Desktop Board Features

Table 5 describes the LED states when the board is powered up and the 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN subsystem is operating.

Table 5. RJ-45 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Connector LEDs

LED

LED Color

LED State

Indicates

 

 

 

 

Left

Green

Off

LAN link is not established.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On

LAN link is established.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blinking

LAN activity is occurring.

 

 

 

 

Right

N/A

Off

10 Mb/s data rate is selected.

 

 

 

 

 

Green

On

100 Mb/s data rate is selected.

 

 

 

 

 

Yellow

On

1000 Mb/s data rate is selected.

 

 

 

 

Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Support

NOTE

Computer systems that have an unshielded cable attached to a USB port might not meet FCC Class B requirements, even if no device or a low-speed USB device is attached to the cable. Use a shielded cable that meets the requirements for a full-speed USB device.

The desktop board supports up to eight USB 2.0 ports via the ICH7DH: four ports routed to the back panel and four routed to two internal USB 2.0 headers. USB 2.0 ports are backward compatible with USB 1.1 devices. USB 1.1 devices will function normally at USB 1.1 speeds.

USB 2.0 support requires both an operating system and drivers that fully support USB 2.0 transfer rates. Disabling Hi-Speed USB in the BIOS reverts all USB 2.0 ports to USB 1.1 operation. This may be required to accommodate operating systems that do not support USB 2.0.

Enhanced IDE Interface

The ICH7DH’s IDE interface handles the exchange of information between the processor and peripheral devices like hard disks, CD-ROM drives, and Iomega Zip* drives inside the computer. The interface supports:

Up to two IDE devices (such as hard drives)

ATAPI-style devices (such as CD-ROM drives)

Older PIO Mode devices

Ultra DMA-33 and ATA-66/100 protocols

Laser Servo (LS-120) drives

Serial ATA

The desktop board supports four Serial ATA channels (3.0 Gb/s) via the ICH7DH, connecting one device per channel.

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Intel D945GPM manual Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Support, Enhanced IDE Interface, Serial ATA, LED Color LED State Indicates

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.