Looking to upgrade your computer? As gamers ourselves, we understand how crucial it is that your equipment is reliable and up to snuff if you want to have a good time. The features of the MSI Z97 Gaming 5 Motherboard are unparalleled. If you're having difficulties settling on a motherboard, this blog post should help.
MSI is a multinational corporation with over 30 years of experience in the computer hardware industry. A look at their latest product, the MSI Z97 Gaming 5 motherboard, reveals a company that has always prioritised gaming machines. From its capabilities to the reasons you would desire one, this piece covers it all.
As a player, you understand the significance of a high-quality gaming computer. You need a robust central processing unit and a robust graphics card to get the most out of your gaming experience. Msi has been creating high-quality gaming hardware for many years, and their Z97 Gaming 5 motherboard includes everything a gamer would want at a reasonable price. Not only does this board look great with its sleek black design and flashy red accents, but it also packs a big punch thanks to its Intel Core i7 4790k processor and Nvidia Geforce GTX 770 graphics card. In addition, it has all the bells and whistles a gamer could want, such as DDR3 1866 memory slots and USB 3.0 ports, so they can play their favourite games without a hitch.
It can be strange to examine the less expensive components of the motherboard industry. More options are available in higher-priced models, whereas the sub-$160 Z97 market boils down to choosing between one or two controllers. Here, it appears that brand loyalty and aesthetics are more important than full functionality. One of MSI's competitors is also using the name "Gaming X" to market their motherboards, which makes it more difficult for MSI to trademark the term. As such, let's take a look at the MSI Z97 Gaming 5 ($160), which was out of stock on Newegg at the time of this article's creation.
MSI's Z97 GAMING 5 ATX Gaming Motherboard is compatible with Socket LGA1150 Intel Core processors from the 4th and 5th generations, as well as Pentium and Celeron processors. It has four DIMM slots, works with memory operating at speeds up to 3300 MHz (overclocked), and is compliant with the Intel Extreme Memory Profile (XMP). The motherboard features three PCIe 3.0 slots (x8/x4/x4, x16, x8/x8 modes) and four PCIe 2.0 x1 slots. The motherboard was designed with support for several video cards in mind.
Eight channels of high-definition sound are available with the combination of Audio Boost 2 and Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2. The MSI USB Audio Power maintains a steady supply of 5V power to the motherboard's USB ports, allowing for improved USB signal transfer and playback of audio. Streaming and recording your gaming experiences to platforms like Twitch, YouTube, UStream, and more is a breeze with XSplit Gamecaster. Triple gold-plating on the port for gaming devices makes it ideal for those with a fast polling rate.
Killer E2200's Advanced Stream Detect feature prioritises game traffic above other network traffic, eliminating lag and allowing for a more fluid gaming experience. To get the most out of your network, look for and prioritise gaming traffic. Thus, it is possible to perform genuine multitasking without having to toggle the status of each running programme, update, or installation.
What Is the Msi Z97 Gaming 5?
One reason for MSI's recent success is the company's willingness to integrate valuable software with its gear. For example, MSI's gaming range comes with a six-month premium subscription to XSplit. You can show off your gaming expertise with the MSI Gaming case badge and door hanging that come with the system.
The stock's performance has been a bit random. As a result of MSI's aggressive MultiCore Turbo, we achieve a wide range of CPU outcomes, including low idle power consumption and DPC Latency. However, MSI's tri-annual USB speed problem resurfaces. Both the stock and stripped POST times are over 14 seconds, which is far longer than intended. Our audio testing likewise showed disappointing results, although MSI has promised a driver update that will fix that.
The Z97 Guard-Pro , which we examined not too long ago and found to retail at $110, is the best competitor for the Gaming 5. SLI support, a Killer NIC instead of Realtek, better audio from an ALC1150 codec, HDMI instead of DisplayPort, room for three full-length PCIe cards, additional USB ports on the board's rear, a more attractive design, and a larger bundle make the Gaming 5 a better option than the Guard Pro. This difference could be enough to justify the additional $50, albeit the Z97 Gaming 5 really suggests a solid i3 or i5 build while the Guard Pro could be suitable for a Pentium build.
Some of MSI's most important gaming features are located on the device's back panel. The 'Gaming Device Port' consists of two USB 2.0 ports and a PS/2 port, which may be found on the far left. Marketing materials from MSI claim that the port is more responsive because of three times as much gold in the connection and ten times as much gold in the port itself. More gold would result in lower signal impedance, hence the latter claim is more likely to be correct. Without altering software to raise the polling rate, however, we suspect it would do anything for responsiveness.
