• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

MSI Big Bang Z77 MPower Intel LGA 1155

cadaveca

My name is Dave
Joined
Apr 10, 2006
Messages
17,232 (2.52/day)
A few weeks ago, we saw MSI's OC Certified memory launch, which is now available in stores, and those DIMMs sported a pretty fancy color scheme that matches their Lightning VGAs. That set of hardware would not be complete without a board to run those other two in, and today we look at that board, called the MSI Big Bang Z77 MPower. Like the recently-launched memory, the MSI Big Bang Z77 MPower comes "OC Certified", ready to be the base of getting the most out of your other MSI products.

Show full review
 
Last edited by a moderator:

newlife

New Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2012
Messages
112 (0.02/day)
Location
Adelaide, Australia
System Name O'Neill By Design
Processor i5-3570 not k 4.3ghz
Motherboard ASRock Z77 extreme 6
Cooling Coolermater V8
Memory Patriot G2 DDR3 1600mhz (Overclocked to 2200mhz)
Video Card(s) 2x GIGABYTE GTX 560(GV-N56GOC-1GI)
Storage 60GB Patriot Pyro SSD, 2TB WD Black
Display(s) An Aussie 40" Full HD Led Lcd(Samsang Panel)
Case Cooler Master HAF 932
Audio Device(s) Realtek ALC898 onboard
Power Supply Corsair GS-600(yes it runs 2x gtx 560)
Benchmark Scores SuperPi:8.265sec, Pifast: 16.44, WPrime 32m 6.895sec, Unigine Heaven-basic preset : 2638.12, 3D Mark
they should put it under a 24h ln2 7ghz test
 

TheLostSwede

News Editor
Joined
Nov 11, 2004
Messages
17,788 (2.42/day)
Location
Sweden
System Name Overlord Mk MLI
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Motherboard Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master
Cooling Noctua NH-D15 SE with offsets
Memory 32GB Team T-Create Expert DDR5 6000 MHz @ CL30-34-34-68
Video Card(s) Gainward GeForce RTX 4080 Phantom GS
Storage 1TB Solidigm P44 Pro, 2 TB Corsair MP600 Pro, 2TB Kingston KC3000
Display(s) Acer XV272K LVbmiipruzx 4K@160Hz
Case Fractal Design Torrent Compact
Audio Device(s) Corsair Virtuoso SE
Power Supply be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 850 W
Mouse Logitech G502 Lightspeed
Keyboard Corsair K70 Max
Software Windows 10 Pro
Benchmark Scores https://valid.x86.fr/yfsd9w
One slight error in the copy, the USB 3.0 controller is by Renesas, not NEC, as NEC Electronics was sold to Renesas some years ago now ;)
 

cadaveca

My name is Dave
Joined
Apr 10, 2006
Messages
17,232 (2.52/day)
One slight error in the copy, the USB 3.0 controller is by Renesas, not NEC, as NEC Electronics was sold to Renesas some years ago now ;)

I might as well call it a Sony controller then. :rolleyes:

Most reviewers wouldn't even know what that chip was, so just be happy it's identified!!. :p

This is the chip, for those that didn't look at that page:

 
Last edited:

TheMailMan78

Big Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2007
Messages
22,599 (3.52/day)
Location
'Merica. The Great SOUTH!
System Name TheMailbox 5.0 / The Mailbox 4.5
Processor RYZEN 1700X / Intel i7 2600k @ 4.2GHz
Motherboard Fatal1ty X370 Gaming K4 / Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 TH Intel LGA 1155
Cooling MasterLiquid PRO 280 / Scythe Katana 4
Memory ADATA RGB 16GB DDR4 2666 16-16-16-39 / G.SKILL Sniper Series 16GB DDR3 1866: 9-9-9-24
Video Card(s) MSI 1080 "Duke" with 8Gb of RAM. Boost Clock 1847 MHz / ASUS 780ti
Storage 256Gb M4 SSD / 128Gb Agelity 4 SSD , 500Gb WD (7200)
Display(s) LG 29" Class 21:9 UltraWide® IPS LED Monitor 2560 x 1080 / Dell 27"
Case Cooler Master MASTERBOX 5t / Cooler Master 922 HAF
Audio Device(s) Realtek ALC1220 Audio Codec / SupremeFX X-Fi with Bose Companion 2 speakers.
Power Supply Seasonic FOCUS Plus Series SSR-750PX 750W Platinum / SeaSonic X Series X650 Gold
Mouse SteelSeries Sensei (RAW) / Logitech G5
Keyboard Razer BlackWidow / Logitech (Unknown)
Software Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
Benchmark Scores Benching is for bitches.
How does the quality compare to older MSI boards from the 790FX/GX era? In your opinion?
 

cadaveca

My name is Dave
Joined
Apr 10, 2006
Messages
17,232 (2.52/day)
How does the quality compare to older MSI boards from the 790FX/GX era? In your opinion?

