MSI Z97 Gaming 9 AC Motherboard Review - Introduction

Z97 Gaming 9 AC Motherboard - very VERY easy on the eyes.

Today we review the MSI Z97 Gaming 9 AC motherboard, probably is one of the most aesthetically pleasing Z97 motherboards available on the market. MSI took the Z97 chipset and then started adding with the results a gorgeous motherboard that has SLI/Crossfire support, AC WIFI, heaps of SATA3 connectors, overclock features, adding a very nice audio solution. Join us in a the Z97 Gaming 9 AC review, a product that is bound to please the PC gamer.

Intel released their series 9 chipsets, among them will be low-end and high-end desktop solutions. For the consumers and readers of Guru3D, H97 and Z97 will be the two most interesting ones. For the HTPC end of things H97 is the most appealing as tweaking options are stripped away with a lower price-tag. For the more hardcore gamers and PC aficionados, the Z97 is the most interesting. Z97 by itself as a chipset is nothing special. HOWEVER, we have plenty to look at as the motherboard manufacturers went totally nuts and started redesigning their motherboards, added new features and made them extraordinarily cool. You'll spot new redesigns build on the DNA of Z87 yet improved massively. Cool looks, features like AC WIFI, M2 SSDs and Sata Express will bring some very interesting features onto the market. So if (at the time) you didn't upgrade to Z87, now might be a good time. 

Now back to MSI, the Gaming series really is supposed to be the mainstream model but I'd tag this is enthusiast class alright. This MSI Z97 Gaming 9 AC will come with nice PC options like 8-pin EPS connectors, a 12-phase VRM design for the processor, three PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots (x8/x4/x4 three cards / x8/x8/x0 when two cards and x16/x0/x0 with one card).

There is actually an EMI shield covers the rear-panel I/O on-board audio is shielded as well. The board comes with a Killer E2205 gigabit NIC and 802.11 AC WLAN. Storage wise you will get eight SATA 6 Gb/s and of course an M.2 slot. Overclocking features include voltage measurement points, and POST LED display. Other keywords for this product are V-Check Points 2, OC Engine, Military Class IV components, M.2 interface, Audio Boost 2. The 9-Series gaming series is merged under that large Dragon/Dragoon style Gaming G-Series heatsink.

All-in-all this motherboard offers it all, so join me in an extensive review and overview of what MSI has to offer with the MSI Z97 Gaming 9 AC motherboard, next page please.