Motherboard: MSI 845E MAX2 BLR Review :: Package and Installation

Package Contents:
• MSI 845E MAX2 BLR Motherboard
• Driver CD
• User's Manual
• Quick Installation Manual
• MSI Sticker
• FDD cable
• 2x ATA 66/100/133 cable
• USB 2.0 Bracket with 2 USB Ports
• Bracket with 2 USB Ports and Diagnostic Leds
• Bracket with SPDIF Digital Audio Option

The package from MSI was rich as always. One quick and one very detailed installation manual was included in the package. Overclocking utility Fuzzy Logic and many health monitoring utilities like PCAlert was on the CD.

My favorite utility and the first one I always use before start testing is BIOS Update utility. For standard BIOS Update you need to know how to do it. It is not easy and it is dangerous. Live BIOS update utility has made our life easier. You can update your BIOS in Windows by following the utility screen.

The Hardware installation and ergonomics of the motherboard was not flawless. The location of the Power Supply connector was causing the PS cables to block the memory slots. After you install the AGP card , you cannot change or install memory modules to the first two memory slots.

If you try to plug the CD-In cable to the motherboard after PCI add-on card installation, good luck. The location is under PCI add-on cards. You have to take them out.

CPU installation and configuration was easy as one - two - three. Power it on and it is ready. I cannot say that I am a fan of AMIBIOS, I would prefer Award BIOS with a lot of features. But this was not so bad.

There were no killer 0.025 V steppings but you can adjust Core- AGP and memory Voltages according to your overclocking appetite. You may like to use Fuzzy logic utility. It makes it possible to overclock right away without booting up and getting in to BIOS.