A closer look at the specs on the MS-6119 reveal a few measures that were taken to help cut the board's cost .
First, there are only four PCI slots equipped on the board, with three ISA slots and one AGP port filling out the rest of the peripheral options. As with any four PCI slot equipped board, the overall expansion capability of the MS-6119 is more limited than some of its five PCI slot carrying rivals.
Another area where the MS-6119 shows its cost saving measures comes in the amount of DIMM sockets that are mounted on the board, in this case they total three. While three sockets is definitely the standard amount found on the majority of 440BX based mainboards, we've grown to love the few models available that offer a fourth DIMM socket for increased flexibility and practicality.
Other than those two areas, the MS-6119 shines in its list of features with support for up to 768MB of SDRAM, as well as full hardware/CPU stat monitoring. The hardware/CPU monitoring chip that enables the readings to occur is an option on the MS-6119, and seems to boost its price by about $10 versus a non-hardware sensing version. The monitoring function offers the following measurements to be obtained:
- Detection of all cooling fans as well as RPM display
- Voltage detection as well as display
- Mainboard temperature display
- CPU temperature display
- Optional system shutdown at user set temperature violation
These stats are trivial to the mainstream user, but essential for safety and stability to be obtained by the overclocking audience.
Speaking of overclocking, the MS-6119 proves to be a companion rather than an opponent when seeking higher MHz levels than stock from a user's CPU.
