MSI K8N Diamond review

[ChineseDemocracyGNR]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...y/msi-k8n-diamond.html

 

[TheInvincibleMustard]

That's very interesting. According to x-bit, the Diamond features 2x16 PCIe slots (which then become x8 x8) while the Platinum SLI features x16 x2 slots ...

MSI?s product range also includes an analogous mainboard called K8N SLI Platinum which is a little bit less expensive than the K8N Diamond, is based on the nForce4 Ultra and, accordingly, doesn?t support the SLI mode. So, one of the PCI Express x16 slots of the K8N SLI Platinum works as PCI Express x2 on the logical level. Otherwise the two mainboard models are identical.

Therefore, it's important to realize that there are two different versions of the Platinum going around, the regular (Ultra) and the SLI (we've covered this). However, this brings up an interesting question. Since the difference between the Platinum/SLI and Diamond are the slots (x16/x2 vs 2x16) -- according to x-bit -- can MSI call the Platinum an SLI solution since it doesn't support the x8/x8 configuration that nVidia mandates? I realize that this is a hack similar to the DFI board, but just curious about the marketing differences. Or is the Platinum/SLI a true x16/x16 board, and if it is, why the statement from X-bit about the x16/x2 situation?

EDIT -- fixing the links ... gah

 

[jabronidan89]

Looks good. I am confused though, they say the board is $300 when Newegg has the SLI board for $190 and the Ultra board is on Monarch for $150. hmmm?