MSI Z170A GAMING M7 (Intel LGA-1151)

[cadaveca]

Today's the day Intel's latest launches, and here is MSI's Z170A GAMING M7 to help us take a look at what the new platform offers. Taken from the upper echelon of MSI's current GAMING motherboard line-up, the MSI Z170A GAMING M7 is an enthusiast-oriented GAMING product with a host of built-in features for today's gamer.

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[Folterknecht]

Interesting ... Auto-OC function offering 1.44V for a 14nm CPU


Nevertheless - nice review.

 

[Overclocker_2001]

well...
power consumption is a bit high.. especially for a 14nm cpu.. hoped for something better

cpu performance is where i hoped, little better than similary clocked haswell
ddr4 have higher latency than ddr3 but came with a good boost in bandwith


about the board...
i really don't like back panel configuration..
who will ever play with iGPU???
ok someone could use 2nd monitor attached to igpu => let's have an hdmi and a dvi/dp
but then cram lot of usb ( 4 usb 2.0, 4 usb 3.0 and a pair of 3.1 )

 

[GreiverBlade]

interesting, nonetheless confirming my next move : i skip Skylake

tho the new MSI gaming mobo still look like a ripoff of a ASUS design (with the VRM heatsink in a slight different orientation)

anyway nice review as usual @cadaveca

 

[buggalugs]

First impression of the new platform and I'm not impressed.

Cadaveca at what CPU and memory speed did you run the CPU and memory (aida) tests???

I get those numbers on Z97 (4790K) and 2133Mhz memory, (around 30-33,000 Mb/s) I thought DDR4 would provide better numbers.

I don't understand why you're praising DDR4 so much? could you elaborate?? I can see in the benchmarks that the Z170 ddr4 board gets better numbers than the Z97 board but you can only compare when running the same memory speed. It sounds like the MSI Z97 board was running 1600Mhz or 1866Mhz??

Other benchmarks don't show much improvement over Z97, I was hoping for rumoured 20% gains but it doesn't look like it. Not sure if its worth the upgrade for me.

Its good to hear the platform is stable though.....and the MSI board itself is good

Edit: ( I would like to see the Z97 and Z170 platform set to the same CPU and Memory speed, say 4.2Ghz CPU and 2133Mhz memory, so we can see a real comparison of performance between DDR3 and DDR4)

 

[pky]

What a sneaky way to review the 6700K...

 

[Assimilator]

Interesting and disappointing at the same time. It's nice that 5GHz is achievable, but holy hell at 1.4V that CPU is gonna burn. Would like to see what the lowest voltage for 5GHz stable is.

 

[mr2009]

First impression of the new platform and I'm not impressed.

Cadaveca at what CPU and memory speed did you run the CPU and memory (aida) tests???

I get those numbers on Z79 (4790K) and 2133Mhz memory, (around 30-33,000 Mb/s) I thought DDR4 would provide better numbers.

I don't understand why you're praising DDR4 so much? could you elaborate?? I can see in the benchmarks that the Z170 ddr4 board gets better numbers than the Z97 board but you can only compare when running the same memory speed. It sounds like the MSI Z79 board was running 1600Mhz or 1866Mhz??

Other benchmarks don't show much improvement over Z79, I was hoping for rumoured 20% gains but it doesn't look like it. Not sure if its worth the upgrade for me.

Its good to hear the platform is stable though.....and the MSI board itself is good

Edit: ( I would like to see the Z79 and Z170 platform set to the same CPU and Memory speed, say 4.2Ghz CPU and 2133Mhz memory, so we can see a real comparison of performance between DDR3 and DDR4)

Z97 or X79?

 

[buggalugs]

Z97 or X79?

Sorry Z97 I mean, I will fix that.

Edit, I just watched a Z170 preview review where the guy said his platform was a nightmare, he had 4 different sets (brands) of DDR4 memory and none of them worked properly.!!

Wow, just checked its the same motherboard (MSI gaming) as well.

 

[ShockG]

Sorry Z97 I mean, I will fix that.

