The Board - A Closer Look

The MSI Z170A GAMING PRO is designed with specific users in mind. As such, the parts that are used to complete it are a big part of making it what it is. First, we start with a simple 4-layer PCB to save on cost, while still being rigid enough to last for a while.


The PCI slot is added via the ASMedia ASM1083 bridge shown above, while the Intel LAN controller gets the MSI GAMING LAN shielding treatment.


The Realtek audio CODEC also gets a similar cover, as well as a huge line of electrical separation to help minimize noise. This is even more impressive because of the lack of board layers.


On the opposite edge is a huge swath of real estate that, like the audio's isolation, has no copper, and as such, allows light to shine through. The "MSI No. 1 in GAMING" logo will light up with the rest the board's edge because of a series of LEDs there, with software-controlled lighting options that include several colors available in your Windows OS!


As we saw earlier, board power is a bit light, making finding the Intersil controller easy. The DRAM voltage supply wasn't skimped on as there is a dual-phase design here to help reach those sky-high DDR4 clocks.


Like all other MSI GAMING products, the MSI Z170A GAMING PRO definitely has GAMING DNA inside, as evidenced by the board's traces themselves.