MSI P35 Neo2-FR: Platinum performance for under $100
by Gary Key on December 5, 2007 11:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Final Thoughts
MSI surprised us with the overall performance of the P35 Neo2-FR motherboard. We figured they would neuter the performance of the board so as not to cannibalize sales of the P35 Platinum series. Turns out, we were incorrect. Sure, the Platinum board has FireWire, S/PDIF Optical out, and a conversation generating roller coaster cooling system, but it also costs about $40 more. The performance between the two boards is almost identical making this purchasing decision easy in our opinion unless you need FireWire capabilities. If so, MSI offers the Neo2-FIR for about $10 more.
Our expectations of products in the sub $100 market for Intel have changed considerably over the past couple of months. We are testing the abit IP35-V, DFI Blood IronP35-T2RL, and Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L currently and have been especially impressed with the level of performance you can get at the $100 level. In fact, we would venture to say at this point, that the price to performance ratios of these boards could very well make their more expensive relatives obsolete, provided the feature lists match your needs.
We think MSI's decision to utilize the P35 Platinum board design as the basis for the Neo2 series is an excellent idea from both a manufacturing and marketing viewpoint. In our opinion, MSI actually improved the product family by changing the heatpipe system from the Platinum version. Gone is the roller coaster adventure series and in its place MSI installed a standard if visually conservative heatpipe system that not only has better aesthetics, but also cools just as well in our test conditions.
We do miss the FireWire support, but it is available on the FIR series; the problem with that is that we only found the FIR at a couple of resellers. Overall, this board performs very well but it does have a few quirks (Ed: what board doesn't?) when overclocking and utilizing the 4:5 memory ratios with 4GB installed. We were not always pleased with the board's two-step recovery from failed BIOS settings and the included utilities are just not up to par with abit's µGuru technology. However, MSI did a wonderful job with this board considering the cost targets required to compete in this market sector.
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Overall, this board certainly has more positives than negatives. Its negatives are generally minor and BIOS tuning will likely solve the few performance problems we encountered during overclocking. To be honest, it's the product quality, MSI's support, and price to performance advantages this board offers that really win us over. If MSI offered better utilities, the ability to control each fan header properly, and a BIOS fully tuned for 4GB overclocking then we would give the board our Gold award. As it stands, MSI has reset our expectations in this market space. Will any of the products from abit, DFI, and Gigabyte in this price bracket surpass MSI's offering? We will answer that question shortly.
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krunt - Saturday, January 12, 2008 - link
so when can we expect the shoot out between the "cheap" boards? it has been two months since it was said to be here shortly.nefar - Sunday, December 23, 2007 - link
It drives me crazy when a site claims a price and then it turns out it's with a "rebate". Unless I can go buy the item under $100.00 it's not under $100.00 and it should not be shown as such.thebittersea - Sunday, December 9, 2007 - link
This is a great article with a lot of AnandTech caliber content. However, I have one problem with the fluff that plagues your write up. I'm not sure if you have to reach a certain pages to get the amount of ads to keep this place going, but I find that informations are being repeated over and over again. The conclusion (which I always read first), can definitely be summarized in less than two paragraphs.I love your site!
nermanater - Saturday, December 8, 2007 - link
Just as a side note, there is no such thing as CAL P...there is cevo-p but if you were in that league you wouldn't make that mistake. Sound is extremely important to serious gamers and onboard just doesn't cut it sometimes.rallyhard - Friday, December 7, 2007 - link
On page five:"The problem is that once we started to raise the FSB over 445 with the Q6600 or QX6850 processors, the board automatically (drastically) reduced chipset timings and memory sub-timings"
Shouldn't that be an increase in timings? A reduction would be a good thing, right?
JarredWalton - Friday, December 7, 2007 - link
"reduced" as in "changed in a bad way that results in reduced performance" is the idea. Yes, the timings/sub-timings are probably getting higher. I think it also changes the FSB strap (Gary can confirm). So basically, you're better off with a lower FSB/higher multiplier, which gives improved performance.takumsawsherman - Thursday, December 6, 2007 - link
This seems to have very few ports on it, not to mention zero firewire. In bulk, adding firewire to a board can't be *that* expensive.just4U - Thursday, December 6, 2007 - link
I am glad you folks here at Anandtech did a review on this board. I've set up a few computers now based around it and I was so impressed I accually want one for myself. When I recommend it to others it's like being in a very quiet forest as no one really knows much about it.I accually liked the little led display they have to. Looks good in a windowed case and is very subtle.
Anywhoo Good review!
ultimatex - Thursday, December 6, 2007 - link
Toms and Hardocp have done reviews of this board and its always scores higher or the same as those $200.00 boards.I did tons of research comparing it to the Asus and Gygabyte ones that cost the same and went with this one because off all the benchmarks ive seen. Plus it looks better than any board at $120.00
Anyone know if theres any way to soder a optical outlet on this board and if it will work.
j@cko - Thursday, December 6, 2007 - link
The title "performance for under $100" is misleading; because without the rebate, this board is >$100 and the rebate is time limited. Unless MSI is due to a price cut soon.