The power of ULI chipset on AM2? MSI K9NU Neo simple test

When the news of NVIDIA merges ULI company was exposure to the world,
Customers might feel not very good more then happiness.





NVIDIA got the most chipset market share on AMD platform.
ATI just start to run chipset business, it takes time to enhance quality and
improve small issues.
VIA/SIS become entry level company and got less exposure now.



ULI can follow up the step to launch chipset product and have reliable quality.
So their products are very expected by customers in second tier branding.



We don’t know when NVIDIA will stop the ULI chipset supply when merged.
But it’s fine, they can catch up this AMD AM2 platform train at least.



MSI launched their K9NU Neo product with ULI single chip design.
They use bright red PCB design and put it on entry level segment.

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/561/k9nu13ql.jpg













Left down corner of motherboard.
1 PCI-Express 16X
3 PCI slot
Expansion ability is not bad.

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/3417/k9nu29am.jpg














Right down corner of motherboard.
Build with 4 SATA2 port
2 IDE port
Single chip and silent heatsink design

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/4641/k9nu36sb.jpg














Up side of motherboard.
DRAM slot and CPU VRM placement.

http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/3514/k9nu44ay.jpg













Chipset number is ULI M1697

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/9948/k9nu53wp.jpg













IO ports

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/3857/k9nu66rq.jpg











Test platform setup
CPU:AMD AM2 Althon64 3000+
MB: MSI K9NU Neo
DRAM:Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C3
VGA:ELSA 6800Ultra
HD:Seagate 7200.7 80GB
POWER:AcBel 550W
Cooler:Tower112


A piece cake with easy test warm up.

CPU FSB adjustment test
Stable on 295MHz

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/7418/2959gg.png











DDRII 1T test
Stable on 830MHz CL=4-4-4-12

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/9183/8301t3od.png












DDRII 2T test
Stable on 1010MHz CL=4-4-4-12 2V

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/2241/10102t4hv.png











Maybe it’s discomposure with HDD and USB components reliability on NVIDIA chipset for long time.
ULI chipset based motherboard brings a reliable power.
2 IDE port, not bad on overclock, if the street price could under 80USD even lower, it’s a very good option on AMD AM2 platform.
The test above is not my limited, I will post the BIOS introduce and extreme test if possible.

Nicee :)

Some bios shots would help :D

Perkam

I owned an EPoX mobo with that chipset for a couple of weeks. On 939 it could go over 300HTT but the HS gets extremely hot (instant finger burn).

Not bad for what looks like a value board, as Perkam said some bios screenies would be good.

Looks like a nice budget MB for AM2:toast:

why did you dual prime a single core cpu?

Hi, I have an ASROCK AM2XLI(Chipset ULI M1697) but I don't know how to set from bios the "First boot from CD rom" and I'm not able to install Windows:confused:
Have you a bios shot from where it's possible to set this option?
TKS and sorry for the OT.

Some days ago, I've got the ASRock AM2XLI-eSATA2 and a Sempron 2800+. That board doesn't like my TeamGroup DDR2 667 so I can't get past 325 MHz HTT, btw. with four 1024MB sticks, I didn't even get a POST screen.

The CPU seems to be nice, so far I've got 2,6 GHz with default voltage and boxed HSF but my mem craps out at any higher clock.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nachthymnen

Hi, I have an ASROCK AM2XLI(Chipset ULI M1697) but I don't know how to set from bios the "First boot from CD rom" and I'm not able to install Windows:confused:
Have you a bios shot from where it's possible to set this option?
TKS and sorry for the OT.

---

http://people.freenet.de/lochfrass/pict6194.jpg :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by i found nemo

why did you dual prime a single core cpu?

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Athlon 3000+
cpuz 1.33.1 ERROR:)

it says it's a 3000+ i'm assuming you meant 3800+?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by i found nemo

it says it's a 3000+ i'm assuming you meant 3800+?

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AMD ATHLON 3000+ 512K single


CPUZ 1.34/1.35 show it correct

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by _lochfrass_

Some days ago, I've got the ASRock AM2XLI-eSATA2 and a Sempron 2800+. That board doesn't like my TeamGroup DDR2 667 so I can't get past 325 MHz HTT, btw. with four 1024MB sticks, I didn't even get a POST screen.

The CPU seems to be nice, so far I've got 2,6 GHz with default voltage and boxed HSF but my mem craps out at any higher clock.



http://people.freenet.de/lochfrass/pict6194.jpg :)

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Many tks, I will take a look soon...:)

Nice work there.

nice test, 295 HTT isn't the worst result on am2 ;)

@nachthymnen: sei un po comico :D OC @ cascade ma nn trovi l'opzione per bootpriority nel bios :help:

how many phase is this board ?

anyone else tried this motherboard ? do you recommended me this motherboard ?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by _lochfrass_

Some days ago, I've got the ASRock AM2XLI-eSATA2 and a Sempron 2800+. That board doesn't like my TeamGroup DDR2 667 so I can't get past 325 MHz HTT, btw. with four 1024MB sticks, I didn't even get a POST screen.

The CPU seems to be nice, so far I've got 2,6 GHz with default voltage and boxed HSF but my mem craps out at any higher clock.



http://people.freenet.de/lochfrass/pict6194.jpg :)

---

Do you get 300Mhz+ on the Xli? Mine starts it's hickups around 235Mhz even with really low Cpu multiplier. What have I forgot?

This isn't fun as it's hard to find a sweetspot between cpu and memory clock becuase of the limited Htt.


Thanks and sorry about not beeing right on topic.


That Msi looks really nice btw :)

what about BIOS abilities, screenies and more conclusions?:) i'm really interested in this board...

Me too:)

wait a 3000 X2 ? is that a cpu-z error or is there a new X2 on the block ?

cpu-z error

does anyone know how much additional fans (except CPU fan) can i connect to this mainboard? how much of them are regulated through BIOS?

does anyone has more experience using this mainboard with AMD AM2 X2 CPU?

if You guys know, please let me know because i'm interested in this mainboard. any BIOS screenshots are welcome.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nachthymnen

I'm not able to install Windows:confused:

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You have to install the ULI chip/RAID drivers before Windows since they're not included. I think you do it just like installing SATA, F6 during Windows CD startup.

I have ordered K9NU NEO, Sempron and ddr2-800, but i saw the mobo's manual too late. The manual says that ddr2-800 works only with dualcore-processor. Is it unhealthy for the components to use sempron and ddr2-800?

looks like a 3 phase power design,
with bad floppy placement. But I like the ram placement.
But the ATX really shouldn't have moved way over there

Looks good :) Nice layout for the most part, REALLY small board. Looks to be a great way to head into AM2/DDRII for cheap.. (and now you've got me thinking, ditch s939?)

Could you possibly post up some BIOS Screenies and maybe some basic 3D benches? Seems like a really good BIOS right off the bat anyway. Maybe with some aftermarket chipset cooling or a fan on the heatsink, 300+ HTT would be attainable.

Hi, i bought this mobo after reading some review on the internet. Many of them said it was possible to set vcore values up to 1.4V.
I have an athlon X2 3800+ (AD03800IAA5CS) with default vcore of 1.225V, the highest value i can set in the BIOS is 1.25V. Why?

I'm trying the BIOS updating way, but i dont think it could help...

BIOS upgrade will prolly solve it.

Cool looks like a nice entry level board.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NickS

BIOS upgrade will prolly solve it.

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just upgraded the BIOS to the newest official version.

max vcore is still 1.250V :(