MSI 845E Max2 i854E socket 478
Friday, July 26, 2002
Introduction
The aptly named 845E Max2 is the first MSI motherboard to feature the i845E chipset that we've reviewed.
As a result of its milestone birth, it has been gifted with just about every bit of functionality and connectivity its designers could think of: a 10/100Base-T controller, USB 2.0 ports, and even wireless Bluetooth communications technology..
That's not all though. The 845E Max 2 also features an integrated RAID 0+1 card, a D-LED diagnostic panel, the Fuzy Logic 4 Overclocking system, Live BIOS/Live Drivers technology, Live Monitor driver-update technology, and the PC Alert III hardware monitoring system.
In addition, the 845E Max 2 also comes with support for 533MHz FSB Pentium 4s, and ATA133 support.
Let's take a closer look, shall we?
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Hardware Characteristics of the MSI 845E Max2
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CPU
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Supports Intel PentiumŪ 4 processor in 478 pin package.
Supports 1.5 ~ 2.53GHz and up
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Chipset
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Intel 845E Chipset
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Form factor
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ATX 30.5 cm(L) x 23.0 cm(W)
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Expansion
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6 PCI - 1 CNR - 1 AGP - 6 USB 2.0
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Memory
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3X 184-pin DIMM up to 2GB DDR SDRAM PC1600 - PC2100
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FSB
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100Mhz to 233Mhz in 1 Mhz increment
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Vcore adj.
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1.5v to 1.8v in 0.025v incement
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VDDR - VAGP Vadj.
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VDDR = 2.5v, 2.6v, 2.7v, 2.8v, VAGP = 1.5v, 1.6v, 1.7v, 1.8v,
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Audio chipset
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Realtek ALC650
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Audio
The MSI 845E Max 2's audio circuitry is based around a Realtek ALC650 sound-chip. The ALC650 supports AC3, and 5.1 Surround Sound, and allows users to hook-in upto six audio channels, including a center base channel.
From a fidelity standpoint, the Realtek AL650 is quite good at what it does, and should satisfy most users.
A backplate with an SPDIF connector is also included.
Configuration
Configuration of the 845E Max2 is quite simple; there are no on-board jumpers or Dip switches to worry about, so all the real work is done from within the BIOS.
Once located in the "Frequency/Voltage Control", users have the option to alter a wide variety of memory and CPU-related settings.
It's possible, for instance, to set the FSB frequency to between 100Mhz and 233Mhz in 1Mhz increments.
The clock multiplier setting is also adjustable -- though such a feature is of little use for the wide majority of users who aren't lucky enough to own a CPU without a multiplier lock.
The Vcore, DDR, AGP, and Vio voltages are also adjustable and can be set to any of the values indicated by the table above.
Last but not least, the "Advanced Chipset Features" menu includes a few options related to memory timing values. Unfortunatly though, the memory bus frequency cannot be set to 166MHz, which means that DDR333 memory is of little use in this case, as with most of others i845E boards.
Next: Technical details
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