by Shawn Knight
Intel's Sandy Bridge platform got off to a strong start at the 2011 CES earlier this year before an issue with the P67 chipset sidelined motherboard production for several weeks. The chipset design error wasn't catastrophic by any means and likely wouldn't cause any issues for years to come, but it certainly needed to be corrected regardless. Board manufacturers worked with Intel to replace "bad" boards with those featuring the revised B3 chipset and business is pretty much back to normal at this point.
With two of our staff members now benching on Sandy Bridge platforms, you can be assured that we will continue to bring you the latest Socket 1155 motherboard reviews as new products roll off the assembly lines. That is exactly what we are doing today as we take a look at MSI's P67A-GD80 motherboard which is scheduled to hit the market next week.
The GD80 is one of two enthusiast / gaming class 1155 boards from MSI -- the other being the insanely over-the-top Big Bang Marshal with eight PCIe x16 slots. You may recall that we looked at the P67A-GD65, MSI's top-of-the-line performance board, in January and came away thoroughly impressed. The GD80 improves on the G65 with a full 12-phase DrMOS Digital VRM, three PCI-e x16 connectors, 10 USB 3.0 ports and dual Gigabit Ethernet jacks.
Let's move ahead and take a look at the complete specifications list before diving head-first into the P67A-GD80.
As mentioned earlier, the P67A-GD80 is the next step above the GD65 that we looked at a few months ago. At first glance you might not really notice much difference but when you compare the two side by side, the differences are obvious.
Both boards share MSI's blue and black color scheme which is one of my favorite. It's pretty similar to what we saw on the ASUS P8P67 EVO except that MSI uses a darker blue rather than the light powder blue that ASUS went with.
Looking at the top of the board we find two passive heatsinks connected by a heatpipe covering the MOSFETS as well as the 8-pin 12v connector. The heatsinks are very similar to the GD65, although these seem to feature more visible fins. Also different is the number of Hi-c CAP (Highly-conductive polymerized capacitor) featuring Tantalum Core found around the CPU socket. This board uses a 12-Phase DrMOS Digital VRM which is double what we saw on the GD65 that featured a 6+2 phase power design. MSI claims that Hi-c CAP last 8x longer than traditional capacitors and result in better overall cooling due to their lower profile.
Hi-c CAP is part MSI's Military Class II components that also include Super Ferrite Chokes and Solid Caps with a 10 year lifetime. SFCs feature 30% higher current capacity and 10% power efficiency improvement which should result in better overclocking power stability. The Super Ferrite Chokes were previously only available on flagship models but now MSI has implemented them on every Sandy Bridge offering. Solid Capacitors are used on other areas of the board where such stringent power efficiency isn't necessary.
Much like on the GD65, we find the Active Phase Switching LEDs lined across the top of the board. There are 12 total blue LEDs corresponding with the 12-phase power system. This feature can be disabled if you aren't into extra LED lighting.
Other features include a 4-pin CPU fan header, four memory slots supporting DDR3 1066/1333/1600/2133(OC) DRAM at a max capacity of 32GB in dual channel mode, three 3-pin fan headers, a 6-pin VGA connector, the 24-pin ATX connector and MSI's Voltage Check Point. Using the included VCP cables, you can easily measure the current CPU core / CPU IO / CPU SA / DDR / PCH voltages in real-time using a multimeter.
More just ahead.
Despite the increased power phase system on this board, there is about the same amount of room around the CPU socket for heatsink installation that we found on the GD65. This should allow you to use medium to large heatsinks, granted the heatspreaders on your memory aren't very large. I have run into this issue with every Socket 1155 board I have tested with the exception of the ASUS P8P67 EVO, which does NOT use the memory slot closest to the CPU as the default slot in two-stick dual channel configuration.
The memory I have been using lately with my Sandy Bridge reviews is the
OCZ Flex EX PC3-17000 that features very large heatspreaders. When this was combined with the
Noctua NH-D14 CPU cooler, problems arose with clearance. I was able to use the combination on the EVO review but I had to remove the outermost fan on the Noctua sink. With the GD65, this wasn't an option as the heatspreaders on the memory still didn't clear the heatsink. It looks like that will be the case here today as well so I will be using a different cooler.
