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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

Overclocking and Test System Specs

Overclocking Results:
stock max. oc
cpu multiplier: x33 x46
motherboard blck: 100 mhz

104.8 mhz

if you're new to Overclocking and not sure what to do, check out these two excellent Guides for some pointers:
Overclocking the CPU and Memory
Overclocking the Videocard

Owing to the greater number of things integrated onto the die of Intel's 'Sandybridge' Core i5 processors, these LGA1155 chips really don't react well to overclocking via motherboard BCLK adjustments. Hard core overclockers HAVE done it, but it's far more effort than it's worth in our opinion. Overclocking is supposed to be fun and relatively not impossible.

MSI's P67A-GD65 motherboard offers a full range of CPU overclocking controls in it's nasty UEFI BIOS and at board level through one-touch systems like OC Genie. On the plus side, MSI Control Center II really does offer a great assortment of voltage and clock controls in one location so on the whole things balance out. Like the majority of P67 platforms PCSTATS has overclocked, we didn't have much luck pushing BLCK beyond 104.8MHz.

Overclocking by CPU multiplier on the P67A-GD65 was much easier with the unlocked Intel Core i5 2500K test processor. From the default multiplier of x33, PCSTATS quickly increased the speed to 4.4GHz by boosting the CPU multiplier to x44. On most boards the Core i5 2500K test chip will handle x47, but on the P67A-GD65 board the best we could squeeze out of it was x46 without resorting to voltage adjustments. <

Test System Hardware

PCSTATS has relied on Crucial memory for its servers for years, so it was only logical to install 4GB's of high end Crucial Ballistix DDR3-1600 8-8-8-24 memory into the MSI P67A-GD65 test system. This is some good quick DDR3 RAM and it features thermal monitoring too!

Storage devices have changed dramatically in recent years, you'll notice PCSTATS to retired the faithful old Western Digital Raptor's for a super quick OCZ Vertex 2 SSD (120GB, SATAII). The effect on system-wide benchmarks is dramatic!

Thanks to Crucial Memory, OCZ Technology and Intel for help outfitting this test platform.

Details on how the MSI P67A-GD65 motherboard was configured for benchmarking - including specific hardware, software drivers, operating system and benchmark versions - is listed in the Test System Spec chart below. Please take a moment to look over PCSTATS test system configurations before moving on to the individual benchmark results.

PCSTATS Test System Specs

test system

processor:

intel core i5 2500k
(32nm)

amd fusion a8-3850
(32nm)

intel Core i5 750
(45nm)

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T
(45nm)

Intel Core i7 920
(45nm)
Clock Speed: 33 x 100 MHz = 3.3 GHz 29 x 100 MHz = 2.9 GHz 20 x 133 MHz = 2.66 GHz 16 x 200 MHz = 3.2 GHz 20 x 133 MHz = 2.67 GHz
Socket: Socket LGA1155 Socket FM1 Socket LGA1156 Socket AM3 / AM2+ Socket LGA1366
Motherboard:

- Intel Z68 -
Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD5-B3
Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3
Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD

- Intel P67 -
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD7
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD4-B3
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD4
ASUS P8P67 Pro
MSI P67A-GD65
ECS P67H2-A

- Intel H67 -
ASUS P8H67-M Evo
Biostar TH67XE
ECS H67H2-M
Intel DH67BL

- AMD A75 -
Gigabyte GA-A75-UD4H
Gigabyte GA-A75M-UD2H

- Intel P55 -
Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD6
Gigabyte GA-P55-UD6
Gigabyte GA-P55-UD5
Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4P
Gigabyte GA-P55-UD3R
ASUS P7P55D Premium
ASUS P7P55D Deluxe
ASUS P7P55D-E Pro

- AMD 990FX -
Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD7*


- AMD 890FX -
ASUS Crosshair IV Formula
Biostar TA890FXE
MSI 890FXA-GD70
Gigabyte GA-890FXA-UD7

- AMD 790FX -
Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P

- AMD 785G -

MSI
785GM-E65

- Intel X58 -
Gigabyte G1.Assassin*
MSI Eclipse Plus
Videocard:

Gigabyte GV-N470SO-13I (Geforce GTX470)

ASUS ENGTS250 DK
(Geforce GTS250)

Memory:

2x 2GB Crucial Ballistix DDR3-1600 8.8.8.24

2x 2GB Corsair XMS3-1600C9

2x 2GB Corsair XMS3-1600C8

3x 2GB Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D DDR3
Memory Speed: DDR3-1333 DDR3-1333 DDR3-1333 DDR3-1066
*DDR3-1333
DDR3-1066

120GB OCZ Vertex2 SSD (3GB/s SATA II)
Intel SRT Tests: 74GB Western Digital Raptor WD740 & 20GB Intel Larson Creek 311 SSD

74GB Western Digital Raptor WD740 (3GB/s SATA II)
*120GB OCZ Vertex2 SSD (3GB/s SATA II)

Optical Drive:

Plextor PX-B310U Blu-Ray

ASUS BC-1205PT-BD

Power Supply:

Seasonic SS-760KM (760W)

PC Power & Cooling TurboCool 750W

Heatsink:

Intel Reference LGA1155 Heatsink

AMD Reference Heatsink

Intel Reference LGA1156 Heatsink

AMD Reference Heatsink

Intel Reference LGA1366 Heatsink

Monitor (1080p):

ASUS MK241 24" HD LCD

Software Setup:

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit
Intel 9.2.0.1025
nVIDIA 266.58

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit
AMD Catalyst 8.86RC2
nVIDIA 266.58

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit
Intel 9.1.1.1019
nVIDIA Forceware 190.62

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
AMD Catalyst 9.12
nVIDIA Forceware 195.62

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
Intel INF 9.1.0.1012
nVIDIA Forceware 182.08

Benchmarks:
System Benchmarks:
SYSmark 2007
PCMark Vantage
SiSoft Sandra 2011

Gaming B/M:
3DMark 11
3DMark Vantage
3DMark 06
FEAR

< Previous Page © 2023 PCSTATS.com Next Page >

 

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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