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Desktop Boards
Integration guide: component selection

Chassis (for ATX systems):
Chassis for platforms based on the Intel® processors must have an ATX12V power supply and improved ventilation.

Intel recommends that you use a Thermally Advantaged Chassis (TAC) that can maintain an internal ambient temperature below 38 degrees (Celsius) to meet the thermal specifications for boxed Intel processors.

The fan heatsink must provide appropriate airflow for the processor and nearby board components. Boxed Intel processors ship with a heatsink that supplies appropriate airflow for the processor and nearby board components.

Failure to use a fan heatsink and a chassis with appropriate airflow may result in reduced performance or, in some instances, damage to the motherboard.

Additional information:


Chassis (for BTX systems):
The BTX form factor requires a unique chassis designed specifically for BTX. It is critical to select a chassis that supports the chosen board size.

A BTX-compatible chassis requires built-in features to attach the Support and Retention Module (SRM; defined below). Additionally, a Thermal Module Interface may be required. This is a ducting feature connecting the front of the Thermal Module to a front vent. It is needed to ensure that airflow exiting the Thermal Module cannot re-circulate and re-enter the Thermal Module Interface opening.

The SRM is a metal plate that is assembled to the chassis beneath the motherboard to provide structural support for the motherboard and retention for the thermal module. The SRM is expected to be shipped with the BTX-compatible chassis.



For additional BTX information, refer to to Balanced Technology Extended (BTX) Channel Resource Center.


Power Supply

The power supply design specifications for the Intel® 945 Express Chipset-based (and later) Intel® Desktop Boards include:

  • 2x12 (20-pin) main power connector
  • Serial ATA (SATA) connectors are required
  • Additional and Split 12-volt power are required

Go to http://www.formfactors.org/* for more information power supply specifications.


Power Supply Considerations for Processors

Failure to use the appropriate power supply (below) and/or not connecting the 12 V (2x2) power
connector to the desktop board may result in damage to the board, or the system may not function properly.

Platform Compatibility Guide Power Supply Requirements
05B 12V2 rating of 16 A continuous and 19 A peak current for 10mS
05A 12V2 rating of 13 A continuous and 16.5 A peak current for 10mS
04B or 04A ATX12V (version 2.0 or greater) compliant power supply

Processor
Boxed Intel processors with a heatsink or thermal module that supplies appropriate airflow for the processor and nearby board components.

Select from the links below to view the list of supported processors for your desktop board:

Chipset Desktop Board
5400 D5400XS
X58 DX58SO
P55 DP55KG; DP55SB; DP55WG; DP55WB
X48 DX48BT2
Q45, P45, G45 DQ45CB; DQ45EK; DP45SG; DG45ID; DG45FC
Q43, P43, G43, B43 DQ43AP; DP43TF; DG43NB ; DB43LDDG43GT 
G41 DG41TY; DG41RQ; DG41MJ; DG41KR
X38 DX38BT
P35, G35, Q35 DP35DP; DG35EC; DQ35JO; DQ35MP
G33 DG33BU; DG33FB; DG33TL
G31 DG31PR; DG31GL
975 D975XBX; D975XBX2 
965 DG965MQ; DG965MS; DG965OT; DG965PZ; DG965RY; DG965SS; DG965WH; DP965LT; DQ965CO; DQ965GF; DQ965WC
963 DQ963FX
955 D955XBK; D955XCS
946 D946GZIS; D946GZTS; D946GZAB
945 D945GBO; D945GCCR; D945GCL; D945GCPE; D945GCZ; D945GNT; D945GPM; D945GRW; D945GTP; D945PAW; D945PDK; D945PLNM; D945PLRN; D945PSN; D945PVS; D945PWM; D945GCLF
925 D925XBC; D925XCV; D925XEBC2; D925XECV2; D925XHY
915 D915GAG; D915GAV; D915GEV; D915GLVG; D915GMH; D915GUX; D915GVWB; D915PBL; D915PCM; D915PCY; D915PDT; D915PGN; D915PLWD; D915PSY
910 D910GLDW
3rd Party D101GGC; D102GGC2

System Memory
Select from the links below to view the list of memory modules tested with your desktop board:
Chipset Desktop Board
5400 D5400XS
X58 DX58SO
P55 DP55KG; DP55SB; DP55WG; DP55WB
X48 DX48BT2
Q45, P45, G45 DQ45CB; DQ45EK; DP45SG; DG45ID; DG45FC
Q43, P43, G43, B43 DQ43AP; DP43TF; DG43NB; DB43LD; DG43GT
G41 DG41TY; DG41RQ; DG41MJ; DG41KR
X38 DX38BT
P35, G35, Q35 DP35DP; DG35EC; DQ35JO; DQ35MP
G33 DG33BU; DG33FB; DG33TL
G31 DG31PR; DG31GL
975 D975XBX; D975XBX2
965 DG965MQ; DG965MS; DG965OT; DG965PZ; DG965RY; DG965SS; DG965WH; DP965LT; DQ965CO; DQ965GF; DQ965WC
963 DQ963FX
955 D955XBK; D955XCS
946 D946GZIS; D946GZTS; D946GZAB
945 D945GBO; D945GCCR; D945GCL; D945GCLF; D945GCLF2; D945GCNL; D945GCPE; D945GCZ; D945GNT; D945GPM; D945GRW; D945GSEJT; D945GTP; D945PAW; D945PDK; D945PLNM; D945PLRN; D945PSN; D945PVS; D945PWM
925 D925XBC; D925XCV; D925XEBC2; D925XECV2; D925XHY
915 D915GAG; D915GAV; D915GEV; D915GLVG; D915GMH; D915GUX; D915GVWB; D915PBL; D915PCM; D915PCY; D915PDT; D915PGN; D915PLWD; D915PSY
910 D910GLDW
3rd Party D101GGC; D102GGC2; D201GLY; D201GLY2


Graphics Adapters
Intel Desktop Boards based on the Intel 945 Express chipset and later include one, two or three (depending on model) PCI Express* x16 slots for add-in graphics cards. AGP slots are NOT included.

