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MSI

MSI IM-PV-C DDR3 800 Socket P ATX Motherboard

An Intel Atom D525 onboard Mini-ITX platform that packs dual Gigabit Ethernet and five serial ports into a compact embedded computing foundation.

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Overview

The MSI IM-PV-C is a Mini-ITX motherboard built around the Intel Atom D525 processor and Intel NM10 chipset — a platform architected for continuous, low-power embedded operation rather than peak compute performance. The D525 runs at 1.8GHz with two cores and Hyper-Threading, presenting four logical threads to the OS while drawing under 10W TDP. That thermal profile enables fanless or low-airflow deployments. Memory is limited to 4GB DDR3-800 across two SODIMM slots in single-channel configuration — adequate for a dedicated appliance OS but a firm ceiling for any workload requiring significant in-memory data handling. What distinguishes this board is its I/O specification: dual independent Gigabit Ethernet controllers, five serial ports, and both VGA and DVI-I video outputs represent a feature density aimed squarely at industrial and network infrastructure applications.

The target deployment for this board is anywhere a small, low-power, continuously-running x86 platform is needed: pfSense or OPNsense firewall appliances leveraging both NICs, serial-connected industrial equipment requiring multiple COM ports, thin client or kiosk systems, or lightweight NAS builds using the three SATA2 ports. It is not a platform for gaming, video editing, or anything requiring GPU compute. The Mini-ITX form factor with ATX-compatible mounting holes means it can be housed in standard cases or purpose-built embedded enclosures interchangeably. For builders assembling a dedicated single-purpose appliance where the workload fits within the D525's envelope, this board offers a mature, stable platform with broad Linux driver support and a proven embedded deployment history.

Key Features

CPU (Included): Intel Atom D525 Processor

Chipset: North Bridge Intel NM10 & South Bridge?ICH8M

Memory: 2x DDR3-800 SODIMM Slots,?Single Channel,? Max Capacity of 4GB

Slots: 1x Mini PCI-Express Slot, 1x PCI Slot

SATA: 3x SATA2 Ports

LAN: Intel 82574L and Intel 82567V Gigabit Ethernet Controllers

Video: Intel GMA 3150 Graphics Controller

Ports: 8x USB 2.0Ports (4 rear,4 via headers), 5x Serial Ports (2 rear,3 via headers), 1xVGA Port, 1xDVI-I Port, 2x RJ45 LAN Ports, Audio I/O Jacks

Specifications

Processor
Intel Atom D525, Dual-Core, 1.8GHz (soldered)
Chipset
Intel NM10 (North Bridge) / ICH8M (South Bridge)
Memory
2x DDR3-800 SODIMM, Single-Channel, Max 4GB
Expansion Slots
1x Mini PCI-Express, 1x PCI
Storage
3x SATA2
LAN
Intel 82574L + Intel 82567V (Dual Gigabit Ethernet)
Video
Intel GMA 3150 (Integrated); VGA + DVI-I outputs
USB
8x USB 2.0 (4 rear, 4 via headers)
Serial Ports
5x Serial (2 rear, 3 via headers)
Form Factor
Mini-ITX

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Dual Intel Gigabit Ethernet controllers (82574L + 82567V) enable true network appliance deployments — firewall, router, or IDS — from a single low-power board
  • Five serial ports (two rear, three via headers) provide the legacy I/O density required for industrial control, point-of-sale, and embedded instrumentation applications
  • Mini-ITX form factor with an ATX mounting hole pattern offers flexible chassis compatibility across both compact and standard enclosures
  • Integrated Intel GMA 3150 with VGA and DVI-I outputs supports dual-display configurations without requiring a discrete graphics card
  • 3x SATA2 ports support adequate multi-drive storage for appliance OS plus data volumes without additional controllers

👎 Cons

  • 4GB DDR3-800 single-channel memory ceiling is a hard architectural limit — no upgrade path exists within this platform for memory-intensive workloads
  • The D525 at 1.8GHz dual-core delivers roughly the performance of a 2010-era netbook; any sustained compute task will saturate it quickly
  • Intel GMA 3150 graphics lacks hardware video decode acceleration for modern codecs, limiting media playback use cases
  • Mini PCIe and a single PCI slot provide minimal expansion bandwidth — no PCIe x4 or x16 means no high-throughput add-in cards
  • DDR3-800 is an obsolete memory standard; sourcing compatible SODIMM modules requires checking older inventory

Frequently Asked Questions

The D525 is soldered directly to the board — it is not upgradeable. At 1.8GHz dual-core with Hyper-Threading, this processor is permanently fixed to the platform, so CPU performance is a hard ceiling. Plan your workload around this constraint before purchasing.
The board accepts up to 4GB total across two SODIMM slots running DDR3-800 in single-channel configuration. Single-channel means memory bandwidth is half what a dual-channel platform would deliver, which is appropriate for the D525's modest compute throughput but should be factored in for any memory-bandwidth-sensitive applications.
The dual LAN configuration — Intel 82574L and Intel 82567V — is specifically designed for network appliance use cases such as firewalls, routers, VPN gateways, and traffic monitoring systems where you need physically separate ingress and egress network paths. This is not a feature you'd find on a standard desktop motherboard.
The board provides one Mini PCI-Express slot and one full-size PCI slot. The Mini PCIe is typically used for wireless cards or additional storage controllers; the PCI slot supports legacy expansion cards. There are no PCIe x4 or x16 slots, so GPU acceleration and high-bandwidth add-in cards are not viable on this platform.
The Intel NM10 chipset and D525 processor have broad Linux support, making this platform well-suited for lightweight Linux distributions used in embedded and appliance deployments. Windows support is limited to older versions compatible with the Atom architecture; the integrated GMA 3150 graphics has limited driver support on Windows 10 and later.

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