Product Description

1.13 Power Management

Power management is implemented at several levels, including:

Software support through Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)

Hardware support:

Power connector

Fan headers

LAN wake capabilities

Instantly Available PC technology

Wake from USB

Wake from PS/2 devices

Power Management Event signal (PME#) wake-up support

1.13.1ACPI

ACPI gives the operating system direct control over the power management and Plug and Play functions of a computer. The use of ACPI with the board requires an operating system that provides full ACPI support. ACPI features include:

Plug and Play (including bus and device enumeration)

Power management control of individual devices, add-in boards (some add-in boards may require an ACPI-aware driver), video displays, and hard disk drives

Methods for achieving less than 15-watt system operation in the power-on/standby sleeping state

A Soft-off feature that enables the operating system to power-off the computer

Support for multiple wake-up events (see Table 8 on page 31)

Support for a front panel power and sleep mode switch

Table 6 lists the system states based on how long the power switch is pressed, depending on how ACPI is configured with an ACPI-aware operating system.

Table 6. Effects of Pressing the Power Switch

If the system is in this

…and the power switch

 

state…

is pressed for

…the system enters this state

 

 

 

Off

Less than four seconds

Power-on

(ACPI G2/G5 – Soft off)

 

(ACPI G0 – working state)

 

 

 

On

Less than four seconds

Soft-off/Standby

(ACPI G0 – working state)

 

(ACPI G1 – sleeping state)

 

 

 

On

More than four seconds

Fail safe power-off

(ACPI G0 – working state)

 

(ACPI G2/G5 – Soft off)

 

 

 

Sleep

Less than four seconds

Wake-up

(ACPI G1 – sleeping state)

 

(ACPI G0 – working state)

 

 

 

Sleep

More than four seconds

Power-off

(ACPI G1 – sleeping state)

 

(ACPI G2/G5 – Soft off)

 

 

 

29

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Intel D945GCLF2 specifications Power Management, Acpi, Effects of Pressing the Power Switch

D945GCLF2 specifications

The Intel D945GCLF2 is a compact and efficient motherboard designed for the Intel Atom processor family, particularly suited for low-power, cost-sensitive systems. This mini-ITX form factor board was released as a part of Intel's D945 series, targeting small form factor PCs, embedded systems, and home theater PC (HTPC) builds.

One of the standout features of the D945GCLF2 is its support for the Intel Atom N270 processor, a dual-core CPU that operates at a low thermal design power (TDP) of just 4 watts. This makes the board ideal for users looking to build energy-efficient systems without compromising on performance. The motherboard supports up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, utilizing a single-channel memory architecture, which, while modest by today’s standards, suffices for basic computing tasks such as browsing, document editing, and media playback.

In terms of connectivity, the D945GCLF2 integrates a variety of I/O ports that enhance usability. It features four USB 2.0 ports, one PCI slot, and an IDE connector, catering to older peripherals while also allowing for the installation of additional components like graphics cards and network adapters. The onboard Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 provides adequate graphics performance for everyday activities and even supports HD video playback, making it a solid choice for multimedia applications.

Incorporating Intel's Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) technology, the D945GCLF2 allows for efficient power management, giving users the flexibility to optimize their system's energy consumption. The board also includes essential connectivity options such as Ethernet through a 10/100 LAN port, facilitating wired networking capabilities.

Furthermore, the D945GCLF2 is equipped with multiple storage options; it provides support for Serial ATA (SATA) devices, allowing for faster data transfer rates compared to traditional PATA drives. The BIOS is user-friendly and offers a range of settings for users looking to tweak their system's performance.

Overall, the Intel D945GCLF2 motherboard is a robust solution for anyone looking to build a low-cost, low-power computing system. Its combination of small form factor, energy efficiency, and decent performance makes it suitable for a variety of applications, from basic user tasks to serving as the core of a compact home theater setup. Despite its age, the D945GCLF2 remains relevant for specific, budget-friendly builds, showcasing Intel's legacy in innovative motherboard design.