MSI Launches Z170I Gaming Pro AC Small Form factor Motherboard
Nice, I like it. MSI has released a Mini-ITX motherboard today in the enthusiast Intel Z170 flavor. The motherboard dubbed Z170I Gaming Pro AC is incredibly small, yet houses a lot of enthusiast class features. The motherboard obviously supports DDR4 memory (dual-channel) with support for XMP 2.0 profiles.
The design is based on a 5-phase VRM and the 17cm wide PCB can even host powerful graphics cards as you get a PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot, an mPCIe (WLAN card) and even an M.2 slot located at the backside. That M.2. slot is wired at x4 PCIe meaning heaps (32 Gb/s) of SSD bandwidth. This solution offers four SATA 6 Gb/s ports with support for even a SATA-Express 16 Gb/s connector. Display outputs are based on DisplayPort and HDMI.
You will also spot a Gigabit Ethernet interface (Intel), WIFI and yes, AC as it is 802.11 ac, and Bluetooth 4.0. It has onboard 8-channel audio and there also is a USB 2.0 port specialized for USB headsets, next to the Six USB 3.0 ports.
Have a peek at the photos, that's one yummie piece of hardware if you ask me.
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Senior Member
Posts: 167
Joined: 2013-10-13
I agree. Would be nice if they put some type of shield over it that matches the color scheme.
Junior Member
Posts: 16
Joined: 2006-03-04
The only thing separate me and this board is crazy dollar rate in my country.. Plus my i3770k still alive and well and underutilized.. But it's so itchy to upgrade :'(
PS: 8pin ATX is a bit weird though, like it got blocked with the Heatsink
Senior Member
Posts: 150
Joined: 2015-01-16
Well if you put a gfx card in it you wouldnt see it surely. That being said this is probably one of the best looking mini itx boards ive seen in awahile.
Senior Member
Posts: 1390
Joined: 2014-07-22
Wonder how a Nano would fit in that slot...?
Senior Member
Posts: 124
Joined: 2013-11-30
It looks good except for that awful looking wireless chip that stands out a mile. If they were going to do that, why not have it on the underside? First thing I would want to do if I got one of these is to cover that up.