Foxconn N15235: motherboard specifications. Foxconn N15235 - detailed motherboard review Motherboard foxconn

This review will be devoted entirely to such a computer component as the Foxconn N15235 motherboard. It is on the example of this component that strong and weaknesses products of this manufacturer. This will allow you to make recommendations regarding the purchase of his products.

Foxconn at a glance

The assembly of various electronic devices to order is the main specialization of Foxconn. Motherboards, graphics adapters, smartphones, Cell phones- this is not a complete list of equipment that are manufactured at the production facilities of this company. Moreover, the list of Foxconn clients includes Apple, Asus, Gigabyte, and MSI. With such a wealth of opportunities for assembly and testing of manufactured equipment, this company decided to expand the scope of its business. This is how a series of motherboards under the Foxconn brand appeared. One of them is N15235.

What kind of PC is this motherboard suitable for?

At the time of its release, the Foxconn N15235 motherboard was focused on installing the most powerful processors. It was also possible to supplement such a computer system with high-performance graphics adapter... All this in total made it possible to create the most productive personal computers on the basis of this solution. It could have been work station, and a graphics station, and gaming computer capable of running any of the most demanding toys existing at that time. The same motherboard could successfully act as a link in mid-range and entry-level PCs. Only in this case it was not entirely justified to use such an expensive and functional computer component. Its main purpose is to create high-performance computer systems.

The location of the elements of the system board

The Foxconn motherboard of this model is manufactured in the microATics form factor. Its dimensions are 9.6 inches by 8.0 inches. Almost in the middle of the upper part of the product is the LGA 775 processor socket. To the left of it is the CPU, which consists of several solid-state capacitors and semiconductor regulators. Farther away, at the very edge of the board, are the wired interface ports. To the right of the socket are 2 slots for installing RAM, behind which are the power connectors and IDE drives. Directly under the processor socket for installing the CPU is the chipset. Expansion slots are displayed below it. To the right of them are located south bridge, battery "BIOS" and ports for connecting SATA drives. Here, at the very edge, there is a commutation connector for the front panel of the PC case.

Chipset and its characteristics

The Foxconn N15235 motherboard is based on a two-chip set. The description of this product indicates that the G31 from Intel is acting as the northbridge in this case. Its key component is the memory controller. The thermal package of this silicon crystal was equal to 17 W, and the values ​​of the system bus frequency in this situation could be 800 MHz / 1066 MHz / 1333 MHz. In this case, ICH7 comes in as the same. Its main task is to connect peripheral devices and controller cards in expansion slots.

Socket. What processors can be installed in it?

An impressive list of CPUs supported by the Foxconn N15235 motherboard. The description of this product indicates the presence in this list of all chips oriented to be installed in this processor socket. The most productive solutions of this platform are the quad-core "Cor 2 Quad". A step lower from the position of performance is "Cor 2 Duo", in which the number of computing units is reduced to two. The Pentium Dual Core CPUs had an even lower level of performance. The number of cores they had was exactly the same, but the frequencies were reduced and the cache memory was cut. The most affordable chips with two computational modules for the LGA 775 were Celeron Dual Cor. They had even less cache than older CPU models. And the frequency has been further reduced. The segment of single-core processors was occupied by Pentium 4 and Celeron. Any of the above models with a chip from Intel could be installed in such a motherboard. But still, taking into account its positioning and level of functionality, it was preferable to use it in combination with 2 and 4-core CPU models of this platform.

Peripheral set

The list of wired interface ports for this motherboard was like this:

    2 ports of PS / 2 format for connecting a manipulator (it was green) and a keyboard (for these purposes, a purple port was used) to a PC.

    One COM port (its second name is serial) and one LPT port (or, as it is also called, parallel). With their help it was possible to carry out switching various devices input / output to a computer system (plotter, scanner, printer).

    4 ports of the "YUSB" format, if necessary, could replace the COM-port or LPT-port for connecting similar input / output devices to the computer system.

    Also, this product was equipped with one RJ-45 port for connecting a PC to a computer network.

Expansion slots

The Foxconn N15235 motherboard was equipped with an excellent set of expansion slots. Its characteristics indicate the presence of such of them:

    PCI Express 16 X is the only and main slot for installing a discrete graphics accelerator that processes images displayed on the display.

    Also, this motherboard was equipped with one PCI Express 1 X slot. The latest modifications of additional controllers (for example, a TV tuner) should be installed in it.

