11-Way P45 Motherboard Shootout

Features
By Thomas Soderstrom
published

P45 Platinum Software And Accessories

With its P45 Platinum, MSI includes its Dual Core Center overclocking utility, Live Update 3 BIOS utility, and Efenity Extras HDD Backup utility. The hard drive backup utility runs from CD, but posted a statement that the motherboard model wasn’t supported.

Dual Core Center launches with a small interface, with buttons to open advanced controls.

CPU fan speed and FSB are both adjustable on the first page of the CoreCenter advanced menu.

Image 1 of 2

CPU core, memory, and northbridge voltage are adjustable on the second page. Voltage changes worked well for us, but any attempt at overclocking under Windows Vista caused our system to lock up.

MSI GreenPower Center also provides voltage controls, but its aim is to conserve power. CPU and DRAM memory controller phases can also be reduced, since selecting fewer components allows added efficiency.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Documentation & SoftwareMotherboard Manual
Quick Installation Guide
"Quick Guide"
Backup Software Guide
Motherboard Driver CD (Windows XP)
Motherboard Driver CD (Windows Vista)
Backup Software CD
Hardware4x SATA Data Cable
1x 80-conductor Ultra ATA cable, Round
1x Floppy Cable
1x 4-pin to SATA Power Adapter
1x IEEE-1394/USB 2.0 Breakout Plate (1/2Ports)
1x Crossfire Bridge
1x Quick Connector Kit
1x I/O Panel Shield

The P45 Platinum includes an excessive amount of documentation but a rather ordinary set of hardware. Two things that stand out are the ATI CrossFire bridge and M-Connect quick connector kit.

Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
55 Comments Comment from the forums
  • nickchalk
    Where are the lower price P45 M/B ?
    Asus P5Q pro is out for €110 and P5Q deluxe for €165 the price difference is about 70$ in Greece.
    Reply
  • nihility
    51 pages... You won't be upset if I read just the last 3 pages right?
    Reply
  • Proximon
    I suppose I can get some good from having read this. Did you get paid by the word? Maybe next time you could just put together a complete features chart so that we can have some convenient comparison? You know, so someone could go to a chart and see at a glance which boards had eSATA or firewire, or 8 USB.

    Reply
  • JPForums
    I'd rather have the overabundance of information than a lack of information. Presentation could use a little refining (I.E. comparison charts and the likes), but having the relevant information available at least is a good thing.
    Reply
  • the introduction and specifics are nice, the comparision isn't. so, why don't you test with an 8500 or qx9650? 6850 are outdated... and a mobo handling a c2d doesn't mean it can handle a quad too, see P5K for example (it stinks when it comes to a q6600).
    Reply
  • Crashman
    procithe introduction and specifics are nice, the comparision isn't. so, why don't you test with an 8500 or qx9650? 6850 are outdated... and a mobo handling a c2d doesn't mean it can handle a quad too, see P5K for example (it stinks when it comes to a q6600).
    Tom's Hardware wants the performance of current articles to reflect that of recent articles, so a "standard test platform" was chosen a while ago. It will get updated, but probably not before the new socket becomes widely available.
    Reply
  • zenmaster
    I would have liked to see something such as a P35 and an X48 as controls to help analyze the P45 Performance.

    In otherwords, What is the P45 Gaining me over the older P35.
    What would I gain by going to the X48. (Or Lose)
    Reply
  • Crashman
    zenmasterI would have liked to see something such as a P35 and an X48 as controls to help analyze the P45 Performance.In otherwords, What is the P45 Gaining me over the older P35.What would I gain by going to the X48. (Or Lose)http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-p45-chipset,1961.html
    Reply
  • johnbilicki
    The first 17 pages were filled with nothing but junk from ASUS. Do us a favor: don't even bother featuring or *MENTIONING* anything for any reason from a company that refuses to RMA 200-400 dollar brand new motherboards with anything other then used and usually broken junk. It destroyed my enthusiasm for the article.
    Reply
  • dobby
    nickchalkWhere are the lower price P45 M/B ?Asus P5Q pro is out for €110 and P5Q deluxe for €165 the price difference is about 70$ in Greece.
    the p5q PRo is a p43 board, i should know i have one
    Reply