Choosing a motherboard for a computer is a very important step in assembling a PC. This component is the platform on which all other elements will be placed. Therefore, you need to choose a board with extreme caution. If it turns out to be defective or not powerful enough, then your PC will not start (at best) or the vital components will burn out (at worst). Among the budget models, the Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2C motherboard is pretty good. However, it is not suitable for gaming computers.
Positioning
This board was created as a budget solution for not very powerful computers. It is perfect for office PCs and home multimedia solutions. However, for games Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2C is categorically not suitable. Wrong device level. The manufacturer decided not to bother with game support and left this to more advanced boards.
This type of motherboard is not capable of much. Nevertheless, many buy it to equip old computers and multimedia centers. For such tasks, it is quite suitable. However, it should be noted that the newest hardware will not work on this board. It does not meet the modern requirements for the components of the board.
Specifications
According to the parameters of the motherboard, it has a micro ATX form factor. This means that the board easily fits in the smallest system unit. There will also be a place. Socket - LGA775. The board supports multi-core processors (up to 4 cores). It is preferable to use processors from Intel. With them you can achieve the greatest performance.
Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2C v1 copes with multi-channel audio support and digital signal output. However, it does not have CrossFire SLI support. This means that connecting more than one video card will fail. But there is an integrated Intel GMA graphics core. Of course, there is little sense from him, but fish is a cause for lack of fish and cancer.
Sound system
The motherboard has a chipset from Realtek, which supports multi-channel standard 7.1. Moreover, full support. That is, the rear panel has separate outputs for each component of a multi-channel system. This indicates the wide multimedia capabilities of the Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2C.
Realtek ALC 883 is used as a sound chip. According to the manufacturer, it is able to provide 24-bit and 192 kHz sound quality. Only this is hard to believe. Full sound at this level can provide only individual audio processors that connect via USB. So especially not to trust the tales of manufacturers is not worth it.
If for some reason the user is not satisfied with the quality of the built-in sound, then you can always purchase an external sound card (or even a DAC) with a USB connection. This option will be more preferable for audiophiles. A motherboard of this level may well work with modern DACs.
Connectors and Interfaces
Like most old-generation motherboards, the Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2C has two PS2 sockets at once: for a keyboard and a mouse. Nowadays, this looks like a blatant anachronism. But during the release of this board, this state of affairs was normal. There are also 8 USB ports. But there is no port supporting USB 3.0. Other ports include S / PDIF, 1xCOM, D-Sub, Ethernet. The number of connectors is, in principle, standard. But in modern motherboards, things are much better with them. Nevertheless, such a basic set is quite enough for comfortable work.
As for the network card connector. It is manufactured according to the standard RJ-45 standard and is capable of providing data rates of up to 100 megabits per second. The relative "antiquity" of this motherboard is also indicated by the presence of an outdated IDE interface in the vicinity of a completely modern SATA. Expansion slots - 1xPCI-E x16, 1xPCI-E x1, 2xPCI, are also a bit outdated. For example, they do not support the simultaneous operation of several video cards. And for many gamers, this is now the most popular solution. That is why this motherboard is in no way suitable for modern games.
Memory
The motherboard Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2C supports only 4 gigabytes of RAM. This volume is the maximum. Well, cheap and cheerful. It’s good that multichannel mode is supported. The operating frequency of the memory bus is 667-1066 MHz . Compared with modern motherboard models, this state of affairs seems unacceptable. However, even with such characteristics, the board copes well with its work.
As for the type of RAM, it will not work to use new-fangled low-power modules in tandem with this motherboard. It is not intended for new system components. Nevertheless, modules five years ago will easily work. Do not just forget that it is better to use modules from the same manufacturer. Otherwise, a plank conflict is possible. And what consequences will be - only Gates knows.
Reviews
Product owner reviews help to better understand how a thing behaves in real conditions. I must say that there are not so many hospitable reviews about the Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2C. Her characteristics look rather miserable in comparison with modern samples. Therefore, the reviews are dissatisfied. But you should not pay attention to them, because these comrades themselves saw what they took. More importantly, most users note the weak south bridge of this board. After a certain period of time, it burns out. And this is not good.
Many also note that voltage and heat sensors are shamelessly lying. But these are trifles compared to the problem of the south bridge. Nevertheless, the lion's share of owners note the good work of this card on medium power systems. This board behaves perfectly even under severe load conditions. If it weren’t for the bridge problem, it could be called the ideal budget solution for the vast majority of users.
Conclusion
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2C refers to the budget level products. It is perfect for office PCs and home multimedia solutions. The board is equipped with full-fledged multi-channel sound (7.1) and support for multi-channel memory operation. This will allow the computer system to cope with all types of multimedia and some not-so-modern games. For true gamers, products that are more expensive and more productive are recommended.