MSI K7N2G-LISR
(NVIDIA nForce2) Mainboard
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The board based on the PCB common for the whole series differs from its nForce2-ST
based predecessor in increased functionality
and enriched accessory pack.
Accessories:
- Package of the standard design;
- Documentation: user manual
in 6 languages;
- Cables: FDD, 2 Serial ATA, ATA66/100/133;
-
D-Bracket (2 USB + 4 LEDs for POST procedure indication);
- S-Bracket
(Rear, Center/Sub and S/PDIF-Out (Coaxial and TosLink));
- Bracket
with S-Video and Composite TV-Out;
-
Bracket with 2 FireWire ports;
- Bracket for the rear computer panel;
-
2 CDs containing:
- drivers;
- DirectX 8.1;
-
Adobe Acrobat Reader;
- VNC;
- 3Deep;
-
PC-cillin 2000;
- X-Setup;
- InterVideo WinDVD 5.1;
-
MSI GoodMem (for memory optimization);
- MSI InfoView (information
on system devices);
- MSI i-Speeder (for optimization of Internet
access and network connection monitoring);
- MSI Live Update 2 (for
auto update of drivers and BIOS);
- MSI LockBox (for computer access
restriction);
- MSI Password Keeper;
- MSI PCAlert IV
(system monitoring);
- MSI SecureDoc (file encryption);
-
MSI SmartKey.
In spite of a great deal of integrated controllers and connectors, the downsides
are not that awful: IDE and SATA, audio-ins and power supply connectors can prevent
handling cables and installation of long expansion cards. It can be difficult
to reach some jumpers when the board is already installed. Their functions are
shown on the textolite. 2-channel switching voltage regulator incorporates
6 capacitors of 2200 uF and 3 of 1500 uF. Integrated controllers:
- audio controller based on the chipset's APU and Avance Logic ALC650
AC'97 codec; 5.1 audio system supported, front audio outputs and SPDIF connectors
provided;
- network controller based on the chipset; 10BaseT/100BaseTX
supported;
- IDE RAID controller based on Promise PDC20376 chip;
supports RAID 0 and 1 via ATA133 and SATA150 protocols;
- FireWire
controller based on the chipsets, 2 ports supported.
Non-unsoldered
connectors: none. System monitoring is supported by Winbond W83627HF-AW
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 (built-in sensor) and the board (built-in sensor).
There
are 2 connectors for adjustable connection of fans (one of them is connected to
a fan on the north bridge's heatsink). Brief board's characteristics:
memory slots - 3 DDR SDRAM; expansion slots - AGP/ 5 PCI/ ACR; I/O ports - 1 COM/
LPT/ 2 PS/2/ 6 USB 2.0 / 2 FireWire; dimensions - 305x230 mm.
Settings:
| jumpers and switches |
Jumper to clear up the CMOS |
|
| Jumpers for setting FSB frequency |
100 and 133/166 MHz |
| BIOS based on Phoenix AwardBIOS 6.00PG |
Setup of memory timings |
+ |
T(RAS), T(RCD), T(RP), CAS Latency |
| Setup of memory frequency |
+ |
FSB:DRAM = By SPD, 2:1, 5:3, 3:2, 4:3, 5:4, 6:5, 1:1, 5:6, 4:5,
3:4, 2:3, 3:5, 1:2 |
| Setup of AGP bus |
- |
|
| Setup of PCI bus |
- |
|
| Changeable scaler of AGP and PCI buses |
+ |
AGP(PCIx2) = 66-120 MHz in 1MHz steps |
| Manual assignment of interrupts |
+ |
|
| Changeable FSB frequency |
+ |
100-200 MHz in 1 and 2 MHz steps |
| Changeable CPU multiplier |
+ |
x7-x13 |
| Changeable core voltage |
+ |
1.55-1.8 V in 0.025V steps |
| Changeable memory voltage |
+ |
2.5, 2.6, 2.7 V |
| Changeable chipset voltage |
- |
|
| Changeable AGP bus voltage |
+ |
1.5, 1.6, 1.7 V |
We used the BIOS 1.2 as the latest available version.
This is the most functional solution among those based on the integrated nForce2
version; it can easily compete against discrete solutions and offers competitive
accessories and overclockability. That is why it can be a good choice for an efficient
modern PC if integrated graphics is needed. Test results:
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