• SiS 650 chipset

We already examined one board on this chipset and it was a model of MSI as well - MS6524. Unlike the previous one, the today's solution supports DDR SDRAM. The board ships in the OEM package.

Accessories:

• Documentation: a user manual in English;
• Cables: 1 ATA66/100/133 and 1 FDD;
• Bracket for the rear computer panel;
• CD with software including:
• drivers;
• Adobe Acrobat Reader;
• VNC;
• 3Deep E-Color;
• DirectX 8;
• PC-Cillin 2000;
• X-Setup;
• MSI Fuzzy Logic (for auto overclocking of processor);
• MSI GoodMem (for memory optimization);
• MSI InfoView (to browse information on system devices);
• MSI Live Update 2 (for auto update of drivers and BIOS);
• MSI LockBox (to lock access to computer);
• MSI PCAlert III (for system monitoring).

As usual, microATX boards do have drawbacks in the layout. This time audio-ins are placed inconveniently, and connectors and switches are too close to each other. It's not difficult to reach the only jumper even when the board is already installed. Its function is shown on the textolite.

The 2-channel switching voltage regulator incorporates 7 capacitors of 2200 uF and 7 of 1500 uF (quite high results).

The following controllers are integrated:

• audio controller based on the Avance Logic ALC201A AC'97 codec with a connector for front audio-outs;
• network controller based on the Realtek RTL8100L chip supporting 10BaseT/100BaseTX.

Non-unsoldered connectors: several various ones.

The system monitoring is supported by the Winbond W83697HF chip. What is controlled:

• processor voltage (+3.3, +5 and +12 V), VBAT and +5 V Standby;
• speed of 2 fans;
• temperatures of the processor (a built-in sensor) and the board (a built-in sensor).

There are 2 connectors for adjustable connection of fans.

Brief characteristics of the board: memory slots - 2 DDR SDRAM; expansion slots - AGP/ 3 PCI/ CNR; I/O ports - 2 COM/ LPT/ 2 PS/2/ 6 USB 1.1; dimensions - 245x231 mm.

Adjustment can be carried out with:

jumpers and switches	Jumper to clear up the CMOS
BIOS based on the 6.00PG version from Phoenix-Award	Setup of memory timings	+	System Performance, CAS Latency
	Setup of memory frequency	+	Default, 100, 133 and 166 MHz
	Setup of AGP bus	+
	Setup of PCI bus	-
	Changeable scaler of AGP and PCI buses	-
	Manual assignment of interrupts	-
	Changeable FSB frequency	-
	Changeable CPU multiplier	+	x8-x50
	Changeable core voltage	-
	Changeable memory voltage	-
	Changeable chipset voltage	-
	Changeable AGP bus voltage	-

We used the latest available version of the BIOS - 1.1.

The board looks modest but reliable.

Test results:

• Intel 845G: Integrated Graphics Core and its Competitors (SiS 650, VIA P4M266, VIA KM266, NVIDIA nForce 420-D and 415-D)