Product Gallery - MSI Big Bang Trinergy

When we flip the board around we stumble into the processor area. We spot the 8-pin CPU power header to the right; we see solid core chokes and obviously the all new Socket 1156 for Lynnfield based processors. The board incorporates the latest durable components like solid capacitor ferrite core chokes, quality components. That not only ensures stability -- but also reliability and extended lifespan.

Also notice that every part on this motherboard that can create heat is being cooled by a passive cooler. See that white 3-pin fan header just above the DrMOS logo ?

So next to it you'll spot a display LED. Once the board is powered on it will actually display the active number of power phases used. It's called the APS (Active Phase Switching) LED.

The Trinergy comes with APS, which is short for Active Phase Switching. Much like say DES on the Gigabyte motherboards, it can en/dis-able power phases depending on load. And that means better power saving. The GD80 has a 14-phase Dr.MOS PWM design with 8 phases alone for the processor; which is more than enough for overclocking and tweaking, 2 for VTT, 2 for memory and 2 for the P55 PCH (platform controller hub). Only the best selection in components is spotted here.

Once we flip the board around once more we again stumble into the DIMM slots, DDR3 of course. There is DIMM support for 1GB/ 2GB/ 4GB DRAM sizes -- dual-channel.