Buying Guides -> Hardware -> Motherboard Integrate this!Team CHIP | 29 September 2008
Integrated graphics aren’t just for the cheapest of PCs. They’re powerful enough for your home entertainment and even a little light gaming
Be it an office, home, gaming or a entertainment PC, motherboards with an integrated graphics processor (IGP) are the most sought-after for the tremendous value they offer. With a graphics processor onboard, you save a few thousand rupees right away as you don’t need to invest in a graphics card. Thus it goes without saying that IGP motherboards are the foundation of ultra-budget and mainstream computers. Let’s say you want to build a budget home PC. Entry-level PC components are so affordable that you can build a machine for less than Rs 20,000. That too with a 17-inch TFT display and a DVD writer! IGP motherboards have become much more capable than they used to be in the past. Integrated graphics processors have become so powerful that they perform almost at par with discrete entry-level graphics cards. Most IGPs now feature integrated video decoders that can seamlessly decode high-definition content. So you no longer need a powerful processor to enjoy movies in high-definition. With the inclusion of HDMI and DisplayPort video outputs and multi-channel audio processors, IGP motherboards are the best choice for home theater PCs. If a regular sized PC is too big for your living room, it’s now possible to build one that’s less than half that size. For the first time in a motherboard roundup we came across mini-ITX motherboards, which are about half the size of an A4 sheet of paper. GPU giants Nvidia and AMD now have something very interesting for mid-range users and enthusiasts. They have now extended multi-GPU support to IGP motherboards in both hybrid and discrete formats. While the former supports clubbing the power of the IGP and a discrete graphics card, the latter supports two discrete PCIe graphics cards as well, in a full-ATX form factor. Hybrid multi-GPU mode is a good choice if you want to build an entry-level gaming machine. By adding a compatible entry-level graphics card you can get nearly double the performance by running it in hybrid SLI / CrossFire mode. Other new features of IGP motherboards are eSATA ports, usage of all-solid capacitors and improvements in the cooling systems. You can now use external eSATA hard drives that are more than twice as fast as external USB hard drives. Since IGPs have become more powerful, better chipset cooling is required. Instead of the standard passive heatsinks, some motherboards feature heat pipe cooling and heatsinks for voltage regulators next to the processor socket. IGP motherboards have indeed evolved! This month we bring to you a comparison of 24 IGP motherboards for both Intel and AMD processors. We put them through rigorous tests to find the ones that rule the roost and the ones that offer the best value for money. Whether you’re a basic user, movie buff or gamer, remember that your motherboard is at the core of your experience.
Intel: Gigabyte EG45M-DS2H Specifications
Featuring the latest G45 chipset, the Gigabyte EG45M-DS2H motherboard took away the Best Performance award in the Intel category. Supporting the 45 nm Intel Core 2 multi-core processors, this baby’s Intel G45 Express chipset FSB can be overclocked to attain peak performance. The board also has the highest Future Proof index as it has the Ultra Durable 2 design, where all-solid, lower ESR capacitors enhance the lifespan of the board. The board has the Intel X4500HD graphics media accelerator, which is better than anything the other boards in the Intel category had to offer. The layout of the motherboard is good, as is the positioning of the northbridge heatsink which gets maximum cooling from the CPU fan. Other features comprise of rear panel video outputs of D-Sub, DVI and HDMI, a Gigabit Ethernet port, 7.1-channel audio and FireWire and eSATA ports. A bonus is that the board has a backup BIOS, which automatically recovers the BIOS in case of damage, improper flashing or viruses. For: Good layout and features, all-solid capacitors, has a backup BIOS. Against: None.
Intel: MSI P6NGM-L Specifications
The cheapest motherboard with the best combination of features and performance was the MSI P6NGM-L in the Intel IGP motherboard roundup. The board is powered by Nvidia’s GeForce 7050 northbridge which has an FSB of 1066 MHz which can be over-clocked up to 1333 MHz. The motherboard is quite low on features with only one D-sub port for VGA output, but can scale up its performance by adding a graphics card. It has only two memory slots which can support only 4 GB of RAM with a maximum speed of 800 MHz. The board has a decent layout with low rise all-solid capacitors near the CPU area. The rest of the motherboard includes basic electrolyte capacitors, in addition to the missing DVI or HDMI ports, which adds to its low Future Proof index score. This motherboard is aimed at those building an entry-level computer which can be used for basic office applications, browsing the Internet, basic entertainment, media center and basic gaming. For: Basic office computing and home entertainment, great value for money. Against: Low Future Proof index, memory limited to 4 GB only.