Way better, but they need to tweak the BIOS a bit better for wider memory support, especially considering it's an OC board.
 

TheMailMan78

Big Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2007
Messages
22,599 (3.52/day)
Location
'Merica. The Great SOUTH!
System Name TheMailbox 5.0 / The Mailbox 4.5
Processor RYZEN 1700X / Intel i7 2600k @ 4.2GHz
Motherboard Fatal1ty X370 Gaming K4 / Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 TH Intel LGA 1155
Cooling MasterLiquid PRO 280 / Scythe Katana 4
Memory ADATA RGB 16GB DDR4 2666 16-16-16-39 / G.SKILL Sniper Series 16GB DDR3 1866: 9-9-9-24
Video Card(s) MSI 1080 "Duke" with 8Gb of RAM. Boost Clock 1847 MHz / ASUS 780ti
Storage 256Gb M4 SSD / 128Gb Agelity 4 SSD , 500Gb WD (7200)
Display(s) LG 29" Class 21:9 UltraWide® IPS LED Monitor 2560 x 1080 / Dell 27"
Case Cooler Master MASTERBOX 5t / Cooler Master 922 HAF
Audio Device(s) Realtek ALC1220 Audio Codec / SupremeFX X-Fi with Bose Companion 2 speakers.
Power Supply Seasonic FOCUS Plus Series SSR-750PX 750W Platinum / SeaSonic X Series X650 Gold
Mouse SteelSeries Sensei (RAW) / Logitech G5
Keyboard Razer BlackWidow / Logitech (Unknown)
Software Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
Benchmark Scores Benching is for bitches.
Way better, but they need to tweak the BIOS a bit better for wider memory support, especially considering it's an OC board.

I guess it has a very narrow QVL?
 

TheMailMan78

Big Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2007
Messages
22,599 (3.52/day)
Location
'Merica. The Great SOUTH!
System Name TheMailbox 5.0 / The Mailbox 4.5
Processor RYZEN 1700X / Intel i7 2600k @ 4.2GHz
Motherboard Fatal1ty X370 Gaming K4 / Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 TH Intel LGA 1155
Cooling MasterLiquid PRO 280 / Scythe Katana 4
Memory ADATA RGB 16GB DDR4 2666 16-16-16-39 / G.SKILL Sniper Series 16GB DDR3 1866: 9-9-9-24
Video Card(s) MSI 1080 "Duke" with 8Gb of RAM. Boost Clock 1847 MHz / ASUS 780ti
Storage 256Gb M4 SSD / 128Gb Agelity 4 SSD , 500Gb WD (7200)
Display(s) LG 29" Class 21:9 UltraWide® IPS LED Monitor 2560 x 1080 / Dell 27"
Case Cooler Master MASTERBOX 5t / Cooler Master 922 HAF
Audio Device(s) Realtek ALC1220 Audio Codec / SupremeFX X-Fi with Bose Companion 2 speakers.
Power Supply Seasonic FOCUS Plus Series SSR-750PX 750W Platinum / SeaSonic X Series X650 Gold
Mouse SteelSeries Sensei (RAW) / Logitech G5
Keyboard Razer BlackWidow / Logitech (Unknown)
Software Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
Benchmark Scores Benching is for bitches.

cadaveca

My name is Dave
Joined
Apr 10, 2006
Messages
17,232 (2.52/day)
I did read it. I must have missed that.


Clearly. :rolleyes:

I also had to boost VCCIO to 1.15 V and VCCSA to 1.125 V to pull 2666 MHz stable. This made my test CPU run a bit hotter than it has on other boards, so I wasn't exactly impressed. Sure, it was stable at 4.6 GHz, but I have had better.
 
Joined
Mar 13, 2010
Messages
40 (0.01/day)
Location
Grimsby, UK
Processor AMD Ryzen 5 7600
Motherboard ABIT X670E Pro ES
Cooling Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120
Memory Kingston 2x16GB 5600C36
Video Card(s) Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Founders Edition
Storage Solidigm P44 Pro 2TB
Display(s) NEC 24WMGX3 24" TFT
Case Fractal Design Define S
Audio Device(s) Creative ZxR
Power Supply Corsair HX 750 Modular PSU
Mouse Logitech G500
Keyboard Logitech Elite
Software Win 11 Pro / Linux
Received my MSI Z77 MPower yesterday, will be interesting to see if any overclocking improvements since that 17.0B15 pre-release beta bios that was used in the review.
  • [17.3] Enhance OC ability.
  • [17.2] Support GOP detection function.
  • [17.2] Improved memory compatibility.
  • [17.1] Release BIOS.
  • Release Date: 14th September 2012
Fixes prior to Official 17.2 release..

