MSI has today as the first company launched a series of Socket AM2 motherboards: MSI K9N SLI Platinum, MSI K9N SLI and MSI K9N Neo. All boards are based on NVIDIA’s new nForce circuits: nForce 570 SLI MCP, nForce 570 MCP and nForce 550. The first is then of course for the high-end users as it comes with SLI, the second is for the more cautious buyers and the last is a low-cost alternative for those who just wants to switch platform or simply try out AMD’s new platform. MSI has also introduced a new generation of its Core system that surveys, but also lets the user control the system, via MSI’s software: Dual CoreCell. All in all it seems that MSI has been working hard on getting its new motherboards ready and this is just the start of it all.
Dual CoreCell introduce the following with the new K9N series:
- Key components status hardware monitoring
- Dual Core CPU each unit status monitoring
- D.O.T. Technology up to 12% improvement
- Online BIOS/Driver Update Automatically
- System status define optimization
- Adjusting & monitoring with Dual CoreCenter on windows system
- Auto speed up with system loading change
- 5 environment mode and 3 user define mode
- Combine with VGA CoreCell 3D, totally called Dual CoreCell
“MSI, the leading mainboard manufacturer, is introducing cutting-edge technology on its latest motherboards for AMD AM2 CPU. All the MSI K9 Series are equipped with passive CPU and north bridge cooler. This allows you to enjoy the speed and performance with zero-noise produced by the motherboard even during the most power-requiring processes.
MSI introduces five different configurations. Further, MSI is going to extend the product line to 9 different configurations by the middle of the May.”
The MSI K9N SLI Platinum:
- NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP chipset
- Supports Socket AM2, 64bit Athlon 64 and Athlon FX processors
- 2 PCI-E x16 slots for SLI
- Hyper Transport support speed up to 2GHz
- 4 DIMMs DDRII 533/667/800 up to 8GB
- Dual LAN 10/100/1000 and FireWire
- 8-channel High Definition Audio
- Supports 6 SATAII, storage and data transfer up to 3.0GB/sec
- SATA 1~6 supports RAID 0/1/0+1,5
- 2 PCI-E x16, 2 PCI-E x1, 3 PCI slots
- 10x USB 2.0, 2x IEEE1394
- Dual CoreCell with D.O.T. Express
- 1 MSI communication slot
- Silent Heatsink
Except from the first monster there will be a more high-value alternative that comes without FireWire, 4 SATAII ports and RAID5.
The MSI K9N Platinum:
- NVIDIA nForce 570 MCP chipset
- Supports Socket AM2, 64bit Athlon 64, Athlon X2 and Athlon FX processors
- Hyper Transport support speed up to 2 GHz
- 4 DIMMs DDRII 533/667/800 up to 8GB
- Dual LAN 10/100/1000 and Firewire
- 8-channel High Definition Audio
- Supports 6 SATAII, storage and data transfer up to 3.0GB/sec
- SATA 1~6 supports RAID 0/1/0+1, 5
- 1 PCI-E x16, 2 PCI-E x1, 1 PCI-E Lite, 3 PCI slots
- 10x USB 2.0, 2x IEEE1394
- Dual CoreCell with D.O.T. Express
- 1 MSI communication slot
- Silent Heatsink
The latter has a so called PCI-Express Lite slot where you despite the lack of SLI support has two PCI-E 16x slots, but thanks to this can extend the motherboard with more VGA outputs.
And last we have a budget alternative, for the really aware or perhaps those who wants to wait for the second generation boards but can’t wait to switch platform.
The MSI K9N Neo:
- NVIDIA nForce 550 chipset
- Supports Socket AM2, 64bit AMD Sempron, Athlon 64 and Athlon 64×2 processors
- Hyper Transport support speed up to 2 GHz
- 4 DIMMs DDRII 533/667/800 up to 8GB
- Dual LAN 10/100/1000
- 8-channel High Definition Audio
- Supports 4 SATAII, storage and data transfer up to 3.0GB/sec
- SATA 1~4 supports RAID 0/1/0+1
- 1 PCI-E x16, 2 PCI-E x1, 3 PCI slots
- 1 MSI communication slot
Source: MSI
