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MSI P67A-GD65 Intel P67 Motherboard Review
MSI P67A-GD65 Intel P67 Motherboard Review - PCSTATS
The MSI P67A-GD65 motherboard brings forth a lot for computer enthusiasts to get excited about, not the least of which are dual PCI Express x16 videocard slots, (4) USB 3.0 ports, (6) SATA 6GB/s ports and specialized tools for seasoned overclockers. For example, if you're one to break out a digital multimeter while overclocking there are handy voltage read points next to the boards' DDR3 memory slots.
 78% Rating:   
Filed under: Motherboards Published:  Author: 
External Mfg. Website: MSI Nov 07 2011   Max Page  
Home > Reviews > Motherboards > MSI P67A-GD65

Conclusions and Total System Power Draw

PCSTATS measures total system power draw (watts) with the aid of an Extech 380803 AC Power Analyzer and A-PFC compliant Seasonic SS-760KM power supply. The meter is placed between the 120V AC outlet and the PC power supply and the computer stressed. Total system power draw is recorded and compared to the PC's idle state.

Total System Power Draw
Idle

CPU Loaded

GFX Loaded

Intel Core i5 2500K
nVidia Geforce GTX470

97W 145W 235W

(Idel @ desktop)

(via Prime95)

(via 3DM06)

The MSI P67A-GD65 system draws 97W while idle at the desktop. Under 100% CPU load conditions with Prime95, total system power draw jumps to 145W. 3DMark06 pushes power draw to a peak of 235W.


MSI VRM circuitry

Conclusions: MSI Struggles to Dominate

Feature wise, the MSI P67A-GD65 motherboard is well equipped for mainstream PC systems and competitively priced. The MSI P67A-GD65 is also a great LGA1155 'SandyBridge' platform for building a dual-videocard gaming rig as it offers two-way SLI/Crossfire support, plenty of USB 3.0/2.0 and enough SATA II/III to satisfy typical gamer storage needs.

Given that the Intel P67 chipset offers the same core features as the newer Intel Z68 chipset, minus a few things of debatable usefulness like onboard graphics and Intel SRT, a board like the MSI P67A-GD65 would seems like a no brainer for the budget minded PC upgrader.

Features are easy to add with the MSI P67A-GD65's expansion slots, but raw performance is always going to be CPU and videocard driven. In short, if you can find the MSI P67A-GD65 for cheap, snap it up and lock a couple graphics cards into the P67A-GD65 motherboard!

On the overclocking front PCSTATS had no difficultly pushing an Intel Core i5 2500K processor pretty far by multiplier adjustments alone. The extra overclocking features that MSI tacked onto the MSI P67A-GD65 board were, for us at least, of no use. Sorry MSI, but I don't pretend to be hard core enough to monitor voltage levels with a multimeter... so this is about as useful as gold brick in the middle of a typhoon.

As for OC Genie, sure it works. A couple years ago these auto-overclocking tools were relegated to the BIOS, or in some cases to little software applications you could launch from the desktop. We used to run our computers with the auto overclocking enabled, but after a few rough boots found it safer in the long run to not actually overclock the processor. Yeah, you read that right. When we need extra performance it's usually better to buy a faster videocard as so few applications seem to be CPU-limited these days.... but that's a story for another day.

In short, the benchmark results should serve as a reminder that newer Intel chipsets don't always mean better performance figures and to sum up, MSI have put together a great Intel P67 board here.

PCSTATS Best Value Award

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< Previous Page © 2023 PCSTATS.com Motherboards Reviews...»

 

Contents of Article: MSI P67A-GD65
 Pg 1.  MSI P67A-GD65 Intel P67 Motherboard Review
 Pg 2.  OC Genie - One Button Overclocking
 Pg 3.  Marketing MSI Features with Acronyms
 Pg 4.  360-Degree Motherboard Gallery: MSI P67A-GD765
 Pg 5.  360-Degree Motherboard Gallery Continued
 Pg 6.  Intel P67 B3-Stepping Express Chipset
 Pg 7.  UEFI BIOS of the MSI P67A-GD65
 Pg 8.  Overclocking and Test System Specs
 Pg 9.  Sysmark 2007 Motherboard Benchmarks
 Pg 10.  SiSoft Sandra: CPU Motherboard Benchmarks:
 Pg 11.  Sandra: Memory Motherboard Benchmarks:
 Pg 12.  PCMark Vantage Motherboard Benchmarks
 Pg 13.  3DMark 11 Motherboard Benchmarks
 Pg 14.  3DMark Vantage Motherboard Benchmarks
 Pg 15.  3DMark 06 Motherboard Benchmarks
 Pg 16.  FEAR Motherboard Benchmarks
 Pg 17.  — Conclusions and Total System Power Draw

 
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