MSI MEGA: Mini-System with Maxi-Features

by Alexey Drozzin
10/13/2003 | 10:52 PM

Part I, Lyrical

Many people when they first saw this device didn’t immediately realize what it was. Some of them, casting a glance at the MSI MEGA, inquired where we got this sound box and how much it cost. In fact, the MEGA does look more like a regular audio mini-system rather than a mini-system with an integrated computer! :)

Some people didn’t believe their eyes when I told them that this small box includes both: a sound box and a pretty powerful computer featuring an Intel Pentium 4 processor. I even had to launch the Device Manager and show them the evidence...

The small boxie offers big opportunities. It is a CD-player and radio receiver, an MP3-player and a modern computer with six-channel sound, numerous inputs/outputs and integrated devices. It is also a DVD-player, a set of speakers (which are an integral part of it), a universal card-reader and much more! Optionally, you can also expand the boxie’s capabilities by purchasing a TV-tuner (that would be controlled by the same remote control as the «music box», by the way).

But let’s be methodical and discuss the new exciting functions one after another...

Part II, Theoretical

The first wave of tenderness towards the small size and the funny design seems to be gone by now, so let’s find out what hides inside our MEGA-device. The thing that mostly determines what computer is going to be like, the chipset, comes first.

Chipset

The MEGA is based on a chipset from SiS: SiS 651 (North Bridge) + SiS 962 (South Bridge). If you haven’t yet encountered this chipset, here are the main features of the North Bridge:

• Support of Intel Pentium 4 processors with 400/533MHz FSB;
• Flexible memory support: from PC100 SDRAM to PC2700 (DDR333 SDRAM). The chipset supports three modules with a total capacity of 3GB at the most (in our case, only two DDR slots are soldered up);
• High-speed interface for connection to the South Bridge called MuTIOL (533MB/s bandwidth);
• AGP 2.0 (AGP 4x) interface;
• Integrated video from SiS. TV-Out and the DVI interface for LCD displays connection (the MEGA doesn’t have any of them by default. An AGP TV-out card comes optionally).

Overall, we have nothing extraordinary here, but do have everything necessary. There is nothing really remarkable about the South Bridge, too, but it also supports nearly all modern «must-haves». It doesn’t support SerialATA, but it is in fact of no importance here. Just look at this features list:

• USB 2.0 controller supports up to six ports (in our case, four external ones and two card-readers on the internal ports);
• IEEE1394 controller supports up to three ports (two implemented in our device);
• IDE controller supporta two ATA33/66/100/133 channels (up to four devices totally supported);
• Integrated six-channel audio;
• Integrated modem;
• Integrated 10/100MB LAN.

And here are the same things shown on a schematic picture:

In short, this is an ordinary last-year Pentium 4 chipset. It is of course less powerful than i875 or even i865, but this is not very critical for a barebone system.

Video

Now, let’s add a few words about the graphics core integrated into the chipset. It is called SiS 315 and I doubt many of you remember it :). So, here is a brief summary of the key features from the SiS 315 specs:

• Maximum core frequency is 166MHz;
• AGP 4x support;
• FSAA support (Supersampling);
• Rendering of two textures per clock cycle;
• Support of SDRAM and DDR SDRAM with a frequency of up to 166MHz;
• Memory bus (theoretically) is 128bit wide;
• DVD video motion compensation;
• 375MHz RAMDAC;
• SiS 301 coprocessor may be used for outputting the signal to the second display and/or TV-set.

Briefly, this graphics chip was once competing with the well-known GeForce2 MX200 and in fact it was a worthy competitor due to its wider memory bus (compare with the 64bit bus in GeForce2 MX200) and the above-mentioned SiS 301 coprocessor, which was installed on 99% of all SiS315 based cards. Thus, the cards were quite fast-performing and with a number of outputs.

However, this was back in 2001. Moreover, in the present case, SiS 315 lost its two trumps because of the integration into the system chipset. The memory bus is only 64bit wide now (as they use PC2100/PC2700), while SiS 301 is, of course, missing. Two drawbacks were also added: the graphics core works at 133MHz only (the North Bridge frequency), while indirect work with the memory results in various unpleasant latencies. The last nail into the lid of the coffin: the shared memory architecture, as usual, undercuts the performance of the main RAM - you will see it clearly in the fourth part of this review.