Two more USB 2.0 ports, DVI-D, HDMI, and VGA video outputs, four USB 3.0 ports, the Killer E2205 network interface, and audio jacks with additional gold plating can be found on the device's rear panel.
Visual Inspection
The Z97 Gaming 5's PCB, particularly around the sockets, was the first thing we noticed. There's little doubt that MSI has a flair for making a PCB look sleek and professional, even on these budget devices with less parts. MSI's red and black aesthetic is reminiscent of their previous gaming lines, with the heatsinks providing the bulk of the board's visual flair in this case. The power delivery chokes are an off-grey colour and the slots and port connections are all black so as not to detract from the aesthetic.
Although the heatsinks for the power supply have an unusual surface area design and are not connected through a heat pipe, they appear to be sufficiently robust to support four independent phases of operation. No white box marking Intel's recommended distances from the CPU socket was there, but we had no trouble installing the heatsink we use with our CPU. Socket access is instead provided by four fan headers: one SYS header above the first PCIe slot, two CPU headers to the upper right, and a fourth below the 24-pin ATX power connector. You'll find the second fan header on the motherboard's right side, at the bottom.
Frequently Asked Questions About Msi Z97 Gaming 5
Experience with MSI Z97 Gaming 5
Manual overclockers should be pleased with MSI's BIOS adjustment for Z97, giving overclocking options in a nice ordered list compared to a run-on list with no order. The use of Simple/Advanced modes also helps.
No DDR4 support for Z97; just get some DDR3. We don't believe X99 offers enough to warrant a full system switch over.
MSI's Z97 Gaming 5 sits above the Gaming 3 and below the Gaming 7/9 models, and thrown into that mix is the Z97M and Z97I Gaming models, some of which also come with 802.11ac WiFi. In addition, due to MSI's layout also affords four separate PCIe 2.0 x1 slots for additional connectivity cards.
No. It does not have onboard Bluetooth, and you will need your own Bluetooth dongle.
The Intel Z97 Express Chipset is a single-chipset design that supports Intel LGA1150 4th/New 4th/5th Generation Core i7/i5/i3/Pentium/Celeron Processors.
Performance
Audio Boost 2
With Audio Boost 2, you'll get premium sound quality with Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2, perfect for listening to music and movies in pristine 8-channel High Definition Audio.
Isolated Audio PCB
Conventional on-board audio suffers from signal distortion caused by electromagnetic interference from other components on the printed circuit board. Isolating the audio circuitry via a red LED route, Audio Boost 2 functions as a specialised sound card. Therefore, less noise means a more unclouded sound.
Direct Audio Power
Direct Audio Power brings you sound of the highest calibre. Audio Boost 2's dedicated power input ensures a steady and robust supply of power, which in turn produces a more explosive and unadulterated listening experience.
Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2
The Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2 enhances your game experience by letting you focus on individual sound effects.
EMI Shielding
The audio chip is guarded by a high-grade EMI cover with backlight lighting to prevent electromagnetic interference (EMI) from other add-in cards.
Golden Audio Connectors
Signal quality is maximised and distortion is reduced by using gold-plated audio jacks. It has a red amplified output specifically designed for high-quality headphones used in recording studios. Further, it offers improved signal conductivity and is durable enough to withstand repeated uses.
High-Quality Audio Capacitors
MSI gaming motherboards have superior audio signal filtering because they use high-quality, purpose-built capacitors from the Japanese capacitor manufacturer Nichicon. Therefore, it produces extremely crisp and clear audio with improved acoustics and realism.
Dual Headphone Amplifiers
Indulge in studio-grade audio straight from your gaming PC with the help of the built-in dual headphone amplifier. It can boost the volume of your headphones to up to 600. In addition to being user-friendly, MSI gaming motherboards are equipped with front and rear audio outputs that are powered by Audio Boost 2.
USB Audio Power
By providing a steady 5V to the motherboard's USB ports, MSI USB Audio Power ensures that your high-quality audio output is never interrupted. Furthermore, it improves USB signal strength, 5V power consistency, and USB audio quality.
Killer E2200 Game Networking
Streaming video and online games both benefit greatly from the superior networking capabilities of the Killer E2200 Intelligent Networking Platform. To provide you a competitive edge and a more fluid gaming experience, the Killer E2200 has Advanced Stream Detect, which detects and prioritise game traffic over other network traffic. This automatic traffic prioritisation prioritises game and real-time chat data above low-level system chatter, providing you with low latency for game data on the most tuneable network hardware available.
