A motherboard with a minimum set of budget-level features for the LGA 775 platform from one of the leading manufacturers of computer equipment is the ASRock G31M - GS. On its basis, you can assemble an excellent office system unit or even a multimedia station. In theory, you can make a gaming PC on its basis, but in such a situation the use of such a product is not entirely justified. For these purposes, other products of the LGA 775 platform were provided.
What PCs are made for?
The entry-level solution was the ASRock G31M - GS motherboard . The characteristics of this product prove it once again. It has a MicroATX form factor and only two slots for RAM. Therefore, the niche of this product is the least productive personal computers with the lowest possible cost. In the segment of budget products, cost comes to the forefront and only then productivity. It was from this position that this motherboard was an excellent solution.
Board design and its element base
ASRock G31M - GS is made, as was previously noted, in the MicroATX form factor. Its dimensions are 183mm X 244mm. Almost in the center of the upper half of the board is the processor socket LGA775. To the left of it is a strip of peripheral wired ports, and to the right are RAM slots, a power connector, and a hard drive connector. Immediately below the processor socket and right in the middle of the board is the north bridge of the system logic set, which is hidden behind a massive aluminum radiator. Even lower, motherboard expansion slots lined up behind him. At the very bottom, underneath is a floppy drive connector. In the lower right corner of the board are grouped the connectors for connecting the front panel of the PC case, the south bridge of the chipset (it is also behind the aluminum radiator) and the ports for connecting SATA drives. Separately, it is necessary to note the capacitors that were used in this product. Instead of the usual electrolytic ones with a reduced service life, in this case, solid-state ones with an extended up to 2 times service life were used.
Chipset, CPU and socket
In this case, Intel chipset G31 was a set of system logic. It was intended to build the most affordable personal computers with a minimum level of performance. The socket in this case, as noted earlier, is the LGA775. Well, in the ASRock G31M-GS motherboard, it was possible to install single-core and dual-core semiconductor processors of the Celeron and Pentium lines, dual-core more powerful Core 2 Duo solutions, and even quad-core Core 2 Quad, which were intended for installation in the previously mentioned socket.
Ports and slots
ASRock G31M - GS is equipped with the following peripheral ports:
2 PS / 2 ports. One of them, green, is designed to connect to the PC manipulator. The second is purple, and a plug from the keyboard should be installed in it.
4 ports of "USB" version 2.0.
3 ports 3.5 mm for the organization of the speaker system.
1 port format COM.
1 VGA graphic port.
1 RJ-45 network port for connecting a personal computer to a local network using a twisted pair cable.
In turn, the list of slots for installing external controllers in this case was represented by the following list:
1 slot PCI Express version 1X for installing new modifications of expansion controllers.
Immediately beneath it was the PCI Express version 16X, and there was only one. Therefore, in such a motherboard it was possible to install only one discrete graphics accelerator.
2 PCI slots for installing earlier versions of expansion controllers.
It should also be noted that with such a layout of the motherboard and using a dual-slot productive graphics card as part of the PC, one of the PCI slots will be occupied precisely by the graphics adapter, and it will not be possible to install an additional controller in it.
Integrated Graphics
This board is based on the G31 chipset. It included an integrated graphics accelerator - X3100 from Intel. The level of its performance is minimal, and it could be used only for the assembly of office computers, for which the performance requirements for the graphics subsystem are minimal. In other cases, it was necessary to use an additional discrete accelerator.
Price
Now in a new state it is already impossible to purchase such a motherboard, and this is not surprising: since the time of LGA 775, Intel’s processor platforms have been repeatedly updated, and with them the system logic sets. In second-hand condition, such a solution can currently be purchased for 3,000 - 5,000 rubles at various trading floors. Moreover, it can be like the motherboard ASRock G31M - GS R 2. 0, or its older modification without the R2.0 index. So when buying, you need to clarify which version of this motherboard in question.
Summary
ASRock G31M - GS is an excellent motherboard for creating an entry-level system unit. It is perfect for office tasks. She is also able to cope with the tasks that are assigned to the entry-level multimedia station. And to solve more serious problems, you need to look in the direction of more serious motherboards in a completely different price niche.