordable Nehalem systems are a year away and will initially be expensive and very possible buggy. The current Penryn's are great chips and for the cost of this board ($165 give or take some) and the price drop in Penryn's next quarter you can put together a powerful and more efficient system now with this board which has plenty of OC potential(= fun.) The Nehalem chipset will be 65nm also and without the outside memory controller will be less power hungry but add double the CPU pins plus two or four HT threads and triple channel DDR in some cases and I bet power consumed will be greater than a Penryn and a new P45 chipset board. Intel will probably have to remove some cache from Nehalem in order to make power go down. All in all it doesn't matter whats in the chip if the system brings a satisfactory combination of stability, performance, and value.