AM2 fire red with high value board – MSI K9N4 SLI overclock dessert

[windwithme]

The cheapest dual core processor must be the AMD Athlon X2 3600+.
AM2 X2 3600+ comes with 65nm procedure and 2*512K L2 cache.
It also have lower power consumption and higher overclock range. The most
point is with low cost to fight the market!

Because of the cheap boards with cheap dual core processors, AMD platform
become more popular when consumers wants to build up their own PC system
recently.
The price in Taiwan is about $80USD with X2 3600+ in end of March.

Then, the low cost with high overclock ability motherboards should become
the first pick when build a PC system.
Let’s take a look on our star: MSI K9N4 SLI with $90USD valued price.

The BOX design

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/3296/k9n41jl9.jpg


The accessories.

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/8840/k9n42hg5.jpg


The motherboard~

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/431/k9n43ur8.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/2175/k9n44hv8.jpg


Down left side placement.

2X PCI-E X16
2X PCI-E X1
2X PCI

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/1294/k9n45ez8.jpg


Down right side
Red button is Clear CMOS button.
4 SATA ports.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/8832/k9n46uv2.jpg


Up left side.
The DRAM slot, same channel with same color. Use different color to be dual
channel.
2 IDE ports to have better expansions.

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/8841/k9n47yi6.jpg


Up right side
The PWM design around CPU socket.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/8922/k9n48gt9.jpg


IO ports

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/754/k9n49uy9.jpg


Active heatsink FAN, it’s good for high heat NV chipsets.

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/643/k9n410ni7.jpg

[windwithme]

BIOS main adjust page.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7840/k9n4b1kl4.jpg

CPU FSB range: 200~425MHz

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3356/k9n4b2uc2.jpg

Multiply selection 5x~9.5x

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/3405/k9n4b3bd9.jpg

DRAM option: 400/533/667/800

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/850/k9n4b4tf4.jpg

CPU second voltage +0.05~0.35V

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/4917/k9n4b5um2.jpg

DDRII voltage: 1.8~2.45V

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/9704/k9n4b6kh6.jpg

DRAM adjust options.

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/93/k9n4b7ew5.jpg

HT adjust is in main page left side.

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5025/k9n4b8us8.jpg

Temp and voltage monitor page.

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/2594/k9n4b9of1.jpg

[perkam]

Crazy options for a value board 0_0

Perkam

[windwithme]

Test setup platform
CPU:AMD AM2 Athlon64 X2 3600+
MB: MSI K9N4 SLI
DRAM:CORSAIR Dominator TWIN2X2048-8888C4DF
VGA:ELSA GLADIAC 790GS PH2 256DT
HD:Seagate 7200.7 160GB
POWER:Corsair HX620W Modular Power Supply
Cooler:TT Big Typhoon VX

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6402/k9n411yv9.jpg


294.8X9.5=>2801Mhz

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9185/x236m28001fd5.png


315.7X9.5=>3000Mhz 1.408V
SP2004 loading test can over 30 minutes.

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/561/x236m30001ui4.png


1.432V SP2004 stable over 1 hour.

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/2940/x236m30002rl1.png


The FSB limited.
332X8.5=>2823Mhz

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/4175/x236m332tu1.png


Let’s take a look on DRAM

預設值下BIOS選DDRII 800
Default BIOS setting with DDRII 800(AM2 issue,
.5 or X10 multiply will auto divide)

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/5674/k9n476420vra1.png


DDRII 1022 CL4 4-4-9 2.2V stable.
Seems it’s the limited, more voltage and higher CL numbers didn’t work to
higher frequency.

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/811/k9n4102222vuz9.png


ELSA GLADIAC 790GS PH2 560/1500Mhz
3DMARK2005

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/9308/k9n42005lt6.png


3000Mhz DDRII 600 CL3 3-3-9 1T Super PI 32M

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/5154/k9n4pi32mdz9.png


EVEREST shows the chipset is nForce500SLI, so as MSI formal website.
But CPU-Z shows it’s nForce4 chipser?!

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/5606/k9n4evedg2.png


According to my test stuff, conclusion with MSI K9N4 SLI

Pros.:
1.Cheap price, packing and accessories is enough.
2.Over 330FSB ability, also good on voltage adjust.
3.Support SLI technology directly.
4.2 IDE ports, good for old IDE components users.

Cons.:
1. BIOS overclock adjust needs some improvement. DRAM overclock limited
needs to be over DDRII 1066 or higher.


MSI K9N4 SLI is good enough, according to it’s value and overclock ability,
the $90USD under street price, comes with SLI ready and 2 IDE ports will
also be the plus. If BIOS can enhance with DRAM ability to have better
overclock range, we believe this could be great option to the market on AM2
platform.

Coming soon: CORSAIR TWIN2XS2048-10000C5DF
DDRII 1250, the fastest DDRII products in the market this moment. (Not paper launch!)


http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/1954/k9n412db1.jpg


DFI INFINITY P965-S DARK
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/88/k9n413nj9.jpg

[leoftw]

thank you for your hard work

[Lightman]

Nice review windwithme!

I have same memory clock limit around 1GHZ 4-4-4-12-15 2T on my MSI K9N Ultra II (NF570Ultra), wonder if it is purposely done to sell higher end mobos...

[Ibet]

Reaaallly Nice review, windwithme!