Friday, June 1st 2012

MSI Big Bang ZPower Motherboard Teased

by
btarunr
 Discuss (15 Comments)
MSI is working on its first Big Bang series motherboard based on the Intel Z77 Express chipset, supporting Core "Ivy Bridge" and "Sandy Bridge" processors in the LGA1155 package, which is called Big Bang ZPower (we could be wrong with the name), carrying an MSI internal model number MS-7751 v 3.0. The model number seems to suggest that the PCB design is similar to that of the Z77A-GD65. For now we only have two cutout teaser pictures with us.

The pictures reveal the ZPower to be a bustling metropolis with a swanky heatsink design that keeps up with the theme of MSI's Lightning series graphics cards. The motherboard will be designed for 3-way multi-GPU setups, although a PLX-made bridge chip won't be used. Instead it will use Pericom PCIe lane switches to split the x16 link from the processor into x8/x8/NC or x8/x4/x4. The focus of this board will be towards overclocking, a lot of overclocker-friendly features, options (in the UEFI BIOS setup program), and a strong VRM will be added to the mix. MSI is likely to exhibit the new motherboard at the upcoming Computex event.

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15 Comments on MSI Big Bang ZPower Motherboard Teased

#1
radrok
See MSI? Was it that hard to ditch the bullets and make a proper looking heatsink?
Posted on Reply
#2
The Von Matrices
radrokSee MSI? Was it that hard to ditch the bullets and make a proper looking heatsink?
The bullets make a good temperature sensor though! You know the heatsink is too hot once they begin firing.
Posted on Reply
#3
The Von Matrices
I'm also glad that MSI has come to the forefront of ditching PCI in its latest generation of motherboards; I haven't seen any other manufacturer do that yet to their entire lineup.
Posted on Reply
#4
blibba
Next up, I'd like to see more electrical PCI-Ex1 slots in larger physical sizes.
Posted on Reply
#5
konanunu
The Von MatricesI'm also glad that MSI has come to the forefront of ditching PCI in its latest generation of motherboards; I haven't seen any other manufacturer do that yet to their entire lineup.
+1

it was the reason i got mine, pcie standard came out almost 10 years ago
Posted on Reply
#6
joyman
konanunu+1

it was the reason i got mine, pcie standard came out almost 10 years ago
Tell that to those that make sound cards, TV Tuners and such. Also why should I ditch one great sound card and use the lame onboard chip just because there are many pci-ex slots that almost no one will fill ever... Its plain stupid for me. I am grateful that most of them did leave one slot. Don't get me wrong - I welcome the whole transition to pcie, but if we got better hardware(sound mostly) why would we be given no sensible options to upgrade.
Posted on Reply
#7
djisas
joymanTell that to those that make sound cards, TV Tuners and such. Also why should I ditch one great sound card and use the lame onboard chip just because there are many pci-ex slots that almost no one will fill ever... Its plain stupid for me. I am grateful that most of them did leave one slot. Don't get me wrong - I welcome the whole transition to pcie, but if we got better hardware(sound mostly) why would we be given no sensible options to upgrade.
I sure could upgrade my sound card for something more "modern" but there's really no need the good old pci one still delivers and it wasn't exactly cheap...
My mobo still comes with at least 1 pci which is good for now and i dont have any pcie 1x device anyway...

Pci might still last a little more...
Posted on Reply
#8
Octavean
joymanTell that to those that make sound cards, TV Tuners and such. Also why should I ditch one great sound card and use the lame onboard chip just because there are many pci-ex slots that almost no one will fill ever... Its plain stupid for me. I am grateful that most of them did leave one slot. Don't get me wrong - I welcome the whole transition to pcie, but if we got better hardware(sound mostly) why would we be given no sensible options to upgrade.
I’ve purchased a lot of TV tuners in my time. All the most recent ones that I care to use have all been either PCIe, Ethernet or USB. For example:
Vbox Cat’s Eye 164e PCIe x1 (Dual ATSC)

AverMedia Duet PCIe x1 (Dual Clear QAM)

AVerMedia AVerTV Combo PCIe x1 (Dual Clear QAM)

AVerMedia AVerTV Hybrid Volar Max USB (NTSC, ATSC, Clear QAM single stream)

ATI Theater HD 650 PCIe x1 (Clear QAM)

Silicondust HDHomeRun Dual Ethernet (Dual Clear QAM)

Hauppauge Colossus PCIe x1 (component DRM free HD recordings)

Hauppauge HD PVR USB (component DRM free HD recordings)

Hauppauge WinTV-DCR-2650 USB (Dual CableCard)
I wouldn't buy a PCI card now if I could help it,...

I think its good that some manufacturers will keep PCI around for a bit but if you go for a high-end board you’ll probably have to forgo PCI (just like floppy, EIDE, ISA and other relics). Onboard audio has been fine for me for some time too.
Posted on Reply
#11
THE_EGG
I don't know why people are happy to see PCI gone. I have an Essence ST and it has a PCI interface. I'm quite sad to see PCI go but times change I suppose.
Posted on Reply
#12
The Von Matrices
THE_EGGI don't know why people are happy to see PCI gone. I have an Essence ST and it has a PCI interface. I'm quite sad to see PCI go but times change I suppose.
I should clarify my opinion. PCI should move out of the mainstream, not be eliminated. It should still be supported, but it should be relegated to products catering to that as a feature and be abandoned on high-end boards. This is similar to the aging of parallel ATA.
Posted on Reply
#13
Esse
No more PCI slots wahoo! Bye bye past.
Posted on Reply
#14
urbz1988
This would go great with a 7970 Lightening!
Posted on Reply
#15
Widjaja
radrokSee MSI? Was it that hard to ditch the bullets and make a proper looking heatsink?
Wait till the next big Military shooter game is released.:shadedshu
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