Product Showcase

Another new feature that you can clearly see is a shielded audio solution. MSI calls this Audio boost which is more than a metal shield of course (dark caps, the new realtek codec, shielding, headphone amplifier, software package). 

The audio circuitry is isolated from other features, you'll enjoy less interference is the generic idea here. Once powered on, there is a trace in the motherbaord that will light up. Kinda cool to see. The new Realtek ALX1150 HD Codec sits under there. Also a built-in (TI OPA1652 amplifier) headphone amplifier allows you to use studio-grade headgear and get the most amazing sound quality out of your gaming PC.

• Studio level integrated 600Ω headphone amplifier
• Golden audio jacks for pure audio signals
• EMI shielded audio codec
• High quality audio capacitors
• Illuminated audio PCB separation

So once you have it installed in your PC, there's this HALO of light emanating from the motherboard. Very nice. On the top side the once powered on an MSI logo lights up as there is a LED behind it, as well as an X on the left side of the heat sink.

Here the backside of the PCB. The Z97 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-year lifespan. The board is OC Certified is a military class burn-in test for motherboards and that means it has been tested vigurously.

MSI can offer you full quad SLI/Crossfire as they added a PLX8747 gen3 switch chip. This way you have the maximum available bandwidth for your testosteron filled benchmark runs with multiple GPUs.