![[H]ardOCP](/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
- Date:
- Tuesday , July 27, 2010
- Author:
- Morry Teitelman
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
- Share:
MSI 890FXA-GD70 Motherboard Review
MSI's newest offering supporting AMD's line of processors comes in the form of the 890FXA-GD70. This board could potentially be a P55 killer, with its balance of features and performance prowess. How does it do in the HardOCP gauntlet and better yet, how well does it overclock?
Introduction
MSI is among the top computer component manufacturers in the world, with their dedication to delivering the fastest solutions on the planet well known in enthusiasts circles. MSI seems to cater to computer enthusiasts more than most other manufactures, with their performance driven designs and innovative technological approaches second to none. The company continuously pushes the envelope of performance, melding high grade components and design prowess in order to deliver on the performance promises with which they are known. Their latest motherboard definitely exemplifies this trend, melding top notch features and super grade components in order to take the AMD platform to the next level.
The MSI 890FXA-GD70 motherboard integrates the AMD 890FX Northbridge and AMD SB850 Southbridge chipsets in to its design, offering support for the following: AMD Socket AM3 processors including the newest Phenom II X6 line, DDR3 memory operating in Dual Channel mode up to 1333MHz officially, and up to 4 way ATI CrossFireX graphics mode using matching video cards. MSI designed the 890FXA-GF70 to include the following integrated devices: 6 SATA 6G ports (RAID 0, 1, 0+1 and 5 capable) on the AMD SB850 controller; 1 SATA II port, 1 eSATA port, and an ATA-133 IDE port on the JMicron JMB363 controller; 11 USB 2.0 capable ports (5 in rear panel, and 3 onboard headers supporting 2 ports each); 1 hybrid USB 2.0 / eSATA port in the rear panel; 2 hybrid USB 3.0/2.0 capable ports in rear panel; 2 IEEE 1394 capable ports (2 onboard headers supporting 1 port each); 2 Realtek GigE Ethernet ports in the rear panel; Realtek 8-channel HD audio codec with integrated S/PDIF optical and RCA component output ports; and PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports in the rear panel.
Main Specifications Overview:
Detailed Mainboard Specification List:
Packaging
MSI kept the 890FXA-GD70's box art simple, with the board name and supported technologies clearly shown on the box front over a white and fiery orange background. MSI bundled the following accessories in with the board: IDE and SATA drive cables; dual ended SATA power cables; the rear panel shield; an ATI CrossFireX connector; a rear panel bracket with USB 2.0 ports; M-connector extension plugs for the USB, IEEE 1394, front panel audio, and front panel headers; and the normal complement of manuals and drivers discs. The M-connector header extension plugs allow for an easy interface for connecting in to the motherboard headers. You simply plug in the appropriate connector cables in to the header block, and then plug the block in to the appropriate motherboard header. It makes for a much easier install in those typically hard to reach header areas.
Board Layout
MSI did an overall good job with the layout and design of the 890FXA-GD40, with no real tight spots to speak off. The only spot where you may run in to problems is in using the onboard JMicron controlled SATA 2 port with 2 or more video cards seated. With that port being oriented vertically rather than horizontally, you might have to do some creative routing with the cable to keep it seated and out of the way. While there was no clearly marked serial number on the board that I could find, the board revision is silk-screened to the surface in between the PCI slot and PCI-Express x16 slot 5. The board used in tested was a version 1.1 model. For the power circuitry on the 890FXA-GD70, MSI went above and beyond by combining high quality polymer solid-electrolyte capacitors with military class highly conductive polymerized capacitors (Hi-c CAP's) and ferrite core chokes for cleaner and cooler running power even under the most demanding circumstances.
The CPU socket area is completely free of obstructions, with all the power circuitry situated above the socket itself. In addition, MSI chose to place the Northbridge chipset above the CPU socket freeing up even more space then with power circuitry placement alone. The cooler is held in place by the traditional AM3 4 hole based mounting kit. The AMD 890FX Northbridge chipset is located to the upper left of the socket, with it and the power circuits covered by a massive heat sink that also acts as a termination point for the heat pipe cooler. The 8-pin ATX12V power connector and SYSFAN1 header are tucked away to the upper right of the Northbridge cooler, while the CPUFAN header is to the lower right of the CPU socket.
The 4 DDR3 DIMM slots are located directly below the CPU socket, arranged in a bi-colored 4-by-1 bank. The black colored slots are the primary memory sockets, with Dual Channel memory mode activated by placing matched DIMMs in same colored slots. Notice that MSI chose to include locking snap connectors on the right end of the memory slots only, making for easy placement and removal of the system memory with a full sized video card installed in the primary PCI-Express x16 slot. The JSMB1 header, which is used to connect to the external Green Power Genie device, as well as the 24-pin ATX power connector are located to the lower left of the memory bank.
The AMD SB850 Southbridge chipset is hidden under a large but low profile heat sink located under PCI-Express x16 slots 2-4. The CMOS battery is directly to the left of the chipset, while the onboard SATA 2 and SATA 6G ports, the ATA-133 IDE port, and the SYSFAN2 and SYSFAN3 header are located below it. Note that the AMD SB850 controlled SATA 6G ports are the white colored ports, while the JMicron controlled SATA 2 port is blue colored. The front panel and trusted module port headers are located to the left of the CMOS battery, with the touch sensitive onboard power, reset, OC Drive dial, OC Gear, and green power buttons along the lower left side of the board. The OC Drive dial is activate by enabling the OC Gear button and allows for real time tuning of the FSB by turning the dial clockwise or counterclockwise. The tuning interval is configurable via settings in the BIOS. The chassis intrusion header, 2-digit diagnostic display and serial port header are located to the upper left of the chipset, with the onboard USB headers and CMOS reset jumper directly to the left along the board's edge. Note that the header label JSP11 to the lower right of the diagnostic display is an internal MSI device header used for BIOS manipulation and flashing.
MSI built the 890FXA-GD70 with a total of 7 card slots: 5 PCI-Express x16 style slots, 1 PCI-Express x1 slot, and 1 PCI slot. The onboard USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 headers are located along the outer edge of PCI-Express x16 slot 5. Just above the same PCI-Express x16 slot are the S/PDIF output (JSP1), front panel audio, and SYSFAN4 headers.
The 890FXA-D70's rear panel is packed with the following device ports: PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports; 5 dedicated USB 2.0 ports; 1 hybrid eSATA / USB 2.0 port; 2 hybrid USB 3.0 / 2.0 ports (blue colored ports); CMOS reset button; 2 Realtek GigE Ethernet ports; and 6 analogue and S/PDIF optical and RCA component output ports.