Bundle, utilities

Accessories include four SATA cables with latches (two with rectangular connectors). Obviously, there are no PATA or FDD ribbons, but there's a PATA-SATA power adapter. Also included is a backpanel faceplate, SLI bridge, front I/O cabling, four V-Check Points multimeter adapters, and a bracket with two USB 3.0 ports. There's also a number of user's guides and a software DVD.

Of all proprietary utilities MSI has used to have only three remain, LiveUpdate and Super-Charger included. Having an infinitely simple GUI, Super-Charger allows you to charge iDevices and other devices from USB ports. In hardware terms, an onboard connector marked red outputs higher current (up to 1.5 A) to corresponding USB ports which you'll have to connect to the front or back panel yourself. This mode stays switched on, when the PC is off, too. One drawback is that USB ports cannot be used for data transfer while in this mode.

But the key proprietary utility is MSI Control Center II that combines overclocking, monitoring, system info and such. Naturally, MSI Control Center II offers necessary means for 'regular' overclocking, including the adjustment of many voltages and K-series CPU multiplier. Obviously, the utility doesn't allow you to manage Turbo Boost and TDP settings, so if you don't have a K-series processor, you'll have to use BIOS. Also note the bonus capability to adjust memory timings directly from Windows. On a more personal note, we liked the utility's visual design — very neat, readable, uniform and stylish (compare it with UEFI). Note that the utility doesn't minimize to tray, but turns into a small widget that displays current CPU clock rate.

MSI also continues to develop its fast-booting mini-OS. Frankly speaking, we don't like the idea much, but we have to admit that MSI Winki is one of the best implementations available. Booting from the mini-OS DVD brings up a regular menu where you can choose to boot from a hard drive, quickly boot from a Winki distribution or install it onto a drive, flash ones included. Moreover, a standard Winki distribution includes Open Office — something that competing solutions lack. We still believe that if you need a lighter OS so much, you should use a ready LiveCD distribution or make a custom one for yourself. But MSI Winki is a decent simplified replacement.

Features

The motherboard offers a rather standard set of interfaces, for a high-end board that is. There are two USB 3.0 ports and an onboard header for another two, a complete set of audio outputs, FireWire, two eSATA (non-powered), and a clear CMOS button.

MSI P67A-GD65 is based on the Intel P67 chipset (P67 PCH). Onboard controllers are listed below.

• 2 x USB 3.0 based on NEC (Renesas) µPD720200F1 (PCIe x1), each supports 2 ports.
• SATA 6Gbps based on Marvell 88SE9128 (PCIe x1), supports 2 x SATA-600 devices.
• SATA 3Gbps based on JMicron JMB362 (PCIe x1), supports 2 x eSATA devices (both ports are on the backpanel).
• Integrated audio based on the 7.1+2 Realtek ALC892 HDA codec. An optical (Toslink) and coaxial S/PDIF-Out on the backpanel, another S/PDIF-Out onboard.
• Gigabit Ethernet based on Realtek RTL8111E (PCIe x1).
• FireWire based on VIA VT6308P (PCI), supports 2 ports (one on the backpanel).
• PCI based on the ASMedia ASM1083 PCIe-PCI bridge, supports 3 x PCI devices (two onboard slots and a controller interface).

As stated above, there are 2+2 USB 3.0 ports. For comparison, Gigabyte P67A-UD5 (more like a mid-end board) offers 4+4 ports. Anyway MSI P67A-GD65 has the same two host controllers, meaning that only two devices can use full bandwidth at the same time on both motherboards.

The motherboard supports THX TruStudio Pro technology that splits regular stereo signal into 4-8 channels for surround effect. It also supports smart volume control that equalizes different tracks and highlights voice in movies. There's also Creative's Crystalizer. Of course, all of that is provided by software (and only in Vista and 7) since the Realtek codec is the same as other HDA codecs. We traditionally tested it in the 16-bit/44kHz and 16-bit/48kHz modes with RightMark Audio Analyzer 6.0 and Terratec DMX 6fire.

As you may know, starting from this generation of Intel chipsets, motherboards do not have native PCI support, so manufacturers use PCIe-PCI bridges, because they are not yet ready to give up on these slots and controllers. Fortunately, ASMedia ASM1083 (also found in ASUS boards), as well as all other controllers we've tested, work flawlessly. PCI devices are recognizable even at the BIOS level (we used a sound card and a drive controller).

Conclusion

MSI P67A-GD65 is an interesting motherboard that implements chipset features well and offers decent peripherals and proprietory technologies. The board has an adequately simple cooling system, high-quality and compact CPU VRM, convenient utilities. ClickBIOS UEFI is a downer, but it doesn't make it too difficult to make changes to BIOS options. MSI P67A-GD65 is a good choice and we can recommend it. Just don't forget about Intel 6th series chipset defect.

The motherboard was provided by its manufacturer.

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