Let's see a newer motherboard, equiped with the latest nVidia chipset, the nForce2 Ultra 400, the XFX Mach4.

Main specs:

DualDDR Memory Architecture

The NVIDIA nForce2 DualDDR memory architecture provides a no-compromise PC graphics memory solution, allowing everyone to take advantage of today's most intensive applications and get the most performance out of existing memory. Not only can you run multiple applications simultaneously, you can do so without fear that the system will come to a screeching halt. DualDDR raises the bandwidth bar, delivering a 100% increase over current competitive products, and provides the power and performance PCs need to run at their fullest capabilities.

Serial ATA

SATA Offers data transfer rates up to 150MB/s, giving a significant performance improvement in data intensive and bulk storage applications. The Serial ATA interface also offers much simpler and easy to installation thin cabling that will help improve airflow within the system chassis.

Dolby 5.1 Audio

Compared to other integrated sound solutions and add-in sound cards, this APU’s high-level of performance and advanced feature set clearly place it in a class all by itself. It includes plethora of input and output connections, including digital S/PDIF for access to the Dolby(R) Digital 5.1 real-time encoder, microphone, CD, TV, line-in, headphones, front left and right speakers, rear left and right speakers, center channel, and subwoofer.

Built in Ethernet

Integrated 10/100 Ethernet, ideal for LAN and high-speed internet connectivity.
High-Bandwidth USB 2.0 technology
Supports up to 40 times the bandwidth of USB 1.1

ATA-133

ATA-133 is the fastest IDE standard currently available on the market, and allows each IDE controller to burst up to 133MB/s. This offers a significant performance improvement in data intensive professional applications and in consumer applications including gaming, audio and video. The faster interface will also save time when booting up the system and opening new applications.

HyperTransport Technology

A state of the art I/O bus interface, delivering the highest continuous throughput—800MB/s—between the nForce platform processors. Ensures data and information are relayed through the system as quickly as possible

AGP 8X

With the introduction of version 3.0 of the AGP specification and AGP 8X, graphics bus bandwidth doubles, dramatically improving the overall throughput for today’s graphics-intensive applications. In addition, AGP 8X introduces isochronous operation and texturing abilities. NVIDIA is already taking advantage of current and emerging graphics applications by offering the industry’s first and only top-to-bottom family of AGP 8X-ready GPUs and core logic products.

High-Bandwidth USB 2.0 technology

Supports up to 40 times the bandwidth of USB 1.1

IEEE 1394

NVIDIA nForce2 features integrated hardwired IEEE-1394a/FireWire support for quicker uploading and transferring of videos from camcorders and other devices—with no image degradation. IEEE-1394a/FireWire provides a simple, multimedia-oriented, high-bandwidth isochronous interface between computers, peripherals, consumer electronics products such as camcorders, VCRs, printers, PCs, TVs, and digital cameras

Because only five PCI slots are offered there are no problems with your graphics card fouling the memory retainers. IDE 3 is offset enough so as to not interfere with long or full length cards when fitted in PCI 2 or 3 but the floppy connector is bang in line with PCI 2. This is probably fine as the cables can usually be made to lie flat and allow the card to sit on top of them but depending on the card design this may or may not work.

The IDE connectors site nice and high up the board which should help those with full tower cases to manage their cabling.
A large, passive heat sink on the SPP will no doubt please those who strive for silence and believe all fans are evil. It's a shame it wasn't gold coloured though! Those who rate a motherboard by the size of its capacitors should be reasonably happy with this one!

And the now standard three phase power scheme is employed for both stability and cooler running.
The red power and memory initialisation LEDs give the board a slightly dated look but they are functional.

Dual Serial-ATA connectors and an additional single PATA IDE connector offer the ability for RAID Levels 0, 1, 1+0 and JBOD with up to 150MB/s per channel and support for Serial ATA, Ultra ATA-133,100 and 66 .
This is catered for with the BGA packaged VIA VT6240 controller chip.

Socket clearance is superb top and bottom but as is now standard it is too close to the board's edge to make for comfortable HSF fitment in some brands of case where the power supply is located close by. The bank of capacitors (right, below) that sit to the side of the Mosfets encroach a little too close to the socket for comfort. There are no mounting holes around the socket so more exotic coolers and water cooling are probably out of the question.

The selection of hardwired back panel connectors are your standard assortment with PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports, two USB1.1/2.0 ports, parallel port, two serial ports, RJ-45 and three audio jacks.

There are three fan headers available, one reserved for the CPU fan. Audio of course somes cortesy of NVIDIA's MCP-T chip which offers genuinely impressive 6 channel audio