In 2005, a set of silicon chips Intel R 82945G Express Chipset Family was introduced. Its characteristics indicated that it was intended for the LGA775 computer platform and was used to implement budget office computers. It is the capabilities of this chipset that will be considered in this review.
Positioning. Appointment
The Intel R 82945G Express Chipset Family features emphasize that it includes an integrated video core. Therefore, this chipset can be safely attributed to the line of budget devices. As a result, most often motherboards based on it were used in the office. In this case, the least resource-intensive tasks are implemented on a PC, which include a test processor, a spreadsheet editor, or playing multimedia content in a player. In other cases, to use such a motherboard was impractical for the reason that it did not allow to maximize the performance of microprocessors. Also, a modest communication set did not allow such computers to be used differently.
Main characteristics
Technical characteristics of the Intel R 82945G Express Chipset Family distinguish from it, as previously noted, the presence of two chips. One of them is the "north bridge". Its marking is 82945G. The last letter in its designation indicates the presence of an integrated video subsystem. This component also provides interaction with RAM and various peripheral devices. The second component is called the South Bridge. Its marking is ICH7. It commutates between itself the elements of the disk subsystem, expansion controllers and the front panel of the PC case.
Memory subsystem
This initial logic kit is equipped with a dual-channel controller. The latter is included in the so-called north bridge of this chipset. That is, it is made according to the layout that is not relevant at the moment. Now such elements have been transferred to the CPU and this increases the speed of the computer as a whole.
The maximum amount of RAM is limited to 4 GB. That is, in such motherboards 4 modules of 1 GB can be installed. The type of memory used is DDR2. Recommended memory frequencies are 400, 533 and 800 MHz. In addition to this, installation of faster modules is also allowed, but they will operate at the maximum possible 800 MHz.
Graphics subsystem
In addition to this, the Intel R 82945G Express Chipset Family graphics card features an extremely low level of performance. The model of the built-in accelerator is GMA950. Like the RAM controller, it is made in the form of a separate chip. That is, it is also implemented in an outdated version. And its performance is extremely low. Therefore, it can only be applied if the simplest program code is executed.
As a video buffer, it uses system RAM. The maximum amount of reserved memory in this case is 184 MB. Again, the latter value is only enough for the most undemanding tasks.
Processor models
The Intel R 82945G Express Chipset Family features indicate full support for any CPU model for the LGA775 socket. Initially, the manufacturer declared that Celeron and Pentium models can be installed in such motherboards. Moreover, both in single-core and dual-core versions. In the future, firmware was released, which made it possible to install Core 2 chips in it as well. The latter could include two or four code processing modules. So any microprocessor for LGA775 can be used in conjunction with such a motherboard.
But, again, the low level of functionality of this series of devices allowed them to be used only if combined with the least efficient CPUs. It is for such an operation that such motherboards were released. Also, the limitation on the part of the power supply system does not allow overclocking microprocessors. If you try to increase the clock frequency on such hardware, then both the motherboard and the CPU may burn out. Power supply is too poorly organized at the first of them and power elements with a low reliability coefficient are installed.
Reviews Relevance
Currently, the processor socket LGA775 is completely outdated. The same holds true in full for the Intel R 82945G Express Chipset Family. The description of this set of microprocessor logic characterized it as an entry-level solution. Therefore, by the standards of 2005-2006, only office computers worked on its basis. He had everything for such use. This is a basic level of functionality, and low cost, and acceptable performance.
Conclusion
As part of this review, the proprietary Intel R 82945G Express Chipset Family Chipset was reviewed. His characteristics were rather modest and only allowed solving the least demanding tasks. Therefore, most often such motherboards can only be found in office computers. In all other cases, the availability of a productive discrete graphics card is required. Therefore, in such cases, Intel suggested using the P975 or P955 chipsets. The first of them made it possible to implement ultimative, high-performance computers, and the second - mid-level computing systems.