Boards that have multiple PCI Express x16 slots include:

  • Intel® Desktop Board D5400XS
  • Intel® Desktop Board DX58SO
  • Intel® Desktop Board DP55KG
  • Intel® Desktop Board DP55SB
  • Intel® Desktop Board DP55WG
  • Intel® Desktop Board DX48BT2
  • Intel® Desktop Board DP45SG
  • Intel® Desktop Board DX38BT
  • Intel® Desktop Board D975XBX2
  • Intel® Desktop Board D975XBX
  • Intel® Desktop Board D955XCS
  • Intel® Desktop Board D955XBK

Tips for Intel Desktop Boards with multiple PCI Express x16 slots:

  • When installing a PCI Express x16 graphics card, optimum performance will be achieved by using the PCI Express slot closest to the processor socket.
  • These boards offer additional PCI Express connections in the form of a physical x16 connector. The electrical routing of the additional connectors may be x16, x8 or x4 (see specific boards specification for details).
  • The additional connectors allow the use of multiple video adapters, providing the second adapter will properly auto negotiate down to x8, x4 or x1 operation, to support the connection of additional monitors.

Compatibility with ATI CrossFire* Technology:
For compatibility details between Intel Desktop Boards and ATI CrossFire Technology, please refer to Compatibility with ATI CrossFire Technology.

Hard Drive
The included SATA cables (4-conductor) support the Serial ATA protocol and connects a single drive to the desktop board. Either end of the cable can be connected to the SATA drive or the connector on the board. Some Serial ATA drives may require a power adapter cable. Contact the manufacturer of the SATA drive to determine the best method for powering the SATA drive.

The ATA-66/100 (40-contact, 80-contact) IDE cable included with Intel desktop boards can connect two drives. The cable supports the ATA-66/100 transfer protocols and is backward compatible with drives using slower IDE transfer protocols.

Intel Desktop Boards based on the Intel 945 Express Chipset and later support Native Command Queuing (NCQ). For more information on NCQ, refer to What is Native Command Queuing.

I/O Peripherals
Intel Desktop Boards may include the following I/O support: PS/2, serial, parallel, USB and IEEE 1394. The presence and quantity of these I/O ports depends on the board model. Refer to the documentation that came with your board for specifications.

Supported Operating Systems
The list of supported operating systems may vary, depending on which Intel desktop board is being used. Please see the complete list of support operating systems by board at Supported Operating Systems for details.

Notes
  • Some desktop boards include features that are supported only under certain operating systems.
  • Windows* XP: If your desktop board includes PCI Express capability, you must use Windows XP with Service Pack 2, which includes support for PCI Express.
  • Windows XP 64-Bit Edition: Availability of Windows XP 64-Bit Edition drivers may be limited for some Intel Desktop Boards.

This applies to:
Intel® Desktop Board D201GLY2
Intel® Desktop Board D910GLDW
Intel® Desktop Board D915GAG
Intel® Desktop Board D915GAV
Intel® Desktop Board D915GEV
Intel® Desktop Board D915GLVG
Intel® Desktop Board D915GMH
Intel® Desktop Board D915GUX
Intel® Desktop Board D915GVWB
Intel® Desktop Board D915PBL
Intel® Desktop Board D915PCM
Intel® Desktop Board D915PCY
Intel® Desktop Board D915PDT
Intel® Desktop Board D915PGN
Intel® Desktop Board D915PLWD
Intel® Desktop Board D915PSY
Intel® Desktop Board D925XEBC2
Intel® Desktop Board D925XECV2
Intel® Desktop Board D925XHY
Intel® Desktop Board D945GBO
Intel® Desktop Board D945GCLF
Intel® Desktop Board D945GCZ
Intel® Desktop Board D945GNT
Intel® Desktop Board D945GPM
Intel® Desktop Board D945GTP
Intel® Desktop Board D945PAW
Intel® Desktop Board D945PLNM
Intel® Desktop Board D945PSN
Intel® Desktop Board D945PVS
Intel® Desktop Board D945PWM
Intel® Desktop Board D946GZIS
Intel® Desktop Board D946GZTS
Intel® Desktop Board D955XBK
Intel® Desktop Board D955XCS
Intel® Desktop Board D975XBX
Intel® Desktop Board DB43LD
Intel® Desktop Board DG33BU
Intel® Desktop Board DG33FB
Intel® Desktop Board DG33TL
Intel® Desktop Board DG41KR
Intel® Desktop Board DG43NB
Intel® Desktop Board DG45FC
Intel® Desktop Board DG45ID
Intel® Desktop Board DG965MQ
Intel® Desktop Board DG965MS
Intel® Desktop Board DG965OT
Intel® Desktop Board DG965PZ
Intel® Desktop Board DG965RY
Intel® Desktop Board DG965SS
Intel® Desktop Board DG965WH
Intel® Desktop Board DP43TF
Intel® Desktop Board DP55KG
Intel® Desktop Board DP55SB
Intel® Desktop Board DP55WB
Intel® Desktop Board DP965LT
Intel® Desktop Board DQ35JO
Intel® Desktop Board DQ43AP
Intel® Desktop Board DQ45CB
Intel® Desktop Board DQ45EK
Intel® Desktop Board DQ963FX
Intel® Desktop Board DQ965CO
Intel® Desktop Board DQ965GF
Intel® Desktop Board DQ965WC

Solution ID: CS-020835
Date Created: 01-May-2005
Last Modified: 20-Oct-2009
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