    But to install outdated controller modifications, this product was equipped with 2 PCI expansion slots at once.

Regarding the expansion slots of this board, one important feature should be noted: if you use a powerful video card as part of such a computer system, which takes up 2 expansion slots at once, then it will be impossible to install an additional expansion controller in the PCIExpress 1 X slot.

RAM

Just one type of modules random access memory supported by Foxconn N15235 motherboard. The characteristics indicated support for "DDR2". Moreover, it was possible to install only the strips "DDR2-667" and "DDR2-800". It was preferable to use exactly the latest modification of RAM, which allowed in practice to obtain a certain increase in performance. Maximum amount RAM, which could be installed in such computer system was equal to 4 GB. This limitation was primarily imposed by the CPU, which could address this amount of RAM at the most. The RAM controller itself was a key component of the north bridge of the chipset. It was two-channel. Accordingly, the use of two 512 MB strips instead of 1 1 GB module made it possible to get even greater performance gain, which could reach 15 percent.

Connecting the front panel of the system unit

As noted earlier, the front panel of the case of the system unit of a personal computer is connected in the lower right corner of the system board. All necessary designations are marked next to the corresponding connectors. So this motherboard from Foxconn cannot stand out as something unusual against the background of similar products. Connection is provided for the following elements front panel:

    Speaker (system speaker for signaling events).

    Power Switch (PC power button).

    Power LED (indication of turning on the PC).

    Reset Switch (button for forced restart of the computer system).

    HDD LED (operation indication hard disk or solid state drive).

Power supply and power supply of the motherboard

Connection motherboard Foxconn N15235 to the power supply is carried out by two connectors at once. One of them is ATX12V, which consists of 24 pins. The second, in this case, provides additional food central processing unit and consists of only eight pins. Also, when equipping a PC with a high-performance graphics accelerator, it was necessary to connect the third power connector to it.

For assembly personal computers Foxconn N15235 motherboard was aimed at various levels of complexity within the LGA775 computing platform. The characteristics of this computer component indicated its versatility and multifunctionality. It is about this device that will be discussed in this material.

Positioning the motherboard

As noted earlier, the Foxconn N15235 motherboard boasts a high degree of versatility. Its technical characteristics indicate that it is perfect for creating both the ultimate, high-performance PCs and budget office system units. The key factor contributing to this unification is Intel's G31 chipset. It was due to the use of such an element base that it turned out this decision the most versatile. Also, its cost is quite democratic, and this board, for this reason alone, is very, very affordable.

Chipset. Processor list

Kit system logic Intel's G31 is at the heart of the Foxconn N15235. The characteristics of this kit indicate that it is made in a 2-chip layout. The North Bridge is the G31 itself. It is responsible for interacting with RAM, peripherals, and the processor. The South Bridge is Intel's ICH7. His area of ​​responsibility includes expansion slots, various drives and a display and control system on the front panel. This motherboard is equipped with LGA775 processor socket. The following CPU models can be installed in its socket:

  • Budget Celerons for creating office systems.
  • The improved Pentium 4 and Penrium D. These chips were great for entry-level gaming PCs.
  • Advanced Core 2Duo, which already allowed for the implementation of mid-range PCs.
  • Premium Core 2Quad. In the latter case, the speed of a personal computer made it possible to solve all problems, and such computing systems are still relevant to this day.

Memory

The memory subsystem in Foxconn N15235 was organized according to an outdated layout. The characteristics of this component of the computing system indicated that the RAM controller was included in the north bridge of the system logic set. Today it is integrated into the central processing unit, and this arrangement of the latter can significantly increase the speed of the PC. The motherboard had 4 RAM slots, which contained 16GB of fast memory. That is, 4 4GB modules. The memory type in this case is DDR2. The recommended operating frequencies for fast memory are 400, 533, 667 or 800 MHz.

Communication set

In terms of a communication set, Foxconn N15235 is practically in no way inferior to modern counterparts. Its characteristics are simply excellent and allow you to connect without any problems any modern peripheral devices or internal expansion controllers. The list of expansion slots in this case includes:

  • PCI Ex rev. 16X - 1 pc., In which a discrete video card is installed. An integrated adapter is not provided in this case, and in this case you cannot do without a discrete graphics accelerator. Considering that there is only one such slot, the performance margin of the video subsystem should be solid.
  • PCI Express rev. 16X - 1 pc. This expansion slot is designed to accommodate modern models of built-in expansion controllers. It can be a TV tuner, a network adapter, or even an additional board with ports.
  • PCI slots - 3 pcs. In this case, outdated controller modifications are used.

