Intel Atom: Offered On $80 Mobo

Intel has released a mini-ITX motherboard incorporating its new Atom 230 CPU and selling for around $80. Likely bound for a variety of “nettops” and other devices, the D945GCLF has serial, parallel, and IDE interfaces, six USB ports, 10/100 Ethernet, and HD audio, says Intel. Understandably, the economical D945GCLF is a textbook example of what Intel had in mind for its newly announced Atom 230 processor, a 22mm x 22mm part that sells for $29 on its own. Instead of relying on a special “SCH” companion chip, as did Intel’s earlier Z-series Atoms — to which the 230 is identical architecturally — the 230 uses Intel’s 82945GC northbridge and 82801GB (ICH7) southbridge. It may also support standard two-chip chipsets from other vendors, though Intel did not specify. These two chips, which ironically dwarf the Atom itself, do provide more functionality than the Z-Series’ SCH. For example, there’s high-definition audio, plus a GMA950 graphics subsystem that boasts compatibility with DirectX 9.0 and Windows Vista’s Aero Glass interface …

Read the full Story on Windowsfordevices.com