M.2 and SATA Express
With M.2 and SATA Express, the newest generation of high-speed storage, you can enjoy lightning-fast system boot times and application and game loading times. The M.2 and SATA Express are 67% quicker than SATA 3.0 solutions due to the PCIe 2.0 x2 interface's capacity to transmit data at up to 10 Gb/s. After mSATA, the next generation of storage devices is M.2. The M.2 comes in three different sizes, all of which are compact enough to work with virtually any data storage system. MSI's newest range of gaming motherboards based on Intel chipsets all have M.2 storage.
SATA Express is a new PCIe-based high-speed storage solution, bringing with it increased data transfer rates for modern solid-state drives. In addition, an M.2 to SATA Express converter is included as part of these adaptable solutions for even more ease of use.
Software
Live Update 6
The newest versions of MSI's drivers, BIOS, and other programmes may be obtained and installed with a single click thanks to MSI Live Update. In this way, you can rest easy knowing that you're always running the most up-to-date software on your system, which is essential for peak efficiency and reliability.
Command Centre
The MSI Command Center software is a potent instrument for overclocking your motherboard. Intuitive touch support in Command Centre's user interface makes it easy to optimise system stability, overclock performance, and fine-tune cooling settings.
Unlimited RAMDisk
MSI Command Center includes a RAMDisk that can expand to any size. You can make a virtual drive, or RAMDisk, out of your system memory, making it 20 times faster than a standard solid-state drive. This improves system responsiveness, the speed at which browsers, games, and apps load, and the overall performance of the system.
Compatible with Msi Z97 Gaming 5
The Intel LGA 1150 CPU socket can be found in the MSI Z97 GAMING 5. The socket number for any Intel processor will be the same. It supports DDR3 memory up to 2400 MHz in speed and up to 32 GB of RAM across its four DDR3 slots.
The MSI Z97 GAMING 5 is compatible with most cases because it is ATX-compliant. The ATX standard is the most widely used today. It features a good number of expansion slots and is highly compatible with various components.
A total of six SATA 3.0 hard disc slots can be found in the MSI Z97 GAMING 5. As opposed to SATA 2.0's maximum of 3GB/s, these support potential data transfer rates of up to 6GB/s. High-performance hard drives, and especially solid-state drives, are the only ones that can truly benefit from the bandwidth offered by SATA 3.0 connectors. But you don't have to take advantage of it; it's backwards-compatible.
Onboard graphics are available in the MSI Z97 GAMING 5. When combined with a suitable CPU, this enables integrated graphics. While integrated graphics are a more budget-friendly option to a dedicated graphics card, they are not recommended for heavy use with modern apps or games. This motherboard has 2 PCI Express x16 slots. This means it can accommodate high-end graphics cards without any problems. Any graphics card below PCIe v 3.0 will not be able to take advantage of the motherboard's full capabilities, therefore it's in your best interest to use one that matches. The MSI Z97 GAMING 5's PCIe v 3.0 bandwidth cap will severely limit the performance of any hardware that operates at higher speeds. The MSI Z97 GAMING 5 can accommodate up to three AMD Crossfire graphics cards or two Nvidia SLI cards, increasing total graphical performance at the expense of increased power consumption and the cost of the individual graphics cards.
Multiple USB ports, including six USB 2.0 ports and five USB 3.0 ports, are included on the MSI Z97 GAMING 5. Theoretically, the maximum data transfer rate for a USB 3.0 port is 5 Gbit/s, or more than 10 times as fast as the maximum speed for a USB 2.0 port, which is 480 Mbit/s. Although a computer with only USB 2.0 ports will function adequately for the time being, it will be more prepared for the arrival of USB 3.0 devices if it is upgraded. Because USB 3.0 is compatible with USB 2.0, you can continue to use your older devices in your newer ports if you like.
In terms of gaming motherboards, the MSI Z97 Gaming 5 is among the best options available. It has a tonne of cool extras like M.2 expansion and the ability to use two graphics cards.
If you're upgrading or constructing a new PC for marathon gaming sessions, you should read up on all the features this board has to offer.
Conclusion
MSI is a multinational corporation with over 30 years of experience in the computer hardware industry, and their latest product, the MSI Z97 Gaming 5 motherboard, is unparalleled. It features an Intel Core i7 4790k processor and Nvidia Geforce GTX 770 graphics card, and has all the bells and whistles a gamer could want, such as DDR3 1866 memory slots and USB 3.0 ports. It is compatible with Socket LGA1150 Intel Core processors from the 4th and 5th generations, as well as Pentium and Celeron processors. It has four DIMM slots, works with memory operating at speeds up to 3300 MHz (overclocked), and is compliant with the Intel Extreme BIOS. It is out of stock on Newegg at the time of this article's creation. The MSI Z97 Gaming 5 motherboard features three PCIe 3.0 slots (x8/x4/x4, x16, x8/x8 modes) and four PCIe 2.0 x1 slots.
