DH55TC and DH55HC
We've come across some details on a couple of upcoming Intel H55
boards. The new H55 platform is supposed to handle new Core i5 and
Core i3 CPUs with integrated graphics. Lynfield and Clarkdale CPUs are
slated for Q1 launch, so we're expecting the boards to show up then.
The DH55HC, codenamed Hunter Cove, is an ATX board with 1 PCIe x16
slot, 2 PCIe x1 slots, 3 PCI slots, Gigabit Ethernet, four SATA and two
eSATA connectors. It will feature 6 channel audio and a total of 10 USB
2.0 ports, but as expected, there's no sign of USB 3.0, at least not in
the first Intel H55 boards.
The DH55TC Tom Cove is a mATX board with 1 PCIe x16 slot, 2 PCIe x1
slots, a lone PCI slot, four SATAs, two eSATA ports, 6 channel audio
and 11 USB 2.0 ports (6+5).
Sadly, we still don't have the full spec, but this should give you a good idea of what to expect.
However, the most interesting thing is graphics support. Both boards
feature support for Clarkdale CPU graphics, courtesy of the new H55
chipset, and you'll get HDMI, DVI-D and VGA on both of them.
According to our sources, the graphics cores integrated in new Intel
CPUs will be capable of coping with dual HDCP encrypted 1080p output
and you can count on some impressive performance, too. Performance
levels are expected to match or exceed AMD's HD 4200 IGP. The HD 4200,
used on 785G boards, is the second fastest IGP on the market, trailing
behind the HD 3300 found on 790GX boards.
We're expecting the Hunter Cove board to retail in the $110 to $130
region, and the Tom Cove mATX version might even end up around the $100
mark.