Introduction
The MSI Z77 with a killer NIC and SoundBlaster audio
We review, test and benchmark the MSI Z77 GD65 Gaming series motherboard. The Z77 gaming themed mainboard is intended for Intel's 22nm Ivy Bridge processors on Socket LGA1155. It is the new flagship product amongst the MSI gaming series LOADED with features and overclock potential, it has the latest Killer E2200 chip and SoundBlaster Cinema audio. Oh and of course new gorgeous looks. This motherboard comes even with an impressive VRM design. Oh and is 8 SATA ports enough for ya ? Or what about three PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots KillerNIC integrated LAN and SLI / CrossFireX multi-GPU support ?
- The highest frag and the lowest lag with Killer E2200.
- Game networking.
- Military Class III components.
- Gaming device port.
- Optimized for multiple graphics cards.
- Boosting performance thanks to OC Genie II.
- Top quality audio solution with Sound Blaster Cinema.
- Supports DDR3 3000 memory.
Z77 is of course the Intel chipset set predominantly released for Ivy Bridge based processors. These motherboards will have a slightly altered feature set and thus fully support the Ivy Bridge CPUs from Intel. Good to know however is that Z77 also supports Sandy Bridge Socket 1155 based processors. MSI's gaming line has been introduced to bring some new life towards the Ivy Bridge platform, though Haswell is luring around the corner MSI took the DNA of the GD65 motherboard and revamped it. The end result is a cool motherboard on a black and red/purple design whilst being armed with a Killer NIC, a dedicated OC that should ensure low PING times for online gamers by prioritizing your band-with whilst giving you the option to monitor your network traffic.
| MSI Z77A-GD65 Gaming | |
| Size | ATX |
| CPU Interface | LGA-1155 |
| Chipset | Intel Z77 |
| Memory Slots | Four DDR3 DIMM slots supporting up to 32 GB Up to Dual Channel, 1066-3000 MHz |
| Video Outputs | VGA DVI-D HDMI |
| Onboard LAN | Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2200/E2205 |
| Onboard Audio | Realtek ALC898 |
| Expansion Slots | 3 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16, x8/x8, x8/x4/x4) 4 x PCIe 2.0 x1 |
| Onboard SATA/RAID | 2 x SATA 6 Gbps (Chipset), RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 4 x SATA 3 Gbps (Chipset), RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 2 x SATA 6 Gbps (ASMedia), RAID 0, 1 |
| USB | 4 x USB 3.0 (Chipset) [2 back panel, 2 onboard] 10 x USB 2.0 (Chipset) [4 back panel, 6 onboard] |
| Onboard | 4 x SATA 6 Gbps 4 x SATA 3 Gbps 1 x USB 3.0 Header 3 x USB 2.0 Headers 5 x Fan Headers 1 x FireWire Header 1 x TPM Module connector Power/Reset Buttons OC Genie Button Multi-BIOS Switch Two-Digit LED Debug Voltage Check Points |
| Power Connectors | 1 x 24-pin ATX Power Connector 1 x 8-pin CPU Power Connector |
| Fan Headers | 1 x CPU (4-pin) 4 x SYS (2 x 4-pin, 2 x 3-pin) |
| IO Panel | 1 x Combination PS/2 Port 2 x USB 2.0 (Gaming Port enabled) SPDIF Outputs 2 x USB 2.0 2 x USB 3.0 1 x Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2205 NIC HDMI VGA DVI-D Audio Jacks |
| Warranty | 3 Years |
MSI used three times the amount of gold for two USB ports. As such the MSI Gaming Device Port is optimized for high polling rate mice (500 to 1000 Hz) which lowers your mouse's response time from 8 milliseconds to 1 millisecond! The additional gold plating on the ports enhances the durability drastically and ensures your PS/2 and USB ports are always working when you move towards that LAN party freak fest.Though still based on a Realtek chip, MSI integrates Sound Blaster Cinema as well, you're getting surround sound with even stereo headphones.
Anyway, have a peek at that all new design and then let's fire up this review.
