A hardware review of the Intel DP43BF Motherboard, from an upgrade point
of view.
When I decided to upgrade my server I picked the Intel Desktop
Motherboard DP43BF
Classic. The reason for picking this board was the support for the processor
ranged from Pentium D through the Core 2 Quad and the Core 2 Xenon.
After mounting the board in my server case I proceeded to setup the
computer as normal. Once I was satisfied with the BIOS setup and features I
then started loading the Server Operating System.
From there the whole project went down hill. The Server OS is on a DVD, the
server has a CD. So I stole a DVD drive from my main computer. Then the
motherboard doesn't have a floppy drive so I loaded the OEM drivers on Pen
Drive.
After fiddling around with it for an hour I finally started the OS install,
this didn't go to well either, the OS can't see the Pen Drive because the OS
installer doesn't have USB 2 support.
After another hour of work the install is going but it is slow, when an
install is slow it means there are hardware problems with the drivers on the
install disk, this is understandable it is a OS from 2003 and will not have SATA
drivers and other new hardware devices.
After the OS install I ran the cd that came with the motherboard, the Intel
chip set, LAN, sound, and video drivers were installed.
Restart, log on, finish the OS setup, do my normal Server customization.
Restart, add the Admin Pak, then run the SP2 for servers.
Restart again ready to run the Windows Update service, the network has quit.
Troubleshoot the network, when the LAN is set for Auto Detect it will work
for about ten minutes, when it is set for 100 MBPS Full Duplex it locks up the
computer. Not a good sign.
Disable the embedded NIC, insert an older Compaq Dual NIC, set up the speed
and duplex. Runs good for about half an hour, locks up the computer. About 35%
complete on the Automatic Update.
Change the NIC for another Compaq Dual NIC, runs for about an hour then locks
up.
Swap out the Compaq Dual NIC for a 3Com 3c905, finish the Windows Update and
installed all the updates. Restart.
Restart the Windows Update, needs ten more updates, let it run then restart.
About half an hour in to the configuration of the prerequisite services for
Active Directory it locks up again.
Move the memory around, now am trying everything I have learned in the last
twenty years of working on computers.
Restart, runs for about an hour then locks up.
I have one more NIC I can use so I try that, restart, runs for about an hour
and locks up.
Now one would think it is:
NIC
Memory
Processor
Heat
Power Supply
None of the above because I changed out everything.
It has to be the motherboard and the Operating System are not compatible.
I find this hard to believe but it must be true.
I finally bought a different motherboard for the server.
This motherboard is in a desktop and has had XP and Window 7 both loaded and
ran for two weeks each with out any problems.
Then if the motherboard can accept a Xenon processor why does it have a
problem with a server OS? Unknown but it will not run:
Windows Server 2003
Windows Server 2008
Linux Ubuntu 8
All three would run for half to a full hour and lock up. Weird.
Specifications for the Intel DP43BF Motherboard:
Form Factor
ATX
Chipset Type
Intel P43 Express / Intel ICH10R
FSB
1333 MHz
Processor
LGA775 Socket
Compatible Processors
Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, Xeon
RAM
8 GB (max)
RAM Type
DDR3 SDRAM
Storage Controller
ATA-100, Serial ATA-300
USB Ports
12
Storage Controller
1 x ATA, 5 x SATA, 1 x eSATA
FireWire Ports
2
Audio Output
7.1 channel surround
Networking
Gigabit Ethernet
Rating:
I rate this board at 5 out of 10. This motherboard has to be one of the worst
Operating System installations I have done in my 20+ years as a computer tech.
Due to the lack of support for a floppy drive and non native USB support in the
chip set it makes getting anything before Windows 7 OS installed a nightmare.
Too many work arounds are required to even get the OS to the stage where you can
actually correct all the missing/failed drivers that were installed by the OS
installation process.
If you do or don't have time to fiddle with trying to make this motherboard
work with an older OS I would suggest you by pass this motherboard and find a
different one, it was that bad.
Once I had it installed in a different computer I loaded Windows 7 with a few
minor problems only because the install disk has the latest drivers.
I purchased this from geeks.com but because I tried to make this motherboard
work I went past the 30 day return guarantee and they would not honor my request
for a refund. I will consider that a warning about the products they sell.
This site contains a lot of information. As
with any publication not all information is available due to space, time, or
subject constraints.
If you have a question that you did not find the answer
on this web site you a can
ask your question here and we will endeavor to get you the most up to date
answer possible!
All reviews are the opinion of the owner of this
web site. None of these reviews were paid for by the product company, pr firm,
or anyone else. All reviewed items were purchased by the owner of this web
site. The owner of the web site and was not compensated in anyway for any of
the opinions expressed in the reviews.
