MSI Z68A-GD65 (G3) Review

  • Author: Martin
  • Published: Jan 13, 2012
  • Price: £155
  • Rating: 10 /10

Introduction

Motherboard reviews would always be incomplete without added MSI to the list, so here we have the MSI Z68A-GD65 (G3) motherboard. This board is considered by many to be the number one Z68 series motherboard. One of the main features on this board is its more advanced and updated BIOS interface, which makes overclocking extremely easy for all 2nd generation Intel LGA1155 processors. The MSI Z68A-GD65 has been created to upgrade the present and be prepared for the future as it features newer PCI Express Generation 3, which will in the future support “Ivy  bridge”, which if your unfamiliar is the new 22nm processors. The PCI-e Gen 3 functionality also allows for insertion of upcoming graphics cards coming out of both AMD and NVIDIA. The GD65 also holds more interesting features, so let’s check it out...

Features

Military Class II components: Top quality & stability
• OC Genie II: Auto OC to boost performance in 1 sec
• ClickBIOS: Easy-to-use UEFI BIOS interface
• Super Charger: fast charge iPad/iPhone/smartphone
• THX TruStudio PRO: deliver the fullest audio experience
• Support USB 3.0 & SATA 6Gb/s

To see full descriptions of individual features check out the MSI Website.

Specification

CPU SUPPORT:

Intel Socket 1155 2nd Gen Core Family/Unlock Processor

POWER DESIGN:

CPU Power: 8+2 phase
Memory Power: 1 Phase

CHIPSET:

Intel Z68 Express

INTEGRATED GRAPHICS:

Intel Integrated (via installed CPU)

MEMORY:

4 x DIMM, Max. 32 GB, DDR3 1066 to DDR3 2133

BIOS:

MSI UEFI BIOS with 32 Mb Flash ROM

SLOTS:

2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots(x16/0 or x8/x8)
3 x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots
2 x PCI v2.3 slots

HDD CONNECTIVITY:

4 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s (Intel Z68)
2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s (Intel Z68)
2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s (Marvell 88SE9128)

NETWORKING:

1 x Realtek 8111E PCIe Gigabit Lan

PORTS:

10 x USB 2.0 ports (4 at back panel, 6 at front panel)
4 x USB 3.0 ports (2 at back panel, 2 at front panel)
1 x PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Combo connector
1 x HDMI port
1 x DVI port
1 x VGA port 2 x RJ45 LAN connectors
8 x Audio port with 6 analogue audio jacks + 2 Digital

AUDIO:

Realtek ALC892 HD CODEC

FORM FACTOR:

ATX Form Factor( 305 mm x 245 mm )

MSI FEATURES:
  • Military Class II Components
  • THX TruStudio PRO
  • PCI Express Gen 3
  • Click BIOS II
  • OC Genie II
  • Lucid Virtu software bundle
  • Super Charger
  • M-Flash
  • APS(Active Phase Switching)
  • Winki 3
  • DrMOS

 

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