Unboxing of the MSI Z97 Gaming 9 AC

[Limexx]

Hello ! This is my first unboxing. I will be unboxing the MSI Z97 Gaming 9 AC Motherboard. It is available today, 30/5/2014 but in limited stocks.

There are many motherboards in the MSI Z97 Gaming line series.

For more info on the MSI Z97 Gaming motherboards lineup :
http://game.msi.com/product/motherboard/z97-gaming

A video introduction to this board :

This board has many features, including AC Wifi and SLI/CrossFire support.

For storage, you will be getting 8 SATA 3 6GB/s, M.2 slot and SATA Express support with performance increase of up to 10 Gb/s.

For SATA Express, you have to get an additional M.2 to SATA Express adapter .

Gaming features include :

Killer E2220 Game Networking software to prioritize game traffic over other programs so that you can enjoy your game lag-free !

Xtreme Audio DAC to deliver studio-grade audio quality, onboard!

MSI Gaming Device Port for your high end gaming peripherals that has 3x more gold than regular connectors to provide a more responsive and smoother gameplay.

MSI Gaming app that has 3 modes, OC mode, Gaming mode and Silent mode, this app allows you to overclock your graphics card without any prior knowledge of overclocking to boost frames rate in games !

Here are some pictures :

The MSI Z97 Gaming 9 is packed in a retail packaging with the a picture of the MSI Dragon. The top right of the box shows some of the motherboard features such as the Xtreme Audio DAC, Audio Boost 2 and the Killer E2200 Gaming NIC.

Opening up the flap shows a MSI Gaming Shield which introduces you to some of the features of this motherboard like the Gaming App and OC Genie 4 which can overclock your motherboard with just one button.

Accessories

Inside the box :

Accessories Includes :

7 SATA3 6GB/s cables, 3 are right angled connectors
SLI Cable
6 V-Check Cables
Audio Power Adapter
I/O Shield
Intel Wifi/Bluetooth module and 2 antennas

Quick Installation Guide
Intel Driver Disc
LAN/WiFi/Bluetooth Driver disc
MSI Software user guide
MSI Z97 Gaming 9 User Guide
MSI Gaming Door Hanger
MSI Gaming Case Badge
Cable Stickers

The board

The MSI Z97 Gaming 9 sports a black and red colour scheme that you would expect from the MSI Gaming series. The design of the VRM heat sink and chipset heat sink has changed and the VRM heat sink illuminates when powered up as you can see from the picture below.

Rear I/O Panel

The rear I/O panel consists of, from left to right :
1. Gaming Device Port (2 USB 2.0 ports and one PS/2 port)
2. Clear CMOS button
3. 4 USB 3.0 Ports
4. Killer Ethernet and 2 USB 3.0 Ports
5. Optical S/PDIF-Out, HDMI and Display Port
6. 2 USB 3.0 Ports
7. Audio Ports

 

[Limexx]

reserved 1

 

[b3njaminlee]

reserved 1

What's the damage :O

 

[Limexx]

What's the damage :O

i got it for $435. hey! you are the one who won the graphics card at the msi event. envy you hahaha

 

[b3njaminlee]

i got it for $435. hey! you are the one who won the graphics card at the msi event. envy you hahaha

Haha, I thought can win Mobo

U got +20 get the headphones and sign up for the buy-mobo-luckydraw?

 

[shadow84]

Haha, I thought can win Mobo

U got +20 get the headphones and sign up for the buy-mobo-luckydraw?

The guy who won the mobo wanted to win the gpu.

The guy who won the gpu wanted to win the mobo.

First world problem sia...

 

[Limexx]

The guy who won the mobo wanted to win the gpu.

The guy who won the gpu wanted to win the mobo.

First world problem sia...

haha yes indeed first world problem, i wan win also dont have

 

[Limexx]

Haha, I thought can win Mobo

U got +20 get the headphones and sign up for the buy-mobo-luckydraw?

sorry how to sign up for the buy-mobo lucky draw? I got the headphones yes

 

[shadow84]

haha yes indeed first world problem, i wan win also dont have

At least some of us managed to get the large mousepads...

 

[Limexx]

At least some of us managed to get the large mousepads...

yea i got the mousepad and the rc car
mouse pad for answering some the question related to the killer ethernet and the rc car got from the puzzle booth haha

 

[royfrosty]

Ups for you. Welcome to the MSI family.

This is the latest range that MSI has to offer for the gaming series.

The dragon amour is just too sleek and sexy. Including the mosfet Dragon Claw heatsinks.

Enjoy the board and Just Gaming~ !

 

[b3njaminlee]

At least some of us managed to get the large mousepads...

Large mousepad FTW! Actually im a user of large mousepad

Rmb that time speaker ask no one raise hand

 

[shadow84]

From spec list, for rear i/o, none of the usb3.0 are handled by the chipset? In other gaming series/Mpower, i saw the intel chipset handle some and asmedia handled the rest. How to differentiate?

Large mousepad FTW! Actually im a user of large mousepad

Rmb that time speaker ask no one raise hand

Which qn?

 

[Reignxy]

So many 3.0 Usb port.

 

[Ark Law]

The guy who won the mobo wanted to win the gpu. an ITX mobo

The guy who won the gpu wanted to win the mobo.

First world problem sia...

Large mousepad FTW! Actually im a user of large mousepad

Rmb that time speaker ask no one raise hand

Give new family member chance to answer mah. The mousepad I use for my keyboard, mousepad still got Roccat Taito mini from previous Corbell event

 

[b3njaminlee]

Give new family member chance to answer mah. The mousepad I use for my keyboard, mousepad still got Roccat Taito mini from previous Corbell event

Alr have one so no need to get let those don't have win

Haha he asked who uses large mousepads. Moi is use large mousepad for fps gaming

 

[shadow84]

Give new family member chance to answer mah. The mousepad I use for my keyboard, mousepad still got Roccat Taito mini from previous Corbell event

Lol, they bo itx mobo as giveaway mah... u oso dun mind xfire ur gpu.

 

[Limexx]

From spec list, for rear i/o, none of the usb3.0 are handled by the chipset? In other gaming series/Mpower, i saw the intel chipset handle some and asmedia handled the rest. How to differentiate?



Which qn?

from what i read, the Z97 chipset supports up to 6 USB 3.0 ports, since there are 8 USB 3.0 ports, 2 are by the Asmedia

 

[clon22]

Nice!
Thanks for the pictures!

 

[memoriess]

Anyone know tradepac price for this mobo?