As Core 2 Duo prices drop within reach of the lowest-budget builders, it's high time we consider the accompanying motherboards that fit within tight margins. Quality and stability are still important at this price level, as home builders often lack the skill to keep enthusiast "high-maintenance" systems running while commercial builders would prefer not to drop ten times their cost savings into the first maintenance call.

Offering an Intel chipset on a full ATX board, Gigabyte's GA-945PL-S3 focuses on only those few onboard features required to get volume sales in a market where reliability, instead, is the chief concern. Can it perform well enough to keep up with Core 2 Duo expectations and provide good value, or is it simply a low-cost part in a market full of high expectations of reliability?