XFX nForce 630i GeForce 7150 Motherboard
Introduction, Specs and Features
As enthusiasts, we aren't too fond of the idea of running a PC with integrated video. Like many of you, we prefer a discreet video card for the performance benefits, even if it has to be an entry-level solution. Despite that fact, though, most of the monitors in homes and offices across the world are connected to IGPs, and not to dedicated video cards. We love the latest flagship graphics cards as much as the next enthusiast, but we aren't completely impractical. We realize that integrated video is more than sufficient for the majority of users who spend 99% of their time surfing the web, e-mailing, blogging, shopping or playing 2D games like Solitaire.
Today, we are going to take a look at a motherboard for the Intel platform from XFX that offers an integrated video solution. The naming of this board skipped the creative department at XFX and went straight to the dry model number assigning team; the end result is the MG-630I-7159. The board is a micro-ATX solution based on the NVIDIA nForce 630i MCP and GeForce 7150 mGPU. This board sports Intel's LGA775 socket and support for the Core 2, Pentium D, Pentium 4 and Celeron D CPU families. It features 1333 MHz front-side bus (FSB) support and will accept up to 4GB of 800 MHz DDR2 memory, which runs in single-channel mode (unfortunately). On the video side of things, XFX's implementation of the GeForce 7150 GPU boasts a 650 MHz core clock, support for up to 256MB of memory, DirectX 9 Shader Model 3.0 support and three outputs (HDMI, DVI and VGA).
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KEY FEATURES:
| nForce 630i MCP • Intel Socket 775 processors • NVIDIA nForce 630i MCP • 1333 MHz • 2 240-pin DDR2 up to 4GB (single channel) • True x16 PCI Express support • 4 onboard 3Gb/s SATA ports • Gigabit ethernet port • 10 USB 2.0 ports • 8-channel High Definition Audio (HDA) w/ SPDIF • NVIDIA RAID and MediaShield technology |
GeForce 7150 GPU • 650 MHz core clock • 256MB DDR2 memory • HDMI + DVI w/ HDCP and VGA • NVIDIA CineFX 3.0 Engine • NVIDIA nView Multi-Display technology • NVIDIA Digital Vibrance Control 3.0 technology • DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0 support • OpenGL 1.5 optimization and support • 300 MHz RAMDAC |
XFX doesn't use much more packaging than is necessary to box up and protect the MG-630I-7159 and its accompanying accessories. Like many of you, some of us keep our boxes, so we prefer a minimalist approach to packaging to save space in our closets and cabinets. On the back of the box, you can see a list of features and specifications.
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Upon opening the box, we were greeted with an XFX-green box that was holding everything included in this package. In addition to the MG-630I-7159 board itself, we found a manual, an addendum to the manual, an installation CD, a 4-pin to SATA power cable, two SATA cables, a floppy cable, a PATA IDE cable, and an I/O backplate shield. It's a basic and practical bundle, which helps to keep the price low on the motherboard.
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