Review: ECS G31T-M Board Stands Up To The Workload

For more than 20 years, Taiwan-based Elitegroup Computer Systems has been manufacturing motherboards with a focus on creating affordable products that don't skimp on performance. The Test Center recently configured its G31T-M board with similar components of other testbeds we've evaluated to see how it compared.

With integrated graphics via Intel's G31 chipset, the G31T-M is a Micro-ATX motherboard that supports all of the current Intel Socket LGA 775 processors. In addition, it has six-channel on-board audio and four PCI ports, including one PCI-E x1 and one PCI-E x16. There are also two DDR2 memory slots supporting a maximum of 4 GB of RAM in dual-channel configuration.

Reviewers teamed up the G31T-M with an Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 (2.53GHz) and two 1-GB DDR2 modules. Although it wasn't necessary for our specific CPU, we flashed the BIOS with the most recent version and installed Windows Vista Business. After installing the most current drivers and Windows updates, we ran Primate Labs' Geekbench2 benchmarking software.

With a total result of 2,858 on Geekbench2, our system managed to score similarly to those with much more extravagant (and expensive) motherboards, as well as a few with higher-speed processors or larger amounts of memory. The Vista Aero capable GMA 3100 (Graphics Media Accelerator) rendered images that were spot on; motion video played smoothly, even when expanded to full screen mode.

Obviously, this board wasn't designed with a goal of meeting the demands of rigorous number crunching that heavy-duty workstations or gaming rigs require (although gamers may be able to utilize the PCI-E x16 slot to their advantage). For the typical, everyday desktop, however, it is more than able to stand up to the workload.

Whether for use in a business running office applications and utilities, for a light-duty home user that enjoys surfing the Web and watching movies from a PC, or for a SOHO user with intentions of doing all of the above, the ECS G31T-M is a well-designed board that offers top-notch performance, on a budget. Selling for approximately $50 on the street, it is a good option for system builders looking to supply their customers with a capable PC at an affordable price.