Given the price of the K7T, we wouldn't expect extra amenities like the USB bracket that adds an additional pair of USB ports, but it would have definitely helped MSI to match the features of both the A7V and KT7-RAID. Instead, MSI leaves an available header on the motherboard so that an optional bracket may be attached to take advantage of the four USB ports supported by VIA's 686A South Bridge.

Onboard headers on the MS-6330 are, for the most part, standard fare. The K7T supports Wake-On-LAN, Wake-On-Ring, an infrared header, and two (rather than the standard three), three-pin fan headers. For the purpose of diagnosing boot-up problems, MSI includes the D-LED feature that displays a different code for each step of the boot process. A sticker is included to provide the key to each LED combination.

Instead of integrating an ATA/100 controller onto the motherboard, MSI has bundled their MS-6915 ATA/100 card. Equipped with a Promise PDC20267 controller chip, the 6915 must be used in conjunction with a supporting motherboard since the card lacks a BIOS of its own. The most recent BIOS revision adds the necessary support, and we were able to verify that the card operated flawlessly.

We received word from Promise Technology regarding the difference between the PDC20267 and the 20265 (found on the ASUS A7V). Apparently, the 20267 includes a built-in voltage regulator (3.3/5V) for backwards compatibility with older motherboards. Performance between the cards is identical, so there would be no difference between the A7V's controller and one found on an MSI 6915 controller card.

At the moment, it seems as though every consumer Intel platform is capped at a 512MB memory limit, making the 1.5GB ceiling of the K7T quite attractive. If you plan to rise above 512MB, make sure and buy quality RAM to avoid any potential problems the VIA chipset may encounter with heavy memory loads.