The MSI P35 Neo2-FR motherboard, as the model suggests, uses the Intel P35 chipset.  This board is also the only motherboard that incorporates the ICHR9R southbridge (and with a significantly sized chunk of copper) that sells for a stunning price of below HK$1000.  There is also a MSI P35 Neo2-FIR version of the motherboard which includes IEEE1394, but for those who do not need firewire support, I am sure MSI P35 Neo2-FR would be sufficient. It is a board which supports the current FSB1333 processors and has the potential for future 45nm processor support.  I have been asked to write this review after I have installed the product into my case, so please bear with the photos you will see later in this review.

Motherbaord box  – The front and side view of the MSI P35 Neo2-FR Motherboard Box

Specifications (Adapted from the MSI Official Homepage):

Layout

Motherboard Layout: As shown in the photo above, the multi-coloured components of Neo2-FR is neatly layed out on a black PCB.   The components used by this motherboard is also quite decent, shown by the solid-state capacitors on the motherboard (which significance is stressed by its rival, GigabyXX) as well as the massive chunk of copper (and the heat pipes) used for the cooling of the power modules, the northbridge, and the southbridge.  To my point of view, to find a motherboard with this substantial amount of copper for a bargain price of less than a thousand HK dollars, is quite a good deal.  There is also sufficient space to install a big cpu cooler.  The 8pin ATX connector is raised to allow for easier installation as the connector itself is buried within the chunk of copper.  The two PCI-E 16x slots (with the yellow slot running at 4x) could be used to run Crossfire, drastically improving graphics performance.  The motherboard also provides an additional 4 pin molex connector to provide the extra power needed wihen running Crossfire.  The 4 DDR2 slots also give Neo2-FR the capacity to support 8GB of memory, (4 pieces of 2GB modules).

Back I/O Connectors

Connectors: The back panel provides 2 PS/2 ports for the traditional keyboard and mouse, 6 USB 2.0 ports, a gigalan port (provided by Realtek 8111B), 2 eSATA ports, as well as 6 x 3.5mm audio jacks (provided by the Realtek ALC888 chip).  The old serial and parallel ports are non-existent (I doubt many users nowadays will require such ports).

Installation

Nothing much to comment here, just a simple and jumperless setup
is needed.

Additional Features

Miniplugs to assist installation of USB, COM ports, Power/LED pins

2 Hardware Overclock pins, to force FSB200 to FSB266, or FSB266 to FSB333

Booting Up the System

All I can say is….colourful and attractive

The bootup screen, which (I think) is the same as the Neo2 Platinum Edition

The BIOS

Overview of the BIOS Main Menu

The H/W Monitor

There are two slots to save user settings, pretty useful during overlocking

Cell Menu

Overview of the Cell Menu

Enabling MSI’s distinctive D.O.T. overclocking system

Switching on/off Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology

Maximum FSB setting : 800MHz, (although it does say 600MHz on the right and in the manual)

CPU Ratio Setting

Advanced DRAM Timing Configuration

FSB/Memory Ratio

When set to FSB333Mhz, the FSB/Memory Ratio
1:1:6  allows DDR2 1066 to be used

The second PCI-E 16x slot (yellow) could be set to 4x, 2x, or Auto

Maximum CPU voltage: 2.10V

Maximum Memory voltage: 3.30V

Maximum VTT voltage: 1.550V

Maximum Northbridge Voltage: 1.650V

Modification of Southbridge I/O and Core Voltages

Overall Remarks:

The MSI Neo2-FR motherboard is a very well-rounded motherboard which offers support for all existing FSB1333, and future 45nm processors, gigalan, eSATA, and of course, crossfire support (despite 16x/4x).  The BIOS (within the Cell Menu) contains an extensive list of overclock settings which allows you to overclock with ease.  The D.O.T. feature provided by MSI could also allows the inexperienced to overclock and to enhance overall system performance easily.  Another advantage of this board is the price.  MSI offers this board at a competitive price of less than HK$1000.  Boards with similar specifications (and the size of copper) from other manufacturers, will definitely (if not, highly likely) be at a higher price than the Neo2-FR. The disadvantage, as stated before, is no firewire support.  Although this does not concern me, as firewire support is provided through my audigy 2.