Daily Desktops and palm tops updates

The Intel® Desktop Board D975XBX2 is Microsoft Windows Vista* Premium Ready. The Intel® 975X Express Chipset fully supports the visually stunning Windows Aero* user interface with amazing transition effects and realistic animations.

Intel D975XBX2 Overview

       Support for all Intel LGA775 processors, including Pentium 4, Pentium D, Pentium Extreme Edition, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Extreme;

       Intel 975X (82975X) and ICH7DH (82801GH) chipset;

       Support for up to 8GB of DDR2-533, DDR2-667 or DDR2-800MHz memory;

       Three PCI-Express x16 slots for CrossFire (top two running either x16 and x1, or x8 and x8, and third slot locked to x4);

       Two PCI slots;

       SigmaTel STAC9274D High-Definition Audio codec with 8 channel audio, jack sensing, and S/PDIF;

       Intel 82573L Gigabit Ethernet LAN Controller;

       Four native SATA 3Gbps ports supporting RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 5 and JBOD with Intel Matrix Storage;

       Marvell 88SE61XX RAID controller with four SATA ports (eSATA support on the red SATA plus).

       Support for eight USB 2.0 ports (four on rear I/O panel, four via on-board pins/expansion brackets);

       Two IEEE1394a Firewire ports (one on rear I/O panel, one via on-board pins/expansion brackets);

       One ATA133 connector and one floppy connector.

It’s the little things that matter to enthusisats

Intel enthusiasts around the world either love or hate the Intel D975XBX ‘Bad Axe’ motherboard, but one thing is a fact – everyone knows the board. Intel has not said if the current D975XBX revision 304 and lower boards will support quad-core processors and there might be something behind that.  Here at IDF every single quad-core processor that was seen running on Intel chipsets used the upcoming Intel D975XBX2 ‘Bad Axe 2’ motherboard. We managed to attend, get this, an overclocking/performance workshop here at IDF and were able to get an up close and personal look at the D975XBX2 motherboard.

Looking at Bad Axe 2 not too many differences can be seen from the outside, but for those looking for a challenge take a look at the image above and see if you can find any differences.  If you’d like to compare the above picture to the original take a look AT THIS THREAD IN THE FORUMS with Intel D975XBX pictures. The major component change that stood out for LR was the fact that Intel moved from a Silicon Image (SiI) 3114 chipset to the Marvell 88SE6145 controller. (The black chip on the left hand side of the board with an M on it.) With that said all the other important changes that will impact enthusiasts can be found in the BIOS and we got a chance to take it for a test drive.

Technical Details

·                       Product Description: Intel Desktop Board D975XBX2 – motherboard – ATX – i975X

·                       Product Type: Motherboard

·                       Form Factor: ATX

·                       Dimensions (WxDxH): 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm

·                       Chipset Type: Intel 975X Express

·                       Multi-Core Support: Dual-Core

·                       Max Bus Speed: 1066 MHz

·                       Processor: 0 ( 1 ) – LGA775 Socket

·                       Compatibility: Intel VIIV Technology

·                       Compatible Processors: Pentium 4, Pentium 4 Extreme Edition, Pentium Extreme Edition, Pentium D, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Extreme

·                       64-bit Processors Compatibility: Built-in

·                       RAM: 0 MB (installed) / 8 GB (max)

·                       Supported RAM Technology: DDR II SDRAM

·                       Storage Controller: ATA-100, Serial ATA-300 (RAID)

·                       Storage Ports Configuration: 1 x ATA, 8 x SATA

·                       FireWire Ports Configuration: 2 x FireWire

·                       Audio Output: Sound card – 7.1 channel surround

·                       Networking: Network adapter – Intel 82573E / 82573L – Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet

Manufacturer Warranty: 3 years warranty