The list of ports built into the board consists of:

  • 2 X PS / 2 for realizing connection to a keyboard and a manipulator.
  • 4 X USB rev. 2.0 for interconnection with various peripheral devices.
  • One network port RJ-45 to connect to local network.
  • One LPT and one COM jack. With their help, you can connect to a PC outdated versions peripheral devices.
  • Audio ports - 3 pcs for connecting speakers and a microphone.

The only thing missing on this list is the MIDI port. But it is used extremely rarely today, and such a decision by the manufacturer is quite justified.

Relevance. Reviews. Price

A truly universal product for creating various personal computers within the LGA775 framework is the Foxconn N15235 motherboard. Her characteristics are appropriate. She practically does not have any significant drawbacks. But at the moment the LGA775 platform itself is completely outdated. Therefore, it is unacceptable to consider it as a basis for assembling a new system unit. But for repairing a PC based on such a socket, it is quite possible to use it. This is how experts characterize it now in reviews.

Conclusion

As part of this review material, we reviewed the Foxconn N15235 motherboard. Its characteristics are given, recommendations for use are given. This solution has no significant disadvantages. The conditional drawbacks can only be attributed to the fact that the computing platform that underlies it is outdated. But this is natural for the reason that the LGA775 socket debuted on the market more than 10 years ago.

The N15235 appeared on the market in 2008, when socket 775 was gaining popularity. Like many motherboards, Foxconn n15235 has its own unique features in the characteristics, which will be demonstrated below.

Motherboard specifications

Main feature what makes this motherboard unique is the G31 chipset from Intel.

The parameters of the board may indicate that it is universal, that is, suitable for both mid-range computers and high-performance systems. It is these parameters and affordable price made this motherboard in demand among users.

The main characteristic of Foxconn n15235 is that at one time it was the most popular among users of Intel processors. The form factor of the motherboard corresponds to the size of microATX, which makes it possible to assemble a small-sized system on its basis, but such a motherboard can also fit into an ATX case.

The processors supported by Foxconn n15235 can be either dual-core or quad-core. able to cope with processors of low performance, medium and high. The main thing is suitable socket.

Supported memory and pluggable interfaces

The characteristics of Foxconn n15235 are striking to this day, since it has a set of interface that is far from a low-performance system. So, the presence of a PCI Express 16X slot allows you to connect a discrete video card to the motherboard in order not only to improve the image quality, but also to run computer games.

There are also two PS / 2 connectors on the board, which are designed for connecting a keyboard and mouse. Four exits USB format 2.0, which allow you to transfer data from and to the drive without using the drive. For network connection, an RJ-45 connector and three audio outputs for connecting the corresponding equipment are implemented.

As for the characteristics of Foxconn n15235 in terms of RAM, this motherboard contains two slots to accommodate RAM brackets. The supported RAM format is DDR2 and the maximum memory size allowed is 8 gigabytes. The n15235 can support up to 800 megahertz of RAM, but the operating frequency of the bar is rarely higher than 500 megahertz.

A feature of the Foxconn N15235 motherboard, designed for fairly powerful computers of the late 2000s, is support for processors of various performance and support for 8 GB installation.

Such parameters looked decent a few years ago - although now the board's capabilities are enough to work with any office applications, and for launch (released before 2010-2011).

Content:

Model manufacturer

The Taiwanese company Foxconn is one of the most famous manufacturers.

Although in the assortment of its products you can find not only these devices, but also video cards, RAM sticks and even smartphones.

Most of the electronics are manufactured in China, although the company's factories are located in Europe and the United States.

The manufacturer is engaged in the production of gadgets and components for Gigabyte, and MSI.

And in the 2000s, Foxconn even had gaming products on its list.

The presence of serious experience in the field of production and assembly of electronic devices allows the company to produce its own models, including the Foxconn N15235 motherboards with the previously popular LGA 775 socket.

Technical specifications

The parameters of the motherboard make it universal.

Depending on the parts installed on the device, it can be used to assemble budget computers for offices or mid-range.

Foxconn N15235 boards are bought in the secondary market for self-assembly of a PC or already complete with a system unit.