It also features eight channels of high-definition sound with Audio Boost 2 and Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2. The MSI USB Audio Power maintains a steady supply of 5V power to the motherboard's USB ports, allowing for improved USB signal transfer and playback of audio. The Killer E2200's Advanced Stream Detect feature prioritises game traffic above other network traffic, eliminating lag and allowing for a more fluid gaming experience. The stock's performance has been a bit random, but MSI has promised a driver update that will fix that. The Z97 Guard-Pro is the best competitor for the Gaming 5, with SLI support, a Killer NIC instead of Realtek, better audio from an ALC1150 codec, HDMI instead of DisplayPort, room for three full-length PCIe cards, additional USB ports on the board's rear, a more attractive design, and a larger bundle.
MSI's Z97 Gaming 5 is a budget gaming motherboard with a red and black aesthetic reminiscent of their previous gaming lines. It has a Gaming Device Port with two USB 2.0 ports and a PS/2 port, a Killer E2205 network interface, and audio jacks with additional gold plating. The heatsinks for the power supply have an unusual surface area design and are not connected through a heat pipe, but they appear to be sufficiently robust to support four independent phases of operation. Socket access is instead provided by four fan headers. Audio Boost 2 provides premium sound quality with Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2, perfect for listening to music and movies.
MSI gaming motherboards are equipped with Audio Boost 2, Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2, Direct Audio Power, Golden Audio Connectors, High-Quality Audio Capacitors, Dual Headphone Amplifiers, USB Audio Power, and Killer E2200 Game Networking Platform. Audio Boost 2 is a specialised sound card that isolates the audio circuitry via a red LED route, providing a more explosive and unadulterated listening experience. Direct Audio Power is a dedicated power input that ensures a steady and robust supply of power, which in turn produces a more powerful and unclouded listening experience. Golden Audio connectors reduce distortion and provide a red amplified output specifically designed for high-quality headphones used in recording studios. USB Audio Power provides a steady 5V to the motherboard's USB ports, improving USB signal strength, 5V power consistency, and USB audio quality. Killer E2200 has Advanced Stream Detect, which detects and prioritises game traffic over other network traffic.
MSI's newest range of gaming motherboards based on Intel chipsets all have M.2 storage, which is 67% quicker than SATA 3.0 solutions due to the PCIe 2.0 x2 interface's capacity to transmit data at up to 10 Gb/s. The M.2 comes in three different sizes, all of which are compact enough to work with virtually any data storage system. The MSI Command Center software is a potent instrument for overclocking your motherboard, and includes an unlimited RAMDisk that can expand to any size. The MSI Z97 GAMING 5 is compatible with most cases because it is ATX-compliant and features a good number of expansion slots and is highly compatible with various components. It supports DDR3 memory up to 2400 MHz in speed and up to 32 GB of RAM across its four DDR3 slots.
The MSI Z97 GAMING 5 is a high-performance motherboard with 2 PCI Express x16 slots and integrated graphics. It can accommodate up to three AMD Crossfire graphics cards or two Nvidia SLI cards, increasing total graphical performance at the expense of increased power consumption and the cost of the individual graphics cards. Multiple USB ports, including six USB 2.0 ports and five USB 3.0 ports, are included on the motherboard, with the maximum data transfer rate being 5 Gbit/s. The MSI Z97 Gaming 5 is among the best options available for gaming motherboards, with features such as M.2 expansion and the ability to use two graphics cards. When upgrading or constructing a new PC for marathon gaming sessions, it is important to read up on all the features this board has to offer.
Content Summary
- The features of the MSI Z97 Gaming 5 Motherboard are unparalleled.
- If you're having difficulties settling on a motherboard, this blog post should help.
- A look at their latest product, the MSI Z97 Gaming 5 motherboard, reveals a company that has always prioritised gaming machines.
- As a player, you understand the significance of a high-quality gaming computer.
- You need a robust central processing unit and a robust graphics card to get the most out of your gaming experience.
- Msi has been creating high-quality gaming hardware for many years, and their Z97 Gaming 5 motherboard includes everything a gamer would want at a reasonable price.
