The layout of the GA-8IPE1000 Pro2 is quite good.... and you've probably heard me say this a thousand times, but I always like to see the IDE/floppy drive channels and the main ATX power connector located out of the way. If you build PC's all the time, you'll learn to appreciate this sort of thing. Well placed IDE/Floppy and ATX power connectors help clear out obstructions and cable interference with the other system devices.

All the headers for brackets are placed on the lower edge of the motherboard, where the accompanying wires are unlikely to cause obstructions. This helps keep things clear when you install peripherals in the future, and can also keep airflow inside the system a little smoother.

With USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 (Ti TSB43AB23) integrated into the motherboard, it's nice to see that Gigabyte chose to opt for a CSA enabled Gigabit network chip (Intel 82547EI). If the designers had chosen a Broadcom device, there is the potential for the PCI bus to become saturated, which may bottlenecking the entire system. CSA offers a little more room around this.

Perhaps this is a minor detail but I've noticed the AGP retention mechanism that Gigabyte uses for their motherboards. It's much easier to use than other types, and it works well. Because air cooling can only do so much I was happy to see that the GA-8IPE1000 Pro2 has two mounting holes around the i865PE Northbridge! While I haven't broken any clips myself, I know quite a few people who have trying to mount water/pelt blocks on the i865PE/i875P Northbridge.