msi z97 gaming 7 atx lga1150 motherboard

#Msi z97 gaming 7 atx lga1150 motherboard software
#Msi z97 gaming 7 atx lga1150 motherboard Pc
#Msi z97 gaming 7 atx lga1150 motherboard series
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We probably won’t see more than a trickle of SATAe drives until next year. MSI argues that SATAe devices are too rare, and it has a point. PCIe drives hook into dedicated storage lanes in the chipset, while SATA drives connect via the Z97’s SATA controller.ĭespite the chipset’s support for SATA Express, the Z97 Gaming 7 forgoes the nascent standard. The mini SSD slot accepts both PCIe and SATA drives up to 80 mm long. Motherboard makers must use third-party chips if they want to provide PCI slots, and I suspect few gamers are clinging to expansion cards compatible with the old-school standard.Īn M.2 expansion slot is nestled near the bottom of the stack. Intel dropped PCI support from its chipsets years ago. PCI expansion didn’t make the cut, which shouldn’t be a surprise. In addition to the x16 slots linked to the CPU, there are four PCIe x1 slots attached to the Gen2 controller in the Z97. Dual-double-wide setups have room to breathe, there’s enough space for two triple-wide cards, and three double-wide cards can be stacked in cases with eight expansion slots. MSI does a particularly good job with the slot spacing. The three-way mode works with AMD’s CrossFire tech, but SLI support is limited to dual-card configs. Those lanes can be routed only to the first slot, split evenly between the first and second slots, or spread across all three in an x8/x4/x4 setup. The board splits the 16 PCI Express 3.0 lanes hanging off the CPU between a trio of x16 slots. Gamers are the most likely to multi-card graphics configs, so it’s only fitting that the Z97 Gaming 7 has robust support for such configurations. Since we can’t confirm compatibility with every hardware combo, we’ve included some detailed socket-area measurements later in the review. Standard-height modules shouldn’t be an issue, but taller DIMMs can bump into some heatsinks. As is usually the case with Intel boards, the most likely source of cooler conflict is the array of DIMM slots next to the socket. There’s plenty of room between the CPU socket and the top PCIe x16 slot, too. The VRM heatsinks may threaten to take a chunk out of your knuckles, but they’re only about an inch tall, so they shouldn’t interfere with larger aftermarket coolers. The heatsinks already crowd the area around one of the retention holes, and their little claws represent another obstacle that must be negotiated when installing the CPU cooler. As much as I appreciate the continuity, the socket area isn’t the best place for pointy bits of metal. MSI carries the dragon theme over to the VRM heatsinks, which are designed to resemble claws. There aren’t too many of those, which keeps the aesthetic pretty subdued overall.

Once the Z97 Gaming 7 is stuffed inside a case, all you’re likely to see is the glow of its LEDs. The VRM heatsinks have a bloodier tone, while PCH cooler exudes more of a Ferrari vibe.Īnd there’s a dragon. Unfortunately, the color matching is a little off. The splashes of color on the heatsinks are the only real deviations from the darkness.

#Msi z97 gaming 7 atx lga1150 motherboard free

The matte PCB surface is especially nice, and the landscape is largely free of excessive lettering and other silk-screened graphics.

This is really a blacked-out board with subtle hints of red here and there. The Z97 Gaming 7 also has the requisite black-and-red color scheme that’s become the de facto standard for gaming boards. And don’t forget all the trappings associated with the Z97 chipset, like support for future Broadwell CPUs and PCIe SSDs.

#Msi z97 gaming 7 atx lga1150 motherboard Pc

This $184.99 offering is a little more upscale without going overboard it’s equipped with three PCIe x16 slots hanging off the CPU, Sound Blaster-infused audio, slick fan speed controls, and a collection of little touches that are sure to please seasoned PC builders. One of the most interesting is the Z97 Gaming 7.

#Msi z97 gaming 7 atx lga1150 motherboard series

It just welcomed a bunch of new members based on Intel’s 9 Series chipset, including eight that use the enthusiast-oriented Z97 variant. MSI’s gaming motherboard family has grown to span multiple price points, CPU sockets, and form factors. Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

#Msi z97 gaming 7 atx lga1150 motherboard software

They usually have different audio and networking components, plus bundled software and other extras, but they’re otherwise similar to ostensibly non-gaming models. Gaming-specific boards typically involve subtle tweaks to the tried-and-true enthusiast formula. If you’re unfamiliar with this particular sub-genre, here’s the lowdown. The company rolled out a deep lineup of so-called gaming boards last year, democratizing a style that had been largely limited to high-end offerings with premium prices. Motherboard makers have been increasingly eager to cash in on that trend, and MSI may be most aggressive among them. Despite the overall downturn in the PC industry, all indications suggest the gaming segment of the market is growing.