MSI P55-GD80 Pictured

[btarunr]

MSI's lineup of LGA-1156 motherboards has a new high-end entry in the making, apart from a seeming higher-end G9P55-DC which was recently pictured. The P55-GD80 fills the lineup, perhaps a notch below it, and the other MSI LGA-1156 motherboards that lack an NVIDIA nForce 200 chip and 3-way SLI support. The P55-GD80 was pictured in all its glory (read: release grade chipset cooling), sourced by SAV-Computer. The picture reveals a PCB layout very similar to the G9P55-DC, with differences in the CPU power circuit, overclocker-friendly features, and the storage connectivity.

The board uses a 10-phase CPU power circuit with standard solid-state capacitors, compared to the 11-phase circuit with flat-bed ML capacitors on the G9P55-DC. This board surprisingly has more overclocker-friendly features, such as on-board controls for clock-speeds, clear-CMOS, OC-Genie, a DIP switch to control voltages, and voltage-sensing points that make measuring voltages convenient. Apart from the Intel P55 PCH, it uses an NVIDIA nForce 200 bridge chip that broadcasts 16 PCI-Express lanes (from the processor root complex) to 32 lanes on the PCI-E x16 slots. Apart from the six SATA II ports the PCH provides, an additional controller provides two internal and one external SATA ports, and one IDE connector. Two gigabit Ethernet connections, 8-channel audio, Firewire, and around 13 USB ports make for the rest of the package. The board supports Intel Lynnfield and Clarkdale processors.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[btarunr]

Many Thanks to Assassin48 for sending this in.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I wonder what the vcheck points are for next to the 24pin power connector?

 

[btarunr]

I wonder what the vcheck points are for next to the 24pin power connector?

Like I mentioned:

and voltage-sensing points that make measuring voltages convenient.

You can connect your multimeter right there in one place to measure voltages, instead of looking for them in different parts of the board.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Nice idea.

 

[Mussels]

looks like a nice board too, the slot layout actually makes sense.

 

[Kitkat]

hopefully this will be another win for them cause besides that amd board lol i dont see anything id by intel or amd from them. My first mobos were MSI. I wish msi would go back to being "red" and everything that came with it. Board looks good clean tho. oc genie...

(winki winki ! sorry i had to)

 

[Duncan1]

wow, nice board layout and great colours too!If priced right, it should be a great seller for MSI.

 

[Weer]

looks like a nice board too, the slot layout actually makes sense.

That's the same layout they had on the eVGA 680i SLi.

 

[ShadowFold]

I thought the P55 didn't have a northbridge?..

 

[btarunr]

I thought the P55 didn't have a northbridge?..

It's cooling either nForce 200 or nothing. The board diagram excludes anything under the top heatsink, though it has an nF 200. Motherboard vendors are silent on this.

The "northbridge" is on the processor's package.

 

[Cold Storm]

I do like the layout of that board.. Can't wait for the i5 set ups to come pouring out and onto TPU!

 

[werez]

The latest MSI boards sure look sexy . But i have a problem... i5 would aim for value right? well if a decent mobo like this one will be for budget users , i`ll kill myself . A mobo like this one will have a 150-160EUR pricepoint . An i5 CPU ( decent one ) lets say put on the market to compete with a AMD 940BE or 920 will be around 180eur in my oppinion . So where the hell is the value ? A decent i7 mb like BIOSTAR X58 IS 160 EUR , AND AN I7 920 is around 225 EUR . And you get triple channel DDR3 . More , if you want some good improvement in performance you have to buy a good cooler ( around 40EUR ) , so you can reach i7 920 performance . So you pay the same amount of cash and you get nothing special. What`s the point? where is the value? maybe they should do like nvidia and just rebrandproducts like E8000 series and cut prices if hey want the mainstream market . They cant own the x2 550 and x3 720 sector , but they dont cut prices on core 2 duo , because they don`t afford loosing . I HATE INTEL and it`s stupid moves . but who am i to judge them , many are living just to get highr scores in 3dmark and a compress a file 2 seconds faster , and for that they are willing to buy 800EUR processors . Jesus...

 

[Mussels]

interesting theory werez. you decide intel suck, based on prices you made up yourself? good work.

 

[werez]

my second post got "edited" .. im not in the mood to write all that stuff again

 

[SonDa5]

P55 chipset looks like a great reason to upgrade from LGA 775 socket CPU.

Very nice.

