Product Showcase

Product Showcase

The MSI Z170A SLI PLUS follows a standard form factor (30.5x24.4cm / 12in x 9.6in). The motherboard is located in the Gaming PRO range and is considered to be a mainstream product within this new Skylake desktop processor range. 

Check it out first, not bad for just over 150 bucks eh? Included with the motherboard are the regulars including; manuals, driver CDs, SATA cables and a rear IO plate.

• CPU support: Skylake Desktop class Intel Core processors
• Chipset: Intel Z170 Chipset
• 1x Gigabit Ethernet (Intel)
• Storage: 
  • 6x SATA 6Gb/s Intel
  • 1x M.2, PCIe 32 Gb/s
• Connectivity: 
  • 3x PCI-E 3.0 x16  (single at x16 / dual at x8 / triple at x8 - x8 - x4)
  • 3x PCI-E 3.0 x1
• USB 3.0 / 3.1 
• 8-channel Audio ALC1150 Realtek

Included in the bundle is one interesting looking motherboard and gear like: four SATA cables, SLI connector, REAR I/O bracket, the driver CD and a set of manuals. Pretty basic but sure, all we need really.
 

The I/O back panel reveals a flurry of 3.1/3.0/2.0 ports. A Realtek ALC1150 high definition audio codec is the main source for audio. You will spot one 10/100/1000  Gigabit Ethernet jack (Intel I219-V). Included is both a PS/2 port for a keyboard and mouse. Lacking btw is an optical SPDIF out port but you could drive that multi-channel audio through HDMI of course. You do get six analog audio jacks. If you plan to use the integrated IGP of the processor, you can make use of a D-sub (VGA), HDMI or DVI connectors. There is no DP present. This motherboard unfortunately this motherboard also does not come with a WIFI solution.

The board has 3 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots which can be arranged in these slot configurations with graphics cards:

• 1-way mode - x16 / x0 / x0 
• 2-way mode - x8 / x8 / x0
• 3-way mode - x8 / x8 / x4

As you can see these are PCI Express Gen 3.0 configurations, that's plenty for regular graphics card setups up-to 2-way SLI/Crossfire. 

The motherboard comes with an 8-pin power connector and if you want to use it, another 4-pin as well. You'll get four DIMM slots that can be used for up-to 64GB of dual-channel memory. We use a new 3200 MHz kit from G.skill which we'll feature in detail in this review.
 

Back Panel I/O Ports

• 1x HDMI port, supports a maximum resolution of 4096x2160@24Hz, 2560x1600@60Hz
• 1x VGA port, supports a maximum resolution of 2048x1536@50Hz, 2048x1280@60Hz, 1920X1200@60Hz
• 1x DVI-D port, supports a maximum resoulution of 1920x1200@60Hz
• 1x PS/2 keyboard port
• 1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port
• 2x USB 3.1 Gen1 ports
• 1x LAN (RJ45) port
• 2x USB 2.0 ports
• 6x audio jacks

And yes, the backside has an audio LED (red) trace running upwards. Unfortunatly there are no LEDs installed hence it does not light up.