Tom's Socket AM2 Motherboard Summer Slam

By Don Woligroski
published

Feature Table

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ManufacturerAsusAsusBiostarFoxconn
Internet Websitewww.asus.comwww.asus.comwww.biostar.com.twwww.foxconnchannel.com
ModelM2N32-SLI DeluxeCrosshairTforce 590 SLI DeluxeC51XEM2AA-8EKRS2H
Price in US-$200240195$190
Revision1.021.041.0Row 3 - Cell 4
BIOS Version060312105/12/2006612W1P23
Chipset
CPU Clock2813281328132813
NorthbridgeNvidia nForce 590 SPPNvidia nForce 590 SPPNvidia nForce 590 SPPNvidia nForce 590 SPP
SouthbridgeNvidia nForce 590 MCPNvidia nForce 590 MCPNvidia nForce 590 MCPNvidia nForce 590 MCP
Memory
Memory Sockets4444
Maximum RAM8 GB8 GB8 GB8 GB
System Components
Piezo PC Speaker----
PCIe Card Lockyesyesyesyes
Northbridge Fanoptionaloptionalyesyes
FAN HeadersCPU, System (x6)CPU, System (x6)CPU, System (x2)CPU, System (x1)
I/O Components
Mass Storage ControllernForce 590 MCPnForce 590 MCPnForce 590 MCPnForce 590 MCP
Storage Ports6x SATA/300, 1x UltraATA/1336x SATA/300, 1x UltraATA/1336x SATA/300, 1x UltraATA/1336x SATA/300, 1x UltraATA/133
RAID Support0, 1, 0+1, 50, 1, 0+1, 50, 1, 0+1, 50, 1, 0+1, 5
Secondary Mass Storage ControllerSilicon Image SiL3132Silicon Image SiL3132--
Secondary Storage Ports2x SATA/3002x SATA/300--
RAID Support0, 10, 1--
Primary Network ControllernForce5 GbEnForce5 GbEnForce5 GbEnForce5 GbE
Secondary Network ControllernForce5 GbEnForce5 GbEnForce5 GbEnForce5 GbE
Parallel / Serial1 (connector)/ 1- / -1 / 1- / 1 (connector)
USB Ports (integrated / additional)4 / 64 / 66 / 46 / 4
Firewire (integrated / additional)1 / 11 / 11 / 11 / 2
Game Port----
IR Connector----
Expansion Components
PCI Slots3x 32 Bit3x 32 Bit2x 32 Bit2x 32 Bit
PCI Expressx16, x16, x4x16, x16, x4x16, x16, x4, x1x16, x16, x4, x1
Features
Temperature Monitoringyesyesyesyes
Fan Monitoringyesyesyesyes
Smart/Manual Fan Controlyes / noyes / yesyes / yesyes / yes
Voltage Monitoringyesyesyesyes
Power-Up on...PS/2, PCI PME, RTC, external ModemsPS/2, PCI PME, RTCPCI PME, WOR, RTCWOL, WOR, RTC
Power-Up after Power Lossyesyesyes-
On-Board Audio
TypeHigh Definition AudioHigh Definition AudioHigh Definition AudioHigh Definition Audio
ChipSoundMAX ADI AD1988BSoundMAX ADI AD1988BRealtek ALC882Realtek ALC882
Surround Support7.1 Channels7.1 Channels7.1 Channels7.1 Channels
Jackets6x Jacks, SPDIF coax & optical out6x Jacks, SPDIF coax & optical out6x Jacks, SPDIF coax & optical out5x Jacks, SPDIF optical out
Connectors5x2 pin Front Audio, CD-in, SPDIF out5x2 pin Front Audio, CD-in, SPDIF out5x2 pin Front Audio, CD-in, SPDIF in & out5x2 pin Front Audio, CD-in, SPDIF in & out
BIOS Details
TypePhoenixPhoenixPhoenixAward
Version / Date0603012105/12/2006612W1P23 / 05/12/2006
Configuration
FSB Frequency Range / increments200-425 MHz200-400 MHz100-500 MHz; increments 2 MHz100-500 MHz; increments 2 MHz
Memory Frequencies400, 533, 667, 800400, 533, 667, 800400, 533, 667, 800400, 533, 667, 800