As I touched on earlier, MSI has equipped this board with Driver MOSfet, or DrMOS. DrMOS is MSI's power-saving technology and with everyone now "going green", it's a good trend to get in on. With DrMOS, MSI has combined three separate chips (bottom-MOSFET, top-MOSFET and Driver IC) into one that results in more efficient power, lower temperatures and longer life.
Moving down the board we find another 3-pin fan header, three PCIe x16 slots, two PCIe x1 slots and two legacy PCI slots. Across the bottom of the board from left to right are connections for: front panel audio header, S/PDIF header, Firewire header, reset button, power button, OC Genie button, two front panel USB 3.0 headers, three front panel USB 2.0 headers and front panel I/O headers.
The OC Genie II allows for 1 second overclocking simply by pressing the button before booting your computer. MSI claims gains of up to 36% performance just by pushing a button. This, of course, is if you are using a "K" series CPU. The OC Genie button works on H67 boards as well, although it functions as a GPU booster, not a CPU + Memory booster as it does on P67 offerings.
Moving up the right side of the board we find more headers: another front panel header, MSI future control card connector, a Trusted Platform Module header, chassis intrusion header and a clear CMOS jumper. There are a couple of extra headers that are unlisted in the manual, labeled on the board as JSPI 1 and J1. A Google search reveals that JSPI 1 is used to program the BIOS by MSI; I'm not sure what J1 is used for, but it clearly isn't important to the end-user.
As was the case on the GD65, MSI uses front panel adapters for the front panel connectors rather than just labeling the pins on the board. I don't really care for this as you would have a problem should you happen to misplace the adapter. On the GD65, MSI supplied a small printed diagram near the front panel connectors. I don't see anything like that on the GD80 unfortunately.
There are six SATA connectors on the right side of the board. The two white connectors are SATA 6Gb/s while the four black connectors are 3Gb/s. The chipset cooler has been rotated on the GD80 board and is now in a vertical position.
The rear I/O panel includes the following connections, from left to right: PS/2 keyboard / mouse port, a clear CMOS button, coaxial and optical S/PDIF-out, FireWire port, two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, two eSATA ports, two LAN ports, four more USB 3.0 ports and six audio jacks (Line-in, Line-out, Mic, RS-Out, CS-out, SS-out). The back of the board is pretty uneventful, as all are. MSI sure loaded this board up with USB 3.0 ports which is a great idea to help future-proof your system.
That covers the physical features of the board. Let's move ahead and check out our test hardware.
I will be using the following hardware with this motherboard:
Intel Core i5-2500K Corsair Hydro H70 Liquid CPU Cooler OCZ Flex EX PC3-17000 2 x 4GB Sparkle GTS 250 Video Card BFG Tech MX 550W Modular PSU OCZ Vertex 2 50GB SSD NZXT Premium Cables Corsair Obsidian 800D Optical drive
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Since I am not using the large Noctua heatsink, I had zero issues installing the GD80 in my case, attaching the CPU cooler and everything else. For a board of this caliber, I would normally install a beefier graphics card or two but unfortunately the GTS 250 is the only card I have on hand at the moment so it will have to do.
Let's move ahead and check out MSI's ClickBIOS.
MSI has implemented their new ClickBIOS on the GD80 as was the case on the GD65, although the differences here come courtesy of a more mature offering. This results in a much more fluid experience when navigating menus. But other than the speed increase, everything here looks virtually identical to what we saw on the GD65, which is a good thing.
Similar to a traditional BIOS, ClickBIOS is separated into multiple categories. The first few categories are pretty self-explanatory so we won't cover those in great detail, but you can check out the screen pics above to get an idea of what each section covers.
The OC category is where enthusiasts will likely spend most of their time. Here you can adjust the CPU Base Frequency, CPU Ratio (with a "K" series CPU), various memory settings and voltages. CPU-specific features like EIST are also found here. Everything is laid out in a logical manner and there is even a CPU Frequency and Temperature bar at the top right of the screen.
At the bottom of the OC menu are four additional sub-menus: Overclocking Profile, CPU Specifications, Memory-Z and CPU Feature. Overclocking Profile allows you to store up to six individual profiles and set the number of times you want the system to try and start after a failed overclock.
