Desktop Board Features

Setting a user password restricts who can boot the computer. The password prompt is displayed before the computer is booted. If only the supervisor password is set, the computer boots without asking for a password. If both passwords are set, you can enter either password to boot the computer.

For instructions on resetting the password, see Clearing Passwords on page 52.

Hardware Management Features

The hardware management features of Desktop Board DG35EC enable the board to be compatible with the Wired for Management (WfM) specification. The board has several hardware management features including the following:

Fan speed monitoring and control

Thermal and voltage monitoring

Chassis intrusion detection

Hardware Monitoring and Fan Speed Control

The features of the hardware monitoring and fan speed control include:

Monitoring of power supply voltages to detect levels above and below acceptable values

Fan speed controllers and sensors integrated into the legacy I/O controller

Thermal sensors in the processor, GMCH, and ICH8, plus an onboard remote sensor

Thermally monitored closed-loop fan control, for all onboard fans, that can adjust fan speed or switch the fans off as needed

Chassis Intrusion

The board supports a chassis security feature that detects if the chassis cover has been removed. The security feature uses a mechanical switch on the chassis that can be connected to the chassis intrusion header on the Desktop Board. See Figure 23 for the location of the chassis intrusion header.

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Intel DG35EC manual Hardware Management Features, Hardware Monitoring and Fan Speed Control, Chassis Intrusion

DG35EC, Intel Desktop Board specifications

The Intel Desktop Board DG35EC is a versatile and reliable motherboard designed for the Intel Core 2 Processor family. Launched in the mid-2000s, it became known for its solid performance and robust feature set aimed at both general computing and home entertainment needs.

One of the standout features of the DG35EC is its support for the Intel Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad processors. With LGA775 socket compatibility, it allows users to take advantage of the multi-core architecture for improved multitasking capabilities and overall performance. The board supports a maximum memory capacity of 8GB using DDR2 RAM, offering dual-channel architecture for enhanced memory bandwidth, which is crucial for tasks that require significant data processing.

The DG35EC is built with Intel's G35 Express chipset, which integrates several key technologies to enhance user experience. This chipset combines graphics and memory functionality, allowing for seamless multimedia playback and enabling support for DirectX 10. The integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3000 delivers decent graphics performance for day-to-day applications and light gaming, which was impressive at the time of its release.

This desktop board also boasts a suite of connectivity options. It features six SATA 3Gb/s ports for fast data transfer with compatible hard drives and SSDs, enhancing system responsiveness. Additionally, it includes a wide array of USB 2.0 ports, enabling users to connect multiple peripherals, such as external storage devices, printers, and keyboards without the need for expansion cards.

For audio capabilities, the DG35EC is equipped with Intel High Definition Audio, providing immersive sound quality for multimedia applications and improved audio fidelity for high-definition content. This feature was particularly appealing for users who enjoyed media consumption on their desktop systems.

The board is also designed with various expansion slots, including PCI Express x16 for graphics cards, and several PCI slots for legacy devices, thus ensuring compatibility with a wide range of hardware. The compact ATX form factor makes it suitable for a variety of cases while providing sufficient room for expansion.

Overall, Intel's DG35EC Desktop Board stands out for its reliable performance and feature set tailored for everyday computing and multimedia applications, making it a solid choice for users looking to build a functional and efficient desktop system.