MSI place the PCI Express x16 slots two spaces apart from each other so dual-slot videocards will fit easily. If you are going to run two videocards, the MSI P6N SLI Platinum motherboard splits the 16 PCI Express lanes in two. The second PCI Express x16 slot is only used when two videocards are run in SLI mode. With just one videocard, it does not function.

The bottom right hand corner of the MSI P6N SLI Platinum contains the floppy connector along with two USB headers, a front panel I/O header and several SATA jacs. The four Serial ATA II slots support RAID. The red button Clears the CMOS. The nVIDIA nForce 650i MCP chipset is cooled with a low profile heatpipe heatsink.

MSI does things a bit differently with its memory slots. It colour coordinates the memory channels instead of the slots, so install the memory in alternating colors To the right are two IDE connectors and the main ATX power connector.

There is plenty of space around the LGA775 CPU socket for after market heatsinks or waterblocks. The copper heatsinks mounted to the motherboard cool both the chipset and MOSFETs, and these work from exhaust airflow generated by the CPU heatsink fan. A separate fan can be attached to the Northbridge if necessary with a couple of thumb screws.

A single heatpipe joins the nVidia MCP and SPP chipsets. Two heat pipes conduct heat from the latter towards a folded copper fin MOSFET heatsink just above the CPU socket. The northbridge heatsink requires a small fan be attached to it if you are using water cooling in the system. The fan caps off the heatsink, and is held in position with two screws. It may even be advisable to use it even when not water cooling for that extra boost!