CPU Specifications shows some more detailed information about the processor such as CPUID, Ratio Status and the amount of cache at each level. The CPU Technology Support sub-menu displays many of the instruction sets and other technologies supported by the processor.
Memory-Z displays RAM data such as type, bandwidth, serial number and timings. Since this board supports X.M.P. (Extreme Memory Profiles), there is a sub-menu for this as well that displays SPD information about each installed module.
The last section, CPU Feature, allows you to enable / disable various processor features, mostly related to power-saving.
The Game menu allows you to play a few games from within the BIOS, although you have to use the included DVD to install these. As I pointed out in the GD65 review, I don't suspect many enthusiasts will visit the BIOS to play a cheesy game.
The Settings menu is where you will find the majority of common BIOS options. These include system status and device settings, boot options, security features, hardware monitoring and BIOS flashing. BIOS flashing is made easy thanks to USB support. Simply load your new BIOS on a flash drive and update it using the utility.
I pointed out in the ASUS EVO review that I felt that their BIOS was a bit more advanced and fluid than the one that I reviewed on the GD65. Thankfully MSI has ironed out all of the wrinkles and the two are now very comparable. Both offer a good selection of overclocking features and run smoothly between menu changes.
Next up, let's have a look at some of MSI's software suites.
In addition to driver files, MSI bundles several software suites on the included optical disc. The software we will focus on can be found in the MSI Utility section.
Control Center II is a user-friendly software that allows you to monitor system status, overclock your system and adjust power saving features all from within Windows. As you can see from the screenshots, virtually every setting you need for overclocking can be found in Control Center.
Here we see instructions on how to activate OC Genie. Basically, shut down, push the button, turn the PC back on and instantly the CPU and memory systems are overclocked. We will put this feature to the test shortly.
Additionally you can adjust power options from the GUI. In the screenshot above, you can see the system was running on Auto phase power. MSI includes a few presets: Disable Green Power, Optimize and Max Power Saving. Optionally you can select your own CPU Phase or do so in the BIOS. Users can also individually adjust fan speeds from this menu.
Also included on the MSI software disc are programs like Audio Genie, Video Genie, Teaming Genie and Super-Charger. I won't go over those again since they were covered in detail in the GD65 review, but if you are interested, feel free to head over to that review for a detailed breakdown of each program.
Let's move ahead and check out some overclocking.
By now I assume that most everyone interested in Sandy Bridge is aware of Intel's new overclocking procedure so I won't cover that again in detail. Simply put -- if you want to overclock, you will need a K series processor that features a fully unlocked multiplier. Bus speeds are essentially locked at 100 MHz so you can really only push the multiplier when OC'ing.
Intel allows for separate adjustment in the memory frequency all the way up to 2133 MHz to accommodate increased CPU speeds when overclocking, granted your memory supports such speeds.
Booting the GD80 at stock settings with power saving features disabled, CPU-Z notes the correct 3300 MHz Core Speed with a memory speed set at 1333 MHz.
OC Genie II is my favorite "one button" overclocking feature on any board. To activate, simply shut down the system and press the OC Genie button at the bottom of the board. Turn the system on and voila, you are sitting at a fully stable 4200 MHz Core Speed. Memory speed remained at 1333 MHz with OC Genie. If you are new to overclocking but want to get the most out of your chip or simply don't want to fool with manual overclocking, this is an excellent alternative.
The next step was manual overclock done in the BIOS. On the GD65, I was only able to hit 4.5 GHz max which required a lot of voltage. The ASUS EVO board could run 4.7 GHz which is the highest yet for this processor. Using the GD80 and the Corsair H70 water kit, I was able to hit 4.8 GHz stable - very impressive. I credit the higher overclock to three things: a more mature P67 BIOS, more CPU phases and better CPU cooling. Do note that I was running the H70 with the in-line fan voltage reducers in place. Temperatures could have been a few degrees cooler if I had removed them, but I didn't want to deal with the added noise. As is, this system is very quiet and fast!
Above are the idle and load temperatures at 4.8 GHz.
And here we have power consumption, measured using a Kill-A-Watt meter. All power saving features were disabled for these and all tests here today.
Next up we run some benchmarks on the GD80.
