Intel Corp. has quietly launched its own-brand desktop mainboard based on ATI RADEON XPRESS 200-series core-logic. This is the first time in the recent history when Intel decided to officially promote a third-party core-logic, which is a result of the company's recent shift in manufacturing of low-margin core-logic sets for desktops.

Intel Desktop Board D101GGC is a part of Intel's Essential series of desktop mainboards and us aimed at mainstream users who require not very high price. The mainboard supports Intel Pentium 4 and Intel Celeron D processors with 533MHz and 800MHz processor system bus, complies to 05A and 04A platform compatibility guide (PCG), supports up to 2GB of single-channel DDR memory, integrates RADEON X300-like graphics core, features a PCI Express x16 graphics slot in addition to one PCI Express x1 and two PCI slots. Input/output (I/O) capabilities of the mainboard include Intel high definition 5.1 audio, 8 USB 2.0 ports, 4 Serial ATA-150 ports, integrated 10/100Mb/s Ethernet and so on.

Intel D101GGC mainboard is currently available for orders from different stores across the world. For instance, a German online store offers the mainboard for approximately $90 (?74), a Canadian online store is also selling the product.

Earlier Intel said it had refocused production capacities of entry-level chipsets to higher-margin products, which eventually resulted in boosted chipset shipments by VIA Technologies.

While Intel decided to shift from entry-level low-margin core-logic products, it still sells its affordable microprocessors to customers, which requires the company to take care of appropriate infrastructure, which means that the company may continue to push third-party chipsets in future. Intel's stamp of approval on this chipset should be a big advantage to ATI Technologies, notes AnandTech web-site, which claims that the selection of the RADEON XPRESS 200 is notable, as Intel's mainboards are known for their stable operation.

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