Thoughts on the MSI K9N Platinum for Phenom Processors (AMD 790FX)

[WarEagleAU]

So, as the title states, Id like to know ya'lls take on this motherboard, especially if you have one or know a friend or relative with one. My wife is gonna get me this for my birthday/valentines day, and Id like to be prepared for any "surprises". NOTE: Im not going the Intel route, so please dont suggest that. Thanks for the info guys and gal.

[DaMulta]

The board seems good now, but not at first with me.

1. The software on the motherboard disc does not work.
2. You will have to flash the BIOS ASAP to stop the no PS/2 mouse error when you turn it on.
4. Also there is no way to overclock the Phenom with the stock bios.
3. You need to downlowd .14 and up for AMD Overdrive before you can have temp read outs in windows.
4. Only a few ram chips have worked on DDR2 1066(you need to look around)some kind of standered and I forget what it was.

[WarEagleAU]

Hmm...alright. In case it seems too much of a headache for me, any other suggestions on a board? Or do you know if the version 2.0 is out yet?

[DaMulta]

I don't know if the 2.0 is out yet, but like I said a simple bios flash will fix the problems with this board. I had this board when it was first released.

[WarEagleAU]

Ahh ok, thanks DaMulta.

[BullGod]

Eh nevermind overclocking. Phenoms just don't do that. There seems to be a lot of boards that have problems with Phenom support. Just google it and find a board that does that straight up.

[department76]

i really like my K9A2 (v1.0, i would also recommend a bios flash asap), haven't had a single problem. at first i thought the heatpipes would get in the way but it turns out my cnps9700 clears them and the ram area fine, my vid card does touch the pipes but not enough for a problem. the board does run nice and cool though.

overclocking my X2 has also gone great, but i can't comment on overcolcking a phenom on it though..

correct me if i'm wrong, but the v2 board i saw no longer has esata ports on the back?

[WarEagleAU]

Im not sure as I never did see the v2.0 board. I read that from a newegg post on a person who gave this board a bad rating. Im sure the newer steppings of the Phenoms should oc a tad bit better. Id like to get me a 9600 + BE but Im holding off on those quads (or tri's ;) ) until the newer steppings are out. Someone on here has an 6400+ BE for sale for $120.00. I may get that in the meantime for this board. Of course, I Cant take advantage ddr1066 memory, but thats fine. It will clock down to 800 until I get ma phenom!!!! \m/

[trog100]

i swopped from an abit an52 mobo with the 6000+ just to go crossfire.. i had to both slow my cpu and memory down for stability..

i dont have a lot to say for the msi 790x board.. everything and i mean everything.. all benches 2006 or whatever did not score as high as they did with my very very entry level nforce single chip 520 board..

now whether the cheap nforce 520 single chip board goes super well or the 790x board goes poorly i dont know..

but i do know the cheap 520 chipset board performed better than the msi 790x board did.. in every respect.. and with not a heat pipe in sight..

trog

[department76]

afaik, there's a huge difference between the 790x and 790fx boards. i believe the OP is referring to the 790fx board.