NVIDIA nForce3 Ultra Shootout: Gigabyte vs MSI

We’ve decided to take two of the top nForce3 Ultra motherboards, MSI’s K8N Neo2 Platinum Edition, and Gigabyte’s GA-K8NSNXP-939 and pitch them against one another. Both of these motherboards are loaded with features, including dual LAN and 8-channel audio, making them popular upgrade choices among enthusiasts looking for the best. We’ll do our best to compare and contrast the differences between the two in this shootout article.

. . .Whereas K8N Neo2 Platinum motherboards can be found online at prices starting between $130-$140 from reputable vendors, the lowest prices we found for the Gigabyte K8NSNXP-939 start at $180, and work all the way up to over $200…

For that $70, you could buy another 512MB CAS3 DDR400 memory, or put that money towards a better graphics upgrade. Sure, the faster Firewire, 2-port Serial ATA header, 6-phase power circuitry, and extra ports the Gigabyte motherboard provides are nice, but are they worth the extra money? For the consumer who wants the most feature-packed motherboard on the market, yes, the Gigabyte K8NSNXP-939 is without equal.

But if you want an nForce3 Ultra motherboard that delivers solid performance with a good feature set and extensive BIOS, MSI’s K8N Neo2 Platinum is the clear winner, earning our choice for top pick in this shootout article.

NVIDIA nForce3 Ultra Shootout: Gigabyte vs MSI @ FiringSquad

Compare prices for Gigabyte GA-K8NSNXP-939