Thus, we have a graphics chip with a 2x1 pipeline formula (i.e. it will be even slower during multi-texturing), working at a frequency of 133MHz, with only one RAMDAC and slow 133/166MHz DDR SDRAM across a 64-bit bus. The memory bandwidth is only 2-2.5GB/s, theoretically. In reality, there will be numerous latencies to drive this theoretical speed down. Moreover, this graphics chip kills some of the main system performance.

So, the graphics subsystem of the MEGA system made a somewhat gloomy impression. We will have it benchmarked soon, so be patient.

I guess no one really needs a description of the Pentium 4 processor, do you?  So, we go right over to the computer itself.

Part III, Practical

We are going to take a look at all the components of the MEGA system and then will try to assemble them back into the small case. The latter process should be rather exciting, I should say.

Mainboard

The backbone of the computer, its mainboard, has very small dimensions:

Now you can examine everything to get the way of things. As you see, the mainboard is crammed with various internal connectors. As for the external connectors, they are at the back panel:

Somehow, there is no modem connector in the snapshot. However, it exists, at least in our MEGA. Now comes the front panel:

The connectors are all in place.

Everything is placed neatly and conveniently. The front panel carries just the connectors you work with from the front. By the way, the back panel also has a radio-antenna connector, but it didn’t «fit into the shot» as it is located a little above.

It’s a nice fact that nearly all potential capabilities of the chipset were implemented: network, modem, IEEE1394, USB 2.0 (only four ports of six, but that’s not bad anyway), video, and a lot of audio input and output ports.

Processor Cooler

A non-standard computer needs a cooler to match. Judging by its serious looks, it can cope with a Pentium 4 2.8GHz CPU as mentioned in the specs.

As you see, the cooler has certain design peculiarities. The fan is placed aside. It blows the air through the heatsink right into the holes in the system case.

The cooler fan rotation speed is flexibly controlled depending on the CPU temperature. Accordingly, under small workload, the computer is quite silent, but when I ran Unreal Tournament 2003, the fan was wailing perceptibly.

Sound Speakers

As I have already mentioned above the speakers are packed into a wooden case. They include a master (right) one with connectors and controls. The set is powered through the PSU (DC 12V/0.8A, if you are curious).

Card-Reader

This card-reader is a gift. Firstly, it is truly universal, reading the popular Compact Flash (CF) and Secure Digital/MultiMedia Card (SD/MMC) formats as well as rather exotic SmartMedia (SM) and Memory Stick (MS). And there are only two slits for all this wealth!

Secondly, the reader fits fine into the overall design theme of the MEGA. Thirdly, it is a USB 2.0 compliant device, thus is quite quick with its cards.

So, the reader is a nice bonus from Microstar. It is optional, but all MEGA systems I saw so far are sold with this card reader.

The only disadvantage of having this reader is the fact that it occupies the second (and the last available) 3.5” bay, so you may forget about a second HDD or floppy drive. On the other hand, what do you need a floppy-drive for, if you have the reader?

Remote Control Unit

Yet another nice accessory. The remote control is elegant and handy both for its weight/dimensions and the number/placement of buttons. It differs for the better in this respect from the stuff coming with many TV-tuners.

The upper buttons in the remote control are for work with the TV. Unfortunately, the MEGA we got for our tests doesn’t include a TV-tuner, which is an optional component. Anyway, I guess it is convenient to manage every component of the MEGA from a single remote control unit.

One more nice thing about the MEGA is that the IR-receiver is built into the case, but doesn’t hang down on a wire like it is the case with many TV-tuners.

Assembly

So, let’s get together the whole thing. Our MEGA came like that:

• The case with the motherboard already installed;
• The card-reader installed into the lower 3.5” bay;
• The cooler.