 

[Gzero]

I sort of agree with werez.

They stick all those features on the board, and then have the audacity to claim that it will be for budget/value/low end users.

Was the northbridge really that expensive?

Is intel setting up like this:

cheap: 775
upper range of cheap: p51/g51
mid range: p55
high range: x58

?

 

[SonDa5]

I sort of agree with werez.

They stick all those features on the board, and then have the audacity to claim that it will be for budget/value/low end users.

Was the northbridge really that expensive?

Is intel setting up like this:

cheap: 775
upper range of cheap: p51/g51
mid range: p55
high range: x58

?

I think the P45 is better than the X48. Seems like Intel is doing what they did in the past.

The 3 full PCI 2.0 16x GPU slots are very nice on the P55.

 

[werez]

Decided to rewrite my second post .

Ok , the reason i am doing this is because i wanted to demonstrate i did not make up the numbers ( motherboard price ) . Before we start i want you guys to picture this :
The mainboard manufacturers ( MSI in our case ) , dont make their components in their factories . Those components come from different manufacturers . All the SMD`s , chokes , mos-fets , integrated chipsets , resistors , capacitors , even the stupid plastic pci slots costs money . A cheap motherboard , does not have all the features , heatsinks for VRM , has less power phases , maybe a bad layout , less connectors , maybe a low-end integrated audiochipset and so on.Why? to be more cost effective , less expensive . Now i want you guys to figure something out . Look at this motherbord : MSI P55-GD80 .The design and layout look very professional right? the heatsinks look great ( high end ) . Solid state capacitors . The power phases are more than enough , connectivity ? it has all the features . You even spot oc genie knob , and onboard power and reset buttons .
NOW , look at a pic of MSI ECLIPSE SLI X58 . What do you see? exactly same high end components , but more ram slots supporting triple cannelDDR3 , and the lack of onboard audio. That is the only major difference .
The MSI ECLIPSE SLI is around 215EUR now , but had a pricepoint of 260EUR when first introduced to the market . no triple channel ddr3 , no audio card included in the bundle . Because this mainboard uses the same components , , looks sexy , has good conectivity , uses heatsinks found on other high end mobos , you are telling me this one is aimed for budget users ? MSI do not buid PC components for fun , they do it for profit . Now this board`s manufacturing cost is 30% lower ok? that means it will have a pricepoint of 170-180EUR ( decrease with 10-15% after 4-5 months ) .
Now the brand : MSI is a giant manufacturer , if you want value go for Jetway , ECS or smth .( they ue the same components btw. )
Distribution ( shipping ) costs money , and remember you are buying this one from an retailer , not from the factory . Retailers want their profit also . So i am looking at a stunning mainboard with all the features , great cooling , high end components . Are you telling me that this mobo will be for the < 120 -110 part of the market ? Put your feet on the ground for a sec. The i5 is aimed for the value sector right ? is it just me , or are more here who don`t believe in this crap? I mean lets be serious.. common...

Lynnfield 2.80GHz 95W @205 EUR ( i7 920 competitor )
Lynnfield 2.66GHz 95W @170 EUR ( AMD PH2 955 slayer "mith" )

Now the rumors say the i5 2.8 CPU will be almost at the i7 920 level ( performance wise )
and the 2.66 will aim for the AMD 955BE sector . BUT AMD made their homework and cut the prices . Now that is VALUE . paying less for more .

now for the mainstream there will be some 2core CPU`s priced at 120-130 mark , and lower end mobos at 110EUR . That`s around 240EUR for a combo . Why? because e8500 , e8400core 2 duo , are not selling anymore , and AMD took the market with the x3 720BE . You will pay the same cash for the i5`s and gain %5 performance maybe .

so let`s draw a line ...you wan`t a nice upgrade , a quad core with the MSI P55 mobo .

