MSI P35 Neo2-FR: Platinum performance for under $100
by Gary Key on December 5, 2007 11:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Synthetic Graphics Performance
The 3DMark series of benchmarks developed and provided by Futuremark are among the most widely used tools for benchmark reporting and comparisons. Although the benchmarks are very useful for providing apple to apple comparisons across a broad array of GPU and CPU configurations they are not a substitute for actual application and gaming benchmarks.
In our 3DMark06 test, all of the boards are within 1% of each other. When looking at the individual tests, the MSI board scores well in the CPU and SM2.0 sections and fourth from last in the SM3.0 tests.
In the more memory and CPU throughput sensitive 3DMark01 benchmark, we again see the spread between boards is less than 1%. The Neo2-FR board scores in the middle of the pack but is only 63 points from the lead even with a slight handicap in memory settings.
General System Performance
The PCMark05 benchmark developed and provided by Futuremark measures overall system performance for the typical home computing user. This tool provides both system and component level benchmarking results utilizing subsets of real world applications or programs. This benchmark is still useful for providing comparative results, but PCMark Vantage will replace it in our next article.
Once again, all of the boards are within 1% of each other with the Neo2-FR board finishing in the middle of the test group. There's nothing interesting to report here, so let's move on.
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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.