One of the main factors ensuring the versatility of the model is its configuration with the Intel G31 chipset.

This is indeed technical solution ensured the affordable cost of the board even at the very beginning of the release.

Now it can be bought for an almost symbolic price.

Board design

Motherboard format- microATX (9.6x8.0 "), which allows it to be installed in fairly compact system units.

Although, unlike most other devices of this size, this model does not come with integrated graphics. And its design as follows:

  • in the middle part of the upper half of the board there is an LGA 775 socket, into which the processor is installed;
  • on the left side is located, consisting of several stabilizers and capacitors;
  • on the edge of the board, just like on other models, you can see ports and connectors for connecting peripheral devices.

On the right side of the board, next to the socket, there are slots for RAM (2 pcs, support up to 2 GB), behind it there are connectors for connecting power and IDE drives.

The north bridge is located under the processor socket, and the south bridge to the right of it.

In the same part on the board there is a battery, ports for hard SATA drives and connectors for connecting buttons and other devices from the front panel.

Chipset and Processors

Connecting peripherals

To connect peripherals to the motherboard it has several connectors and ports:

  • 2 PS / 2 with which you can connect;
  • 4 USB 2.0 that provide read and write speed to flash drives up to 480 Mbit / s or connect various devices - from manipulators to smartphones;
  • standard RJ-45 port allowing you to connect to the network;
  • COM and LPT connectors to which you can connect outdated devices - for example, a mouse or a printer;
  • three ports to which the speakers and microphone are connected.

Based on this list, one can understand that the possibilities for connecting peripherals in Foxconn N15235 are practically not inferior to modern motherboards.

Moreover, even outdated devices that new equipment does not support can be connected to its connectors and ports.

What is missing is USB port 3.0 with a high data transfer rate, whereas a computer with such a card can get it after installing a video card.

Expansion slots

On the board, you can see several slots in which additional devices are installed.

Including graphics, sound and network cards.

Due to the fact that the motherboard does not have, in the PCI Ex rev. 16X video card must be installed.

For such a device, models with 512-1024 MB GDDR3 are quite suitable.

One more slot, PCI Express rev. 16X, makes it possible to expand the functionality of Foxconn N15235 using a TV tuner, network adapter or another card with additional ports.

And three old PCI slots allow you to install outdated types of controllers.

Memory support

The slightly outdated layout of connectors and ports on the board includes only two slots for memory sticks.

Another reason for this limited expandability is the space-saving microATX form factor.

Each of the slots can be installed up to 2 GB in size.

Memory type - DDR2, supported frequencies - from 400 to 800 MHz.

Thus, the maximum value of the RAM is 4 GB- Too little for a 2010s gaming PC, but more than enough for the last decade's games and work applications. 2 GB and a processor with 2 or 4 cores "motherboard" allowed to run at medium settings such games as "CS: GO", "Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit " or "Gothic 3".

The board also copes with the launch of a more modern version of the famous series "TES V: Skyrim" (2011).

Moreover, with the same 2 GB video memory, the computer will run even a third part of the game. "Crysis", considered one of the most resource-demanding in the early 2010s.

Although the settings will be far from the maximum, and it is advisable to choose a quad-core processor, a single-core chip will not cope with the task at hand.

Rice. 6. System unit with N15235.

It is possible to assemble an inexpensive computer on the basis of such a board to perform a number of simple tasks.

For example, to work with, and even non-professional photo and video processing.

So, for web surfing and watching movies in 480p – 720p quality, a PC with 1–2 GB of RAM and a not very powerful video card is enough; for video playback in FullHD, you can install a processor with 2–4 cores and 4 GB of memory.

You should know: When expecting to watch videos or run games in the highest possible quality, it is advisable to take into account that the 1920x1080 format is not supported by all monitors - only devices with a diagonal of at least 22 ".

Intel and NVIDIA corporations that have grown to an unprecedented scale are gradually ousting other manufacturers from the chipset market. Until relatively recently, VIA felt itself almost a monopoly among the sets of system logic for AMD processors... But faster, more reliable and high-quality chipsets of the nForce 2/3/4 series, plus NVIDIA's skillful policy and calculated marketing moves, forced VIA to cut production several times and be content with only a small part of the delicious pie that the company had been getting almost entirely for so long.

