GIGABYTE H81M-S2PH H81M-DS2 Motherboard Supports 4th Generation Intel H81 Express Chipset SATA Single DDR3 I7 I3 Pentium Celeron

1. Gigabyte H81M-S2PH

The Gigabyte H81M-S2PH is a budget-friendly micro-ATX motherboard built on Intel’s H81 chipset, designed for 4th Generation Intel Core processors (LGA 1150). This board provides essential features for basic computing needs while offering some modern connectivity options.

Key Features:

• CPU Support: LGA 1150 socket for Intel 4th Gen Core i7/i5/i3/Pentium/Celeron processors

• Memory: 2x DDR3 DIMM slots supporting up to 16GB at 1600MHz

• Expansion: 1x PCIe 2.0 x16 slot for graphics cards + 2x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots

• Storage: 4x SATA ports (2x 6Gb/s + 2x 3Gb/s) for HDDs/SSDs

• Connectivity:

  • 2x USB 3.0 (rear) + 4x USB 2.0 ports

  • DVI-D + HDMI video outputs

  • Realtek Gigabit Ethernet

  • Realtek ALC887 7.1-channel HD audio

• Special Features:

  • DualBIOS technology for backup protection

  • Single PS/2 combo port for legacy peripherals

Best For: Budget builds needing DVI output, extra expansion slots, and basic reliability features. Ideal for office PCs, media centers, or entry-level gaming systems when paired with a discrete GPU.

2. Gigabyte H81M-DS2

The Gigabyte H81M-DS2 is a similar H81-based micro-ATX motherboard with slightly different connectivity options, making it better suited for legacy systems.

Key Features:

• CPU Support: Same LGA 1150 socket for 4th Gen Intel processors

• Memory: Identical 2x DDR3 slots (16GB max at 1600MHz)

• Expansion: 1x PCIe 2.0 x16 + 1x PCIe 2.0 x1 (one fewer x1 slot than S2PH)

• Storage: Same 4x SATA configuration (2x 6Gb/s + 2x 3Gb/s)

• Connectivity:

  • 2x USB 3.0 (rear) + 4x USB 2.0 ports

  • VGA (D-Sub) + HDMI video outputs

  • Realtek Gigabit Ethernet

  • Realtek ALC887 audio

• Special Features:

  • Two separate PS/2 ports (keyboard + mouse)

  • Optional serial/parallel port headers

  • Single BIOS (no backup)

Best For: Legacy systems requiring VGA support, industrial applications, or environments with older peripherals. Suitable for basic office work, POS systems, or as a replacement board for older PCs.

Comparison Summary

Which One Should You Choose?

• Choose H81M-S2PH if you need:

  • DVI output for modern monitors

  • Extra PCIe x1 slot for expansion cards

  • BIOS backup protection

  • Slightly better future-proofing

• Choose H81M-DS2 if you need:

  • VGA support for older displays

  • Dedicated PS/2 ports for legacy keyboards/mice

  • Serial/parallel port support for industrial equipment

  • Basic functionality at lowest cost