Introduction

As we reach just about four weeks since the launch of Intel's latest platform, and I pass into my seventh week of testing with Haswell, I have constantly found myself in shock at what the platform offers and how enthusiasts react to it. Many enthusiasts seem happy, but there are still those that don't see much value in the upgrade. One of the biggest benefits of this platform is to me purely based on the features that are packed into all the supporting motherboards, as many of these break traditional molds with their designs, having clear and concise design ideals that cater towards specific users. Gone is the ability to get decent overclocks with high-end boards only because the sub-$200 market is now full of OC-oriented products. Onboard audio has also seen some fantastic attention with quite a few products boasting superb audio capabilities and customization. But what about the normal user who has no need for all the frills and gimmicks? Enter the MSI Z87-G45 GAMING.

I started my Haswell board reviews off with the MSI Z87-GD65 GAMING, a board I affectionately refer to as the Dragon. I had the opportunity to speak to MSI long before the launch of the Z87-GD65, and many of the concerns I raised were addressed with the Z87-GD65 GAMING, which was very nice to see. I wasn't the only one who noticed that MSI really took the time to develop a great product, as the same board won an award from Computex for it's innovation and style. Like it's "bigger" brother, the MSI Z87-G45 GAMING carries a lot of the same features, but the focus on overclocking-specific features is gone while the GAMING style remains. Does the removal of these features make the MSI Z87-G45 GAMING a lesser board? Let's take a look and find out.

Specifications

Intel Z87 Chipset

New and fresh on the scene for June of 2013 is Intel's latest Socket 1150 platform, with Intel's Z87 chipset taking the top-tier spot in chipset functionality and for performance options on this platform.


Most of the basic functionality offered by Intel's new Z87 chipset is quite similar to what was offered with Intel's Z77 Express, but there are more USB 3.0 ports, and they are faster too. All of the SATA ports provided offer SATA 6 Gb/s functionality. Intel's Z77 Express only had two ports at those speeds. There are new power-saving features to keep power consumption at a bare minimum, and Z87 also includes all the features of the Intel Z77 Express. The chipset offers PCIe speeds of up to 5 GT/s for fast access to peripheral devices and networking, with up to eight PCI Express 2.0 x1 ports that can be configured to act as x2-, x4-, or x8 ports. Intel's functionality diagram for the Z87 chipset is shown above.


The new 4th Gen Intel Core CPUs are 64-bit, multi-core chips built on a 22nm process; pairing with the Intel Z87 chipset enables the performance-tuning features of "K"-SKU CPUs, allowing independent changes to core-, graphics-, "ring"-, and memory frequencies. This allows you to clock up one part of the chip while running any other part of the chip at stock speeds, which is extremely useful for enthusiasts that like to overclock, as each part can be clocked and tested independently for the absolute most out of your chip if the time is taken to test everything fully. Users who prefer the simpler approach of past platforms can use it instead, ensuring everyone's needs are met. For PCIe connectivity, Intel Z87-based platforms allow the processor's PCI Express 3.0 port to be configured into three different configurations: 1x16, 2x8, or 1x8 and 2x4. The third x8 and 2x4 configuration is primarily meant for use with Intel Thunderbolt Technology but can be used to support other devices as well.

Other TPU reviews will cover the CPUs themselves in more detail. We will also separate reviews into each covering either GPU- or CPU performance.

Packaging

This box has really grown on me. I do love dragons after all. All MSI GAMING-series products come in such packaging, with the product name as the only differentiating factor to be found; that is, other than the product-specific explanations on the back of the box.


The board itself is wrapped in an anti-static bag, and the accessories can be found in divided partitions below the board.

Contents

There are just enough accessories here to get you started. Only a couple of extras, like a "MSI GAMING" case badge and the now familiar door hanger, are a real surprise. A full list is below:

• 1 x User guide
• 1 x Software manual
• 1 x I/O shield
• 2 x SATA 6 Gb/s cable
• 1 x MSI case badge
• 1 x Driver disc
• 1 x Door hanger