Conclusion
I've got mixed feelings about this particular motherboard. On the one hand it's pretty damn quick. The benchmarks laid down by the MSI GNB MAX are, quite simply, the fastest from any DDR-based chipset to date. That was kind of expected though. Running with dual-DDR, benchmark scores were just a whisker away from PC1066 RAMBUS in the majority of tests, and in some it even eclipsed our resident champion for #1 spot.
Still, I have a feeling that dual-DDR isn't realising its full potential just yet. Taking SANDRA results with a pinch of salt, and with a theoretical 4.26GB/s on tap, we're getting around 3.3GB/s in the buffered benchmark, I had hoped to see a slightly higher benchmark. The technology has time to evolve and I'm sure we'll see slightly better performance from subsequent BIOS's. Another slight detraction is imposed by the fact that DDR modules have to be of the same size if running in dual-DDR mode.
Speaking of BIOS's. I was disappointed to see that this particular version shipped with a very standardised BIOS. Indeed, it was clearly labeled as a workstation-based BIOS with only DDR timings manipulations on offer. Overclocking via MSI's Windows-based tool highlighted the fact that up to 146FSB, the GNB MAX does not lock the AGP/PCI busses. That was shown by the test Radeon 9700 Pro locking up intermittently during benchmarking. It may insert a divider at higher FSBs, but that's an unknown at present.
The feature set on the MSI is up to their usual standards. The full retail motherboard will provide you with more brackets and extras than you can shake the proverbial stick at. With optional Gigabit LAN, Bluetooth and WLAN support, the GNB MAX can be specified to a disarmingly high standard. It has inherent Hyper-Threading and 8x AGP support but the latter was difficult to ascertain. 3DMark reckoned it to be running at 2x AGP and RivaTuner thought the same. We'll have to investigate this further
With SiS655 and VIA's P4X600 looming in the distance, Intel have stolen a march on them in terms of getting their product out to market first. They, however, promise to have less stringent DDR specifications. Apparently, you are able to use DDR in DDR333 mode (thereby increasing bandwidth further) and can use modules of differing sizes. Further, Intel's own DDR333-based dual-DDR chipset, codenamed Springdale, is scheduled for release early next year.
The E7205 Granite Bay is a chipset that's suitable for both the server and home market, but it comes at a considerable cost. Reckoned to be in the region of £200, it's not going to be cheap. MSI's engineers have done a decent job in ensuring that stability hasn't been compromised with the complexity of the chipset. It, like most MSI motherboards, comes loaded with decent features. If you want the fastest DDR chipset in town, this is it. If MSI could incorporate a BIOS like the one found on the i845PE edition, a heavily overclocked GNB MAX should blow RAMBUS away. It has considerable potential.
Highs
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Fastest DDR chipset in town when run in dual-DDR mode, very close to PC1066 / RIMM4200 RAMBUS at stock speeds
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Has the ability to scale effortlessly
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Loaded with decent features
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Stability was excellent throughout testing. That's good news for a new chipset
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Should be widely available real soon
Lows
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Cost, it's not going to be cheap
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The BIOS didn't really cater for the enthusiast
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SiS' 655 and VIA's P4X600 look more impressive on paper
Overall rating - 8/10.
