Based on a standard six layer PCB, Intel's D850GB is laid out in a fairly typical fashion for a Pentium 4 motherboard. The power connectors are grouped together on the edge of the board by the IDE and FDD connectors and the RIMM sockets are positioned nicely up against the processor socket.

The D850GB has two pairs of RIMM sockets for support of up to 2GB of RDRAM memory. The board will accept both PC600 and PC800 RDRAM utilizing either 128Mbit or 256Mbit technology. PC700 RDRAM is not supported.

As is the case with all RDRAM totting motherboards, RIMM modules have to be used in identical pairs. Each set of RIMM's must be of the same type, memory density and size. For our tests we will be using 128MB PC800 Samsung modules. When less than four slots are filled it is important to fill the remaining open slots with continuity RIMM's, also known as CRIMM's. A pair is included with the D850GB.