Edit, I just watched a Z170 preview review where the guy said his platform was a nightmare, he had 4 different sets (brands) of DDR4 memory and none of them worked properly.!!

Wow, just checked its the same motherboard (MSI gaming) as well.

I agree. At this point, this motherboard is not retail ready.
I've just recieved a newly cocked BIOS that was baked today. As prior to this version there would be no point in doing a review as it would be unreliable.
As it stands this particular motherboard is so so. POST CODE "78", HDMI output PLL not working properly etc...

If this motherboard is getting 9.9, surely the ASUS boards should get 10.5

 

[Delta6326]

Awesome review as always! This was going to be my next board until I saw only 5usb's... I have lots of Peripherals. I think the Asus Deluxe has a lot more at 3.1 also!
Can you mention what temp the "MotherBoard" kept the CPU Area at...

 

[souleet]

Great review!@ Do you think DDR4 memory price will drop soon? MSI is probably up to par with ASUS in terms of marketing but of course they still lack in R&D.

 

[Farmer Boe]

First impression of the new platform and I'm not impressed.

Cadaveca at what CPU and memory speed did you run the CPU and memory (aida) tests???

I get those numbers on Z97 (4790K) and 2133Mhz memory, (around 30-33,000 Mb/s) I thought DDR4 would provide better numbers.

I don't understand why you're praising DDR4 so much? could you elaborate?? I can see in the benchmarks that the Z170 ddr4 board gets better numbers than the Z97 board but you can only compare when running the same memory speed. It sounds like the MSI Z97 board was running 1600Mhz or 1866Mhz??

Other benchmarks don't show much improvement over Z97, I was hoping for rumoured 20% gains but it doesn't look like it. Not sure if its worth the upgrade for me.

Its good to hear the platform is stable though.....and the MSI board itself is good

Edit: ( I would like to see the Z97 and Z170 platform set to the same CPU and Memory speed, say 4.2Ghz CPU and 2133Mhz memory, so we can see a real comparison of performance between DDR3 and DDR4)

This is not really a platform review, it's a mobo review but I understand why you're asking those questions. I think Dave is raving about DDR4 because he likes tuning RAM and DDR4 is the new flavor.

I would also like to see a apples to apples comparison with the same clocks speeds using Z97 and Z170 chipsets. May answer a lot of upgrade questions.

 

[EarthDog]

Interesting ... Auto-OC function offering 1.44V for a 14nm CPU


Nevertheless - nice review.

Starts at 1.3v stock (give or take)... so that makes 1.44v look like nothing. That said, it was rumored not to go over 1.42v from a specific MFG or that would cause degredation... not sure what to believe on that front.


@ Farmer - plenty of reviews did that.. mine at 4.9Ghz, our 6700K CPU review did, and anand really went in bawls deep. Search friend. I it was done.


Great review dave! Nice to see you back in the saddle!

I agree. At this point, this motherboard is not retail ready.
I've just recieved a newly cocked BIOS that was baked today. As prior to this version there would be no point in doing a review as it would be unreliable.
As it stands this particular motherboard is so so. POST CODE "78", HDMI output PLL not working properly etc...

If this motherboard is getting 9.9, surely the ASUS boards should get 10.5

Your sample had issues. Mine didn't have one outside of it not liking my pre-release DDR4 sticks (would not go to XMP1 DDR4 3K). But they confirmed the retail sticks I had worked and showed a screenshot.

 

[Assimilator]

Hmmm, I have a massive problem with this review being done on a board that MSI cherry-picked. Is there any guarantee that retail boards will perform like this?

 

[EarthDog]

Hmmm, I have a massive problem with this review being done on a board that MSI cherry-picked. Is there any guarantee that retail boards will perform like this?

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?????????

They must have' cherry picked' about 20 boards in that case...