E7751IMS.H10 ==> E7751IMS.H24
  • Modify some string.
  • Fix Ipv6 function fail issue.
  • Fix some items of CPU Features form show error when load defalut.
  • Add'Win 8 Configuration' item.
  • Enable Secure Flash function.
  • Fixed using AFU3.03RC02 to Flash BIOS error.
  • Support check GOP driver in external VGA card
  • Fix some item can not change value.
  • Fix DRAM frequency incorrect issue when use Patriot PV316G213C1K memory and XMP is enabled.
  • Support MSI Fast Boot.
  • Fix system hang on 0x55 issue when use Team Team-Elite-1866 memory.
  • Fix system hang on 0x55 issue when use SPD 800MHz memory and Sandy Bridge CPU.
  • Add WHCK UEFI GOP TEST fail solution.
  • Fix item "Internel PLL Overvoltage" always Enable when over clock cpu ratio.
  • remove WHCK UEFI GOP TEST fail solution.
  • Set item "Intel C-State" to enabled when use some special cpus (such as i5-3475s which oc ability are limited) to over clock cpu ratio to the ratio higher than the ratio 4 cores can reach at the same time.
  • Fix item "Adjust CPU Ratio" show error when adjust cpu ratio.
  • Fix the issue that BCLK can not fix at 100.5 MHz after clear CMOS.
  • Fix windows boot manager boot sequence show error issue when load default after.
  • Fix can't adjust CPU voltage over 1.53V issue.
  • Remove Secure Flash function.
  • Remove solution:Fix TPM ID issue.
  • Remove pop box of 'cpu ratio'item.
  • Fix oc profile fail.
  • Add OC Retry Counter Item.
  • Add code for MSI Fast Boot.
  • Next boot after AC power loss run normal boot when fast boot enabled.
  • Support check GOP driver in external VGA card when fast boot enabled.
  • Modify 'Win 8 Configuration' to 'Windows 8 Configuration'
  • Add solution:Realtek LAN WHCK-Debug Capability Test fail when memory > 2G.
  • Improve system stability when use AVEXIR AVD3U26661104G-4CM memory and XMP is enabled.
  • Release Date: 4th September 2012
 
Last edited:

cadaveca

My name is Dave
Joined
Apr 10, 2006
Messages
17,232 (2.52/day)
Received my MSI Z77 MPower yesterday, will be interesting to see if any overclocking improvements since that pre-release beta bios that was used in the review.

  • [17.3] Enhance OC ability.
  • [17.2] Support GOP detection function.
  • [17.2] Improved memory compatibility.
  • [17.1] Release BIOS.
  • Release Date: 14th September 2012



Yeah, that BIOS came out after the review was done. Hopefully they toe it up, shouldn't be that big of a deal for them to fix. It's wasn't a "pre-release" BIOS that I used though..I ALWAYS update to the most recent public release before testing.

Lol. the 14th was friday. As if I do reviews in 2 days. :p Itested this board last MOnday. :laugh: And to think I almost did a launch review on an earlier BIOS....:roll:
 
Last edited:
Joined
Mar 13, 2010
Messages
40 (0.01/day)
Location
Grimsby, UK
Processor AMD Ryzen 5 7600
Motherboard ABIT X670E Pro ES
Cooling Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120
Memory Kingston 2x16GB 5600C36
Video Card(s) Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Founders Edition
Storage Solidigm P44 Pro 2TB
Display(s) NEC 24WMGX3 24" TFT
Case Fractal Design Define S
Audio Device(s) Creative ZxR
Power Supply Corsair HX 750 Modular PSU
Mouse Logitech G500
Keyboard Logitech Elite
Software Win 11 Pro / Linux
cadaveca said:
Yeah, that BIOS came out after the review was done. Hopefully they toe it up, shouldn't be that big of a deal for them to fix. It's wasn't a "pre-release" BIOS that I used though..I ALWAYS update to the most recent public release before testing.

