MicroStar International is breaking new ground when it comes to its motherboards. MSI is helping lead the yet-to-launch Nehalem desktop processor that uses the Bloomfield core. Today we spend some time with the Eclipse X58-based motherboard for Core i7 CPUs.

Introduction

If you are looking forward to upcoming motherboards for the Intel Nehalem desktop processors that will carry the “Intel® Core™ i7 processor” branding, you are not alone. HardOCP was fortunate enough to get our hands on MicroStar’s new “Eclipse” motherboard that uses the Intel X58 chipset that supports triple channel DDR3.

Join us below for the unboxing of the Eclipse and what new features it is sporting. Is MSI getting positioned to once again be a driving force in the enthusiast motherboard market? Things are looking up for MSI assuredly.

Since the release of Intel’s P55 platform, a seemingly endless number of motherboards have been popping up, ranging from under $100 for basic entry-level boards to close to $300 for feature-packed overclocking powerhouses. MSI’s top end 1156 motherboard, right around the middle of the P55 price range, is the P55-GD80. With all of the features and overclocking options, I was very excited when MSI sent me this board for testing.

 

 

From MSI P55-GD80 review P.2

 

DhryStone CPU test

"As the Top of the Line model in MSI's LGA1156 roster, the P55-GD80 has been designed to surpass the best that the competition has to offer, and it's got one heck of specs list. It supports all current Lynnfield LGA1156 processors, has an advanced DrMOS 8+2 phase power design, four DDR3 memory slots with frequency support up to DDR3-2133 (O.C), three mechanical PCI-E x16 slots, CrossFire and SLI support, dual Gigabit LAN ports and a host of other features."

 

Back in July we reviewed our very first MSI motherboard, the 790FX-GD70, and we were quite impressed with it. That motherboard represented a new direction for MSI. No more gaudy bright red PCB, pink memory slots, or acid-trip inspired chipset coolers (*cough* P45 Platinum). Instead we had a conservative black & blue theme, a low-key but capable cooling system, terrific features, and solid overclocking capabilities. MSI had finally figured how to tug at our enthusiast heart strings.

Thankfully, that same philosophy applies to the motherboard that we are reviewing today, except they have kicked things up a few notches. As the Top of the Line model in MSI's LGA1156 roster, the P55-GD80 has been designed to surpass the best that the competition has to offer, and it's got one heck of specs list. It supports all current Lynnfield LGA1156 processors, has an advanced DrMOS 8+2 phase power design, four DDR3 memory slots with frequency support up to DDR3-2133 (O.C), three mechanical PCI-E x16 slots, CrossFire and SLI support, dual Gigabit LAN ports and a host of other features. It also comes with MSI's new OC Genie real-time overclocking processor with accompanying OC Genie & DirectOC buttons and even touch-sensitive onboard power/reset switches. For that bit of added "bling" MSI uses phase LEDs for every major component, a post code debug display and quite a bit more. Our Canuck readers will also be glad to know that all Canadian RMAs are processed through MSI's facility in Ontario, which should mean quick replacements and no customs worries.

Even though the P55 lineup was only brought into the limelight a few short months ago, manufacturers have been extremely quick to jump onto the bandwagon and release full board lineups. Even though the P55-GD80 represents the pinnacle of their current offerings, MSI has priced this board extremely well considering the current market climate. It caters to enthusiasts with a bucket load of features and some great overclocking potential but retails for far under that of Gigabyte's flagship P55-UD6 or ASUS' own P7P55D Premium and Maximus III. Indeed, its primary competition is the ASUS P7P55D Deluxe and the Gigabyte P55-UD5 which are in the same price bracket and offer similar features.

Now it's time to see whether the P55-GD80 lives up to its promise, and surprise us the way the 790FX-GD70 did. Let's find out!

From MSI P55-GD80 LGA1156 Motherboard Review‏

BIOS Rundown

Don't be fooled by the "1985-2005", this appears to be an American Megatrends v02.62-based BIOS, which is circa 2008-2009. Now manufacturers can tweak much of the BIOS to give it their own personalized option-rich, user-friendly feel, so let's see what MSI have done with the P55-GD80. This particular BIOS is V1.4, the latest one available at the time this article was published.

From MSI P55-GD80 LGA1156 Motherboard Review‏ Part. 2

System Benchmarks

SuperPi Mod v1.5

When running the SuperPI 32MB benchmark, we are calculating Pi to 32 million digits and timing the process. Obviously more CPU power helps in this intense calculation, but the memory sub-system also plays an important role, as does the operating system. We are running one instance of SuperPi via the HyperPi 0.99b interface. This is therefore a single-thread workload.