MSI - MSI K7N2G-L and K7N2G-ILSR Review @ 3DVelocity

Wayne Brooker takes a comprehensive look at two of MSI’s IGP-based K7N2 motherboards, the K7N2-L (IGP+MCP), and K7N2-ILSR IGP+MCP2-T). Both boards share a similar layout and deliver the same stellar nForce2 performance, the difference lying in the extra features to be found on the ILSR, such as nForce2 audio, Serial-ATA and IEEE1394 Firewire, due to the adoption of the Turbo version of the MCP chip. The basic L model can be picked up for under £100 here in the UK so the extra the bells-and-whistles ILSR version - priced at only £20 or so more - is an absolute steal. Here’s a couple of quotes from the review:

All told the K7N2G-L is a fast and flexible motherboard. With a single stick of memory and a slower processor you have a well featured board perfectly suite to general daily use be it surfing the ‘Net, working on your accounts or basic gaming. Throw in a faster processor and a second stick of memory and you have a power board that will handle just about anything you throw at it with the exception of high-res heavy duty games. Slot in a top drawer graphics card and the sky is very much the limit. If you don’t need the extra features that the nForce2 MCP-T brings then the K7N2G-L is an excellent choice spoilt only by an inconsiderate layout and a lack of fan headers and adequate IGP cooling..

..Everything I said about the K7N2G-L applies to the K7N2G-ILSR but with cream on top! Take the same great performance and stability demonstrated by the K7N2G-L then add Serial ATA RAID, onboard Firewire and audio that would leave most stand alone sound cards in its dust and you get an idea just how impressive this board is right out of the box. As an observation I think it’s time that we saw some of the nForce2’s extensive features either combined on single brackets or moved to front external bays as the number of expansion slots they now need is getting a little out of hand.

MSI K7N2G-L and ILSR @ 3DVelocity