N1996 is the MSI motherboard for the LGA775 computer platform , which combines excellent technical specifications and support for all chip models existing for this processor socket. Moreover, the cost of this decision is quite democratic. All this together made the N1996 an excellent basis for assembling system units of various classes.
Socket and chipset system logic
As noted earlier, the LGA775 processor socket was equipped with the MSI N1996 motherboard. The technical characteristics of this socket indicated the presence of 775 contacts and the possibility of installing processor solutions, which included 1, 2, or even 4 computing cores. Intel, as opposed to AMD, never had an intermediate version with 3 code processing blocks. It should also be noted that this processor socket is sometimes referred to as “Socket T”. The system logic chipset in this case included 2 elements: the 945 CG Northbridge and ICH7 Southbridge. This chipset was officially introduced in 2007. Its semiconductor part was manufactured according to the standards of the 45 nm process technology. Recommended system bus frequencies in this case could be set to 533 MHz or 800 MHz.
Processor list
The characteristics of the N1996 motherboard from the position of supported models of central processors, as noted earlier, indicated that it was possible to install any chip for the LGA775 socket in it. This list included:
For the assembly of office systems with minimal speed and minimal cost, Intel recommended using Celeron D series CPUs . For work in Word, Excel, or Powerpoint, the capabilities of this semiconductor chip are quite enough. Also, he could easily cope with browsing websites, playing videos and listening to music.
Budget computers within this platform could be based on Pentium DualCore, Pentium 4 or Pentium D line CPUs . Improved architecture and increased clock speeds allowed these CPUs to already demonstrate decent results in game tests.
Even faster and at the same time energy-efficient processor solutions were chips of the Core 2Duo series . The more advanced architecture of the semiconductor chip, even higher frequencies and a larger cache size were the factors that allowed these processors to come close in performance and speed to the flagship solutions of this platform.
The premium segment of the CPU in this case was occupied by Core 2Quad solutions. These silicon solutions already had 4 computing units. All other features in this CPU family have also been improved.
As noted earlier, any of the previously mentioned models of processor devices could be installed in this modification N1996. The motherboard was truly universal and made it possible to assemble PCs of any level.
Slots for installing internal controllers, ports for peripherals. RAM
The characteristics of the MSI N1996 motherboard in this case indicated the presence of such slots for installing expansion controllers inside the PC case:
1 PCI - Express version 16X slot for installing a discrete graphics system.
3 PCI expansion slots. In this case, various controller options could be installed: a network card, a sound card, or, for example, a TV tuner.
The set of peripheral ports in this case consisted of:
LPT & COM ports - 1 each.
PS / 2 ports in the amount of 2 pieces.
4 universal USB ports in version 2.0.
1 network RJ-45 connector for connecting to a LAN.
3 familiar audio ports in 3.5 mm audio jack format.
Under the use of RAM standard DDR2 was sharpened N1996. The motherboard could address a maximum of 2 GB of RAM and had only 2 slots for installing such modules. That is, in one slot, you could set the bar with a volume of 1 GB.
Summary
For more than a year, personal computers based on this computer accessory have been successfully working, and this is really its best characteristic. The MSI N1996 motherboard, reviews only confirm this, it still allows you to create up-to-date computer systems for the reason that its processor socket can be equipped with a 4-core chip, which can cope with any task, including the most the freshest and most demanding toys. Separately, it should also be noted that in several versions, N1996 was released. The motherboard could be equipped, in addition to the LGA775 discussed in this material , with sockets 478 or AM2. But the most productive among them is precisely the first, which is considered in this article.