Lynnfield 2.80GHz @200 EUR
MSI P55-GD80 @150 EUR ( best case scenario )
Total : 360 EUR

Intel Core i7-920 @215 EUR
MSI X58 Platinum @162 EUR
Total : 377 EUR

U don`t touch the i7 920 performance , but if you want to outperform one you need decent cooling for overclocking right? So the stock cooler has to be replaced with a 40-50 EUR one .
Now you are beating the stock i7 920 , but you payed more .So i`m asking you again , where is the value ? I SEE EVERYWHERE , i5 for mainstream , value , bla bla . We have to wait and see right? Doesnt matter , the Cpu`s will be bought by people driven by curiosity , people that love to get 200 3dmarks more and arhive a file 1 sec faster .
That was my point . Intel doesnt like to cut prices , they love to gain . So all the i5 fuss will bring profit , just by replacing some cpu`s that costs the same and perform the same .
Cpu`s that don`t sell anymore , e8500 , i7 940 etc.
Omg i5 i5 ... i have to buy one , omg omg . Client happy with "new technology" , manufacturer happy with profit , and the Earth spins once more . This is not value put on the table, no improvement in technology , or performance , just stupid Intel marketing crap .
AMD cuts costs when they loose ground and intel makes promises . It`s not rocket science , Intel is loosing ground . In EU the X3 720BE and x550 are in a selling spree . I can`t remember the last time i saw someone i know buying a e8000 series CPU , even a quad from Intel . Sure they will get phased out , like the i7 940 . The i7 940 was a mistake , like the Athlon FX`s from AMD . And i see more coming ... just my point of view . If you dont agree , it`s ok...
Maybe i dont understand the meaning of "value" ..
Also i really love the timings on this campaign . Next gren GPU`s will arrive in Q4 2009 . wow what a coincidence , why not buy a i5 , to get the most out of the dx11 cards? you dont want any issues with your new graphic card do you? So why not buy a new generation CPU ? Bad thing you can`t use it in your mobo , you have to get another one . You can`t use your ddr2 sticks ,so damn buy some memory. This manipulations make me sick .
I am not an AMD fan btw . I am also sry for my bad English , but i hope you get the point .

 

[PP Mguire]

MSI's latest boards seem prime. I might pick me up an i5 rig. *gasp*

 

[phanbuey]

MSI's latest boards seem prime. I might pick me up an i5 rig. *gasp*

Ive had an MSI board for almost 1.5 years now...

for practially the whole time I have ran the NB at 1.5v - the maximum voltage (with an 80MM fan pointed at it)

Ive spilled conductive fluid on it while it was on.. (it shut off immediately)

My cats decided to wrestle on it while i was doing a rebuild...

And one of my back-plates short-circuited the MB and melted a quarter-sized area of the PCB around a choke before I ripped out the power... smelled like death.

That board is still the one in my rig, still massively OC'd, with dried coolant droplets on the copper heatsink and a slightly melted PCB on the bottom... the thing absolutely refuses to die. I think just for fun one day I will take it out of my rig, bounce it off the ceiling a few times, and put it back knowing that it will post. It reminds me of Boris the Blade from Lock Stock.

I think i'll be going MSI for my next build.

 

[Kitkat]

interesting theory werez. you decide intel suck, based on prices you made up yourself? good work.

rahahahahaha

Ive had an MSI board for almost 1.5 years now...

for practially the whole time I have ran the NB at 1.5v - the maximum voltage (with an 80MM fan pointed at it)

Ive spilled conductive fluid on it while it was on.. (it shut off immediately)

My cats decided to wrestle on it while i was doing a rebuild...

And one of my back-plates short-circuited the MB and melted a quarter-sized area of the PCB around a choke before I ripped out the power... smelled like death.

That board is still the one in my rig, still massively OC'd, with dried coolant droplets on the copper heatsink and a slightly melted PCB on the bottom... the thing absolutely refuses to die. I think just for fun one day I will take it out of my rig, bounce it off the ceiling a few times, and put it back knowing that it will post. It reminds me of Boris the Blade from Lock Stock.

I think i'll be going MSI for my next build.

always underclock your cats with 3rd party catnip. Cant stress this enough.

 

[phanbuey]

rahahahahaha



always underclock your cats with 3rd party catnip. Cant stress this enough.

I can't imagine catnip being conducive to underclocking the cats.

 

[werez]

looks like i was right ... "Lynnfield 2.80GHz @200 EUR" ( release price will be 282$ = 201EUR early September )
So my ass pulls out good numbers . Do a little research ...

 

[btarunr]

With PC components, the prices are never direct currency conversions from USD to EUR. You probably just converted 282 USD to EUR using Google or another currency converter.

When that's not how things are priced. The US $279.99 Core i7 920 (Newegg.com) costs €235.23, which is $329.6 (HOH.de (popular German e-tailer)). Currency conversion doesn't work. Here's a list of prices for i7 920 from almost every German e-tailer: http://www.schottenland.de/preisvergleich/preise/proid_9779166/preis_INTEL+Core+i7-920+BX80601920