MSI KT6 Delta-FIS2R (KT600): Feature Packed Fun

Final Words

Looking just at the KT6 Delta-FIS2R's features (onboard, BIOS, accessories, etc.), this version of MSI's KT600 series of motherboards is most definitely in a small, elite group of the most feature-filled Athlon XP motherboards ever built. Currently, the KT6 Delta-FIS2R is being sold around the $135 to $140 mark in retail U.S. channels, which, contrary to popular belief, is not undercutting motherboards that are based on nForce2 and nForce2 Ultra 400 chipsets with similar features. This can be attributed to NVIDIA's aggressive pricing strategy, which they have continued to use to this day. Recently, NVIDIA released a new chipset onto the market, dubbed nForce2 400, aimed squarely at VIA, who has now been mostly relegated to the budget chipset market. The nForce2 400 chipset is physically identical to an nForce2 Ultra 400 chipset except for its 64-bit single channel DDR memory interface (nForce2 Ultra 400 has a 128-bit dual channel DDR memory interface). Based on early testing, it looks as if the nForce2 400 could be a big hit among budget users and budget enthusiasts alike.

In the end, if you've had good experiences with MSI and VIA products, you will be one of those individuals who will jump at the thought of building a high-end Athlon system based on this motherboard. The MSI KT6 Delta-FIS2R is an extremely well-balanced motherboard, even if you're not particularly fond of MSI or VIA. However, this motherboard really shouldn't be seriously considered as a bleeding-edge motherboard, especially for overclocking and performance enthusiasts. For these types of users, choose nForce2 Ultra 400 motherboards from ABIT, Gigabyte, ASUS, and Epox, among others. The MSI KT6 Delta-FIS2R is not a bad choice by any stretch of the imagination — it's simply not the absolute best choice available.

Stay tuned for future motherboard reviews based on chipsets such as the nForce2 Ultra 400, nForce2 400, KT600 and others.