MSI Z97I GAMING AC (Intel LGA 1150) Review

Name: MSI Z97I GAMING AC (Intel LGA 1150)
Brand: MSI

cadaveca

on Jun 20th, 2014,

in Motherboards.

Manufacturer: MSI

Board Software »

BIOS Walkthrough

BIOS Options
Clocks	Range	Step Size
CPU BCLK:	90.0 MHz ... 300.0 MHz	0.06 MHz
Memory Dividers:	x8 (800 MHz), x10.67 (1067 MHz), x13.33 (1333 MHz), x14 (1400 MHz), x16 (1600 MHz ), x18 (1800 MHz), x18.66 (1866 MHz), x20 (2000 MHz ), x21.33 (2133 MHz), x22 (2200 MHz), x24 (2400 MHz), x26 (2600 MHz), x26.66 (2666 MHz), x28 (2800 MHz), x29.33 (2933 MHz), x30 (3000 MHz), x32 (3200 MHz)
Voltages	Range	Step Size
CPU Vcore:	0.800 V... 2.10 V	0.001 V
CPU Ring Voltage:	0.800 V... 2.10 V	0.001 V
DRAM Voltage:	0.240 V... 2.77 V	0.01 V

MSI motherboards offer a BIOS that is very much an MSI-only thing, as the layout and organization of its options is quite different to other brands. I did not really like MSI's BIOS design at first, but it has since progressed through several platforms, and the company now provides something that works well and is easy to use. Getting the best out of this BIOS requires a mouse because you have to click your way through the BIOS's different sections via the huge labels that also act as buttons. Board settings, overclocking, and monitoring, all the options you would expect are in the right spot and can be reached with a click or two. There is no "simple" or "advanced mode"; both are here at the same time, with simple drag-and-drop options for boot devices included. Just give it a click if you see something and want to change it. Some brands almost make it feel as though using a mouse makes things more difficult, so I have to truly commend MSI for providing everything you want in such a readily applicable way. Seeing such a fully functional BIOS for such a small board really made me feel good about the MSI Z97I GAMING; nothing I could have asked for is missing.