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Intel launched LGA 1366 ( Core i7 + X58 Chipset) platform in November 2008;
in the nearing future, LGA 1366 platform will dominate the CPU & MB marketing that over USD $ 300.

Product transition is always good news to end users.
Although LGA1366 platform is expensive, now we have cheaper P45 to buy now!
To compare with 965 & P35, P45 is more affordable than ever.

You can spend with only USD $120~$200 to buy a P45 with good design & materials.
If you have budget limitation, maybe P43+ICH10R or P45+ICH10 would be your choice.

Of course, P45+ICH10R is better choice.
The leading character today, DFI LANParty P45-T2RS Turbo, embedded with P45+ICH10R and priced at $140.
You can buy E7200/ E8400 or Q6600/ Q8200 and DK P45-T2RS Turbo, it really brings good cost/ performance ratio.

The outer box is gloss laminated.


DFI LANParty DK P45-T2RS Turbo




Bottom left
2 PCIe x16
2 PCIe x1
2 PCI
1 Floppy
LAN: Marvell 8053
Audio: Realtek ALC 885, supports HD audio & 7.1 channels effect.


Bottom right
6 SATA II (ICH10R with RAID 0/ 1/ 0+1/ 5)
If you buy DK P45-T2RS Plus, you’ll see 8 SATA II here.
On-board Power/ Reset buttons + Debug LED, good to DIY and OC users.



Upper right
1 IDE 9by JMicron JMB368)
4 DDR2 DIMM (DDR2 667/ 800/ 1066; or 1200 via overclocking)


Upper left
4 phase digital PWM with 16 MOSFET, is quite enough for dual core/ quad core CPU.
One phase can provide 40W power, there is no LGA 775 CPU consume more than 160W.



I/O
6 USB 2.0
1 Gigabit LAN
Optical/ Coaxial Digital audio out
Red jumper for “Clear CMOS”



Black heatsink & heatpipe with deep color; for dissipating heat from MOSFET and north-bridge.



Platform
CPU: INTEL Core 2 Duo E8400/Quad Q8200
MB: DFI Lanparty DK P45 Turbo
DRAM: CORSAIR Dominator TWIN2X4096-8500C5D/TWIN2X2048-8888C4D
VGA: MSI HD4670 512MB
HD: Seagate 7200.10 320GB
POWER: CORSAIR 400W Power Supply
Cooler: Thermaltake V1 AX/JETART Nano Diamond

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DRAM setting
2GBX2 CORSAIR Dominator TWIN2X4096-8500C5D
DDR2 1143 CL5 5-5-15 2.25V
Stable in 2 X Super PI 32M


DDR2 1189 CL5 5-5-15
EVEREST DRAM bandwidth


1GBX2 CORSAIR Dominator TWIN2X2048-8888C4D
DDR2 1243 CL5 5-5-15
EVEREST DRAM bandwidth


OC potential is good in both 1GB x 2 and 2GB x 2; of course, good motherboard is not enough, you also have to buy good DRAM.

CPU setting
Dual core E8400 E0
CPU: 500X9=>4500Mhz
DRAM: DDR2 1200 CL5 5-5-15


CrystalMark


CPU: 612X7.5=>4663.7Mhz
DRAM: DDR2 1243 CL5 5-5-15
Super PI 1M


Q8200 M1
486X7=>3403Mhz
Stable in 4 X Super PI 32M


507X7=>3553.7Mhz
Super PI 1M


Both dual & quad core CPU could be overclocked well in DK P45-T2RS Turbo.
There are many professional options for tweaking to reach the highest performance.

3D performance
MSI HD4670 512MB
CPU 500 X 9=>4500Mhz
DRAM DDR2 1000 CL5 5-5-15
VGA 833/2250

3DMARK2005


3DMARK2006

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Crysis Benchmark


ATI HD 4670 is enough to play most popular games; for better 3D performance, maybe you can try HD 4830/ 4850.

New monitoring tool for UT series, but can be installed in DK series, too.


I saved my BIOS setting as *.abs file, it can be downloaded via the link below (Model name is DFI LANParty DK P45-T2RS Turbo:
windwithme-DFI Lanparty DK P45 Turbo ABS


DFI LANParty DK P45-T2RS Turbo Conclusion

What’s good
1.USD $140. For great OC ability, no competitor in this price range.
2.All Japan made solid capacitors; special heatpipe with nickel plating.
3.Great BIOS, many professional options.
4.ATI CrossfireX ready (x8, x8); Optical audio output in rear panel,
5.OC result: 507MHz in Quad core/ 621MHz in Dual core.
6.ABS technology, OC automatically. It’s also a good tool to share BIOS setting with others.

What’s bad
1.6 phase PWM would be better (although Intel reference design is “4-phase”
2.FSB 500MHz in quad core CPU, should be higher.
3.The price is too close with DK P45-T2RS Plus.

Performance ★★★★★★★★★☆
Material ★★★★★★★★☆☆
Appearance ★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Cost/ Performance Ratio ★★★★★★★★☆☆

In mainstream market, LGA775 platform still has the best C/P ratio.
There are more CPU and MB to choose from entry level to hi-end.
For the best C/P ratio, try hi-end Core 2 DUO or entry Core 2 QUAD and P45 MB, it costs no more than USD $300.

For $140 segment: DK P45-T2RS & JR P45-T2RS, both of them performs great in OC.
However, the BIOS setting is a barrier to DIY beginners, that’s why DFI provide the ABS technology.
For beginners, it takes few seconds only to OC; for professional users, ABS help you to save & exchange your OC experience to users around the world.
Why to overclock? In the bad economic environment, overclocking helps you save more money!
You can buy E8400 then OC to 3.33G, the performance will be very close to E8600, it’s a economical way to DIY a PC.

Massman

In what way is this board different from the Plus version?

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