Lol. the 14th was friday. As if I do reviews in 2 days. :p Itested this board last MOnday. And to think I almost did a launch review on an earlier BIOS....:roll:
:laugh: :laugh:
Well it was a great review, as all the reviews at Techpowerup :toast: I like the MSI UEFI, prefer it to the Gigabyte one anyway. :)
 
Joined
Feb 12, 2006
Messages
2,318 (0.34/day)
System Name MONEY PIT
Processor i7-3770K @ 4800 1.20v batch #3231B415 Delided
Motherboard ASrock Z77 OC Formula w onboard waterblocks
Cooling Apogee HD, MCP655,rad MCR320-XP,Micro Rev2 res
Memory G,skill Trident X F3-2400C10D-16GTX
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX 980 Ti Classified with EK nickel/acetal waterblock installed
Storage 2x120gig Wildfire raid0 2x120gig VERTEX3 raid0
Display(s) 3/ Samsung2343bwx + 65in LG 4K
Case NZXT Phantom White w/red
Audio Device(s) ReCon3d fatal1ty pro, Logitech z906 THX
Power Supply corsair AX860i
Mouse Rat7
Software 64bit ++++ win 10
As always Great read! Thanks for your time spent. But I think your CPU still has pants;) Looks like it might be time to look @ Asrock for a Z77 board. Even if I have a MSI Ligtning HD 7970 :roll:
 
Joined
Sep 13, 2012
Messages
196 (0.04/day)
System Name Leviathan
Processor Intel Core i7 920 @ 4 Ghz (on air)
Motherboard Asus Rampage II Extreme
Cooling Thermalright IFX-14
Memory Corsair 6GB XMS3 DDR3 1600Mhz
Video Card(s) EVGA 570GTX HD in SLI
Storage Kingston Hyper-X SSD 240GB
Display(s) Acer GD245HQ + Samsung 226BW
Case Lian-LI A7010B
Audio Device(s) Soundblaster Arena
Power Supply Corsair AX1200
Software Windows 7 64bits
Great review guys!
Am i the only one to think that new top end motherboards should be in art museums ?
 
Joined
Apr 26, 2012
Messages
55 (0.01/day)
Most interesting thing to me about this board is the right angled USB 3 header :laugh:. Right angle headers should be more commonplace imo.
 

popswala

New Member
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
2,257 (0.40/day)
Location
Conway, AR
System Name Deep Space // Black Mystery
Processor AMD Phen II X4 945 oc'd 3.4GHz // I7 870 oc'd 4.0GHz
Motherboard Gigabyte 990FXA-UD7 AM3+ // MSI P55-GD80
Cooling Corsair H50 w/ x2 gelid wing blue 120mm // Tt Frio OCK
Memory G. Skill Snipers DDR3 1600 2x4GB // G.Skill Tridents DDR3 2000 2x2GB
Video Card(s) eVGA GTX 275 // eVGA GTX 460 SC 768mb oc'd (830/1620/2000
Storage Seagate 1TBx2 7200.12 /1.5TB/500GB/750GB // Mushkin Collistro 60GB
Display(s) LG 23" 2353v-pf 1920x1080p // None
Case Tt Chazer MK-1 // NZXT Phantom black modded
Audio Device(s) Logitech G51 5.1 // None
Power Supply Cooler Master Silent Pro Hybrid 850w // Corsair HX1000W
Software Win 7 Ult X64 // Win 7 Ult X64
Benchmark Scores Crunching & Folding 24/7 Help Save Lives!!!
This looks sweet. I love the black and yellow look. Would be perfect for my yellow theme build. To bad i don't have that case with me. Its at my inlaws since i moved and could't bring everything with me when I moved.

Whats with those lil holes with the brass sleeving? I didn't really grasp what you said about them.
 
Joined
Feb 12, 2006
Messages
2,318 (0.34/day)
System Name MONEY PIT
Processor i7-3770K @ 4800 1.20v batch #3231B415 Delided
Motherboard ASrock Z77 OC Formula w onboard waterblocks
Cooling Apogee HD, MCP655,rad MCR320-XP,Micro Rev2 res
Memory G,skill Trident X F3-2400C10D-16GTX
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX 980 Ti Classified with EK nickel/acetal waterblock installed
Storage 2x120gig Wildfire raid0 2x120gig VERTEX3 raid0
Display(s) 3/ Samsung2343bwx + 65in LG 4K
Case NZXT Phantom White w/red
Audio Device(s) ReCon3d fatal1ty pro, Logitech z906 THX
Power Supply corsair AX860i
Mouse Rat7
Software 64bit ++++ win 10

