Finale
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There is no doubt in my mind that MSI’s K7 Master-S is the very best AMD 761 solution. From its superb stability and its feature rich, high performance accoutrements, simply surpass its competition. Currently, there is no other AMD 761 solution that provides Adaptec’s 7899G 64-bit, 66MHz integrated dual channel U160 SCSI controller. Actually, both MSI and Tyan are the only manufacturers to integrate SCSI on an AMD based solution. Whether in gaming environments or business applications, the K7 Master-S generated superb results.The fact that the K7 Master-S is approximately six months behind schedule, concerned me. That is, due to certain physical layout delays, certification process and MSI’s apprehension about releasing an expensive SCSI enabled solution in the United States, may have lessened its marketability and momentum. Initially, MSI had no plans to release the K7 Master-S. Simply put, MSI felt that there was not enough of a demand to justify the exportation of a $300.00 mainboard to the United States. Traditionally, MSI alleged that SCSI enabled mainboards where better received in Taiwan and would be less of a financial risk. Because of close negotiations and volume commitments with key resellers and systems integrators, MSI conclusively decided to ship in small quantities to the United States.
Because of the recent announcement and release of newer mainboards and chipsets, such as AMD’s 760MP, VIA’s KT266 and nVidia’s forthcoming crush technology, the K7 Thunder may be perceived as too-little-too-late. On the other hand, considering the fact, that AMD’s 761 chipset is one of the fastest, most stable solutions on the market should garner its consideration. Couple this with its exceptional 64Bit, 66MHz U160 SCSI bus implementation, and you have a masterpiece. What’s more, the K7 Master-S is exceptionally well suited for those high-end workstation and server class environments. Whether you are playing Max Payne or working on 3D Studio Max, MSI’s K7 Master offers the performance and scalability that makes this product a clear winner and a baseline for others to attain.
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