nForce 650i SLI - Abit Fatal1ty FP-IN9 SLI vs MSI P6N SLI Platinum

The Fatal1ty FP-IN9 SLI and P6N SLI Platinum are very different approaches to Nvidia’s nForce 650i SLI chipset, and both are decent options for cash-strapped enthusiasts looking for the foundation of a Core 2 Duo build. Abit wins on price, with the Fatal1ty selling for around $30 less than the Platinum online. However, that $30 costs you onboard Firewire and eSATA connectivity that you get with the P6N SLI.

Getting the job done is really what MSI does best, and the P6N SLI Platinum is a textbook example of that focus. The board has everything you really need in terms of BIOS functionality and onboard peripherals, and everything just works—no BIOS updates needed. Still, it’s hard to get really enthusiastic about the board given that it’s selling for between $155 and $180 at most online retailers.

They’re both decent offerings, but to garner a solid recommendation, it will take a BIOS fix for the Fatal1ty FP-IN9 SLI and lower prices from the P6N SLI Platinum.

The Tech Report