SuperPI is a tool used to stress the CPU, while testing its stability and speed. Most hardcore overclockers use this popular tool just because of its ability to test overclocks by stability. Let's see just how the MSI P6N Diamond motherboard equipped with Intel's Core 2 Quad performs.

SuperPI Results

But you don't buy a motherboard like the MSI P6N Diamond to run benchmarks like SiSandra and 3DMARK06 all day long, right? You would buy a motherboard like this to play PC games! So let's get to the gaming benchmarks.

Valve's Orange Box has been a huge success with the release of five games in one package. This includes Half Life 2, Half Life 2 Episode One, Half Life 2 Episode Two, Portal and Team Fortress 2. So what's so special about benchmarking an older engine like the Source Engine? With the release of Episode Two, Valve has also released some engine upgrades such as dynamic shadows and cinematics to further enhance the game playing experience. And with game engine upgrades, there's just more to stress out your system and put it up to a better test.

Half Life 2 Episode Two Results

The Source Engine runs on a wide range of hardware so there weren't any real system strains here. Episode Two runs at fantastic frame rates with absolutely no slow downs. We like no slow downs.

Call of Duty 4 is taking a more “modern” twist to the Call of Duty series with its latest installment: Modern Combat. This new game uses a highly tweaked version of the Quake 3 engine so you would figure the frame rates would be through the roof. Not exactly.

Call of Duty 4

Here are the settings for the Call of Duty 4 Demo in brief:

• Anti Aliasing = 4X
• Shadows = Yes
• Depth of Field = Yes
• Model Detail = Yes
• Water Detail = Yes
• Anisotropic Filtering = High
• Texture Resolution = High

Call of Duty 4 Results

The graphics are outstanding but the performance can bog down in heavy combat or explosive situations, usually just down to 20 frames per second. It still delivers a great game playing experience with decent frame rates.

All in all, the MSI P6N Motherboard performs like a pro and earns the label of an enthusiast motherboard with features such as the 680i SLI chipset, SLI, Dual Core Cell capacitors and on-board X-Fi technology. NVIDIA's latest and greatest chipset proves itself for its stability and performance.

So if you want a high quality motherboard with the 680i SLI chipset, NVRAID, SLI capabilities, on-board Creative X-Fi and not to mention fast speeds at a great price, the MSI P6N Diamond is the one to get. The retail price of the MSI P6N Diamond motherboard is around $235.99 and is pretty average compared to the competing boards in the same class. As of October 18, 2007, PriceGrabber lists the best price at $232.99 with a $30 mail-in rebate; not too bad of a deal.

I'm sure that anyone that would be interested in buying a board like this would also get a better GPU than the 8600GT. So in that case, you could imagine what the better 3dMark06 scores and game benchmarking test results would be like. The same thing applies for SLI. The scores and test results with SLI would've been higher as well.

PROS

• Features - NVIDIA 680i SLI Chipset, On-Board X-Fi Audio and DualCoreCell Capacitors
• Excellent Layout
• Price - On par to compete with other boards with NVIDIA's 680i SLI chipset

CONS

• Size - If you don't have a full size tower or a bigger mid-tower, be ready for a tight squeeze
• Price - Not for anyone not willing to spend a little over $200 just for this piece of hardware

Thanks to MSI for a wonderful motherboard and thanks to MikeC for allowing me to do the review. Last but not least, thanks to all the readers. Hope you enjoy reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing it!

Feel free to discuss this review in this forum thread.

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