Intel 945P Motherboards: Going from Hopeless to Enthusiastic

Basic Features: Intel 945P from Epox, Foxconn, and Asus

Specification	Epox 5LDA+GLI	Foxconn 945P7AA-8EKRS2	Asus P5LD2 Deluxe
CPU Interface	LGA775-based Pentium 4, Pentium 4 EE, Celeron D, and Pentium D processors	LGA775-based Pentium 4, Pentium 4 EE, Celeron D, and Pentium D processors	LGA775-based Pentium 4, Pentium 4 EE, Celeron D, and Pentium D processors
Chipset	Intel 945P ICH7R	Intel 945P ICH7R	Intel 945P ICH7R
Pentium D Support (Dual-Core)	820D, 830D, 840D (840EE not supported by 945P Chipset)	820D, 830D, 840D (840EE not supported by 945P Chipset)	820D, 830D, 840D(840EE not supported by 945P Chipset)
Front Side Bus	1066 / 800 / 533 MHz	1066 / 800 / 533 MHz	1066 / 800 / 533 MHz
Front Side Bus Speeds	200 - 350 MHz (in 1 MHz increments)	200 - 265 MHz (in 1 MHz increments)	100 - 450 MHz (in 1 MHz increments)
Memory Speeds	Auto, (fsb based dividers), 400, 533, 667	Auto, 400, 533, 667	Auto, (fsb based dividers), 400, 533, 600, 667, 800
PCI Express	Default, 100 MHz to 150 MHz (in 1 MHz increments)	Default, 100 MHz to 200 MHz (in 1 MHz increments)	Auto, 90 MHz to 150 MHz (in 1 MHz increments)
Dynamic Overclocking	EPoX Real Time Turbo (FSB adjustable overclocking system based on preset values and system load information)	Not Applicable	AI NOSTM (Non-delay Overclocking System); AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner); ASUS PEG Link (Automatically performance tuning for single/dual graphics cards); ASUS HyperPath 3 (memory performance); Precision Tweaker for Windows
Core Voltage	Default, -0.100V - +0.250V (in 0.1V increments)	Default, +0.0125 - +0.1875 (in 0.0125V increments)	Auto, 1.25V - 1.70V (in 0.0125V increments)
DRAM Voltage	Default, 1.80V - 2.15V (in 0.05V increments)	Default, +.03, +.06, +.10	Auto, 1.80V - 2.3V (in 0.05V to 0.10V increments)
Other Voltage	MCH - Default, 1.50V - 1.80V (in 0.10V increments)	MCH - Default, +.03,+.06, +.10	MCH - Auto, 1.50V - 1.65V (in 0.05V increments) ICH - Auto, 1.05V, 1.20V FSB - Auto, 1.2V, 1.3V, 1.4V
Memory Slots	(4) x DIMM, max. 8GB, DDR2 667/533/400, non-ECC, un-buffered memory	(4) x DIMM, max. 4GB, DDR2 667/533/400, non-ECC, un-buffered memory	(4) x DIMM, max. 4GB, DDR2 667/533/400, non-ECC, un-buffered memory.
Expansion Slots	(1) x PCI-E x16 (1) x PCI-E x16 Universal Slot (1) x PCI-E x1 (3) x PCI 2.3	(1) x PCI-E x16 (2) x PCI-E x1 (3) x PCI 2.3	(1) x PCI-E x16 (1) x PCI-E x16 Universal Slot (1) x PCI-E x1 (3) x PCI 2.3
Onboard SATA	Intel ICH7R: (4) x SATA II	Intel ICH7R: (4) x SATA II	Intel ICH7R: (4) x SATA II Silicon Image 3132: (1) x Internal SATA II and (1) x External SATA II
Onboard IDE	Intel ICH7R: (1) x UltraDMA 100/66/33	Intel ICH7R: (1) x UltraDMA 100/66/33 ITE 8211F: (2) x UltraDMA 133/100/66	Intel ICH7R: (1) x UltraDMA 100/66/33 ITE 8211F: (2) x UltraDMA 133/100/66
SATA/IDE RAID	Intel ICH7R: (4) x SATA II RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, and Intel Matrix Storage technology	Intel ICH7R: (4) x SATA II RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, and Intel Matrix Storage technology ITE 8211F: (2) x UltraDMA 133/100/66, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 1 + 0	Intel ICH7R: (4) x SATA II RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, and Intel Matrix Storage technology Silicon Image 3132: (1) x Internal SATA and (1) x External SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, JBOD, RAID 0, 1, 10, 5 with Additional Port Multiplier
Onboard USB2.0 IEEE-1394	(8) USB2.0 ports (2)VIA-1394a ports	(8) USB2.0 ports (2)TI-1394a ports	(8) USB2.0 ports (2)TI-1394a ports
Onboard LAN	Marvell 88E8053 PCI-E Gb LAN	Broadcom 5789 PCI-E Gb LAN, Broadcom 5788 PCI Gb LAN	Marvell 88E8053 PCI-E Gb LAN
Onboard Audio	Realtek ALC880, 8-channel High-Definition Audio CODEC, Jack Sensing and Universal Audio Jack, (1) x Coaxial S/PDIF out port (1) x Optical S/PDIF out port	Realtek ALC880, 8-channel High-Definition Audio CODEC, Jack Sensing and Universal Audio Jack, (1) x Coaxial S/PDIF out port	Realtek ALC882M, 8-channel High-Definition Audio CODEC, Dolby® Master Studio, Jack Sensing and Universal Audio Jack, (1) x Coaxial S/PDIF out port (1) x Optical S/PDIF out port
Power Connectors	24-pin ATX 4-pin ATX 12V	24-pin ATX 4-pin ATX 12V	24-pin ATX 4-pin EZ Plug 8-pin EATX 12V
Back Panel I/O Ports	1 x Parallel 1 x PS/2 Keyboard 1 x PS/2 Mouse 1 x Audio I/O 1 x Serial Port 1 x RJ45 2 x S/PDIF Out (Coaxial+Optical) 4 x USB	1 x Parallel 1 x PS/2 Keyboard 1 x PS/2 Mouse 1 x Audio I/O 1 x Serial Port 2 x RJ45 1 x S/PDIF Out (Coaxial) 4 x USB 1 x IEEE1394	1 x Parallel 1 x PS/2 Keyboard 1 x PS/2 Mouse 1 x Audio I/O 1 x External SATA 1 x RJ45 2 x S/PDIF Out (Coaxial+Optical) 4 x USB 1 x IEEE1394
Other Features	EPTP - (EPoX Thunder Probe) for system hardware monitoring Magic Flash - for BIOS update without requiring DOS flash utility and bootable diskette Magic Screen - for personal bootup screen design	SuperUtilities Suite - SuperBoot SuperBIOS-Protect SuperRecovery SuperSpeed SuperStep SuperLogo SuperUpdate	ASUS WiFi-TV (optional) -Digital TV (DVB-T only), Analog TV, FM -WiFi@home 802.11a/b/g. ASUS AI Quiet ASUS Stack Cool 2 ASUS "SATA on the Go" External SATA connector
BIOS	Award 5lda5B11	Award 515F1P29	AMI 0312

