Intended Audience, Intended Uses, Conventions

Preface

This Product Guide gives information about board layout, component installation, BIOS update, and regulatory requirements for Intel® Desktop Board D945GPM.

Intended Audience

The Product Guide is intended for technically qualified personnel.

Intended Uses

All Intel desktop boards are evaluated as Information Technology Equipment (I.T.E.) for use in personal computers (PC) for installation in homes, offices, schools, computer rooms, and similar locations. The suitability of this product for other PC or embedded non-PC applications or other environments, such as medical, industrial, alarm systems, test equipment, etc. may not be supported without further evaluation by Intel.

Information Layout

The chapters in this Product Guide are arranged as follows:

1Desktop Board Features: a summary of product features

2Installing and Replacing Desktop Board Components: instructions on how to install the desktop board and other hardware components

3Updating the BIOS: instructions on how to update the BIOS

4Configuring for RAID (Intel® Matrix Storage Technology) Requires Serial ATA (SATA Hard Drives: information about configuring your system for RAID

5Intel® Quick Resume Technology Driver (Intel® QRTD): information about installing and configuring Intel Quick Resume Technology Driver

AError Messages and Indicators: information about BIOS error messages and beep codes

BRegulatory Compliance: information about safety and EMC regulations, and product certifications

Conventions

The following conventions are used in this manual:

CAUTION

Cautions warn the user about how to prevent damage to hardware or loss of data.

NOTE

Notes call attention to important information.

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D945GPM specifications

The Intel D945GPM is a motherboard that was designed primarily for desktop PCs and is part of Intel's 9-series chipset family. Launched in the mid-2000s, this motherboard has gained recognition for its robust performance and solid feature set for users seeking a stable and efficient computing platform.

One of the hallmark features of the D945GPM is its support for Intel's LGA 775 processor socket. This accommodates a variety of processors, including the Pentium 4, Pentium D, and the Core 2 Duo series. The motherboard supports dual-channel DDR2 memory, with a maximum capacity of 4GB, providing sufficient memory bandwidth for most basic computing tasks and multitasking needs.

The D945GPM is built on the Intel 945G chipset, which integrates the graphics controller, simplifying the motherboard's design and enhancing efficiency. The integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 allows users to perform casual gaming, video playback, and standard office applications without the need for a discrete graphics card. However, for those requiring higher 3D performance, the motherboard includes a PCI Express x16 slot, enabling the installation of dedicated graphics cards.

Additionally, the D945GPM features several connectivity options. It includes support for up to four SATA 3.0 Gb/s connections, which allows users to connect multiple hard drives or SSDs for improved data transfer rates and storage capabilities. There are also four USB 2.0 ports available, providing connectivity for peripheral devices like keyboards, mice, and external storage.

The motherboard integrates an Intel High Definition Audio subsystem, delivering clear and crisp audio quality for an enhanced multimedia experience. The Realtek ALC888 audio codec contributes to decent sound performance for gaming, movie watching, and music playback.

User-friendly features include a BIOS that supports a wide range of customization options, allowing enthusiasts to tweak and optimize performance settings. The motherboard is also equipped with multiple fan headers, enabling efficient cooling setups to maintain stable operation during intensive tasks.

Overall, the Intel D945GPM motherboard stands out for its balance of performance, features, and reliability, making it an excellent choice for basic computing, light gaming, and media consumption, reflecting the tech standards of its time.