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March 22, 2010 12:05 AM CDT
- Date:
- Wednesday, May 21, 2003
- Category:
- Motherboards / Chipsets
- Manufacturers:
- Intel
- Author:
- Morry Teitelman
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
Intel's Springdale D865PERL
The D865PERL is Intel’s 200 MHz FSB solution for the mainstream user, based on their i865PE chipset. We know many OCers are interested in this chipset as they are hoping it to be the bargain of the summer.
Introduction
Intel is a world renowned company, known for its fast CPUs, chipsets, and unrivaled motherboard designs. Intel motherboards may not be the favorite of enthusiasts, but they remain some of the most stable and high performance motherboards in their class at stock speed settings.
The D865PERL is Intel’s initial offering based on the i865PE chipset. While the board itself is not packed with as many features as an ABIT or ASUS solution, it is no slouch. Like its big brother the i875P, the i865PE chipset offers support for the latest Intel CPUs with Hyper-Threading technology and DDR400 Dual Channel memory. The board itself offers 2 ATA 100 IDE ports, 2 SATA 150 ports with in-built RAID support, integrated Intel PRO/1000 Ethernet, 8 total USB 2.0 capable ports, 3 total IEEE 1394 capable ports, 6 channel audio with RCA and S/PDIF digital output, as well as your standard serial, parallel and PS/2 ports.
Main Specifications Overview:
CPU | Intel Socket 478 Pentium 4 or Celeron |
Chipset | Intel 865PE / ICH5 |
FSB | 100/133/200 |
BIOS | Intel |
Memory | 4 DDR DIMMS, up to 4 GB |
Expansion slots | 1 x AGP, 5 x PCI |
Onboard IDE | 2 x ATA 100 headers, 2 x SATA 150 headers |
USB | 4 rear panel / 2 headers supporting 2 ports each (8 ports total) |
AGP | AGP 4x/8x |
Audio | 6-Channel AC 97 CODEC with rear panel RCA and S/PDIF output |
NIC | 1 x Intel PRO/1000 Ethernet controller in rear panel |
Detailed Mainboard Specification List:
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Board Layout
Overall, Intel did a good job with the board layout. There are a few tight areas where two or more components get in each others way, but other than those areas, it is a solid board layout. Notice that all the board’s capacitors appear to be manufactured by Nichicon Corporation (Japan).
The CPU socket area has sufficient clearance on all sides to mount most HSF units, but getting the HSF off again might be a bit of a trick. The Northbridge heatsink to the left of the CPU socket is a bit close in proximity and can pose problems to removing the HSF from the mounting cage. Notice that the Northbridge chipset is passively cooled by a massive aluminum based heatsink that is soldered to the board. I guess Intel doesn’t want you messing with it. The ATX12V connector is above the Northbridge heatsink. Its position allows for shorter trace routes on the board to provide cleaner power, but also forces you to route the power cable over or around the CPU socket area. There are three fan headers in close proximity to the socket. The first is directly below the CPU socket area, and is for your CPU fan. The second fan header is located above the CPU socket along the edge of the board, and can be used for connecting your PSU fan. The third fan header is to the left of the ATX12V connector, and just above the AGP connector. This header can be used as a rear case fan connection point. Note that only the CPU FAN and VREG FAN headers are monitored through the BIOS.
The board’s DIMM slots are arranged in 2 sets of 2 slots each, located directly below the CPU socket and Northbridge heatsink. Notice that each set of slots is marked, with the top set labeled as channel A and the bottom set labeled as channel B. The DIMM slots themselves are a bit close for comfort to the AGP slot. With a full size card installed in the AGP slot, you are unable to remove memory from slots 0 and 1 mounted in the upper set of DIMM slots. Just below the lower set of DIMM slots are the ATX and floppy connector on the right and the board’s 2 ATA100 slots on the left.
The Southbridge chipset, the ICH5R, is located below PCI slot 2. Just below the Southbridge are the board’s two SATA150 headers. The CMOS reset jumper is just below and to the left of the SATA headers, with the front panel jumper block just to the left of it. Just below the CMOS reset jumper is an on-board speaker, with the chassis intrusion header and the front fan header located to its right. Note that the front fan header is a BIOS monitor fan header.
The D865PERL has a total of 5 PCI slots and one AGP slot. Just above and between PCI slots 3 and 4 is the front audio connector block. Note that the rear panel speaker outputs will not function unless pins 5/6 and 9/10 are jumpered. To the left of PCI slot 5 are the board’s CD-IN and AUX-IN connectors.
The rear panel contains the standard set of ports, with some nice surprises thrown in to the mix. The included ports are a PS/2 keyboard and mouse port, a parallel port, a serial port, 4 USB 2.0 capable ports, an Intel PRO/1000 Ethernet port, 5 audio ports, and RCA and S/PDIF component output ports.