AMD : Asus M3A78-EM Specifications
Mix performance with a whole lot of features and you get the Asus M3A78-EM that bagged the Best Performance award in the mainstream category. The M3A78-EM is based around the AMD 780G chipset and comes integrated with the Radeon HD 3200 GPU which supports AMD’s hybrid CrossFire technology. The Asus M3A78-EM comes with all possible video outputs, from HDMI to a Display Port, to D-Sub/DVI port and is the only board that came with a Display port in our comparison test. Apart from these salient features the rear panel of the board also houses six USB ports, eSATA, Firewire, S/PDIF out, gigabit LAN and 7.1-channel audio output. The board stood out with an overall score of 3883 and 1510 in PCMark Vantage and 3DMark respectively. The 780G chipset supports full HD playback. If you ever thought of making your own HTPC you wouldn’t need to look elsewhere with the Asus M3A78-EM. Even if you are a gamer, all you need to do is to add a graphics card to achieve superior performance in hybrid CrossFire. For: Rich in features, a steal for its price. Against: None.
AMD: Jetway PA74M2-HR20-LF Specifications
The Jetway PA74M2-HR20-LF is an entry-level IGP motherboard that is powered by the AMD 740G chipset featuring the integrated Radeon 2100 GPU. The chipset supports only 4 GB of DDR2 memory which is sufficient to build a powerful PC on a shoestring budget. Add an entry-level AMD dual-core processor, 2 GB DDR2 memory, hard disk, DVD writer and you’ll have a decent machine for less than Rs 12,000. The board doesn’t boast of any bells and whistles other than its red PCB, which has yellow slots and ports strewn all over. The layout of the board is neat with plenty of room around the CPU socket and the northbridge. The main power connector and the IDE port are placed at the edge so that it is easy to route the power and IDE cables. A bunch of six SATA ports are placed at the lower right corner next to the SB700 southbridge. The rear panel sports four USB ports, D-Sub and DVI outputs and 5.1-channel audio jacks. The PA74M2-HR20-LF is a superb deal for its price. For: Good performance, affordable. Against: The voltage regulators heat up beyond 70 degrees C.
AMD: Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-DS4H Specifications
The Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-DS4H is one board that simply rocks! The board is powered by AMD’s new 790GX chipset paired with the SB750 southbridge. The GPU is integrated into the chipset is Radeon HD 3300 fueled by discrete 128 MB DDR3 memory that has been added by Gigabyte. The board supports hybrid CrossFire while you also have the option of running two discrete graphics card in CrossFire mode running at x8 + x8 bandwidth. The northbridge and southbridge chips are cooled using copper heatsinks that keep the chipset temperature at a sweet 50 degrees C. In our test, the board churned out an average of 25 fps in Crisis with the overall settings set to low and shaders set to medium. The AMD 790GX chipset features ATI Avivo HD, bringing full 1080p HD to PCs with support for the latest and most demanding formats. The board might be heavy on the pocket but enthusiasts wouldn’t mind spending for the performance this board spews out. For: Excellent layout, hybrid-CrossFire/CrossFire support, good cooling of chipsets. Against: Expensive.
PERSONAL TAKE
You have to look into a lot of aspects before opting for that special motherboard for your rig. A PC which is meant for basic home or office use, should have a good feature set and yet have a high future-proof index. Look at features such as solid capacitors, cooling techniques, memory limitations and most of all, after-sales support. A motherboard which is very compact is the Zotac NF630i-D-E, ideal for building a small form-factor PC. Entry-level gamers can opt for motherboards such as the Gigabyte EG45M-DS2H which performs well and can be scaled up further. Hardcore gamers must consider the Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-DS4H, the winner in the Performance category. -Francis D’sa
Out of the 24 boards that came in for testing, the one that really grabbed our attention was the Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-DS4H. This is the only board that has its GPU backed by 128 MB of dedicated video memory that makes the IGP as good as a discrete graphics card. So if price is not a factor and performance is what you are looking for, then the GA-MA790GP-DS4H is highly recommended. Those on a tight budget can opt for either the Jetway Hummer HA06 or the Asus M3A78-EM that won the Best Performance award in the mainstream category. The Asus was the only board that offers all possible video outputs including DisplayPort, which makes it an excellent option for a home theater PC. Both the boards offer excellent value for money without compromising on features and performance. You can grab either of these boards for less than Rs 5,000. -Sandeep Balachandran
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why i brought intel original
Testing! :D