Is this MSI board decent? (also, comment on Gigabyte)

[seanboltman]

Just picked up a Q9450. Plan on a mild overclock.

All along I had planned on getting the Gigabyte EP35 DSL3, but I have read so much about people losing their overclock settings (and some say there is a bios fix, unsure how well the fix works), so now I am reluctant on getting a Gigabyte.

The MSI P45 Neo3-FR is available at N-Egg for $100. But there is *little* information on it. It does look good... P45 chipset, solid state capacitors, no issues fitting a HD-S1283.

So I am thinking of getting this. Thoughts?

Am I really wrong about the Gigabyte? I'd hate to get the DSL3, have a mild overclock, then have to deal with resetting the BIOS values, cold boot, etc.

My budget is small, < $120. I could spend more if there is a super compelling argument.

thanks!

 

[Gillbot]

I miss my Neo2-FR so if the Neo3-FR is anything close to it, it would be well worth $100 IMHO.

 

[Sylvanas]

Yeah that is one of the boards of choice for budget setups- Gary even recommended the Neo3 FR, great board and MSI support has been excellent in my experience.

 

[RallyMaster]

My Neo3-F comes in two days...I'm excited >.<

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
My Neo3-F comes in two days...I'm excited >.<

keep us updated!

 

[RallyMaster]

It's doing well so far. No plans to overclock so far since I'm still trying to see if my computer is stable enough. So far so good though

 

[AmberClad]

Hey -- I have your case...and your PSU . It really is a stretch to get that CPU power connector routed behind the tray, isn't it? Or at least it was in my case - not sure how the Neo3 is laid out.

 

[RallyMaster]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
Hey -- I have your case...and your PSU . It really is a stretch to get that CPU power connector routed behind the tray, isn't it? Or at least it was in my case - not sure how the Neo3 is laid out.

Nah...I didn't even route it out. I just kinda ran the thing from the bottom of the case over my memory, a bunch of my Northbridge heatpipes and then plugged the thing in.

EDIT: Oh BTW, we have the same sound card as well

 

[AmberClad]

Great minds think alike, or something . Yeah, I just took a look at the Neo3 pics at NewEgg and saw why you had to do that. There's just barely enough length on it to route it behind the tray in my case, and only because the connector is at the top of the board, where the cutout in the tray is.

I probably would have gone with the P45 Neo2, btw...except there wasn't one at NewEgg for a long time, and no one seemed to know anything when I asked about it over at the MSI forums . Guess they didn't want to cannibalize sales of the Platinum.