But today we are going to talk about another chipset manufacturer that did not initially set itself the conquest of the market or victory in the competition. The company has been delivering affordable, feature-rich platforms for office workstations and entry-level home computers for many years. Probably everyone has already guessed that this is SiS (Silicon Integrated Systems). Yes, SiS products, as a rule, do not have high performance, but they have full set all the necessary functions and always attract with their low price. Today's article is devoted to two new products from the company - SiS649 and SiS661FX, which are included in the basis of Foxconn 6497MB-ERS and Foxconn 661FX7MF-S motherboards.

I propose to dwell in more detail on the characteristics of the SiS649 / 661FX chipsets and the SiS964 / 965L south bridge.

The SiS649 chipset is designed to work with Intel Pentium 4 / Celeron processors. The official website also has information that SiS649 is compatible with a dual-core Pentium D. It is not yet known whether the system will be able to work without replacing the power supply unit with an additional 8-pin connector, but in the case of the Intel 955X chipset, this is a must. The Northbridge supports two types of memory - DDR266 / 333/400 and DDR II 400/533. The implementation of this or that standard is left to the choice of the board manufacturer. Unfortunately, there is no support for dual channel architecture. As graphical interface the chipset uses the already familiar PCI Express x16.

A few words about the SIS965L south bridge. In practice, there are several configuration options for the SiS649 chipset, in particular, on the Foxconn 6497MB-ERS motherboard, the manufacturer decided to ignore the SiS recommendations, and instead of the SiS965L south bridge, he used the simpler SiS964. But since we have already touched upon the SiS965L, we will briefly highlight its advantages, and consider the SiS964 south bridge using the SiS661FX chipset as an example a little later. So, SiS965L allows you to install up to six PCI slots and up to two PCI-Express x1 slots on a motherboard. Of course, you are unlikely to come across a model with that many slots, and in practice you will most likely come across boards with 3xPCI + 2xPCI-E combinations. Through the south bridge, you can support two SATA devices with RAID 0, 1 and JBOD support, as well as eight USB 2.0 / 1.1 ports. It also announced support for 8-channel audio and a local network with a data transfer rate of 10/100 Mbps. Note that the server and south bridges exchange data via a special MuTIOL interface at a speed of 1Gb / s.


SiS661FX is a set of system logic later developed by the company, so the north bridge does not support DDR II and PCI-Express interface. The focus on the office sector is emphasized by the integrated graphics called SiS Mirage Graphics Engine. The graphics core has hardware support for the DirectX 7.0 API, as well as software compatibility with Microsoft DirectX 9.0. Frequency of work graphics core equates to 133MHz. The SiS964 Southbridge (as we noted, used by both boards) is the predecessor version of the SiS965L. This means that the SiS964 lacks support for the PCI-Express x1 interface, and sound subsystem narrowed down to six channels. Otherwise, the characteristics of the south bridges are identical. After reviewing the chipsets, let's move on to the technical specifications of Foxconn boards.





Specifications Foxconn 6497MB-ERS and Foxconn 661FX7MF-S.

6497 MB- ERS

661 Fx7 MF- S

North Bridge:

South Bridge:

Supported processors:

Intel Pentium 4, Socket 775; 533 / 800MHz FSB; Support for Intel Prescott and Celeron D; Intel Hyper-Threading support.

Single channel, unbuffered, 2.5V. DDR266 / 333/400, two 184 pin connectors DIMM, up to 2GB

Discrete

Integrated SiS controller and AGP 8X slot

IDE / ATA support:

2 x ATA / 133 + 2 x SATA / 150 (w / RAID) Supports RAID 0, 1, JBOD

Built-in 5.1-channel AC'97 based on the Realtek ALC655 audio codec.

Integrated Fast Ethernet (10/100) Realtek RTL8201BL controller

Integrated Fast Ethernet (10/100) MAC + PHY controller

2; 1 x 6-pin on the rear + 1 on the external module.

Up to 8; 4 on the rear panel + 2 x 2 ports on an external module; ver. 2.0

Rear Ports:

1 x PS / 2 keyboard;

1 x PS / 2 mouse;

1 x RJ45 (LAN);

1 x line-in / line-out / mic (audio);

1 x parallel;

1 x S / PDIF (coax out).

