MSI KT6 Delta-FIS2R (KT600): Feature Packed Fun
by Evan Lieb on August 5, 2003 11:04 PM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Final Words
Looking just at the KT6 Delta-FIS2R's features (onboard, BIOS, accessories, etc.), this version of MSI's KT600 series of motherboards is most definitely in a small, elite group of the most feature-filled Athlon XP motherboards ever built. Currently, the KT6 Delta-FIS2R is being sold around the $135 to $140 mark in retail U.S. channels, which, contrary to popular belief, is not undercutting motherboards that are based on nForce2 and nForce2 Ultra 400 chipsets with similar features. This can be attributed to NVIDIA's aggressive pricing strategy, which they have continued to use to this day. Recently, NVIDIA released a new chipset onto the market, dubbed nForce2 400, aimed squarely at VIA, who has now been mostly relegated to the budget chipset market. The nForce2 400 chipset is physically identical to an nForce2 Ultra 400 chipset except for its 64-bit single channel DDR memory interface (nForce2 Ultra 400 has a 128-bit dual channel DDR memory interface). Based on early testing, it looks as if the nForce2 400 could be a big hit among budget users and budget enthusiasts alike.In the end, if you've had good experiences with MSI and VIA products, you will be one of those individuals who will jump at the thought of building a high-end Athlon system based on this motherboard. The MSI KT6 Delta-FIS2R is an extremely well-balanced motherboard, even if you're not particularly fond of MSI or VIA. However, this motherboard really shouldn't be seriously considered as a bleeding-edge motherboard, especially for overclocking and performance enthusiasts. For these types of users, choose nForce2 Ultra 400 motherboards from ABIT, Gigabyte, ASUS, and Epox, among others. The MSI KT6 Delta-FIS2R is not a bad choice by any stretch of the imagination — it's simply not the absolute best choice available.
Stay tuned for future motherboard reviews based on chipsets such as the nForce2 Ultra 400, nForce2 400, KT600 and others.
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Anonymous User - Friday, September 19, 2003 - link
question:i have a kt600 delta-lsr.
AIDA shows:
--vlink is 640mhz when i use 200FSB.--
does it mean my pci clock is 40mhz?
thanks
Anonymous User - Saturday, September 13, 2003 - link
The Broadcom Ethernet Controller on this motherboard IS 10/100/1000 (the BC 5788) so provides Gigabit unlike your review.The board layout is exceptionally good.
The number of IDE connectors is the highest I have ever seen.
The number of rear USB 2.0 ports (6) is also the highest and is not the "standard IO" you talk about.
Who wants to do overclocking above 200MHz? With the Athlon XP near its limit at 200/400, you are asking for stability problems with the processor going much higher!
Apart from that - good review!
Anonymous User - Thursday, September 11, 2003 - link
What mother would you buy? KT6 Delta (6490) or NF2 Delta (6570). Just 8 dollars of difference? Thanks!Anonymous User - Thursday, August 28, 2003 - link
Here in Spain, the MSI KT6Delta is aviable at 85$, including taxes. I think it's a fine competitor to the 110$ nforce2(no ultra 400).Regards
LoneWolf15 - Thursday, August 14, 2003 - link
P.S. MSI also has a budget NF2 Ultra 400 mainboard, without Firewire, Serial ATA, or RAID, but with onboard sound and LAN, the K7N2 Delta-L, which has a street price of about $90 and still gives dual channel 128bit memory performance. Why would anyone buy a KT600 mainboard when this is available?LoneWolf15 - Thursday, August 14, 2003 - link
Quoted:"For these types of users, choose nForce2 Ultra 400 motherboards from ABIT, Gigabyte, ASUS, and Epox, among others." (endquote)
Ironic that Anandtech doesn't note that MSI also has their own NForce 2 Ultra 400 option, the K7N2 Delta ILSR, even though they mention the board as having been reviewed at Viper's Lair in this week's news. I have one and have found it to be a great board, still wondering why it rarely gets reviewed compared to ASUS, Abit, DFI, and Chaintech NF2 Ultra 400 boards.
Evan Lieb - Friday, August 8, 2003 - link
I assume you're joking # 7. :)#8, you forgot to include the two SATA connectors controlled by the VT8237 South Bridge.
Anonymous User - Friday, August 8, 2003 - link
To Evan Lieb :1) Good one with the performance for the K8 platform , really liked it . Not just another we know but we can't tell you ....
2) There's something bothering me in the article
You say the board offers support for 10 drives but it simply can't do that unless you can put 2 device on one SATA which as far asa I know can't be done . Here's my math
2 onboarg + 1 Promise = 3 PATA * 2 = 6
2 SATA *1 = 2
2+6=8 not 10 .
Anonymous User - Friday, August 8, 2003 - link
Considering the freshness of this product, the price I'm getting from Pricegrabber:http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php?mas...
is staggering ... so cheap ...
Anonymous User - Friday, August 8, 2003 - link
I didn't really read the review, I just looked at the pictures :)Looks like the NF2 boards are still the top dog