Intel D945GCLF2 dual-core Atom 330 motherboard launched

Posted on Wednesday, August 20 2008 @ 3:06 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
Intel presented the Desktop Board D945GCLF2 Essential Series mini-ITX motherboard at the IDF today. The special thing about this motherboard is that it features the new 45nm dual-core Intel Atom 330 1.6GHz processor. This motherboard will be available worldwide in September.
Designed to specifically build nettops – a family of affordable desktops purpose built for Internet-centric usage models – the Intel® Desktop Board D945GCLF2 targets entry-level computer users in the emerging markets, as second or basic home PCs for mature markets, or customized for unique vertical usage models such as Internet kiosks, thin clients or POS (point-of-sale) systems.

“Small on size and big on potential, the best of 45nm technology is used to deliver a rich and full experience in a tiny, power-packed package,” said Tom Rampone, vice president of Intel’s Sales and Marketing Group, and general manager, Channel Platforms Group. “Nettops represent a fundamental shift in system design and PC consumption. Over the next 20 years we will see nettops emerge as a powerful and significant force in computing.”

Providing a big Internet experience in a small package, the Intel® Desktop Board D945GCLF2 features the newest mini-ITX form factor. Backward compatible with ATX/MicroATX, this form factor allows PC manufacturers and system builders to create energy-efficient solutions with the ultimate small chassis flexibility. The board is integrated with a low-power dual-core Intel® Atom™ Processor with 533 MHz system bus, and the Intel® 945GC Express Chipset with built-in Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950. There is a single DIMM socket designed to support up to 2 GB of DDR2 667/533 SDRAM.

For custom system configurations and future add-in upgrades there is a PCI expansion slot. In addition, the board includes an IDE connector supporting up to two ATA 100/66 devices, and an integrated 10/100/1000 Mb/s Ethernet LAN connectivity. Featuring High Definition Audio (6-Channel) with front panel header, the integrated stereo audio provides excellent value. The board also supports up to eight Hi-Speed USB 2.0 ports (four back panel ports and two onboard headers supporting four additional USB 2.0 ports), two Serial ATA ports (3.0 Gb/s), and an S-Video connector.
Some European shops already list this motherboard for around 65-70EUR.


About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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Re: Intel D945GCLF2 dual-core Atom 330 motherboard launched
by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 20 2008 @ 15:35 CEST
Another Atom board using the power-hungry desktop version of the 945GC chipset, instead of the mobile version that consumes about 1/3rd the power. Atom boards today idle at 40-45 watts, when they could've idled at around 15 watts.

As a reference, my desktop class Sempron LE server, sitting in a plain mATX board with nForce chipset, idles at only 30 watts, peaking at 38 watts under full load, while still providing a lot more cpu power than a single-core Atom @ 40-45 watts idle.

Way to go, Intel, countering the power efficiency of your Atom by using a chipset hungrier than a pig.



  • Reply by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 20 2008 @ 18:33 CEST

    50W idle is totally misleading as testers use 500W+ PSU in which PSU itself eats 35W!

    Use a 80plus sub 100W PSU, Atom+945G+RAM eats only 9W, at peak. That's true! MSI wind PC draws 35 at peak, with a DVD and a HD!


  • Reply by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 16 2008 @ 2:44 CEST

    Available here...
    http://www.mini-box.com/Intel-D945GCLF2-Mini-ITX-Motherboard?sc=8&category=100

    They even have a bundle with the picoPSU-90


  • Reply by Anonymous on Thursday, October 16 2008 @ 2:54 CEST

    I am on a Intel Atom new. Not the dual-core one. I put a Watts UP? on it. It uses about 35 watts. Goes 32 to 38 is the high and low I seen it. But I have a 120mm fan, 5 port USB card in it's only PCI slot and all but 3 USB ports being used. So it powers some USB things too.

    You are way off saying it uses 40-45 watts!

    -Raymond Day


Re: Intel D945GCLF2 dual-core Atom 330 motherboard launched
by Anonymous on Thursday, December 25 2008 @ 9:41 CET
These cute little MB that are so good for home server type for their low power consumption.

If you're in the market for mini-itx board that's compatible to Atom 330 Dual, I found this post:

List of Atom dual core compatible motherboards

Robert Wheatland