The PC Perspective Podcast is your weekly stop for the latest PC tech news and reviews! Give it a listen!

Introduction, Features and Specifications

Introduction

For as long as I can remember, multimedia and gaming enthusiasts have had to endure using mediocre micro ATX motherboards for their HTPCs and LAN rigs. Motherboard manufacturers were forcing consumers to choose between using larger ATX motherboards with loads of features or micro ATX boards with the bare minimum to run their applications, programs, and games. This wasn’t entirely the fault of motherboard manufacturers, but they do take some of the blame for what features they choose to incorporate into their boards.

In May, Intel released the G33 Express chipset that supports the latest multi-core processors up to 1333MHz FSB and the upcoming 45nm platform. This chipset was also developed to support the latest high-definition video capabilities as well as support HD DVD and Blu-ray technologies. Gigabyte has taken full advantage of this chipset’s performance capabilities with the GA-G33M-S2H. This mini mobo packs a large punch and features a host of other features that should excite both multimedia users and gamers alike.

Specifications (From Gigabyte-USA.com)

Specifications CPU Support for an Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme processor/ Intel® Core™ 2 Quad processor/Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor/ Intel® Pentium® processor Extreme Edition/Intel® Pentium® D processor/ Intel® Pentium® 4 processor Extreme Edition/Intel® Pentium® 4 processor/ Intel® Celeron® D processor in the LGA 775 package (Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.) Support for Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology L2 cache varies with CPU Front Side Bus 1333/1066/800 MHz FSB Chipset North Bridge: Intel® G33 Express Chipset South Bridge: Intel® ICH9 Memory 4 x 1.8V DDR2 DIMM sockets supporting up to 8 GB of system memory Dual channel memory architecture Support for DDR2 800/667 MHz memory modules (Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest memory support list.) Onboard Graphics Integrated in the North Bridge Audio Realtek ALC889A codec High Definition Audio 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel Support for DTS (dts NEO:PC) Support for S/PDIF In/Out Support for CD In LAN RTL 8110SC chip (10/100/1000 Mbit) Expansion Slots 1 x PCI Express x16 slot supporting PCI Express x4 mode 1 x PCI Express x1 slot 2 x PCI slots Storage Interface South Bridge: - 1 x floppy disk drive connector via the I/O controller supporting up to 1 floppy disk drive - 3 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors (SATAII0, SATAII1, SATAII2) supporting up to 3 SATA 3Gb/s devices - 1 x eSATA 3Gb/s port on the back panel supporting up to 1 SATA 3Gb/s device JMicron 368 chip: - 1 x IDE connector supporting ATA-133/100/66/33 and up to 2 IDE devices IEEE 1394a T.I. TSB43AB23 chip Up to 3 IEEE 1394a ports (1 on the back panel, 2 via the IEEE 1394 bracket connected to the internal IEEE 1394 headers) USB Integrated in the South Bridge Up to 12 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (8 on the back panel, 4 via the USB brackets connected to the internal USB headers) Internal I/O Connectors 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector 1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector 1 x floppy disk drive connector 1 x IDE connector 3 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors 1 x CPU fan header 1 x system fan header 1 x front panel header 1 x front panel audio header 1 x CD In connector 1 x S/PDIF In header 1 x S/PDIF Out header 2 x IEEE 1394a headers 4 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers 1 x parallel port header 1 x serial port header 1 x chassis intrusion header 1 x power LED header H/W Monitoring System voltage detection CPU/System temperature detection CPU/System fan speed detection CPU overheating warning CPU/System fan fail warning CPU fan speed control BIOS 1 x 8 Mbit flash Use of licensed AWARD BIOS PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.0, SM BIOS 2.3, ACPI 1.0b Bundle Software Norton Internet Security (OEM version) Operating System Support for Microsoft® Windows® Vista/XP/2000 Form Factor Micro ATX Form Factor; 24.4cm x 24.4cm Unique Features Support for @BIOS Support for Download Center Support for Q-Flash Support for EasyTune Support for Xpress Install Support for Xpress Recovery2 Support for Virtual Dual BIOS Remark   Due to different Linux support condition provided by chipset vendors, please download Linux driver from chipset vendors' website or 3rd party website. Due to most hardware/software vendors no longer offer support for Win9X/ME. If some vendors still has Win9X/ME drivers available, we will publish on website. To enable hot plug capability for the SATA connectors controlled by the ICH9 South Bridge, you must install Windows Vista (on ICH9, hot plug is supported in Windows Vista only) and configure the SATA connectors for AHCI mode. (Refer to manual Chapter 2, "BIOS Setup," "Integrated Peripherals," for details on enabling AHCI.)

 
Features

-    Supports Intel Core 2 multi-core and upcoming 45nm processors
-    Solid capacitors design in CPU VRM
-    Dual Channel DDR2 800 for outstanding system performance
-    Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100 (Intel GMA 3100)
-    Integrated SATA 3Gb/s interface
-    Features high speed Gigabit Ethernet and IEEE1394
-    Integrated ALC889A 8-Channel High Definition audio with DTS support
-    Features full rate lossless Blu-ray/ HD DVD audio
-    Integrated HDMI interface for high Definition video (1080) playback with HDCP support

Click here for the Detailed Review