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Intel DG45ID Intel G45 Express Motherboard Review
Intel DG45ID Intel G45 Express Motherboard Review - PCSTATS
ntel's also been a little more playful lately, and have upgraded the on-board graphics capabilities of the DG45ID as well. Intel's updated GMA X4500HD graphics now supports high-definition video acceleration, as well as better 2D and 3D graphics support and an HDMI output capable of carrying video and audio.
 75% Rating:   
Filed under: Motherboards Published:  Author: 
External Mfg. Website: Intel Apr 27 2009   J. Apong  
Home > Reviews > Motherboards > Intel DG45ID

High Definition Video via G45 Express

To get all this video processing power on to big screen TVs and high-resolution monitors, the GMA X4500HD now supports HDMI with audio, a feature that has been integrated onto the Intel DG45ID motherboard. Using the G45 Express chipset, the DG45ID can output high-definition content over its HDMI port at 720p, 1080i or 1080p resolutions, with support for HDCP as long as its plugged into an appropriate display.

Let's be clear, the Intel G45 Express is an integrated video chipset made with High Definition content playback in mind, not 3D gaming. It handles better than the previous IGP generation of course, but is still woefully underpowered for the majority of modern games. This is the very reason the Intel G45 Express offers users a 2nd generation PCI Express x16 connection for discrete videocards.

Here's an overview of how the G45 Express chipset stacks up against Intel's IGP offerings from the previous two generations:

Intel Integrated Chipset Feature Breakdown
Intel G33 Express Intel G45 Express Intel G965 Express
CPU LGA775 Core 2 Duo LGA775 Core 2 Duo LGA775 Core 2 Duo
Front Side Bus (FSB) 1333/1066/800 MHz 1600/1333/1066/800 1066/800/533 MHz
Intel Flex Memory Technology Yes Yes Yes
Dual Channel Memory Support DDR2 1066/800/667
DDR3 1333(unofficial)/1066/800

DDR2 1066/800/667
DDR3 1333/1066/800

DDR2 667
Maximum Memory Capacity 8GB 4GB (DDR2) 8GB (DDR3) 8GB
Integrated Graphics GMA 3100 GMA X4500HD GMA 3000
PCI Express x16 1 1 (PCI Express 2.0) 1
PCI Express x1 6 6 4
Intel Matrix Storage Technology Yes Yes Yes
SATA/IDE HDD 6/0 6/0 6/0
SATA Speed 3Gb/s 3Gb/s 3Gb/s
RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 (with ICH9R) 0, 1, 5, 10 (with ICH10 0, 1, 5, 10 (with ICH8R)
Hard Drive NCQ Yes Yes Yes
USB 2.0 Ports 12 12 10
PCI Masters 6 6 6
Audio High Definition Audio (Azalia) High Definition Audio (Azalia) High Definition Audio (Azalia)

The Intel G45 northbridge is built on a 65nm die, while the previous generation G35 and G33 chipsets were built on more power-hungry 90nm processes. The P45 and G45 chipsets are also the first core logic to be paired with the Intel ICH10R southbridge.

Intel's G45 Express officially supports socket 775 processors from a front side bus of 800MHz to 1600 MHz inclusive. Memory support has also been expanded - certain motherboards, like the Intel DG45ID being reviewed today, can accommodate up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM at 667/800/1066MHz speeds, which provides the kind of flexibility needed for overclocking.

Next PCSTATS will test the HD playback capabilities of the Intel DG45ID and the G45 Express chipset.

High Definition Content Playback - HD

Source: AMD.com

Playing high definition content on current generation PCs can bog down even the fastest processors because there is more data to handle. To test the integrated graphics processor's capabilities at HD content accelerating capabilities, we played the High Definition video clip, "The Discoverers" at 720P and 1080i from the hard drive while monitoring the percentage of CPU utilization through Task Manager. Lower results are better.

