MSI Z77 MPower Review
Introduction and Technical Specifications
Published: 26th October 2012 | Source: MSI | Price: |
Introduction
Unlike some other manufacturers, MSI have a clear division between each model in their range, from the lowly G45 up to the enthusiast GD80. It's a simple system with a bigger number meaning a higher end motherboard, and few branches off the path.
The Big Bang nomenclature is reserved for the highest models in the range. Where Gigabyte has a UD7, ASUS the 'Extreme', so MSI have a Big Bang. Each model comes with a different suffix, and today we're taking a look at the latest in their range, the Z77 Big Bang MPower.
Military Class III is the big buzzword with the MSI MPower. Polymer capacitors, Super Ferrite Chokes and MSI's own DrMos II ensure that the MPower really does live up to its name. The Military Class isn't just a bit of meaningless advertising blurb either. These components have passed the MIL-STD-810G test, which is the United States Military Standard for ensuring that items are tested to the very extremes, and thus worthy of use with the Department of Defence. Given how much of a pounding they'll get in the field, it's pretty safe to bet that they'll be indestructible on your desk.
Technical Specifications
With only three PCI Express slots, the MPower is designed more for realistic home use, rather than any attempts at Quad-GPU world records. PCI slots isn't the only area in which the MPower takes the 'less is more' route, as it's also without a 1394 port, only one LAN connector and no eSATA. For nearly everybody these aren't deal breakers, as they are features that most people ignore or even disable, but it's worth noting if you're heavily reliant upon a Firewire connection or similar.
| CPU | Supports 3rd Gen Intel® Core™ i7 / Core™ i5 / Core™ i3 / Pentium® / Celeron® processors for LGA 1155 socket |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Intel® Z77 |
| DDR3 Memory |
2200*/2400*/2600*/2667*/2800*/3000*(OC, 22nm CPU required) |
| Memory Channel | Dual |
| DIMM Slots | 4 |
| Max Memory (GB) | 32 |
| PCI-Ex16 | 3 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots |
| PCI-E Gen | Gen3 |
| PCI-Ex1 | 4 x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots |
| PCI | N/A |
| IDE | N/A |
| SATAIII | 2 |
| SATAII | 4 |
| RAID | 0/1/5/10 |
| LAN | Supports one PCI Express LAN 10/100/1000 Fast Ethernet by Realtek® 8111E Supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| TPM | 1 |
| USB 3.0 ports (Rear) | 6 USB 3.0 rear I/O ports (2 ports by Intel® Z77, 4 ports by Renesas® uDP72020) |
| USB 2.0 ports (Rear) | 1 USB 3.0 onboard connector by Intel® Z77 |
| Audio ports (Rear) | Chipset integrated by Realtek® ALC898 Flexible 8-channel audio with jack sensing Compliant with Azalia 1.0 Spec |
| Serial ports (Rear) | N/A |
| Parallel ports (Rear) | N/A |
| 1394 ports (Rear) | N/A |
| eSATA | N/A |
| Display Port | 1 |
| DrMOS II | Y |
| HDMI | 1 |
| DVI | N/A |
| VGA Max Share Memory (MB) | 1760 |
| DirectX | DX11 |
| Form Factor | 30.5cm(L) x 24.5cm(W) ATX |
| Internal Connections | 3 x USB 2.0 connectors 1 x USB 3.0 connector 1 x Multi BIOS Switch 1 x TPM Module connector 1 x Front Panel connector 1 x Front Panel Audio connector 1 x Chassis Intrusion connector 1 x Voice Genie connector (optional) 1 x MultiConnect Panel connector (optional) 1x Debug LED panel 1 x V-Check Points Set 1 x Power button 1 x OC Genie button 1 x Reset button 1 x Clear CMOS jumper 1 x GO2BIOS button CPU x 1 / System x 4 FAN connectors ATX 24-pin Power Connector ATX 8-pin Power Connector ATX 6-pin Power Connector |
| Multi-GPU | • Supports ATI® CrossFire™ Technology • Supports NVIDIA® SLI™ Technology • Supports Lucid® Virtu Universal MVP |
Most Recent Comments
I was going to buy this board but my GPU is dying, so I need to replace that first
Technology, why u always brake on me? :\
Power. the lil bells went off in my head and waited (not long) till MPower was
available. call me vain, but the MPower is worth the lil extra for the color scheme
over the GD65. the actual specs are user necessities. no extra frills, just needed
parameters to have. soon as i thin the inventories down, MPower, you are MINE!
airdeano
/looks at P7N SLI Platinum board (Folding related tho!)
Great looking board, only wish that it'd been out when I was buying my motherboard
Hope they follow suit for Haswell's MPower.
a fantastic looking board and a proper bargain
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Today we take a look at the top of the range Z77 motherboard from MSI, the MPower.
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