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Motherboard: MSI 645E MAX2 LRU Review :: Features
The main difference between the SIS645DX Northbridge and the SIS645 is a 533 MHz Bus. This translates to 133 MHz standard bus. DDR266 Memory is fits into that standard and supports it. DDR333 Memory support of SIS 645DX just gives more comfort and add stability for power users and overclockers. I don't know if any manufacturer wants to go back but this chipset supports usage of PC133 SDRAM. The second good thing is the northbridge communicates in 533 MHz with the southbridge too. This completes a speedway for enthusiasts.
New southbridge 961B supports a lot of integrated options such as, LAN, Modem, 6 USB ports, HomePNA, and UDMA 133 Devices. This is a very good combination of speed and lower cost integrated options.
Now let's see how much of these integrated options are on the MSI motherboard. The LRU extension to its model represents LAN - RAID -USB options. I always like to use a lot of USB ports. Do you want USB Ports? MSI has 8 of them. It has two USB 1.1 ports in the back panel, two USB 1.1 ports on an additional bracket with DLED (Diagnostic Leds) and four on another additional bracket.
You can see something interesting on the USB 2.0 Bracket. One of the ports closed with a label which "Do not remove when using Bluetooth" sign. This board has Bluetooth support but I don't know where you will find the transmitter bracket or device to connect to the header. But if you find and connect it, it shares the bus with one of USB 2.0 Ports. So you have to disconnect the blue USB connector from the motherboard and connect Bluetooth to JBT1 header.
Most of the motherboards with USB 2.0 option, utilize NEC Chips. I saw a couple of VIA chips but it is not common.
The southbridge supports UDMA 133 but UDMA 133 RAID became standard for some power users. This board has a RAID Chip that I have never seen before. ACHIP ATP865-A UDMA 133 Raid chip worked smoothly with the RAID 1 configuration that I built. It supports some features by its Windows utility, like some SCSI devices have.
Manufacturers are giving a hard time to Creative Labs by adding 6 channels on-board audio these days. Of course it is not effective as Creative Labs which uses powerful EMU sound processors. Most of them are AC97 solutions, and consuming your CPU power. It is not so wrong because today's CPU power can easily handle some extra stuff. MSI added its version of InterVideo WinDVD Software to the package with 6 channels sound support. You will see MSI everywhere in the software but it is WinDVD. It completes the package with Realtek ALC650 AC97 chip 5.1 sounds on-board. There was just a single CD-IN header on the motherboard. There is no option for a second CD in or any auxiliary device such as TV or Video Cards and some voice modems.
If you don't like to mess with a lot of cables which I really hate, this board supports SPDIF out. If you have the system, you can hook up just one optical or standard mono jack for 5.1 Digital sounds. This option comes on a bracket too. This motherboard consumed 3 of the ports already but don't forget that possibility of an add-on card is getting lower and lower.
Ethernet became an essential device on any kind of PC. In your workplace you have to get hooked up to network or you need cable or DSL Internet connection or home network connection. Adding it onboard costs not too much but adds value to the motherboard. Realtek RTL 8101L chip provides 10/100 MBit network connection.
There was a modem option on the motherboard too. But the optional modem bracket was not included in the package. This board made me believe that one day motherboards will wash your pants too. The board got 38 points from 40 points perfect feature score and it missed it just by small things. Such as keyboard power on was missing and it has only 2 fan headers onboard. One is for CPU and one is for case. If you have a power system it is just not enough. Some power supplies have speed controlled fans, you can connect to those headers and sometimes you need an additional exhaust fan. But for this board, most of the features are on-board. May be they thought that, cooling power is enough for the system. Or they just couldn't find a board space because it is already stuffed.
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