PCSTATS Benchmark ReportHD 720p/1080i Video Playback
720P % CPU Usage Ranking
Intel DG45ID (Intel G45 200/800 C2D E6750 Onboard G45 ) 17
Asus P5Q-EM (Intel G45 200/800 C2D E6750 Onboard G45 ) 9
ECS G33T-M2 (Intel G33 200/800 C2D E6600 Onboard G33 Video) 18
Foxconn A7DA-S (AMD 790GX 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ onboard HD 3300 video) 30
ECS A780GM-A (AMD 780G 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ Onboard HD 3200 Video 30
Foxconn A690GM2MA-RS2H (AMD 690G 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ Onboard Video) 35
Biostar Tpower N750 (NF 750a 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ onboard nF 750a video) 24
Biostar TF8200 A2+ (GF 8200 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ onboard GF 8200 video) 60
1080i % CPU Usage Ranking
Intel DG45ID (Intel G45 200/800 C2D E6750 Onboard G45 ) 20

Asus P5Q-EM (Intel G45 200/800 C2D E6750 Onboard G45 ) 12

ECS G33T-M2 (Intel G33 200/800 C2D E6600 Onboard G33 Video) 22
Foxconn A7DA-S (AMD 790GX 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ onboard HD 3300 video) 49
ECS A780GM-A (AMD 780G 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ Onboard HD 3200 Video 53
Foxconn A690GM2MA-RS2H (AMD 690G 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ Onboard Video) 49
Biostar Tpower N750 (NF 750a 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ onboard nF 750a video) 18
Biostar TF8200 A2+ (GF 8200 200/800 AM2 X2 5000+ onboard GF 8200 video) 64

Intel's GMA X4500HD stays very competitive when playing back High Definition content off of a hard-drive, off loading almost all of the workload to the IGP. Intel's worked hard to increase the compatibility and codec support for the GMA series in the past few months, and it looks like things are really starting to pay off.

PCSTATS Benchmark Report Blu-Ray High Definition Content Playback Test

Blu-Ray High Definition content demands a lot of PC processing resources during playback, if CPU load becomes too high that can lead to jittery video quality or other artifacts. Many integrated graphics processors now feature Blu-Ray and High Definition H.264, VC1 and M-PEG2 content acceleration decoders to offload this processing from the CPU, freeing up system resources for other tasks.

The PCSTATS Blu-Ray HD content playback test scenario monitors average CPU utilization. It's simple and to the point. The motherboard's integrated graphics processor is taxed in the same way it would be in your home theatre environment, and average percent CPU utilization monitored with Windows task manager. Lower CPU utilization values are best, provided video playback remains smooth and stutter free.

How PCSTATS Tests:

Each integrated graphics motherboard is connected to an ASUS MK241 wide screen 1920x1200 (1080P) resolution LCD display with an HDMI cable. The Blu-Ray movie "10,000 BC" (VC1 encrypted) is then played back from Chapter 22 on an ASUS BC-1205PT Blu-ray combo drive, using WinDVD Platinum software and the average fluctuation of CPU load recorded.

(The ASUS MK241 supports HDMI-audio, so sound quality is monitored on the speakers, if motherboard is able to output HDMI-audio.)

Motherboard Core Logic IGP Blu-Ray Playback
CPU Utilization

Video Playback
Quality

Intel DG45ID (Intel G45) Intel GMA X4500HD 32% - 38% No issues
Asus P5Q-EM (Intel G45) Intel GMA X4500HD 38% No issues
Biostar Tpower N750 (nVidia nForce 750a) Nforce 750a 18% - 20% No issues
Foxconn A7DA-S (AMD 790GX) AMD HD3300 14% - 24% No issues

While numbers for the DG45ID are a little faster than what we're seeing versus the equivalent solutions from NVIDIA and AMD, all of the platforms have been able to play back Blu-ray content without problems. Before we delve into the performance benchmarks of the Intel DG45ID motherboard, let's give it a more detailed examination...

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Contents of Article: Intel DG45ID
 Pg 1.  Intel DG45ID Intel G45 Express Motherboard Review
 Pg 2.  — High Definition Video via G45 Express
 Pg 3.  Motherboard Highlights Photo Gallery
 Pg 4.  BIOS Options and Motherboard Power Draw
 Pg 5.  Motherboard Benchmarks: SYSmark 2007 Preview
 Pg 6.  Motherboard Benchmarks: SiSoft Sandra 2008 - Processor
 Pg 7.  Motherboard Benchmarks: Sandra - Memory
 Pg 8.  Motherboard Benchmarks: PCMark Vantage
 Pg 9.  Motherboard IGP Benchmarks: 3DMark06, 3DMark Vantage
 Pg 10.  Motherboard IGP Benchmarks: FEAR
 Pg 11.  Intel X4500HD Graphics - Sooth HD Playback?

 
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