MSI P55-CD53 Motherboard Review @ Magicmc.com Reviews

MSI P55-CD53 Motherboard

Intel launched their Nehalem CPUs and the X58 chipset in tandem almost two years ago. The Intell Core i7 CPU - XS8 became well known for it energy efficiency and overclocking ability, two previously incongruous qualities.

The cost of a new platform is always highest at first with new memory standards and board replacements, and a drop in the CORE i7s would sure be welcome to help make the new platform available. What they gave us was the P55 Express chip set and the i5 on the CPU side.

Intel devised the P55 Express chip set just for this endeavor. For use with LGA1156 socket CPUs such as the i5.The MSI P55-CD53 reviewed is a P55 Express chip MSI Motherboard, replacing the Core 2 Quad and Duo base. It is a relatively inexpensive board at around $110. Out of the box it performed as well as, or better than the Intel spec given upon release.

The Turbo Mode, used for overclocking it, could not quite boost the MSI P55-CD53 beyond the point of an Extreme board, but gave us over 800MHz with OCGenie and OC combined. Without OCG it seemed almost ineffective.

I appreciate that there is a need for a middle of the road solution to attract more cash conscious consumers, but the cot for these features, at this point in the platform change game is slightly up the hill from where I think it should be. With only one PCIe x1 on a standard ATX motherboard was a little disappointing. I would expect two card capability even if SLI or CrossfireX are not an option on a mid range board. And with i7 CPUs the price that they are, I want to utilize all the capabilities they present.

If the price drops a little, then the MSI P55-CD53 is well on its way to show a wider market some of the best PC innovations in years. If not, then the next big thing might just have to wait.

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