Foxconn 945P7AA-8EKRS2
Stephen Cooper, February 6th, 2006

     

     Let’s start off by examining the quality of the 945P7AA-8EKRS2‘s. As we have always found with previous offerings from Foxconn, the product manual was excellent. Foxconn offers detailed pin out diagrams for those users who might choose to utilize built in IEEE1394 and USB 2.0 ports with their case instead of the rear ports that are offered, or if they happen to utilize a plethora of USB devices and happen to need more than the standard four ports.

     When it comes to covering the BIOS, it comes without saying that Foxconn has once again provided the end user with all of the necessary information they’ll need. We’ve seen a trend for some time now where manufacturers will skimp out when it comes to covering the BIOS, but this can’t be said for Foxconn products. Foxconn provides excellent coverage of the various timing adjustments that are allowed, as well as providing detailed explanations covering other BIOS options that are available to the end user.

     Hardware wise, Foxconn has provided two plain IDE cables, as well as the standard floppy cable. Unlike the i955X offering, these cables do not come pre-rounded. Serial ATA wise, we find two power cables, as well as two data cables. As we found with the i955X product, the 945P7AA-8EKRS2 features cables that are the typical red color, not black. Although we have support for four Serial ATA devices, Foxconn only offers two with their product package. So far, this is a standard mid-range product package.

     Lastly, we find that Foxconn also offers three separate driver diskettes for the various RAID controllers, as well as for the ICH7-R. Foxconn also includes the typical rear I/O panel, as well as the main driver / software CD. A new addition to the Foxconn product package is a large poster-style installation guide that would come in handy to new system builders. This is an excellent addition to any product package.

     Overall I’d have to say that I was neither disappointed nor elated by the product package of the 945P7AA-8EKRS2. I’d say that, from the looks of this package, Foxconn has pulled in the reigns a little when it comes to product inclusions. We found this to be true as well with their i955X offering, which featured fewer inclusions than did their i925XE offering. That was, and still is, one of the best products I’ve dealt with as far as hardware inclusions go. The 945P7AA-8EKRS2 follows the standard set of included hardware and software you see on most mid-range products.