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Intel’s DG45ID is a microATX motherboard and the only Intel board here with integrated graphics – Intel’s GMA X4500HD. This can play Blu-ray video, and there are HDMI and DVI ports for connecting an HD TV. It scored less than 6fps in our Call of Duty 4 test, though, so it’s not capable of playing the latest games. Gamers will need to fit a dedicated graphics card in the PCI Express x16 slot. Due to its small size, the DG45ID has fewer expansion card slots than some of the motherboards here. There are two PCI Express x1 slots and just one PCI slot, but that’s probably enough for most, especially as optical S/PDIF, FireWire and eSATA ports are built into the back panel. There are no PS/2 ports for an old keyboard and mouse, so you’ll need USB models. The DG45ID is the only Intel motherboard in our round-up to have a 1,333MHz frontside bus (FSB) rather than a faster 1,600MHz one, but only the most expensive Intel LGA775 processors need 1,600MHz. The BIOS doesn’t have overclocking controls, but this is unlikely to be a concern if you’re building a media centre PC.
Intel’s DG45ID is ideal for a media centre or mini PC, or if you don’t need a dedicated graphics card for gaming. At £90 including VAT it isn’t cheap though. If you don’t need HD playback or the expansion slots, Zotac’s nForce 630i-ITX WiFi is even smaller and cheaper at just £64 including VAT from www.cclonline.com.
