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MSI RD480 Neo2 Review
[Abstract]
IntroductionIn a few short months, ATI CrossFire has turned from being vaporware to being readily available in the retail channel on all levels. From low-end to enthusiast, motherboards to grap...
[Content] PCDigitalMobileGame
Introduction
In a few short months, ATI CrossFire has turned from being vaporware to being readily available in the retail channel on all levels. From low-end to enthusiast, motherboards to graphics cards, CrossFire has become a reality after more than half a year of speculation and promises. With motherboards pouring in, we've recently reviewed many different CrossFire ready boards based on native and modified Intel chipsets. We've also seen how ATI's own Radeon Xpress 200 CrossFire would perform in a reference setting, but what about retail?
We have with us today the MSI RD480 Neo2, one of the few Radeon Xpress 200 CrossFire edition motherboards that have made it into the retail channel. The RD480 Neo2 is MSI's first AMD-based motherboard to support CrossFire multi-GPU technology, but unlike the recent market trend to release ultra-high end products first, the RD480 Neo2 is a mid-range product, which should put it well within the grasp of the average Joe.
The MSI RD480 Neo2 CrossFire motherboard. |
The MSI RD480 Neo2 motherboard comes packed with the following accessories:-
1 x SATA data cable
1 x SATA power converter cable
1 x 80-conductor Ultra ATA data cable
1 x floppy drive data cable
USB 2.0 (2 ports) and MSI D-Bracket 2
I/O shield
SATA RAID driver disk
Driver CD
Quick user's guide
MSI RD480 Neo2 Technical Specifications
| CPU Support | - Supports AMD socket939 Athlon 64 CPU
- Supports AMD socket939 Athlon 64 FX CPU
- Supports AMD Cool 'n'Quiet Technology
| | Chipset | - Northbridge: ATIRadeon Xpress 200 CrossFire (RD480)
- Bi-directional1GHz (2000MT/s) HyperTransport interfaceto processor
- Supports 1x PCIe x16 or 2x PCIe x8 graphicsinterface
- Southbridge: ULi M1573
- Intel High Definition Audio
- Supports up tofour PCI Express x1 lanes
- Supports up toseven PCI v2.3 slots
- Supports up toeight USB 2.0 ports
- Supports four SATAports (with RAID 0, 1 and 0+1capabilities)
- Dual-channel Ultra ATA-100 IDE port
| | Memory | - Dual channel memoryarchitecture integrated into processor
- Four 184-pin DDR DIMMsockets
- Supports 2.5v DDRSDRAM DIMM modules
- Supports up to 4GBusing PC1600 (DDR200), PC2100 (DDR266),PC2700 (DDR333) and PC3200 (DDR400) unbuffered DDR SDRAM DIMM
| | Storage | - ULi M1573 Southbridge
- 4 x Ultra ATA33/66/100/133 (data transfer rate up to133MB/sec.)
- 4 x SATA (SerialATA 1.5Gbps interface)
- Supports SATA RAID0,RAID 1, RAID 0+1
| | Audio | - Intel High Definition Audio (Azalia)
- Realtek ALC880 HD Audio CODEC
| | Networking | - Realtek RTL8110SB PCI Gigabit LAN
| | IEEE 1394 (FireWire) | - VIA FireII VT6306 FireWire controller
- 3 x 1394a ports @ 400 Mbps speed
| | I/O Interface | - 1 x Floppy connector
- 2 x Ultra ATAIDE connectors
- 4 x SATAconnectors
- 8 x USB 2.0ports (4 x rear, 4 x header)
- 3 x FireWire ports (1x rear, 2 x header)
- 1 x RJ45 LANport
- 8-Channel Audio I/Oports
- Optical and Coaxial S/PDIF Output
- 1 x CD-IN
- 1 x 9-pin serial port
- 1 x parallel port(header)
- 1 x mini-DIN-6 PS/2mouse port
- 1 x mini-DIN-6 PS/2keyboard port
| | Expansion Slots | - 2 x PCIe x16slots,PCI Express Bus specification v1.0acompliant
- 2 x PCIe x1slots, PCIExpress Bus specification v1.0acompliant
- 2 x 32-bitPCI slots,PCI 2.3 compliant
| | Special Features | | | PCB | - ATX Form Factor, 12"x9.6"(30.5cm x 24.4cm)
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Quite a packed rear I/O panel with S/PDIF and FireWire connectors built right in too. |
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