MSI Z97 Gaming 5 Motherboard Review

MSI Z97 Gaming 5 Review

Introduction

As we await the latest Intel CPU’s it’s time for us to take a look at the MSI Z97 Gaming 5.

The Gaming range from MSI has been one of the best performing series of anything we’ve seen in recent times, with both the graphics cards and motherboards combining fantastically low pricing with excellent performance and looks, to really be all things to all people.

We’ve already looked at the all-caps MPOWER MAX AC, and found it to be a good price with medium performance, let down badly by a few design decisions that were almost willfully unhelpful.

The Gaming 5, at a seriously low price, returns to the regular MSI style and so hopefully it reaps the benefits of being part of their Gaming range. Certainly the Gaming range is now enormous, with 3,5,7 and 9 models, as well as G45, GD65, and iTX options available. It’s a crowded array of models, so has the Gaming 5 got enough to stand out from the crowd?

Technical Specifications

Initial specifications are almost identical to all the Z97s we’ve reviewed so far. We have speedy DDR3 options, a good selection of connectivity and enough PCI Express lanes to satisfy all but the most power-hungry user.

But as always the dry specs don’t tell the full story so let’s take a look at what is on offer.

MSI Z97 Gaming 5 Review Â