Reviews - MSI Z87-G45 Gaming

[HEXUS]

Ticking all the right boxes for an Intel Haswell build?

Read more.

[virtuo]

I've been looking for an opinion on these boards for my new build, glad it ticks Hexus's boxes. I don't like the dragon on it, though so am leaning heavily towards the MSI Z87 MPOWER. I believe they are pretty much the same board, but the MPower has been more heavily factory tested to ensure stability (or something).

[Butuz]

The MPOWER has onboard buttons and debug LCD, which are the two drawback's hexus list in this review - so I guess you could say it's the perfect motherboard!

I have the Z77 MPower and it's bloody great.

Butuz

[Butuz]

Ps I disagree with the negative points, as neither of it's competitors in the review have onboard buttons and debug LCD either so why mark it down? Espcially as the Asus is silly money and the Gigabyte is a low end board(lack of heatsinking will limit overvolting, pcislots, whuuuut??) at an MSI price.

My 2p.

Butuz

[Rob_B]

2D load is higher than 3D load? Have I missed something or is this due to clocks when a discrete card isn't available?

[Noxvayl]

Something I thought Hexus would highlight is the functionality of MSI's bundled software. The Live Update utility is great to use for all your required drivers, I will miss that feature when I go back to my repaired GA-Z77X-UD5H.

I got my Z77A-G43 Gaming motherboard to use when I sent off my faulty Gigabyte board because I wanted to see what a different manufacturer's board was like since I haven't used anything other than Gigabyte for 6 years now. I was pleased with the board but I am missing some of the higher end features that my Gigabyte board offered like dual BIOS that I can switch between, power button on the PCB, Load Line Calibration for overclocking and an eSATA slot on the back panel for my Icy Box HDD dock.

If MSI include an eSATA port at the back and PCB power button + debug LCD for their higher end Gaming motherboards I might go for one of them in my next build because I like the features their Gaming series has that the competition don't.

[lodore]

For not much more you can get the msi-z87-gd65-gaming which has onboard debug and on board buttons. I have the gd65 and think it is a great board.
I like the dragon theme and Also got two matching 770's to go with it.

[mikolaj87]

Great review, thanks for sharing!

[Tarinder]

The numbers are correct, Rob_B, as the all-core CPU load is higher than when the IGP is running a game.

[Rob_B]

Aaah, that's what I thought it might be

[Heighnub]

Spent an age looking for Z87 boards for my new build. Installed this board two weeks ago with an i4770 and am very, very pleased with my purchase.

[Popeye46]

Have you looked at the MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming Intel Z87 Socket 1150 Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130692

[maza90210]

looks like an amazing mobo, the only flaw I can find on this mobo is the brown PCB, (is it brown? I'm pretty blind lulz) I guess that can be solved by bathing it with red LEDS EVERYWHERE!

[ChinesePate]

it is brown alright, but you need a very close look to see that