Test Setup
It took Windows XP a long time to install as it obviously found the mainboard’s drivers difficult to locate. The installing devices section seemed to hang about for ages before moving on. That said when the installation was completed everything was fine.
MSI provided a good range of software tools on the driver CD including:
Hardware Monitoring
FSB Adjustment
Scheduled Driver and Bios Updating
Audio
As with so many current mainboards the MSI 655 Max uses the AC97 codec through a C-Media 9739A controller. This configuration is quite capable and can produce 6 channel output although it is nothing special. MSI supplied an SPDIF adapter with an optical out connector. This is a very welcome addition for those with the right amplifier and speakers.
Motherboards
MSI 655 MAX (SIS 655) Dual Channel
ASUS P4G8X Deluxe (Granite Bay)
DFI NB80-EA (Granite Bay)
Processor
Pentium 4 Northwood - 2.66Ghz C1 Stepping
Memory
Pair of 256MB Corsair XMS 3500 CAS2 Modules
Hard Drive
Seagate 80GB SATA Drive
Graphics
Sapphire Radeon 9700 Pro
Display
Dell 21” TFT
Cooling
Vapochil Mk II
Software
Windows XP Pro SP1
DirectX 9
ATI Catalyst 3.0 Display Drivers
Sisoft Sandra 2003 Pro
Futuremark PC Mark 2002
Futuremark 3D Mark 2001 SE
Futuremark 3D Mark 2003
PiFast
Hexus Seti Benchmark
UT2003
Quake III Demo
Serous Sam II Demo
