14 DAY TRIAL // MSI just announced the launch of a new mainboard aimed at high performance desktop computer systems that are compatible with the latest Advanced Micro Devices line of products. As the new line of dual and quad core central processing units from Advanced Micro Devices is due to hit the market soon, MSI prepares its own line of compatible mainboards and the flagship of this new generation is the K9A2 Platinum motherboard.
This new MSI product is designed to offer the full power of the Phenom class of processing units as the ''K9A2 Platinum is the best Multi CrossFire and Quad Core solution on AMD platform'', according to Vincent Lai, the MSI worldwide marketing director, who was cited by the news site ocworkbench.
The MSI K9A2 Platinum is built around the latest AMD desktop high performance chipset, the 790FX and so it offers native support for the new generation of socket AM2+ processors while also supporting dual channel random memory configurations and the fast HyperTransport 3.0 system bus that offers great internal bandwidth. Apart from the AMD technologies, the new MSI mainboard comes with a number of innovations of its own, like the Dual CoreCell that is controlled via the software application Dual CoreCenter and the new Circu-Pipe passive cooling solution that allows low operating temperatures as well as a complete silent running.
Two new AMD technologies are implemented, fully supported by this new product and they are aimed at providing a whole new level of performance. First, the quad core internal hardware makeup of the new AMD processing units will considerably increase the computing power of the desktop systems, while on the other hand the integrated support for quad CrossFire setups will deliver unparalleled graphics in games and other applications.
On the hardware side, the MSI K9A2 Platinum motherboard comes built around the AMD 790FX chipset so it supports both AM2 and AM2+ processors like Phenoms, Athlons and Semprons. Two full speed, full lane PCI Express x16 ports are offered for a simple CrossFire setup, while the additional two extra x16 ports can be used for a quad setup that would result in a x8 x8 x8 x8 graphics configuration.
Four dual channel enabled random access memory slots are also provided and they are able to house DDR2 memory modules that run at clock speeds between 533Mhz and 1066Mhz, while supporting a maximum amount of 8GB of memory. For fast networking a wired 10/100/1000 compatible port is also available as well as the 7.1 channel surround audio chip. On the storage side, the new mainboard comes with no less than six Serial ATA II connectors that support RAID setups and for extended connectivity two FireWire ports as well as ten high speed USB 2.0 ports are provided as well.