Product Showcase

Product Showcase

The MSI Z87I Gaming AC is a Mini ITX motherboard, typically intended for entry level to mainstream products. This however is a high-end class product. It has as much features as its 17x17CM surface area allows it to mount. This gaming AC version comes equipped with that Killer Bigfoor NIC, AC/b/g/n WIFI and WIDI 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 Z87I Gaming AC are the regulars including manuals, driver CDs, SATA cables and a rear IO plate. However, notice the two gold colored pins. This motherboard comes with a Bluetooth and WIFI adapter. In fact it can do WIDI (wireless display) as well.

• CPU support: 4th Gen Intel Core™ / Pentium / Celeron processors
• Chipset: Intel Z87 Express Chipset
• Network: Killer E2205 Gigabit Ethernet, Intel 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, BT 4.0, Intel Wi-Di
• Storage: 5x SATA 6Gb/s, 1x eSATA 6Gb/s
• Display Interface: 1x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI, 1x DL-DVI-I
• Connectivity: 1x PCI-e 3.0 x16, 6x USB 3.0, 4x USB 2.0, 8-channel Audio Boost

Now how good does that look, small eh? Both products follow the ITX form factor that menas that the motherboard is 17x17 cm, and that graphics card is only 17 cm in length.

Basically if you are watching the above photo on a full HD screen of say 24", that's roughly the correct / real size.

The I/O back panel reveals two USB 2.0 ports with another four 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 DisplayPort with max. resolution up to 4096x2160@24Hz, 24bpp/ 3840x1600@60Hz, 24bpp
• 1 x HDMI ports  with max. resolution up to 4096x2160@24Hz, 24bpp/2560x1600@60Hz, 24bpp/ 1920x1080@60Hz, 36bps.
• 1x DVI-I connector

Can you see the small grey buttons? The lower one is a clear CMOS button. The two antennas indicate it already; WIFI, Bluetooth and WIDI are persent as well. The Gaming AC motherboard has full AC/b/g/n WIFI, with the right router you could achieve 867Mbps. That's more theorethical though, still you'll have plenty of bandwith available if you got your WIFI network up and running properly with the right gear.

The integrated audio comes from realtek, but does have a dedicated amplifier chip in addition to special capacitors, isolated PCB traces, some EMI shielding. On top of that, Creative's Sound Blaster Cinema software kicks in surround virtualization for stereo playback. So there is an imporvement as well.

As small as it really is, the motherboard is just gorgeous to look at really. The Z87I Gaming AC has a 6 Phase Digital Power Design. The board features one full PCIe x16 Gen 3.0 expansion slot, that's it. But yeah, you do have the the maximum available bandwidth for your testosterone filled benchmark runs with a high-end dedicated graphics card. 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 even has a full 8-pin power feed for the processor located just behind the rear IO panel. Interestingly enough we reached an overclock of 4800 Mhz stable with this few power phases and power leads. Sometimes you do wonder what the 32-phase motherboards are all about, eh?

The Z87I Gaming AC is built with Military Class IV components that entails DrMOS 4 - Hi-c CAP - SFC (Super Ferrite Choke) and usage of Solid capacitors, now Dark Capacitors, with their aluminum core design. Dark CAP's have been a staple in high-end motherboard design and provides lower Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) as well as its over-10-years lifespan. These boards survive a military class burn-in test for motherboards and that means it has been tested vigurously.