I'm not a real big advocate of extensively benchmarking a system based on motherboard changes only as I feel they are sold based on the quality of components, features and software bundles rather than if it can score a few points higher in 3DMark. For these reasons, I have elected to only run a few programs and compare stock, OC Genie 4.2 GHz and 4.8 GHz overclocks. Below are the results obtained.
(lower is better)
(lower is better)
Final thoughts and conclusion are just ahead.
It's nice to finally see the B3 stepping P67 chipsets finding their way to market, once again making Sandy Bridge a viable platform for performance enthusiasts. I suspect most all manufacturers will be offering new B3 boards in a few weeks, if they haven't started already.
That said, the MSI GD80 that we looked at today rates at the top of my list for P67 boards that I have tested thus far. MSI has improved their ClickBIOS substantially since we first looked at it and the results are certainly noticeable. Gone is the subtle lagginess that we found in the early offering on the GD65 back in January. I could still do without the cheesy in-BIOS games, but I digress.
In addition to the much-improved BIOS, the GD80 also brings with it 12 CPU power phases which helped take our i5-2500K to a record overclock of 4.8 GHz, a full 100 MHz higher than we could get on the ASUS EVO board. This successful overclock was aided by better CPU cooling as well, so we can't fully credit the board alone.
Overclocking aside, the board looks great with its black and blue color scheme and thoughtful layout. The heatpipe-connected passive heatsinks around the CPU socket look great and should provide plenty of clearance for large CPU coolers. The fact that the memory slots sit so close to the CPU socket and you need to use the inner-most slot for two-stick dual channel configuration could limit you on the size of your heatsink, however. I've run into this problem on other boards using the massive Noctua ND-D14, but I didn't have any problems mounting the Corsair Hydro H70 on this board using large OCZ Flex memory modules.
Three PCIe x16 slots is a step above the GD65, something that gamers and hardware enthusiasts alike will appreciate. The slot layout mirrors what we found on the EVO which was very good. Unfortunately I didn't have a nice set of graphics cards on hand to test multiple configurations with but I see no reason why multiple cards wouldn't work just fine.
Regarding general layout, MSI has done an admirable job with the GD80 as they did on the GD65. The SATA connectors are color-coded and line the edge of the board for better cable management. The Voltage Check Point is also positioned along the edge of the board for easier access. The on-board power and reset buttons are a feature that I really enjoy seeing on motherboards, so props there as well. The CPU Phase LEDs add a bit of flare if you are into blue lighting. If not, you can disable this feature completely.
Those upgrading to a new Sandy Bridge system can reuse Socket 1156 heatsinks meaning this is one less item that you will have to purchase.
As was the case on the GD65, MSI did not color-code the front panel headers. Instead they rely on adapters which could become lost or misplaced. In that case, you would need to consult your manual for proper pinning as there aren't any markings on the board.
Feature-wise, MSI is quick to point out that they use Military Class components consisting of Hi-c CAPs, Solid Capacitors and Super Ferrite Chokes. Additionally, MSI uses DrMOS (Driver MOSfets) instead of traditional discrete MOSFETS. With DrMOS, MSI has combined three separate chips (bottom-MOSFET, top-MOSFET and Driver IC) into one that results in more efficient power, lower temperatures and longer life. Additionally, combining three chips reduces the total chip count on the board.
OC Genie II remains one of my favorite features on newer MSI boards. Even if you don't know the first thing about overclocking, you can get a very high and stable overclock just by pressing one button. Yes, it really is that easy. OC Genie II was able to take our i5-2500K series CPU all the way up to 4.2 GHz without thinking twice. Although this isn't the maximum overclock we were able to get manually, it's a very healthy clock for someone that is new to overclocking or doesn't want to fool with manually finding an optimal clock.
If software overclocking is your thing, Control Center II has you covered. The program features a wealth of adjustable options that allows you to overclock from within Windows.
As of writing, MSI has an MSRP of $229.99 set for the GD80 which should go on sale sometime next week. This puts the board in the middle-upper echelon compared to other P67 offerings. And of course, you will receive the new B3 stepping.
OCIA.net awards the MSI P67A-GD80 our Gold Seal of Approval based on aesthetics, general layout, BIOS maturity and overclockability!
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