The place it squarely in the transitional era between IDE and SATA, between single-core and multi-core computing. While it is obsolete for modern heavy tasks, it remains a sturdy, reliable platform for retro enthusiasts, budget home servers, or educational builds.
This is MSI's internal model designation (e.g., MS-7529 or MS-7181 ). Marketing Name: You may also see names like or . msi n1996 motherboard specifications
The marking is not actually a model number for an MSI motherboard. It is a regulatory compliance code (ACA supplier code) indicating that the product meets Australian electromagnetic compatibility standards. Consequently, many different MSI motherboards, graphics cards, and optical drives from various eras carry this same mark. The place it squarely in the transitional era
| Category | Specification | |-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | ATX (approx. 305mm x 244mm) | | CPU Socket | LGA 775 | | Chipset | Northbridge: Intel 945G / 945P Southbridge: ICH7 or ICH7R | | FSB | 533 / 800 / 1066 MHz (depending on CPU) | | Supported CPUs | Intel Core 2 Duo (e.g., E6300, E6400), Pentium D, Pentium 4, Celeron D | | Memory | 4x DDR2 DIMM slots Dual-channel Supports DDR2-400/533/667 (up to 4GB)| | Expansion Slots | 1x PCIe x16 1x PCIe x1 (or x4) 3x PCI 2.3 | | Storage | 4x SATA II (3 Gb/s) 1x Ultra ATA/100 (IDE, 2 devices, via JMicron or ICH7)| | Audio | Realtek ALC655 5.1-channel (AC’97) or ALC883 (HD Audio, in later revisions) | | LAN | Realtek RTL8100C or RTL8110SC (10/100 or Gigabit Ethernet) | | Rear I/O | PS/2 keyboard/mouse, 4x USB 2.0, 1x RJ45 LAN, 3x audio jacks, 1x serial port, 1x parallel port, VGA (only on 945G version) | | Internal I/O | 2x USB 2.0 headers (4 ports), 1x COM header, 1x LPT header, front audio header, S/PDIF out, chassis intrusion header | | BIOS | AMI BIOS with recovery jumper | Marketing Name: You may also see names like or
It is important to note that "N1996" is not a motherboard model number
: The first place to check would be MSI's official website. They have an archive of older products, but navigating through it might require patience. Use their search function or product categories to narrow down your search.