1 x VGA (integrated graphics)

1 x PS / 2 keyboard;

1 x PS / 2 mouse;

1 x line-in / line-out / mic (audio)

1 x parallel;

4Mb flash EEPROM w / LAN boot, PnP, ACPI, WfM, DMI 2.0,

Special Features:

Wake-on-LAN (WOL), suspend-to-RAM (STR, S3), suspend-to-disk (STD, S4), SuperUtilities - SuperBoot, SuperBIOS-Protect, SuperRecovery, SuperSpeed, SuperStep, SuperLogo and SuperUpdate

Overclocking capabilities:

FSB frequency regulation;

Configurable memory timings.

Form Factor

Completion of models.



Both Foxconn models are low-end products, like most motherboards based on SiS chipsets. That is why manufacturers only equip their products with the essentials. In our case, the boards had:


  • A cover for the rear panel of ports;
  • One 80-wire IDE ribbon cable;
  • One SATA cable;
  • One FDD stub;
  • Instruction for use and adjustment.
  • CD with drivers for controllers and proprietary SuperUtilities program.
  • One adapter for powering SATA hard drives.

Also in the kit for the Foxconn 6497MB-ERS motherboard, we found a floppy disk with drivers for the RAID controller and a branded insert with an advertisement for our products:


Design and layout of elements on the Foxconn 6497MB-ERS board.

The motherboard Foxconn 6497MB-ERS is made according to the microATX standard, it is fastened to the case with four screws.

The small size of the board inevitably led to certain difficulties. For example, a video card installed in a PCI-Express x16 slot automatically locks the latches of the DIMM slots, which prevents the installation of memory modules.


Again, due to its compact size, the motherboard has only two DIMM slots.


On the north bridge there is a pretty aluminum radiator with the corporate logo of the company. During operation, it is a little warm, which does not mean a bad thermal interface, but rather a low heat emission from the north bridge, which has always been typical of SiS chipsets.


The south bridge does not have cooling, however, this is not necessary. Although if we compare the temperature of the SiS964 with its predecessor SiS962, the heat dissipation of the latter was much lower.


When installing a video card, the first PCI slot can be closed with a cooling system.


FDD and IDE connectors are located at the edge of the board, parallel to the memory slots, which is very convenient. The main 24-pin power connector is also located here. It has a universal mount for all power supplies with both 20 and 24 pin connectors.


In the lower corner there are SATA connectors and a small system speaker is also installed here.


By the way, pay attention to the SATA connectors - for ease of installation, the manufacturer turned the second connector upside down.

Unfortunately, the functional panel is neither color-coded nor labeled.


There are several jumpers on the board. One is responsible for resetting the BIOS, two for setting up the audio system and, finally, the last fourth is used to enable protection against unauthorized flashing of BIOS firmware or exposure to a virus. An indisputable advantage is the presence of special "ears" for ease of installation.

There are minor changes on the rear panel of the ports, in particular, the second COM port has been replaced with a coaxial audio output and an IEEE1394 port.


Design and layout of elements on the Foxconn 661FX7MF-S board.

Model Foxconn 661FX7MF-S also has a microATX form factor, fastening with four screws.

The inconvenient arrangement of certain elements can again be attributed to small sizes. In particular, the Foxconn 661FX7MF-S motherboard has all the same errors as its predecessor. This includes the blocking of the memory slot latches by a video card, the inaccessibility of the first PCI slot with a video card installed.

Nevertheless, the board has its own design, which introduced a number of changes in the arrangement of the elements.

First, let's note the inconvenient location of the FDD connector under the last PCI slot.


The next negative point is the capacitor installed near the processor socket. With a number of coolers, installation difficulties may arise.


On the other hand, the IDE and the main 20-pin power connector have retained their convenient location.


This time the jumpers do not have comfortable "ears".


The F-panel is devoid of any labels and color coding.


I would also like to note that, despite the use of the integrated graphics core, the heatsink remained slightly warm under load.


On the rear panel of the ports, the second COM port has been replaced with a D-SUB video output.


There is still a reset option from the jumpers on the board BIOS settings and setting up the audio subsystem.

Expansion options for Foxconn 6497MB-ERS and Foxconn 661FX7MF-S boards.

Expansion options for Foxconn 6497MB-ERS board.

Consider the disk subsystem of the Foxconn 6497MB-ERS motherboard. Built-in IDE and SATA controllers allow you to connect up to four PATA devices and two devices using the SATA interface. You can also organize a zero and first level RAID array for PATA, as well as RAID 0, 1 and JBOD for SATA hard drives. As a result, six hard drives can be connected to the system.

