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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: 
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Intel P67 B3-Stepping Express Chipset
 With graphics and memory
now handled by the CPU, the Intel P67 chipset doesn't need a very fast link to
the processor. Thus, Intel uses a 20Gb/s DMI link between the Intel P67 chipset
and LGA1155 processors. The roles of the Northbridge and Southbridge chipsets
have been merged into what Intel calls a PCH, or Platform Controller
Hub.
Intel's P67 PCH supplies eight
PCI Express lanes to the computer system for devices like the SATA ports, LAN,
USB and PCIex1 slots. The 16 PCIe lanes for graphics cards are drawn directly
from the 'SandyBridge' CPU, this has a nice side benefit of helping to cut down
on system latency.
Enthusiasts familiar with the storage and media
capabilities of Intel's ICH10R southbridge will find a lot in common with the
P67 chipset. It provides 14 USB 2.0 ports, four SATAII 3Gb/s and two SATAIII
6Gb/s ports with support for RAID 0/1/5/10 modes, audio and Gigabit
Ethernet.
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The Intel P67
Express Chipset block diagram
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Intel P67 B2-stepping Chipset
Recall
The MSI P67A-GD65 motherboard is equipped with the
new 'B3'-stepping Intel P67 chipset. The original 'B2' stepping
Intel P67 & H67 chipsets were recalled due to the Intel
6-series chipset issue. The recall happened because a silicon-level flaw was
discovered which may have resulted in 3Gb/s Serial-ATA II (SATA II) ports
degrading over time; "potentially impacting the performance or functionality
of SATA-linked devices such as hard disk drives and DVD-drives." According to Intel, the issue was specific only
to the SATA II ports hosted by the Intel P67 & H67 chipsets. The SATA III
6Gb/s ports from the Intel P67 chipset are not affected.
Each motherboard manufacturer initiated steps
to recall the original batch of motherboards with 'b2'-stepping P67 chipsets
and swap them out for fully functional boards with 'b3' stepping Intel P67
chipsets. Incidently, 'b2'-stepping and 'b3'-stepping is just another way of
saying revision 1 or revision 2 - it's the same chipset. The 'B3'-stepping Intel
P67 has the silicon level bugs corrected.
| Intel Chipset Feature
Comparison |
|
Intel Z68
Express |
Intel P67 Express |
Intel H67
Express |
Intel X58
Express |
| CPU |
LGA 1155
Core i5/i7 2nd Gen. |
LGA 1155
Core i5/i7 2nd Gen. |
LGA 1155
Core i5/i7 2nd Gen. |
LGA 1366
Core i7 |
| Chipset Code Name |
Couger Point (65nm) |
Couger Point (65nm) |
Couger Point (65nm) |
Tylersburg (65nm) |
| Bus Interface / Speed |
DMI 20Gb/s |
DMI 20Gb/s |
DMI 20Gb/s |
QPI 25.6Gb/s |
| Memory Support |
DDR3-1333, dual channel |
DDR3-1333, dual channel |
DDR3-1333, dual channel |
DDR3 1066, triple channel |
| Maximum Memory Capacity |
32GB (64-bit) |
32GB (64-bit) |
32GB (64-bit) |
24GB (64-bit) |
| Integrated Graphics |
Yes. via CPU |
- |
Yes. via CPU |
- |
| Integrated Graphics Ports |
HDMI, DVI, DP, VGA |
- |
HDMI, DVI, DP, VGA |
- |
| PCI Express 2.0 Lanes |
8 |
8 |
8 |
36 |
| PCI Express x1 Lanes |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
| Intel Rapid Storage Technology |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Intel Smart Response Technology |
Yes |
- |
- |
- |
| SATA 6Gb/s | SATA 3Gb/s | IDE Ports |
2/4/0 |
2/4/0 |
2/4/0 |
0/6/0 |
| RAID |
0, 1, 5, 10 |
0, 1, 5, 10 |
0, 1, 5, 10 |
0, 1, 5, 10 (via ICH10R) |
| Intelgrated LAN |
10/100/1000 MAC |
10/100/1000 MAC |
10/100/1000 MAC |
- |
| USB 3.0 Ports |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| USB 2.0 Ports |
14 |
14 |
14 |
12 |
| PCI Masters |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
| Intel High Definition Audio |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes | | |
In the chart above you can see how all three of
6-series Intel chipsets compare to one another. The major difference between the
Intel P67 Express and H67 chipsets is that the former lacks the H67's
capabilities to output integrated graphics from the processor. Moving forward,
the newer Intel Z68 Express chipset is essentially a combination of the feature
sets of the Intel P67 and H67, with a couple extras like greater
overclockability and Intel SRT.
Next up, a look at the MSI P67A-GD65 BIOS.
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