... you can't be serious? This isn't a CPU review or GPU review where that can be called into play with overclocking. And though the FIVR is gone and a robust power delivery area means more to a motherboard with this processor, I can assure you that his results (and mine from my review) will not be any different performance wise. Besides, if you are only talking CPU speed, that is up to the CPU's silicon more so than the board... 'the more you know'

 

[Ikaruga]

Thanks for the review. May I ask what kind of a low resolution did you use for the game test (Metro) to have such fps numbers? I only get like 10 fps difference between Sandy Bridge and Haswell in any meaningful resolutions (1080p + above), and you even get 5 fps difference between two z97 boards. That 40 fps difference just so huge, I never saw anywhere anything close tbh, or only in SLI configurations where more cpu power really matters.

 

[horik]

Where i live you can buy this mobo (249€) and get a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO for free.

 

[cadaveca]

Edit: ( I would like to see the Z97 and Z170 platform set to the same CPU and Memory speed, say 4.2Ghz CPU and 2133Mhz memory, so we can see a real comparison of performance between DDR3 and DDR4)

Each CPU is run with its stock memory speed. 4770K is 1600 MHz DDR3. 6700K is 2133 MHz DDR4.

This is a motherboard review, not a memory or CPU or platform review. Performance is only a consideration if it present a problem, which it doesn't. Future motherboard reviews will have less benchmarks like this, and more for drive interfaces, etc.

I agree. At this point, this motherboard is not retail ready.
I've just recieved a newly cocked BIOS that was baked today. As prior to this version there would be no point in doing a review as it would be unreliable.
As it stands this particular motherboard is so so. POST CODE "78", HDMI output PLL not working properly etc...

If this motherboard is getting 9.9, surely the ASUS boards should get 10.5

I didn't have any problems with any of my X99 memory kits, in speeds from 2133 MHz to 3200 MHz, all 4x 4 GB. It can use a BIOS update for going over 3400 MHz, and one is on the way.

Interesting ... Auto-OC function offering 1.44V for a 14nm CPU


Nevertheless - nice review.

Stock is 1.24V on my CPU, and I did mention that the board warned me that the voltage was too high.

interesting, nonetheless confirming my next move : i skip Skylake

tho the new MSI gaming mobo still look like a ripoff of a ASUS design (with the VRM heatsink in a slight different orientation)

anyway nice review as usual @cadaveca

Meh. I understand why you might think that, but it only is as much as every other board by every other brand.

Thanks for the review. May I ask what kind of a low resolution did you use for the game test (Metro) to have such fps numbers? I only get like 10 fps difference between Sandy Bridge and Haswell in any meaningful resolutions (1080p + above), and you even get 5 fps difference between two z97 boards. That 40 fps difference just so huge, I never saw anywhere anything close tbh, or only in SLI configurations where more cpu power really matters.

1024x768, so that the FPS is as high as possible. IT can show differences in Turbo profiling and memory timings; I am not reviewing a GPU or 3D performance, just making sure it works.


Honestly guys, motherboard reviews here on TPU for like the past 4-5 years have been exactly the same. I've written them all. Seems like a bit of fanboyism in some posts, from where I sit.

Hmmm, I have a massive problem with this review being done on a board that MSI cherry-picked. Is there any guarantee that retail boards will perform like this?

I get my samples form the same place any other place that receives samples from MSI. I do disclose this board was pre-tested, but if anything was out of the ordinary, believe me, i'd let you know.

 

[Ruru]

Looks fine, but an overclocked Sandy Bridge still kicks ass!

I'm just so tired of this GAMING THIS, GAMING THAT crap on product names..

 

[GC_PaNzerFIN]

I agree, MSI has made terrific work in last two years to get in the game pun intended.

If MSI is already this good, I am just left wondering only one thing: is Asus ROG Z170 board going to be first 10 ever?

 

[cadaveca]

I agree, MSI has made terrific work in last two years to get in the game pun intended.

If MSI is already this good, I am just left wondering only one thing: is Asus ROG Z170 board going to be first 10 ever?

I can always find a problem of some sort. 10 is nearly impossible.

ASUS sent me Z170 DELUXE, which is in different price bracket than this MSI board( twice the price, almost), so to me there is no direct comparison, FYI, but you guys can make whatever comparisons you like.