The motherboard supports eight USB ports, four of which are on the rear panel, the rest can be connected using external module, which, unfortunately, is not included in the kit.


The sound is realized using the Realtek ALC655 controller. There is support for six-channel audio, as well as "Auto Jack Sensing" technology, with which the motherboard automatically detects what kind of audio device is connected. The sound quality does not cause any complaints.


The board has 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet network Realtek RTL8201BL controller.


The ITE IT8705F controller is responsible for monitoring the system, which monitors the rotation of two fans and the voltage on the branches + 3.3V, + 5V, + 12V, etc.


On the rear panel there is an IEEE 1934 port, which is wired using a controller from Texas Instruments. Another one can be connected through a special module.


Expansion options for Foxconn 661FX7MF-S.

As already noted, both motherboards use the SiS964 southbridge. Consequently, the capabilities of the boards in terms of implementing expansion slots are generally the same. The only thing is that Foxconn 661FX7MF-S does not support IEEE 1394 (although space for the controller is reserved on the PCB), and the Realtek RTL8201BL network chip has been replaced with the less popular IC + IP101.


Data transfer is declared at a speed of 10/100 Mbit / s. Otherwise, the capabilities of the boards are the same.

Let's move on to examining the BIOS capabilities.

BIOS and overclocking.

Both boards use the Phoenix AWARD BIOS.

As BIOS boards had no differences, except that on Foxconn 6497MB-ERS there is no setting for the integrated graphics core, let's consider the BIOS capabilities using Foxconn 661FX7MF-S as an example.


So, through the main menu, we can get to the DRAM clock / Timing control section, where the user is given the opportunity to adjust the memory timings. There are only four parameters to choose from - DRAM CAS Latency, which can operate in 2, 2.5 and 3 clocks, RAS Active Time (tRAS) (from 4T to 9T), RAS Precharge Time (tRP) and RAS to CAS Delay (tRCD ).


Foxconn 661FX7MF-S motherboard allows you to configure the integrated graphics core, in particular, to select the amount of memory allocated for storing textures and necessary data, as well as to increase the frequency of the graphics core from the standard 133 MHz to 200 MHz with intermediate value 166MHz. However, the change this parameter does not affect the performance of the video subsystem in any way, and, according to the readings of the EVEREST Ultimate Edition program, the frequency of the graphics chip remains at around 133MHz.


In the monitoring section, you can monitor the state of the system.


The Frequency / Voltage Control section, which is most important for an overclocker, does not shine with features and has only two parameters - AUTO Detect DIMM / PCI Clock, which can be set to Disable and Enable, as well as the ability to reduce electrical noise by using the Spread Spectrum function.

The main overclocking functions are concentrated in the BIOS Features section, although there are not many of them either. The user is only given the opportunity to increase the processor bus frequency and select a divider to set the memory frequency.


The processor power converter is made according to a three-channel scheme, it includes six 3300 mkF capacitors, three 1800 mkF capacitors and a few more less capacious ones.


In a practical test, the Foxconn 6497MB-ERS motherboard performed as expected,

but Foxconn 661FX7MF-S refused to overclock the processor, due to the inoperability of the SATA hard drive.

Performance and conclusions.

Participated in testing motherboards test bench following configuration:

  • Processor: Intel Pentium 4 515 (LGA775; 2.39GHz; 533MHz FSB; 1MB L2; Prescott D0)
  • Memory: 2x256MB DDR400 Hynix (Timings SPD)
  • MP: Foxconn 6497MB-ERS; Foxconn 661FX7MF-S.
  • Video card: Gigabyte Radeon 9600XT AGP 128MB (500/600) and ASUS GeForce 6600 PCI-E 128MB (515/685).
  • Winchester: Maxtor DiamondMAX 10; 200GB; SATA; NCQ.
  • Power supply: PowerMan 300W.
  • NVIDIA ForceWare 71.89.
  • Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2.

First, we want to demonstrate the performance of the integrated graphics used by Foxconn 661FX7MF-S. For comparison, the results obtained on Gigabyte graphics card Radeon 9600XT. All settings were set by default.

In general, these Foxconn motherboards do not have any serious shortcomings in the layout of elements, and the functional set and bundle are enough to create an inexpensive work computer. What else does a good workhorse need?

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