BIOS And Overclocking
Current BIOS provides only 500 MHz maximum bus clock (FSB2000) on a chipset that's easily expected to exceed this speed using certain processor models.
| BIOS Frequency and Voltage settings (for overclocking) | |
|---|---|
| FSB Frequency | 200-500 MHz (1 MHz) |
| Clock Multiplier Adjustment | Yes |
| DRAM Ratios | FSB clock x 1.2, 1.5, 1.6, 2.0 |
| PCIe Clock | 100-200 MHz (1 MHz) |
| CPU Vcore | Default - +0.7875 Volts (0.0125 Volts) |
| CPU FSB Voltage | 1.175-1.575 Volts (0.025 Volts) |
| Northbridge (MCH) | 1.250 -1.625 Volts (0.025 Volts) |
| Southbridge (ICH) | 1.50 - 1.70 Volts (0.10 Volts) |
| DRAM Voltage | 1.50 - 2.800 Volts (0.04 - 0.17 Volts) |
| CAS Latency Range | |
| tCAS: 5-8; tRCD: 3-8; tRP: 3-10; tRAS: 9-24 |
The P35 Diamond allowed an early-revision Core 2 Duo E6700 to reach the same 3.46 GHz limit previously seen on other high-end boards, and dropping the processor's multiplier to 6x allowed an increase to 459 MHz. The P35 Diamond set a new record for a processor that doesn't take well to high bus speeds.
Accessories
MSI shipped its board prior to developing an accessory kit, but promised an X-Fi card in addition to onboard audio. When asked why it was working so hard to keep its onboard audio solution, another part came to light:
What looks like a PCI modem is neither PCI nor a modem. The Realtek SkyTel VoIP card uses a custom connector below the motherboard's bottom PCI slot to interface the ALC888T codec, and functions as a VoIP-to-telephone switch. Users can dial directly from a standard telephone handset though the VoIP card for low-cost calling, and the second jack allows automatic switching between VoIP and a landline should your high-speed network connection fail (or your computer is turned off). Though MSI does not yet have a comprehensive list of programs compatible with its VoIP card, the company recently confirmed Skype support.
