Introduction and Specifications

The Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 motherboard offers Intel Core 2 processor support for a much lower price than the other motherboards we have reviewed here. Is it worth putting into your next system?

Introduction

The Intel P965 chipset is quickly gaining ground as the top choice for Core 2 processor buyers due to its strong performance as well as lower prices.  Just a week or so ago, we reviewed the Asus P5B Deluxe motherboard that uses this same chipset; and you’ll see it in our comparisons here.  The Gigabyte GA-P965-DS3 motherboard is a very basic solution, lacking a lot of the features we have seen in other products, but makes up for it in pricing. 

The DS3 has much to offer possible Intel Core 2 Duo buyers, even without a huge feature list.

Specifications (from Gigabyte-USA.com)

Processor
  1. LGA775 Intel Core™ 2 Extreme/ Intel Core™ 2 Duo processor*
  2. Supports 1066/800/533 MHz FSB
Chipset
  1. Northbridge: Intel® P965 Express Chipset
  2. Southbridge: Intel® ICH8
  3. Marvel 8053 Gigabit LAN Controller
  4. GIGABYTE SATAII controller
  5. Realtek ALC883 8 Channel Audio Codec
Memory
  1. Supports DDR2 800/667/533 memory
  2. Dual Channel architecture support up to 8GB by 4 DIMM slots
Expansion Slots
  1. 1 x PCI Express X16 slot
  2. 3 x PCI Express X1 slot
  3. 3 x PCI slots
Form Factor
  1. ATX form factor, 305 x 210mm
Internal I/O Connectors
  1. 1 x 24-pin ATX power
  2. 1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector
  3. 1 x floppy connector
  4. 1 x IDE connector
  5. 6 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors
  6. 1 x CPU fan connector
  7. 1 x system fan connector
  8. 1 x front panel connector
  9. 1 x front audio connector
  10. 1 x CD In connector
  11. 3 x USB 2.0/1.1 connectors for additional 6 ports by cables
  12. 1 x SPDIF In connector
  13. 1 x power LED connector
Rear Panel I/O
  1. 1 x PS/2 keyboard port
  2. 1 x PS/2 mouse port
  3. 1 x SPDIF Out connection (coaxial+optical)
  4. 1 x parallel port
  5. 4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
  6. 1 x serial port (COMA)
  7. 1 x RJ-45 port
  8. 6 x audio jacks (Line In / Line Out / MIC In/Surround Speaker Out (Rear Speaker Out)/Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out/Side Speaker Out)
H/W Monitoring
  1. System voltage detection
  2. CPU / System temperature detection
  3. CPU / System fan speed detection
  4. CPU warning temperature
  5. CPU / System fan failure warning
  6. CPU Smart Fan Control
Other Features
  1. Supports RAID 0, 1, JBOD (GIGABYTE SATA 2)
  2. Supports @BIOS
  3. Supports Download Center
  4. Supports Q-Flash
  5. Supports EasyTune 5
  6. Supports Xpress Install
  7. Supports Xpress Recovery2
  8. Supports Vertual DualBIOS

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