Product Showcase
Product Showcase
The MSI A88X-G45 Gaming Edition is an ATX form factor motherboard typically intended for mainstream products. This however is a high-end grade product as you will see. This Gaming version comes equipped with that Killer Bigfoor NIC and also has an optimized audio solution run over the ALC 1150 Realterk audio codec. Let's have a quick peek at the box first, shall we? Below is the packaging and bundle. As you'll notice the motherboard is certainly a good looking motherboard alright, in that gaming black/red style.
Included with the MSI A88X-G45 Gaming Edition are the regulars including manuals, driver CDs, SATA cables and a rear IO plate. This motherboard strangely enough does not come with Bluetooth or a WIFI adapter. A bit of a miss, as AC WIFI is hip, up and coming.
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Socket FM2+
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CPU (Max Support) AMD Socket FM2+/ FM2 A-Series/Athlon Processors
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Chipset AMD A88X
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DDR3 Memory DDR3 2400(OC)/2133/1866/1600/1333 MHz
- Supports Dual-Channel mode
- Supports non-ECC, un-buffered memory
- Supports AMD Memory Profile (AMP)
- Supports Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
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Memory Channel Dual DIMM Slots 4 Max Memory (GB) 64
- 3 x PCIe x16 slots
- PCI_E2 supports PCIe 3.0 x16 speed*
- PCI_E5 supports PCIe 3.0 x8 speed*
- PCI_E6 supports PCIe 2.0 x4 speed
- 3 x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots
- 1 x PCI slots
The I/O back panel reveals two USB 2.0 ports with another six USB 3.0 ports. A Realtek ALC1150 high definition audio codec is the source for audio and we spot one 10/100/1000 fast Ethernet jack (KillerNIC E2205) There is even a single PS/2 combo port that can be used for either a keyboard or a mouse, optical SPDIF in/out port and six OFC (oxygen free) audio jacks.
Then monitor connectors wise:
- 1 x VGA port, supporting a maximum resolution of 1920x1200 @ 60Hz, 24bpp
- 1 x DVI-D port, supporting the maximum resolutions of 2560x1600@60Hz, 24bpp/ 1920x1200 @ 60Hz, 24bpp
- 1 x HDMI port, supporting the maximum resolutions of 4096x2160@24Hz, 36bpp/ 3840x2160@30Hz, 36bpp*/1920x1200@120Hz, 36bpp and 1920x1200@60Hz, 36bpp
- 1 x DisplayPort, supporting a maximum resolution of 4096x2160@24HZ, 24bpp
The integrated audio comes from Realtek, but does have a dedicated amplifier chip in addition to special capacitors, isolated PCB traces, some EMI shielding. I am loving the dark Capacitors, btw.
The board features full PCIe x16 Gen 3.0 expansion slots. MSI applied their Military Class IV components on the motherboard with updated DrMOS MosFETs and aluminum colored dark caps that are going to increase the motherboards lifespan. The board has a full 8-pin power feed for the processor located just behind the rear IO panel.