PCIe Clock100-200 MHz; increments 1 MHz100-200 MHz; increments 1 MHz100-200 MHz; increments 1 MHz100-200 MHz; increments 1 MHz
CPU Voltage0.8V-1.5625V; increments 0.0125V0.85V-1.85V; increments 0.0125V0.85V-2.0V; increments 0.025V0.375V-1.85V; increments 0.025V
Memory Voltage1.8V-2.5V; increments 0.025V1.85V-3.425V; increments 0.025V1.95V-2.1V; increments 0.05V1.825V-2.5V; increments 0.025V
Chipset Voltage-1.2V-1.575V; increments 0.025V1.55V-1.7V; increments 0.05V1.25V-1.4V; increments 0.05V
Add-Ons
Cables1x PATA , 6x SATA, 3x dual SATA Power, 1x Floppy1x PATA , 6x SATA, 3x dual SATA Power, 1x Floppy1x PATA , 4x SATA, 4x SATA Power, 1x Floppy1x PATA , 6x SATA, 3x dual SATA Power, 1x Floppy
Additional Add-OnsBracket with 2x USB; Bracket with 1x 1394a; Bracket with 2x eSATA and 1x Power; 1x WLAN Antenna; 1x Microphone, Chipset FanBracket with 2x USB; Bracket with 1x 1394a; 1x Microphone, Chipset FanBracket with SPDIF Out optical & coaxBracket with 4x USB; Bracket with 1x 1394a; 1x Com-Port
Row 60 - Cell 0
ManufacturerGigabyteMSIEpoxMSI
Internet Websitewww.gigabyte.com.twwww.msi.com.twwww.epox.com.twwww.msi.com.tw
ModelM59SLI-S5K9N SLI PlatinumMF570 SLIK9A Platinum
Price in US-$190130140-
Revision0.21.01.01.0
BIOS VersionF408001406.08.01V1.0B8
Chipset
CPU Clock2813281328132814
NorthbridgeNvidia nForce 590 SPPNvidia nForce 570 SPPNvidia nForce 570 SPPATI CrossFire Xpress 3200
SouthbridgeNvidia nForce 590 MCPNvidia nForce 570 MCPNvidia nForce 570 MCPATI SB600
Memory
Memory Sockets4444
Maximum RAM8 GB8 GB8 GB8 GB
System Components
Piezo PC Speaker----
PCIe Card Lockyes-yes-
Northbridge Fan--yes-
FAN HeadersCPU, System (x2)CPU, System (x2)CPU, System (x3)CPU, System (x2)
I/O Components
Mass Storage ControllernForce 590 MCPnForce 570 MCPnForce 570 MCPATI SB600
Storage Ports6x SATA/300, 1x UltraATA/1336x SATA/300, 1x UltraATA/1336x SATA/300, 1x UltraATA/1334x SATA/300, 1x UltraATA/133
RAID Support0, 1, 0+1, 50, 1, 0+1, 50, 1, 0+1, 50, 1, 0+1
Secondary Mass Storage Controller--JMicro JMB363-
Secondary Storage Ports--2x SATA/300, 1x UltraATA/133-
RAID Support--0, 1-
Primary Network ControllernForce5 GbEVitesse VSC8601 GbeMarvell 88E1116 GbeRealtek 8111B PCIe Gbe
Secondary Network ControllernForce5 GbEVitesse VSC8601 GbeMarvell 88E1116 GbeRealtek 8110S PCI Gbe
Parallel / Serial1 / 11 / 11 (connector) / 1 (connector)1 / 1
USB Ports (integrated / additional)4 / 64 / 64 / 64 / 6
Firewire (integrated / additional)1 / 21 / 1-1 / 1
Game Port----
IR Connector-yes-yes
Expansion Components
PCI Slots2x 32 Bit3x 32 Bit3x 32 Bit2x 32 Bit
PCI Expressx16, x16, x16(x8), x1, x1x16, x16, x1, x1x16, x16(x8), x1, x1x16, x16, x1, x1
Features
Temperature Monitoringyesyesyesyes
Fan Monitoringyesyesyesyes
Smart/Manual Fan Controlyes / noyes / noyes / yesyes / no
Voltage Monitoringyesyesyesyes
Power-Up on...PME , WOR, RTCPCI/PCIe PME , WOL, WOR, RTCPCI PME, RTCPCI/PCIe PME, RTC
Power-Up after Power Lossyesyesyesyes
On-Board Audio
