MSI - MSI MEGA 180 nForce2 SFF Review

MSI deserves a ton of credit for thinking outside of the box and coming up with the MEGA concept. Unlike all the other manufacturers who are essentially just following Shuttle with a tweak here and there, MSI has designed their SFF system to function as a true PC that can be used for games and entertainment, as well as getting some work done.

The MEGA 180’s second-generation chassis sports an entirely new look that brings MSI into the 21st century. In fact, its mirror finish, color LED display, and doors for the drive bay and I/O ports are the first of its kind to be integrated in any SFF system. Meanwhile, the Hi-Fi control buttons and volume knob accent the rest of the front panel well without getting in the way of the MEGA-180’s smooth lines. And finally, the 6-in-1 card reader makes floppy drives a thing of the past. The only aspect of the MEGA 180’s front panel that we don’t like is the reset button; you’ll need to keep a pin handy in order to reach it.

…If you are in the market for an Athlon XP SFF system though, MSI’s MEGA 180 would make an excellent solution, provided you keep the heat in check. Thanks to its Hi-Fi capabilities, the MEGA 180 truly is in a class of its own, but at the same time it packs all the performance you’d expect in a desktop Athlon XP system. MSI has done a great job of merging the worlds of the PC and consumer electronics (CE) into one device: the MEGA 180!

MSI MEGA 180 Review @ FiringSquad