MSI Big Bang MPower Motherboard Series Detailed

[btarunr]

Late last week, we came across teaser pictures of a certain new Big Bang series motherboard. Our source didn't reveal its name, but mentioned that we were close in guessing its name to be "ZPower", which we admitted we could go wrong with. It turns out that the new line is named "MPower", and includes not just a new socket LGA1155 motherboard, the Z77 MPower, but also a new LGA2011 one, the X79 MPower. The two are beefed-up versions of the Z77A-GD65 and X79A-GD65 (8D), respectively, with stronger CPU VRM, relaxed warranties that are overclocker-friendly, and a new black+yellow color-scheme, which is consistent with that of its Lightning series graphics cards (such as the R7970 Lightning).



The Z77 MPower packs a 16-phase CPU VRM, which is stronger than that of the Z77A-GD80. The board draws power from a 6-pin PCIe power connector, apart from the usual 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS, which adds electric stability to deal with high-power graphics cards. The VRM is backed by several diagnostic LEDs, and voltage measurement points. The expansion slot arrangement is carried over from the Z77A-GD65, with three PCI-Express 3.0 x16 (x8/x4/x4-capable), and four PCI-Express 2.0 x1. Its connectivity is augmented with 802.11 b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth. Apart from these, the Z77 MPower is largely identical to the Z77A-GD65.

Next up is the X79 MPower, MSI's latest socket LGA2011 motherboard. The X79 MPower packs a 9+2 phase CPU VRM, which draws power from two 8-pin EPS connectors. In terms of OC-friendly features and options it is largely similar to the Z77 MPower. Barring two additional SATA 6 Gb/s ports, 802.11 b/g/n, and Bluetooth, the X79 MPower is largely identical to the X79A-GD65 (8D). From these, one can deduce that the Z77 MPower will be priced somewhere between the Z77A-GD65 and Z77A-GD80 (which will be priced high due to its expensive Thunderbolt controller), while the X79 MPower will be priced between the X79A-GD65 (8D) and Big Bang XPower II (which is costlier due to a heavier package).

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[radrok]

This is what I want to see from MSI!!
This motherboard is beautiful, you hear me Neliz? AWESOME

 

[awesomesauce]

This is what I want to see from MSI!!
This motherboard is beautiful, you hear me Neliz? AWESOME

I agree with u, cute mobo

 

[Cold Storm]

Nice board, but the 24pin connector should of been closer to the edge of the board.. now you gotta work on slack with it so the 6pin and mobo Volt leads can be accessable to the end user needing it..

 

[Nordic]

I'll take one...
So military class 3... I have military class 2... Is there any difference? I just can't imagine them moving up the scale of quality component by a lot to signify a change to 3.

 

[JMccovery]

The MPower boards (will BMW complain?) are close to the color scheme I'm looking for: Similar to my Foxconn A7DA-S 3.0 with Alternating Black and Yellow slots. If MSI was to make a small revision of these boards with that scheme, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

Sure I could go for a Black/Red/White, Blue/Black/White, or Black/Orange board, but I have fallen in love with my board's colors.

 

[dj-electric]

Looks like a juicy board i'd like to get my hands on

 

[popswala]

That black/yellow theme is sexy. I want one really bad. Why not wire the pcie 3.0 16/16/16? Then we can take full force to anything we through at it. Is this not a gaming line but just focused towards oc'ing?

 

[pldelisle]

Finally some competition to my P8P67 WS Revolution / P8Z77 WS ! =)

 

[neliz]

This is what I want to see from MSI!!
This motherboard is beautiful, you hear me Neliz? AWESOME

Thanks a million!

 

[neliz]

I'll take one...
So military class 3... I have military class 2... Is there any difference? I just can't imagine them moving up the scale of quality component by a lot to signify a change to 3.

Hey James,

Actually no, the tests are the same, but it involves the components we test. For Military Class III, we test the DrMOS II & CopperMOS parts as well. So in the end, we're slowly but surely expanding the components in the testing and certification process.
DrMOS II's difference versus the previous DrMOS implementation is the inclusion of Temperature sensor and Over Thermal Protection. (http://mc3.msi.com)

That black/yellow theme is sexy. I want one really bad. Why not wire the pcie 3.0 16/16/16? Then we can take full force to anything we through at it. Is this not a gaming line but just focused towards oc'ing?

I hope I can explain this simply.. the MPower is a product aimed at a much better price than current "OC" boards. By not having Thunderbolt or a PLX chip on there we can ensure the price is really good (and I hope it's really, really good once I get the confirmation.) My first bet would be around or below €200.

If you want full 16/16/16/16 we have our board for that, but most of the benching is done on single CPU single GPU setups and that is where the Z77 MPower will shine (X79 MPower for Dual/Triple x16 setups of course.) Even though MSI currently has the highest score in 3DMark 11 Performance single GPU with Ivy Bridge (link: Z77A-GD65 + R7970 Lightning) I believe that a better score can (and probably will) be set with a X79 + 7970 Lightning setup.

Btw, yeah, that's faster than a 1957 MHz 680 on X79

Gaming wise, I don't think you'll find much lacking as this board is also focused at 24/7 CPU OC support and with current gen graphics I think Gen3 x8/x8 or single x16 is enough for everything that is coming out this year as we have 680/690's out and probably soon a dual 7970.

 

[cadaveca]

Gaming wise, I don't think you'll find much lacking as this board is also focused at 24/7 CPU OC support and with current gen graphics I think Gen3 x8/x8 or single x16 is enough for everything that is coming out this year as we have 680/690's out and probably soon a dual 7970.

Great, I'll take all three.

Someone needs to show how to build 24-oc rigs, anyway, rather than just benching.

 

[neliz]

Someone needs to show how to build 24-oc rigs, anyway, rather than just benching.

Because people want to have it?
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BU-114-OE&groupid=43&catid=2053&subcat=2288

 

[Nordic]

Hey James,

Actually no, the tests are the same, but it involves the components we test. For Military Class III, we test the DrMOS II & CopperMOS parts as well. So in the end, we're slowly but surely expanding the components in the testing and certification process.
DrMOS II's difference versus the previous DrMOS implementation is the inclusion of Temperature sensor and Over Thermal Protection. (http://mc3.msi.com)

So each subsequent military class number is more components that fall under military testing specification and what not, not better and better components?

 

[neliz]

So each subsequent military class number is more components that fall under military testing specification and what not, not better and better components?

That's the difference between MC3 and MC2, before that we switched to more efficient and powerful chokes with the transition from Military Class to Military Class II.

Actually, on graphics there IS a change of components, but it's not like we have set a standard definition like "version 4 needs xxx, version 5 needs xxx" we change when necessary.