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Now that we’ve had a chance to examine the product package, it’s time we took a good look at the board design and layout scheme. As far as an initial overview goes, the 915M07-G-8EKRS comes in with a similar design to the 915A03-P-8EKRS we reviewed last week. The main difference between these two boards should be relatively obvious. The 915M07-G-8EKRS is based off of the mATX form factor, while the 915A03-P-8EKRS is an ATX design. Given that the 915M07-G-8EKRS is a mATX motherboard, the layout should allow for a pretty quick go over, though let’s see if we find any potential problems.

The Socket T is oriented lengthwise from East to West across the motherboard. Around the Socket T, we find that Foxconn, as with several other manufacturers, has put to use the low profile component zones for the core voltage power supply. Foxconn has implemented a four-phase design for the 915M07-G-8EKRS, unlike the three-phase design we found with the 915A03-P-8EKRS. We noticed silk screening on the 915A03-P-8EKRS for a four phase to be implemented, but it was not done. This four-phase design should allow for optimal system stability, even though we’ve already seen that these i915G/P motherboards are capable of running just fine under a three-phase design..

The components that make up the bulk of the processor portion of 915M07-G-8EKRS deal with the core voltage supply. Along the right hand side of the processor socket, we find the main voltage regulation chip, along with the ITE “Jumper Free” clock controller. This area also houses the four-pin power connection for the CPU fan. These new four-pin power headers are likely to be found more on the Foxconn motherboards than they are on some of the other more mainstream enthusiast options on the market. Foxconn has also shifted the secondary core voltage connection further down the board, towards the bottom end of the series of capacitors, MOSFET’s and inductors as was seen on the 915A03-P-8EKRS.

Other than these core electrical components, the processor portion of 915M07-G-8EKRS is crystal clear. Foxconn has implemented the four-phase power solution for the 915M07-G-8EKRS with high quality, ultra-low ESR capacitors as well as high quality regulation controllers and MOSFET drivers. As we’ve mentioned before, the reason we’ve seen shifts to four-phase solutions is due to the power draw from these new processors. By increasing the number of phases, the processor can obtain a cleaner and steadier voltage, providing for solid power delivery. Hence, it makes more sense for these four-phase designs to work with the more power intensive i915G and i925X boards.