Mainstreaming SLI
When we last reviewed the ASUS P5N-T Deluxe, we took a look at NVIDIA's newest high-end nForce 780i SLI chipset. In this review, we'll continue covering the nForce 7-series, but our focus this time is the mainstream nForce 750i SLI instead. The following block diagram shows the chipset connectivity and features of the nForce 750i SLI.
NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI chipset block diagram. Source: NVIDIA
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Like its bigger brother, the nForce 750i SLI is really a refresh for the nForce 650i SLI chipset with PCI Express 2.0 compatibility. Like the nForce 780i SLI, the nForce 750i SLI also uses the same nForce 200 chip to provide PCI Express 2.0 features. However, NVIDIA has crippled the chip to only provide 24 PCIe 2.0 lanes in x16/x8 SLI configuration, instead of the full 32-lanes capable of the chip. All other features of the nForce 750i SLI remain similar as the nForce 650i SLI, including the use of the aging (legacy) nForce 430 MCP. NVIDIA's new ESA architecture is also not supported here.
The MSI P7N SLI Platinum motherboard.
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Still, MSI has managed to whip up and interesting product for the mainstream segment using the nForce 750i SLI that will be of interest to those looking a PCIe 2.0 SLI fix without blowing too much money away.
The following lists the peripheral bundle that comes with the MSI P7N SLI Platinum and its technical specifications:-
- 4 x SATA data cables
- 2 x SATA power converter cables
- 1 x 80-conductor Ultra ATA data cable
- 1 x floppy drive data cable
- Connector bracket (2 x USB 2.0, 1 x FireWire)
- SLI bridge
- MSI M-Connector kit
- I/O shield
- Driver CDs
- User's guide
MSI P7N SLI Platinum Technical Specifications
| CPU
Support |
- Supports Intel
Core 2 Quad / Core 2 Duo / Core 2 Extreme
- Supports
Intel Pentium
D / Pentium Processor Extreme Edition
- Supports
Intel Pentium 4 / Pentium 4 Extreme Edition
- Supports
1333MHz FSB and processors
|
| Chipset/PCI Express |
- NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI (SPP)
- 400 -
1333MHz front side bus
- 18
PCI Express lanes
- One
link at x16 tweaked as chipset interconnect
- Two
PCIe x1 lanes
- NVIDIA nForce 200
|
| Memory |
- NVIDIA
DualDDR2
architecture
- 4 x 240-pin DIMM
sockets support max. 8GB DDR2-800
- NVIDIA QuickSync
- Fourth
Generation DASP
|
| Storage |
- NVIDIA nForce 430 (MCP)
- 2
x Ultra ATA 33/66/100/133 (data transfer rate up to 133MB/sec.)
- 4 x
SATA 3.0Gbps interface
- NVIDIA
MediaShield Technology
- Supports
RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5
- JMicron JMB363
- 2 x SATA 3.0Gbps interface
|
| Audio |
- Realtek ALC888 8-channel HD Audio CODEC
- Optical S/PDIF
|
| Networking |
- NVIDIA Gigabit LAN co-supported by Realtek RTL8211BL
PHY chip
|
| IEEE 1394 (FireWire) |
- VIA
VT6308P FireWire controller
- 2 x 1394a
ports
@ 400 Mbps speed
|
| I/O
Interface |
- 1 x Floppy
connector
- 1 x Ultra ATA IDE connector
- 4 x SATA connectors
- 2 x
eSATA connector
- 8 x USB
2.0 ports (4 x rear, 4 x header)
- 2 x
FireWire-400 ports (1 x rear, 1 x header)
- 1 x
RJ45 LAN port
- Optical S/PDIF port
- 8-Channel Audio I/O ports
- 1
x 9-pin serial port (header)
- 1
x mini-DIN-6 PS/2
mouse port
- 1 x mini-DIN-6 PS/2 keyboard port
|
| Expansion
Slots |
- 1 x PCIe
x16 slot,
PCI Express Bus specification v2.0
compliant
- 2 x PCIe
x8 slots,
PCI Express Bus specification v2.0
compliant
- 2 x 32-bit PCI slots,
PCI 2.3 compliant
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| Special Features |
- MSI Dual CoreCell
- Dual Core Center
- Live Update 3
|
| PCB |
- ATX Form
Factor, 12"x
9.6"(30.5cm x 24.4cm)
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Connectivity options on the rear I/O panel include PS/2 keyboard and mouse, FireWire-400, Optical S/PDIF, two eSATA, four USB 2.0, one Gigabit LAN and analog surround audio ports. There is a CMOS reset button in there too betwen the eSATA and USB ports.
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Channels
TECH GUIDES
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