Thus, our task was to install the CPU, memory modules, optical and hard disk drives. To start with, we take everything out for easy processor installation. The CPU cooler is rather bulky and takes nearly all of the free space:

After CPU installation, we take the hard disk drive. A contraption like slides is mounted on it and the drive is screwed to the upper 3.5” bay. The optical drive comes last into the uppermost bay. Note that the HDD is installed upside down (or, electronics up, if you like). The meaning of this engineering decision is rather obscure. Maybe this helps to save a few cubic centimeters of precious inter-case space. Here is the way it looks:

The last thing is installing the memory modules. This process is very easy, even easier than with most standard desktop computers:

So, if you ever choose to make a memory upgrade, you will have no problems with installation at all. Just pick off the system case cover. By the way, the HDD is also replaced with ease. You don’t have to take out the optical drive or cooler, just extract the HDD from aside.

This is actually it. This is the entire assembly. But I’ve got one more thing on my mind - installation of a normal graphics card instead of the integrated graphics core. Those of you, who are going to use the MEGA for office work, watching movies and so on, may skip this section over. But if you want to play a game (even an old and not very resource-consuming one), the graphics card is strongly recommended. Again, we will have the integrated graphics core also tested in the fourth part of the review. For now, just believe my word.

So, let’s get to graphics card installation. This is one of the most unpleasant and complicated parts of the assembly procedure. Nevertheless, it is possible to fit a graphics card into the MEGA. The size of the card doesn’t matter much. Not only slim cards like GeForce4 MX440, but also GeForce4 Ti4400 can be installed into it. If I managed to install the latter card, nearly any other will do, too. The problem with R300/R350 and NV30/NV35 may only arise when you will try to connect additional power.

One more note, though. The only PCI slot available on the mainboard is in fact «shared». It means that on installing the graphics card into the AGP, you will lose the PCI slot. On the other hand, this is not a great loss, since all the peripherals you might want to use are already integrated, save for the optional TV-tuner, which should go into the PCI. Thus, you are offered a choice: running games on a good graphics card or watching TV channels. Or consider buying AGP combos...

Well, guys, the system is practically fitted together, although installation is not over yet.

Software Installation

There is nothing interesting here, in fact. The MEGA comes with two CDs. One of them contains CyberLink PowerDVD, which is of course a useful program, but rather widespread. The second disk contains drivers, a couple of utilities and a user’s manual. The manual is a thorough description of the MEGA, including the assembly process and the hints to using it as a music box.

The drivers are installed like that: throw in the CD, it autoruns, and the Setup program checks the hardware and offers to install all necessary drivers.

If the drivers have already been installed, the menu items appear in dark-gray rather than white.

Just like it was in case of VIA’s Epia system (see our Epic Platform: VIA EPIA M10000 Review), I don’t quite understand why the manufacturer doesn’t include an «Install All» menu item.

The utilities coming on the CD are MSI MEGA Radio (as you may have guessed, it works with the integrated radio-tuner) and MSI Live Update 2. That’s all about the software.

Part IV, User-Concerned

Now, that we’ve learned the theory about the internal structure of the MEGA and its components, it is time to see it in action. Plug it into the power supply, and its «music box» part wakes up. Well, on the first run, you will be asked to set up the clock. It is of no practical use, however, as the MEGA cannot record anything. You may even skip it - when the computer part is loaded, the clock is set to the BIOS time automatically. So, having done with the clock, press the «Hi-Fi» button to turn on the MEGA’s musical part.

First Avatar: Music Box

This incarnation of the MEGA cannot surprise anybody (if you don’t remember that it is actually a computer in the first hand). It is all standard: radio and CDs. You can listen to ordinary CD-DA disks and play MP3 files.

The radio is implemented in the most user-friendly way. You can seek for radio stations manually (that is, by setting the frequency in numbers with a precision of up to 0.01MHz) or automatically. Six stations can be «remembered» as presets. I don’t know where they picked this number from, though. Why not five or seven? On second thought, it’s better than three. :)

It’s not that easy with MP3. First, the notion of a folder is altogether absent. MP3 files can be played either sequentially or randomly. There is no third alternative. Any navigation about the disk is completely missing. The screen is not graphical and cannot display file names, not to mention the MP3 tags. These two minuses transform into one big disadvantage: to listen to a certain file, you have to know its number! The same goes for listening to a certain album. Thirdly, you can switch between tracks only by browsing through them! You cannot type in a number and jump straight to the desired file.

The playback of MP3 disks was good. I didn’t check all possible MP3 bit-rates, but the most popular - 128, 160 and 192Kbit/s - worked well. There were no problems with CD-R and CD-RW disks, as well as with 80mm media. Even an old 80mm CD-RW disk was read without errors.

