Intel is expected to launch a dozen new motherboards based on the upcoming 965 Broadwater family of chipsets. The upcoming boards will be based on Broadwater G965, Q963 and Q965 chipsets scheduled to launch the last week of July. Also launching the last week of July is Intel’s Digital Home Bridge Creek platform which will also be named Viiv 1.5.
A microATX G965 based motherboard named DG965SS Shrewsbury will be the first Intel branded motherboard released. This board will be released in conjunction with the official launch of the Intel PG965 and Q963 Express chipsets. Intel Desktop Board DG965SS Shrewsbury will support LGA7750-based Core 2 processors with 800/1066 MHz front-side buses. Four SATA interfaces, Gigabit Ethernet, integrated graphics and six-channel high definition audio will also be supported.
DG965RY Rogers City will be the ATX variant of the DG965SS Shrewsbury but launch the second week of August. These two boards are part of Intel Desktop Board’s Classic Series. Other Intel Desktop Boards launching the second week of August include two more G965 and two Q963 Express based motherboards. Intel Desktop Board DG965WH Westchester, DG965OT Stoughton, DG965RY Rogers City, DQ963FX Flaxton and DQ963GS Garreston motherboards will be introduced. DG965WH Westchester will be based on G965 and be VIIV compliant. It will support dual-channel DDR2-800, up to 1066 MHz front-side bus, integrated GMA X3000 graphics and one PCI Express x16 slot. Six SATA and eight-channel high definition audio are also integrated. A microATX variant named DG965OT Stoughton will also launch the same day. Features of the DG965OT Stoughton will be similar to the DG965WH Westchester -- including Viiv compliance. The DG965WH Westchester and DG965OT Stoughton are part of Intel’s Media Series motherboards.
Another pair of Classic Series motherboards based on the Intel Q963 Express chipset will also launch the second week of August. The DQ963FX Flaxton and DQ963GS Garreston boards will feature integrated graphics, support for dual-channel DDR2-667, up to 1066 MHz front-side bus, four SATA and Gigabit Ethernet. Not much detail is available on the Q963 graphics core yet but it’s expected it will be different from the GMA X3000 found in the G965. DG963FX Flaxton is a full ATX motherboard while the DQ963GS Garreston will be the microATX variant.
A week after the five ATX and microATX G965 and Q963 boards are launched, Intel intends to launch two more G965 based motherboards. This time around it’ll be two microBTX boards -- one Classic Series and one Viiv Compatible Media Series. The DG965MS Marble Springs is the Classic Series model that supports dual-channel DDR2-800, up to 1066 MHz FSB, PCI Express, Gigabit, four SATA channels and six-channel high definition audio. DG965MQ Mequon replaces the PCI Express x16 with a DVI output. Six SATA and eight-channels of high definition audio are also supported.
Intel will continue to be on a roll and release one more Desktop Board the third week of August. A picoBTX DG965PZ Pelzer will be Viiv compatible and feature support for DDR2-800 and up to 1066 MHz front-side bus. Four SATA, eight channels of high definition audio and DVI outputs are supported.
The first week of September introduces Intel’s vPro technology platform and the Q965 Express chipset. Intel will launch two boards in conjunction with the vPro technology platform and Q965 Express chipset. The DQ965WC Wescott and DQ965GF Guardfish will launch with vPro and Q965 and part of Intel’s Executive Series of motherboards. The DQ965WC Wescott is a picoBTX motherboard with support for DDR2-800, up to 1066 MHz front-side bus, PCI Express expansion, DVI video output and four SATA. DQ965GF Guardfish loses the DVI video output and adds two more SATA ports for a total of six SATA ports. Intel’s Active Management 2.0 technology is supported by both motherboards.
A third generation Intel brand, ATI Xpress motherboard will be launched the second week of September. The D103GGV Gem Valley will replace the previous D102GGC2 and add support for Core 2 Duo up to 1066 MHz front-side bus and dual channel DDR2-667. Previous features such as six-channel audio, integrated graphics and a PCI Express x16 slot will also be supported. The D103GGV Gem Valley is a microATX motherboard.
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