The Asus P5LD2 Deluxe is a member of the AiLife product family and, as such, is a fully featured flagship board targeted towards the PC enthusiast. The board ships with an extensive accessory package along with several dynamic overclocking features such as AI NOS^TM (Non-delay dynamic Overclocking System), AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner with preset profiles), ASUS PEG Link (automatic performance tuning for single/dual graphics cards), ASUS HyperPath 3 (BIOS setting to reduce memory latency), and the ASUS Ai Booster Utility Precision Tweaker software that allows control over certain system settings within Windows. The board also features the Stack Cool 2 design to dissipate heat to the opposite side of the motherboard, the optional WiFi-TV package, and an external SATA II port on the back I/O panel.

The Foxconn 945P7AA-8EKRS2 is a member of the Intense product family and, as such, is their featured board targeted towards the PC gamer. The board ships with an accessory package along with several BIOS and software features such as SuperBoot (drastically reduces boot times), SuperRecovery (easy to operate tool designed to back up or recover hard disk data), SuperBIOS-Protect (protection against viruses designed to wipe BIOS information), SuperStep (software based monitoring utility with ability to change FSB settings), SuperUpdate (Windows based BIOS update), and SuperLogo (Windows utility designed to replace and backup the BIOS logo).

The Epox 5LDA+GLI is a featured mainstream board targeted towards the PC home and office user. The board ships with an accessory package along with several BIOS and software features such as Magic Health (BIOS based health reporting system at boot-up), EZ-Boot (ability to choose bootable devices at boot-up), EPTP (EPoX Thunder Probe software based monitoring utility), Magic Flash (Windows based BIOS update program that does not require a DOS flash utility or bootable diskette), and Magic Screen (Windows utility for personal bootup screen design). The board features the Piston V design featuring a 5-phase switching power system, which is designed to dissipate heat and provide cleaner power to the CPU. The board also features a CP80P post port debug LED, digital thermometer capability with a supplied thermo-stick, and power on and reset buttons located on the board.