Audio and Video included

Creative-Ensoniq

Targeted as what is meant to be the "all-in-one" solution motherboard, the MSI 6147 includes not just onboard audio, but also onboard video. The audio chipset is a genuine Creative chipset, based on the same chipset that the retail Ensoniq PCI cards use. On the music playback side, the Ensoniq chipset provides 32 wavetable voices, and supports a standard 2-speaker stereo setup. No 3D positional audio here. Driver support is maintained by downloading the latest Ensoniq PCI drivers, and since Creative is good about frequently updating audio drivers, that shouldn't be a concern. The Ensoniq chipset also supports external CD-in, Auxiliary-In, and Modem-In, all provided as headers on the motherboard.

ATI Rage Pro Turbo 2x

This chipset was touted as the first one to utilize the 2x AGP bus. The Rage Pro Turbo is a 64-bit graphics chipset, which either runs on a 66 MHz (AGP 1x), or 133 MHz (AGP 2x) bus and has sideband addressing. Additionally, this chipset supports AGP texturing, but don't expect to get "suspension-of-disbelief" framerates out if it.

ATI Rage Pro Turbo

AGP 1x or 2x

Sideband Addressing

AGP Texturing

1.2 million triangles/sec

8MB 100 MHz SDRAM

230 MHz DAC

4K On-Chip Texture Cache

16-bit Z-buffer

While MSI took the initiative to include quality onboard components, a power user or hardcore gamer will look to upgrade both audio and video, in order to achieve the latest in 3D audio and video. These onboard chipsets do make for good starter PCs, though.