A funny thing about WMA files... Having swallowed the disk, the MEGA wrote «SH». It means «wrong format» in its own lingo. It did try to play the files, but without much success. After a second of trying, it switched to the next track and so on. So, you cannot play WMA files. Well, no one actually promised this, but it was worth a try...

There is an equalizer, although only in the way of four presets: Normal, Pop, Classic and Jazz. Funny, the visualization in the LCD screen changes depending on the preset in use. Here is how it looks:

Normal

Pop

Classic

Jazz

The sound quality was up to the mark, at least, for me. The equalizer proved to be a glitchy thing, though. For example, “hard and heavy” music was noticeably wheezing with the Pop preset :). It also wheezed with Classic and Jazz presets, although less perceptibly.

Besides the equalizer, there is one more function - SRS (Sound Retrieval System), which «dramatically improves the quality of ordinary stereo» as the user manual claims. I wouldn’t judge whether it is dramatic or not, but the sound did improve (again, to my taste). Despite the availability of the card-reader, the MEGA cannot play flash cards, which is an inconvenience for people who store music on memory cards (owners of PDAa and some MP3-player models).

Yet another inconvenience is that the settings of the music box are dropped to default when the power is turned off. This is irritating when the electric mains go down or when you want to move the MEGA into another corner of your room.

So, the verdict is simple. You can use the MEGA as a music box, but only for impressing your guests or when you have very little free space and a standalone music box is too big for you. Or if you only need two things: a basic CD/MP3 player and radio, while other things are unnecessary.

Second Avatar: Personal Computer

First of all, note the following: the MEGA cannot be in its two incarnations at the same moment! If you use it as a computer, you won’t be able to use the MP3-player. It’s not a depressing fact, since there exist WinAmp and Windows Media Player. Radio is the only exception as you can listen to it even with the PC turned on. To do this, you only need to install a special program called MSI MEGA Radio.

The warning made, let’s get to the topic. Like any other barebone-system, MSI’s MEGA looks like a prodigy child :). It is all small and noiseless, but concealing the power of a Pentium 4 2.53GHz! And it does perform fast. So, we are running the benchmarks now to see how fast it is.

We tested MSI MEGA in comparison with a regular desktop Pentium 4 based system and AMD Athlon XP based system. The testbeds configurations looked as follows:

And here are the test results:

3DMark2001 unveils two key things. Firstly, the integrated graphics runs awfully slow. Secondly, the MSI MEGA is a great gaming system if you use an add-on graphics card.

You can see another proof to that in the second benchmark, Unreal Tournament 2003. The integrated graphics is down at the bottom, while the MEGA with the normal graphics card is in the lead.

The PCMark2002 test shows how badly the «shared memory» architecture tells on the overall system performance. We get a 25% performance boost by simply installing a regular graphics card. Moreover, you can install any card, even the same SiS 315 based one, for example. It only needs to have dedicated graphics memory.

The same things hold true in WinRAR.

That’s about all. There are two main points to emphasize. Firstly, it’s very desirable to install a graphics card into the MEGA. Even if you don’t play games. You will get an up to 25% performance boost by simply doing that, no matter how powerful the card is.

Secondly, the MEGA with a graphics card installed performs at a level of previous generation chips, at least. Sometimes, it outperforms them. And as a budget gaming system, the MEGA is beyond any competition, for sure.

Part V, Economical

What do we buy when purchasing the MEGA, and how much do we have to pay? First let me answer the second question. The MEGA costs about $270-$280. For this money, we get the following components (prices are not precise, since all the components are non-standard):

• Well-made system case: $50;
• Mainboard based on the SiS 651 chipset: $80;
• CPU cooler, capable of supporting a CPU like Pentium 4 2.8GHz: $10;
• CF/SD/MMC/SM/MS universal card-reader: $15;
• Radio-tuner: $10;
• Wooden cased stereo speakers: $20.
• Stylish looks, original design and «music box» features: put your own evaluation here.

So, we have an equation like $280 = $185 + the value of the features listed in the last item of the list. Do you have this equation right? If you do, then the MEGA is your system!