Among the best choices for features/performance/longevity
Written: Oct 04 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Every feature known to exist on a motherboard!
Great performance
Cool red color
Cons: ZERO open chassis fan headers
The Bottom Line: Great choice from a great manufacturer, for every connection possible and excellent integrated video (good overall, excellent compared to any other integrated video options)
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| idconsult's Full Review: MSI K7N2G-ILSR (MS-6570G-020) Motherboard |
Why I Chose This Motherboard
On my limited budget, I was looking for a motherboard that would last me a good long time, with TV-Out support and all the lastest IO connections (5.1, 1394, USB2).
Finally I need a decent onboard video solution until I can invest in a decent video card at least a year from now.
MSI Support
I ordered a refurbished model of this board after I had a horrible experience with the AK79G. With some missing parts and a technical problem, I called MSI in California directly.
They were smart, attentive, and very generous in supplying missing parts for me, some of them for free!
Followup On Issues
Another reviewer reported problems with the accuracy of the CPU temperature monitoring. With the latest BIOS installed I got accurate temps, typically hovering in the 30sC idle and low 40sC when running burn-in tests with my Barton 2500.
I am using Samsung PC2700 RAM and it works great with FSB at 166 and High Performance settings.
Any Disappointments?
The fact that there are not any available 3-pin fan headers was a big surprise, and a bummer. The location of the various headers is haphazard, leaving me with little cables all over the board... it would be far nicer from a wiring standpoint to have these connectors collected near each other for better wiring - if you're buying cables with this board, leave extra length for the IDE cables, which are at the bottom corner of the board.
Also this board takes the extra Pentium-spec 12V connector, so choose a PS that has one, or contact MSI to see if it runs okay without one!
Finally, I use a USB keyboard and a PS/2 mouse, and they tend to one or the other not function when restoring from S3 suspend.
Otherwise: All Good News
The 5.1 sound is very very good, DivX playback is very good, TV-Out looks pretty sharp... all around I am very very pleased with the performance.
If you're looking to overclock, this board does better if you choose the non-video model.
But as far as a full package, the set of add-ons is awesome:
- Firewire bracket
- USB2 bracket with the oh-so-lovely diagnostic LEDs
- TV-Out bracket
- SP/DIF and audio bracket
You also get an unusually good manual, SATA cable, rounded IDE cables, and CDs.
The onboard video, on par with the other nForce2 models, is acceptable for low to medium resolution 3D gaming if you keep the extras (like AA) to a minimum.
Finally, if you're new to nForce2 boards, you'll absolutely want two matching DDR memory chips to maximize memory bandwidth when using onboard video.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 99
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Epinions.com ID:
idconsult
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Member: David Goldstein
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Reviews written: 30
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
Devoted Christian, Husband, Daddy, and Computer Programmer.
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