Attachments

  • Capture.JPG
    Capture.JPG
    17.6 KB · Views: 785

popswala

New Member
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
2,257 (0.40/day)
Location
Conway, AR
System Name Deep Space // Black Mystery
Processor AMD Phen II X4 945 oc'd 3.4GHz // I7 870 oc'd 4.0GHz
Motherboard Gigabyte 990FXA-UD7 AM3+ // MSI P55-GD80
Cooling Corsair H50 w/ x2 gelid wing blue 120mm // Tt Frio OCK
Memory G. Skill Snipers DDR3 1600 2x4GB // G.Skill Tridents DDR3 2000 2x2GB
Video Card(s) eVGA GTX 275 // eVGA GTX 460 SC 768mb oc'd (830/1620/2000
Storage Seagate 1TBx2 7200.12 /1.5TB/500GB/750GB // Mushkin Collistro 60GB
Display(s) LG 23" 2353v-pf 1920x1080p // None
Case Tt Chazer MK-1 // NZXT Phantom black modded
Audio Device(s) Logitech G51 5.1 // None
Power Supply Cooler Master Silent Pro Hybrid 850w // Corsair HX1000W
Software Win 7 Ult X64 // Win 7 Ult X64
Benchmark Scores Crunching & Folding 24/7 Help Save Lives!!!
sounds good. I thought they actually did something or maybe some add on part popped in there. wasn't sure. Thats kinda neat that they put that to show off how well it was made. MSI sure is going outta their way lately to make sure things are well made and can perform well. Sounds like they're just trying to cover their own butts and have a lot less rma's.
 
Joined
Aug 13, 2010
Messages
5,484 (1.04/day)
Defuq, my Z77 Mpower came with 17.3 BIOS preloaded, and it has been sent only a couple of days after the BIOS went public.
 

cadaveca

My name is Dave
Joined
Apr 10, 2006
Messages
17,232 (2.52/day)
Defuq, my Z77 Mpower came with 17.3 BIOS preloaded, and it has been sent only a couple of days after the BIOS went public.

Any issues? You got a couple of 680's to go with it too, eh?

Now you just need some of that MPower ram...
 
Joined
May 22, 2010
Messages
2,516 (0.47/day)
Location
Canada
System Name m1dg3t | DeathBox | HairPi 3
Processor 3570k @ 4.0 1.15v BIOS | q9550 @ 3.77 1.325v BIOS
Motherboard Asrock z77e iTX | p5q Dlx 2301 BIOS
Cooling Custom Water | D-14 & HR-03gt | Passive HSF
Memory Samsung MV-3V4G3D 4g x 2 @ 1866 1.35v | OcZ RpR 2g x 4 @ 1067 2.2v
Video Card(s) MSi 7950 tf3 @1000 / 1350 | Asus 5870 V2 @ 900 / 1275
Storage Adata sx900 256Gb / WD 2500 HHTZ | WD 1001 FALS x 2
Display(s) BenQ gw2750hm | 46" Sharp Quatron
Case BitFenix Prodigy - m0dd3d | Antec Fusion Remote MAX
Audio Device(s) Onboard Toslink > Yamaha HTR 6290 | Xonar HDAV1.3 > Yamaha DSP z7
Power Supply Ocz mXp700w | Ocz zx850w | Cannakit 5v 2.5a
Mouse Logitech G700s | Logitech G9x - Cable Repaired
Keyboard TT Meka G1 - Black w Cherry Blacks| Logitech G11
Software Win7 Home | Xp sp3 & Vista ultimate | Raspbian
Benchmark Scores Epeen!! Who needs epeen??
Excellent review as always Dave! Man that PCB is freakin' hot, 9 layers and easy on the eyes! The VRM section looks beefy too :rockout:

Nice work MSi! :toast:
 
Joined
Nov 13, 2009
Messages
5,614 (1.02/day)
Location
San Diego, CA
System Name White Boy
Processor Core i7 3770k @4.6 Ghz
Motherboard ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe
Cooling CORSAIR H100
Memory CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB @ 2177
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX 680 CLASSIEFIED @ 1250 Core
Storage 2 Samsung 830 256 GB (Raid 0) 1 Hitachi 4 TB
Display(s) 1 Dell 30U11 30"
Case BIT FENIX Prodigy
Audio Device(s) none
Power Supply SeaSonic X750 Gold 750W Modular
Software Windows Pro 7 64 bit || Ubuntu 64 Bit
Benchmark Scores 2017 Unigine Heaven :: P37239 3D Mark Vantage
I R dissapoint, MSI needs to step up it's mobo game.
 
Joined
Aug 13, 2010
Messages
5,484 (1.04/day)
Any issues? You got a couple of 680's to go with it too, eh?

Now you just need some of that MPower ram...

Actually its funny you said that because i am suppose to be gettin some AVEXIR Core DIMMS soon.
No issues yet btw, runnin stock till my WC parts will arrive.
 
Top