- More options are available in higher-priced models, whereas the sub-$160 Z97 market boils down to choosing between one or two controllers.
- As such, let's take a look at the MSI Z97 Gaming 5 ($160), which was out of stock on Newegg at the time of this article's creation.
- The motherboard was designed with support for several video cards in mind.
- The MSI USB Audio Power maintains a steady supply of 5V power to the motherboard's USB ports, allowing for improved USB signal transfer and playback of audio.
- Streaming and recording your gaming experiences to platforms like Twitch, YouTube, UStream, and more is a breeze with XSplit Gamecaster.
- To get the most out of your network, look for and prioritise gaming traffic.
- One reason for MSI's recent success is the company's willingness to integrate valuable software with its gear.
- You can show off your gaming expertise with the MSI Gaming case badge and door hanging that come with the system.
- The stock's performance has been a bit random.
- However, MSI's tri-annual USB speed problem resurfaces.
- The Z97 Guard-Pro , which we examined not too long ago and found to retail at $110, is the best competitor for the Gaming 5.
- This difference could be enough to justify the additional $50, albeit the Z97 Gaming 5 really suggests a solid i3 or i5 build while the
- Guard Pro could be suitable for a Pentium build.
- Some of MSI's most important gaming features are located on the device's back panel.
- The 'Gaming Device Port' consists of two USB 2.0 ports and a PS/2 port, which may be found on the far left.
- Marketing materials from MSI claim that the port is more responsive because of three times as much gold in the connection and ten times as much gold in the port itself.
- Two more USB 2.0 ports, DVI-D, HDMI, and VGA video outputs, four USB 3.0 ports, the Killer E2205 network interface, and audio jacks with additional gold plating can be found on the device's rear panel.
- The Z97 Gaming 5's PCB, particularly around the sockets, was the first thing we noticed.
- MSI's red and black aesthetic is reminiscent of their previous gaming lines, with the heatsinks providing the bulk of the board's visual flair in this case.
- The power delivery chokes are an off-grey colour and the slots and port connections are all black so as not to detract from the aesthetic.
- Although the heatsinks for the power supply have an unusual surface area design and are not connected through a heat pipe, they appear to be sufficiently robust to support four independent phases of operation.
- Isolating the audio circuitry via a red LED route, Audio Boost 2 functions as a specialised sound card.
- Direct Audio Power brings you sound of the highest calibre.
- The Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2 enhances your game experience by letting you focus on individual sound effects.
- Indulge in studio-grade audio straight from your gaming PC with the help of the built-in dual headphone amplifier.
- n addition to being user-friendly, MSI gaming motherboards are equipped with front and rear audio outputs that are powered by Audio Boost 2.
- By providing a steady 5V to the motherboard's USB ports, MSI USB Audio Power ensures that your high-quality audio output is never interrupted.
- Furthermore, it improves USB signal strength, 5V power consistency, and USB audio quality.
- Streaming video and online games both benefit greatly from the superior networking capabilities of the Killer E2200 Intelligent Networking Platform.
- The M.2 and SATA Express are 67% quicker than SATA 3.0 solutions due to the PCIe 2.0 x2 interface's capacity to transmit data at up to 10 Gb/s. After mSATA, the next generation of storage devices is M.2.
- SATA Express is a new PCIe-based high-speed storage solution, bringing with it increased data transfer rates for modern solid-state drives.
- The MSI Command Center software is a potent instrument for overclocking your motherboard.
- MSI Command Center includes a RAMDisk that can expand to any size.
- You can make a virtual drive, or RAMDisk, out of your system memory, making it 20 times faster than a standard solid-state drive.
- High-performance hard drives, and especially solid-state drives, are the only ones that can truly benefit from the bandwidth offered by SATA 3.0 connectors.
- Onboard graphics are available in the MSI Z97 GAMING 5.
- When combined with a suitable CPU, this enables integrated graphics.
- While integrated graphics are a more budget-friendly option to a dedicated graphics card, they are not recommended for heavy use with modern apps or games.
- This means it can accommodate high-end graphics cards without any problems.
- Any graphics card below PCIe v 3.0 will not be able to take advantage of the motherboard's full capabilities, therefore it's in your best interest to use one that matches.
- The MSI Z97 GAMING 5's PCIe v 3.0 bandwidth cap will severely limit the performance of any hardware that operates at higher speeds.
- Multiple USB ports, including six USB 2.0 ports and five USB 3.0 ports, are included on the MSI Z97 GAMING 5.
- Because USB 3.0 is compatible with USB 2.0, you can continue to use your older devices in your newer ports if you like.