TypeHigh Definition AudioHigh Definition AudioHigh Definition AudioHigh Definition Audio
ChipRealtek ALC888DDRealtek ALC883Realtek ALC883Realtek ALC883
Surround Support7.1 Channels7.1 Channels7.1 Channels7.1 Channels
Jackets6x Jacks, SPDIF optical out5x Jacks, SPDIF optical & coax out5x Jacks, SPDIF coax & optical out5x Jacks, SPDIF coax & optical out
Connectors5x2 pin Front Audio, CD-in, SPDIF in & out5x2 pin Front Audio, CD-in5x2 pin Front Audio, CD-in5x2 pin Front Audio, CD-in
BIOS Details
TypeAwardAMIAwardAMI
Version / DateF4 / 07/18/2006080014 / 04/20/200606.08.01 / 08/01/2006V1.0B8 / 08/05/2006
Configuration
FSB Frequency Range / increments100-500 MHz; increments 2 MHz100-425 MHz; increments 1 MHz200-450 MHz; increments 1 MHz200-400 MHz; increments 1 MHz
Memory Frequencies400, 533, 667, 800400, 533, 667, 800400, 533, 667, 800400, 533, 667, 800
PCIe Clock100-200 MHz; increments 1 MHz100-145 MHz; increments 1 MHz100-145 MHz; increments 1 MHz100-200 MHz; increments 1 MHz
CPU Voltage0.8V-1.55V; increments 0.025V+0.05V-+0.35V; increments 0.05V-0,2V - +0.15V; 0,025V0.8V-1.45V; increments 0.025V
Memory Voltage+0.1V-+0.7V; increments 0.1V1.8V-2.45V; increments 0.1V1.8V-2.5V; increments 0.1V1.8V-2.3V; increments 0.05V
Chipset Voltage+0.1V-+0.3V; increments 0.1V-1.5V-1.8V; increments 0.1V1.8V-2.15V; increments 0.05V
Add-Ons
Cablesboard only1x PATA , 4x SATA, 4x SATA Power, 1x Floppy2x PATA , 2x SATA, 2x SATA Power, 1x Floppy1x PATA , 4x SATA, 2x SATA Power, 1x Floppy
Additional Add-Onsboard onlyBracket with 2x USB; Bracket with 2x 1394aRow 121 - Cell 3 Bracket with 2x USB; Bracket with 1x 1394a

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Don Woligroski
2 Comments Comment from the forums
  • autorotation
    ive had a headache with this board =/ didnt do my homework and bought a phenom x4 9600 and then found out its not compatible with this board =/ i also bought a evga geforce gts 250 512 mb card and it wont post on this board and i get no display, im assuming its just not compatible because i posted it on another board with a psu that was weaker than mine and it had a display. if anyone can shed light on my situation with this video card not posting on this board, would be great. as far as recommending this board, im not even sure its still in production, but i would not reccomend it. spend the extra cash and get a board that can handle a quad core and a modern gfx card. also the cpu fan mounting bracket had one of the tabs break off on me, so i had to get a new psu fan mount, so that gives you an idea of what high quality this board is anyways =/ plus i think i heard that epox went out of business.....
    Reply
  • I bought two of these boards and both ended up with the same problem of a read-out of 4 red lights saying the processor is bad!Wrong!They are both fine and this is the worst board I have ever had!I will not be buying any more of MSI boards again!Still not sure what the problem is,but these are going straight to the trash!!!!
    Reply