It's nice to finally see the B3 stepping P67 chipsets finding their way to market, once again making Sandy Bridge a viable platform for performance enthusiasts. I suspect most all manufacturers will be offering new B3 boards in a few weeks, if they haven't started already.
That said, the MSI GD80 that we looked at today rates at the top of my list for P67 boards that I have tested thus far. MSI has improved their ClickBIOS substantially since we first looked at it and the results are certainly noticeable. Gone is the subtle lagginess that we found in the early offering on the GD65 back in January. I could still do without the cheesy in-BIOS games, but I digress.
In addition to the much-improved BIOS, the GD80 also brings with it 12 CPU power phases which helped take our i5-2500K to a record overclock of 4.8 GHz, a full 100 MHz higher than we could get on the ASUS EVO board. This successful overclock was aided by better CPU cooling as well, so we can't fully credit the board alone.
Overclocking aside, the board looks great with its black and blue color scheme and thoughtful layout. The heatpipe-connected passive heatsinks around the CPU socket look great and should provide plenty of clearance for large CPU coolers. The fact that the memory slots sit so close to the CPU socket and you need to use the inner-most slot for two-stick dual channel configuration could limit you on the size of your heatsink, however. I've run into this problem on other boards using the massive Noctua ND-D14, but I didn't have any problems mounting the Corsair Hydro H70 on this board using large OCZ Flex memory modules.
Three PCIe x16 slots is a step above the GD65, something that gamers and hardware enthusiasts alike will appreciate. The slot layout mirrors what we found on the EVO which was very good. Unfortunately I didn't have a nice set of graphics cards on hand to test multiple configurations with but I see no reason why multiple cards wouldn't work just fine.
Regarding general layout, MSI has done an admirable job with the GD80 as they did on the GD65. The SATA connectors are color-coded and line the edge of the board for better cable management. The Voltage Check Point is also positioned along the edge of the board for easier access. The on-board power and reset buttons are a feature that I really enjoy seeing on motherboards, so props there as well. The CPU Phase LEDs add a bit of flare if you are into blue lighting. If not, you can disable this feature completely.
Those upgrading to a new Sandy Bridge system can reuse Socket 1156 heatsinks meaning this is one less item that you will have to purchase.
As was the case on the GD65, MSI did not color-code the front panel headers. Instead they rely on adapters which could become lost or misplaced. In that case, you would need to consult your manual for proper pinning as there aren't any markings on the board.
Feature-wise, MSI is quick to point out that they use Military Class components consisting of Hi-c CAPs, Solid Capacitors and Super Ferrite Chokes. Additionally, MSI uses DrMOS (Driver MOSfets) instead of traditional discrete MOSFETS. With DrMOS, MSI has combined three separate chips (bottom-MOSFET, top-MOSFET and Driver IC) into one that results in more efficient power, lower temperatures and longer life. Additionally, combining three chips reduces the total chip count on the board.
OC Genie II remains one of my favorite features on newer MSI boards. Even if you don't know the first thing about overclocking, you can get a very high and stable overclock just by pressing one button. Yes, it really is that easy. OC Genie II was able to take our i5-2500K series CPU all the way up to 4.2 GHz without thinking twice. Although this isn't the maximum overclock we were able to get manually, it's a very healthy clock for someone that is new to overclocking or doesn't want to fool with manually finding an optimal clock.
If software overclocking is your thing, Control Center II has you covered. The program features a wealth of adjustable options that allows you to overclock from within Windows.
As of writing, MSI has an MSRP of $229.99 set for the GD80 which should go on sale sometime next week. This puts the board in the middle-upper echelon compared to other P67 offerings. And of course, you will receive the new B3 stepping.
OCIA.net awards the MSI P67A-GD80 our Gold Seal of Approval based on aesthetics, general layout, BIOS maturity and overclockability!
