Roundup tests of motherboards aimed at Intel Core 2 Duo processors
MSI P965 Neo
This motherboard is one of the cheapest models based on P965 chipset. At the same time, the functionality of the board has not been cut down - even on the contrary: the developers have installed an additional RAID controller!
The board offers one PCI Express x16 slot, two PCI Express x1, and three regular PCI slots.
Among the remaining expansion options are 4 Serial ATA II (ICH8) links, a Gigabit LAN controller, 8 USB 2.0 ports, and integrated 8-channel audio.
Besides, the motherboard supports one Parallel ATA link and one Serial ATA II link with an additional JMB361 controller.
The BIOS settings are pretty scanty. In particular, the section of memory latency timings and system monitoring contain too few parameters.
As to the overclocking tools, they are there, and they work well. Here they are: the FSB is adjustable within 133 to 333 MHz, the voltage on the CPU can't be raised, but voltage on the memory can be raised to 2.4 V and on the chipset - up to 1.85 V.
During practical experiments, the board showed the following results: stable FSB speed = 333 MHz. Evidently, the board's capability is higher and further overclocking is bounded by the narrow range of FSB selection.
Conclusion: the motherboard is good from the "price/performance" consideration; with the relatively low price it offers support for PATA and has overclocking tools.
Pros:
- High stability and performance;
- Support for SerialATA II ( 5 links; ICH8 + JMB361);
- Support for one P-ATA link (JMB363);
- Integrated 8-channel audio and Gigabit Ethernet LAN controller;
- Support for the USB 2.0 serial bus (10 ports);
- Low price.
Cons:
The board's specific features:
- Middling overclocking tools.
MSI P965 Neo2
Despite the similarity of the names MSI P965 Neo and MSI P965 Neo2, the PCB design of these motherboards is different. MSI P965 Neo2 looks more interesting due to the PCI Express x4 slot with the split rear wall (which allows installing a video card into the slot).
At functionality, the motherboard is close to MSI P965 Neo: 4 Serial ATA II (ICH8) links, a Gigabit LAN controller, 8 USB 2.0 ports, and integrated 8-channel audio. Besides, the board has an additional RAID controller owing to which the motherboard supports the fifth SerialATA link and one ParallelATA link. Another additional controller provides support for the Firewire bus (2 ports).
The motherboard has one PCI Express x16, one PCI Express x4, one PCI Express x1, and two "regular" PCI slots.
The rear panel is practically standard:
The BIOS (AMI BIOS) settings are pretty scanty. In particular, the section of memory latency timings and system monitoring contain too few parameters.
The board displays the current temperatures for the processor and the system, rotational speeds of all the three fans, as well as voltage levels. Besides, the board offer support for the Smart Fan feature that allows for dynamic adjustment of the CPU cooler's rotational speeds depending on the CPU temperature.
As regards the overclocking tools, they have been implemented somehow better than on MSI P965 Neo. Here they are: FSB adjustable within 100 to 650 MHz, raise of voltage on the CPU by 0.7875 V, on the memory - to 2.45 V, on the north bridge - to 1.5V, on the south bridge - to 1.8V, and on the FSB - to 1.44V.
However, during practical experiments, the board showed moderate results: stable FSB speed = 346 MHz.
Conclusion: the motherboard is good from the "price/performance" consideration; with the relatively low price it offers support for PATA, Firewire, and has overclocking tools.
Pros:
- High stability and performance;
- Support for SerialATA II ( 5 links; ICH8 + Marvell 88SE6111);
- Support for one P-ATA line (Marvell 88SE6111);
- Integrated 8-channel audio and Gigabit Ethernet LAN controller;
- Support for USB2.0 (10 ports) and Firewire (2 ports);
- Low price.
Cons:
The board's specific features:
- Middling overclocking tools;
- There is a PCI Express x4 slot.
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Content: |
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Page 1 - Chipsets
Page 2 - Roundup table of motherboards
Page 3 - abit AW9D-MAX, abit AB9 Pro
Page 4 - ASUS P5W-DH Deluxe, ASUS P5W64-WS Pro
Page 5 - ASUS Commando, ASUS P5B Premium Vista Edition
Page - ASUS P5B Deluxe Wi-Fi, ASUS P5B-E
Page 7 - P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe, Striker, P5N32-E SLI, and P5N32-E SLI PLUS
Page 8 - ASUS P5N32-SLI Premium, ASUS P5N-E SLI
Page 9 - Gigabyte 965P-DQ6, Gigabyte 965P-DS4
Page 10 - Gigabyte 965P-DS3, Gigabyte 965G-DS3
Page 11 - Foxconn 975X7AB, Foxconn P9657AA-8EKRS2H
Page 12 - MSI P6N SLI Platinum, MSI P965 Platinum
Page 13 - MSI P965 Neo, MSI P965 Neo2
Page 14 - Intel D975XBX2 (i975X), Intel DG965RYCK
Page 15 - ECS NF650SLIT-A, ECS nForce 570 SLIT-A
Page 16 - ECS PN2 SLI2+, ECS P965T-A
Page 17 - Performance, conclusions
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