Awesome review as always! This was going to be my next board until I saw only 5usb's... I have lots of Peripherals. I think the Asus Deluxe has a lot more at 3.1 also!
Can you mention what temp the "MotherBoard" kept the CPU Area at...

at 4.8 GHz and 1.35V, CPU did not exceed 75C. At 1.44V and 5.0 GHz, it topped 85c, but did not reach 90c. Seems cooling is of little importance with these CPUs, and they are much like 2600K, not IVB/Haswell for required cooling I am seeing far lower power consumption both at stock and at load for comparative clocks...5.0 GHz is less power pulled than SNB/IVB and Haswell at same clock, by at least 50W.

Great review!@ Do you think DDR4 memory price will drop soon? MSI is probably up to par with ASUS in terms of marketing but of course they still lack in R&D.

DDR4 has already dropped in price, and maybe a bit more recently/soon, but to me, current prices are fair. High-end DDR4 is far better than high-end DDR3 as performance scales with the clocks, all the way up. I'll have RipJaws V review up soon which will show some of that.

Looks fine, but an overclocked Sandy Bridge still kicks ass!

I'm just so tired of this GAMING THIS, GAMING THAT crap on product names..

Being a college student, I can see that MSI marketing works better than any other brand in that demographic. So while you may be tired of it, it is still working well at bringing in new users, and new enthusiasts. I could not keep track of the number of MSI backpacks and laptops I see at school... almost more than MacBooks.

See, you get these students that are console users, but now need laptop for school...then they see gaming... guess what they buy? It's very effective.

 

[yogurt_21]

it seems that the main benefits of skylake come from the chipset and the overclocking potential. Most pit the 6700k as similar or the same as the performance of the 4790k stock to stock. But the overclocking potential and better chipset seems to be the main boost over haswell/devils canyon.

So it seems this upgrade path will be more focused on the mainboard than the cpu, kinda like 1156 vs 1366 where an i7 860 on 1156 vs i7 930 on 1366 really came down to budget and board/chipset features. also I guess older 478 pentium 4's vs the later 775 pentium 4's where the cpu's were pretty close and it really came down to chipset/memory.

 

[ShockG]

Starts at 1.3v stock (give or take)... so that makes 1.44v look like nothing. That said, it was rumored not to go over 1.42v from a specific MFG or that would cause degredation... not sure what to believe on that front.


@ Farmer - plenty of reviews did that.. mine at 4.9Ghz, our 6700K CPU review did, and anand really went in bawls deep. Search friend. I it was done.


Great review dave! Nice to see you back in the saddle!

Your sample had issues. Mine didn't have one outside of it not liking my pre-release DDR4 sticks (would not go to XMP1 DDR4 3K). But they confirmed the retail sticks I had worked and showed a screenshot.

I don't think this is a sample issue. As I've tried more than one, but not ruling it out of course.
The BIOS which you may receive tomorrow, actually fixes this issue. At present if you turn off HD Audio with BIOS version 130, 132, 142 and 151 (latest) you will get this "78" POST CODE error. On both ES and Retail.
The issue relating to CPU PLL OC and SFR, is fixed on TITAN board, but still present on this motherboard and even the upcoming BIOS is not addressing that. "00" After setting CPU PLL OC.
HDMI display issue, is related again to PLL and operating temperature when using the IGP.
Either way the most complete set of boards right now are all ASUS, by a large margin in fact. But no doubt the others will get there in due time.

 

[EarthDog]

Interesting.... I will see if I can duplicate the provlem with the current bios.

I can't say I tested shutting the audio off or hdmi. But to to say it's not ready for retail with issues that would seemingly affect so few, I believe is being too critical. Perhaps I don't fully understand the issue.

How did you find these issues? Particularly the disabling audio. What prompted you to do that for a review?

EDIT: Disabling Audio does cause a no boot issue. However, it was a sloooooow boot process, hangs on 79 for a bit, I get a signal on the monitor with no picture, and then it ends up on 99 debug (monitor signal stays on). This is BIOS 142.

EDIT2: I have no issues with manually adjusting OC PLL voltage or SFR... but I am not using the onboard GPU either. Do I have to use the iGPU for this issue to show up?