Intel H81 Chipset: specifications, reviews

The most affordable chipset for the platform "Socket 1150" with a basic set of functionality - Intel H81. It is about the capabilities of this set of system logic that will be discussed later.

Chipset and its main characteristics

First, we'll figure out what's behind the word "chipset". This is a chipset that is installed on the computer's motherboard. The second name is a set of system logic. Until recently, it necessarily included two components: the north and south bridges. Now the north bridge is integrated into the central processor. On the motherboard there is a south bridge, which allows the interaction of computer system components with peripheral devices and expansion cards in PCI and PCI Express slots. The main parameters of any chipset are the following: a socket, a list of supported processors, a set of interface ports and the type of supported RAM.

On which socket is this set of system logic oriented?

A socket is a processor socket on the motherboard. A central processing unit is installed in it. As a rule, the number of contacts is indicated in the designation. Any Intel H81 motherboard is focused on processor solutions based on the 1150 socket. And only the generations of the CPU "Haswell" and "Haswell Refresh" are supported. In the latter case, it may be necessary to update the BIOS, that the set of system logic began to determine the central processing unit. But the most productive solution for socket 1150 - BroadWell - can not be installed in such motherboards: they are not supported by this set of system logic.

Niche of the chipset

As it was mentioned earlier, H81 is the base chipset of the processor socket 1150, which by its functionality is inferior even to Intel B85. Accordingly, the niche of this set of system logic is the most accessible computer systems with a low by today's benchmark performance level. That is, it is most often found in such CPU boards of the series "Celeron", "Pentium", much less often - "Kor Ai3". Such PCs are used in offices, educational institutions and in other cases, when special requirements to computer processing power are not put forward.

The estimated cost of solutions based on this set of system logic

Since H81 is the most accessible set of system logic, its cost is relatively low. Even Intel B85 is much more expensive. The most affordable motherboards based on H81 can be bought for $ 50. But there are also slightly more functional solutions that you can buy for $ 63. Well, the more expensive motherboards based on this chipset do not make sense. A niche over $ 63 is occupied by more functional sets of system logic, whose capabilities are significantly better than those of the H81.

Features

Intel H81 boasts the following list of technical specifications:

• It is possible to overclock only the processor and graphics accelerator. But support for increasing the frequency of RAM is not implemented. Therefore, to maximize the potential of any CPU Intel Corporation with the index "K" (that is, with the unlocked multiplier) will not work. And to establish something more productive in such a motherboard than the budgetary "Celerons" or "Pentiums" is completely inadvisable.

• The motherboard is equipped with only 2 slots for installing RAM. Accordingly, the maximum amount of RAM in such a computer system is 16 GB (2 modules of 8 GB). The supported type of random access memory is DDR3. The maximum permissible operating memory frequency is 1600 MHz. You can, of course, and faster modules try to install on such a motherboard, but it does not give a significant gain in performance. The RAM frequency will automatically decrease to 1600 MHz and the performance level will remain exactly the same as if the RAM was 1600 MHz in the PC.

• The maximum number of USB 2.0 ports is 8, and USB 3.0 is 2.

• There are two SATA 2.0 ports for connecting a hard disk drive, a solid-state drive and an optical drive. Exactly the same number of SATA 3.0 ports for similar purposes.

• 6 ports PCIe version 2.0 for the installation of expansion cards provided in the H81 Express.

• The semiconductor crystal of the set of system logic is manufactured exactly according to the same technological process as the CPU (14 nm).

• The thermal package of the chipset is 4.1 W.

Motherboards from Asus

Many entry-level motherboards are implemented based on Intel H81. Asus, for example, immediately offers 6 similar solutions based on this set of system logic. The most accessible of them is H81I-Plus. This motherboard is made in the form factor mATX. It has 2 slots for RAM, one slot for a video card and very small dimensions that allow it to be used in compact computer systems.

A similar layout for the Asus H81M-Plus, but that's only the size is increased and there are three additional PCI Express 1.0 slots. But the form factor is the same - mATX. This motherboard will no longer work in compact systems. Three more motherboards - H81M-A, H81M-C and H81M-E - differ from H81I-Plus only by a set of interface wired ports. In other respects these are practically identical solutions based on Intel H81, mATX-format and with the same level of functionality.

Asus H81-Plus, which is manufactured in the ATX format, differs from all previously listed motherboards. It also has three PCI slots.

Solutions from MSI

A similar situation with the Intel H81 chipset and another leading motherboard manufacturer - MSI. Most of them are made in the form factor mATX. The most accessible of them are H81M-E33 and H81M-P33, which can now be purchased for $ 50. The difference between them lies in the graphics ports installed on the motherboard. The first one is DVI-D and D-Sub, and the second one has HDMI instead of DVI-D. In the rest it is identical motherboards. The most affordable ATX card is H81-P33. It differs from the previously considered H81M-P33 only in size and three additional slots for PCI expansion cards.

Gigabyte and its motherboards

Intel chipsets always allowed to find different solutions based on one set of system logic. But here is another leading manufacturer of motherboards "Gigabyte" for some reason makes all of its motherboards based on H81 almost identical. All of them are designated GA-H81M (for mATX form factor) and GA-H81 (ATX motherboards). At the end of the designation, a prefix is added, which characterizes the BIOS version and the availability of additional wire interfaces. In other respects, the level of functionality of solutions based on H81 in this manufacturer is similar to Asus and MSI.

Reviews

Intel chipsets of the last several generations have a rigid binding to certain market segments. So the hero of this article is the solution of the entry level. It is perfect for budget computer systems.

Something unusual from him can not be expected. The same can be said about the level of performance of solutions based on this set of system logic. As a result, the owners' reviews highlight first of all the availability of such motherboards and their low cost. At the same time, the level of functionality is sufficient for any educational or office PC based on the H61 motherboard.

Results

An excellent solution for Intel H81 is to build a basic computer system. It will perfectly suit undemanding users. In the future, of course, it will not be possible to modernize - the cycle of the 1150 platform is coming to an end, and it is replaced by solutions based on 1151.