MSI Z97 XPOWER AC Motherboard

The OC PCB used for the overclocking motherboards has a unique design in which 50% more layers are used compared to standard motherboards. This allows us to optimize all traces for overclocking. Power and signal traces are isolated, resulting in higher efficiency and performance, and more features can be installed relatively close to each other, without causing interference. This motherboard is tuned for better stability under optimal circumstances such as increased number of PCB layers, increased humidity resistance, tight weave Fiberglass PCB, and increased ESD protection.

DigitALL Power digitally steers and receives feedback through a DigitALL PWM controller. This allows for pinpoint voltage delivery and lower power consumption.

XPOWER Thermal Design was developed to deliver optimal cooling potential in the worst situation. It is optimized to work in low-airflow situations, so it's a suitable cooling to use with a liquid cooling setup. The cooling solution features XPOWER thermal design, SuperPipe, low-airflow, optimized design, clear CPU space, and metal screws.

The motherboard has a lot of space around the socket that helps you to fit any cooling solution you want. It makes it easier to insulate the motherboard for use with LN2 or other extreme cooling solutions.

MSI Z97 overclocking motherboard ensures optimal cooling performance. It saves water cooling enthusiasts having to buy a waterblock for the motherboard. The overclocking model features a built-in solution within the heatsink. So, whether you choose a traditional air cooling or water cooling solution, it ensures low temperatures and optimal performance under extreme conditions.

Unstable situations when pushing your CPU to the limit occur because the internal clocks are linked through the 100 MHz BCLK strap. Integrated Clock Generator enables motherboard to support more flexible BCLK adjustments, from 100/125/167 MHz straps.
Using these straps prevents system crashing, while overclocking on the edge and opens doors to achieve the absolute maximum. The Z97 motherboard comes with the next generation Clock Generator offering even lower jitter and power consumption resulting in even higher stability under extreme conditions.

The MSI Delid Die Guard helps with air, water or subzero overclocking activities. This mounting system makes it easier to mount a delidded CPU and helps to achieve lower CPU temperatures, making sure you can squeeze every MHz out of it. Delid Die guard helps to lower CPU temperature, and is an easier and more stable fitting of cooling solution. It protects the die of your CPU, and also generates optimal mounting pressure.

The OC Fan Stand allows you to easily set up your fans, while overclocking without worrying about them falling over. A sturdy and easy to use design makes setting up fans easier.

It's a small set of tools that are essential to get optimal performance out of your motherboard. These features increase stability, assist in trouble shooting, allow you to keep your complete system in check, and allow for simple management. This way you can keep your mind on overclocking.

Slow Mode helps to defeat booting issues when overclocking at high CPU frequencies. Flicking the switch will temporary decrease CPU ratio to 8x, creating stability to successfully boot to Windows.

OC Genie is a built-in hardware overclocking technology on motherboards. It allows one-second overclocking by simply pressing the OC Genie button. OC Genie 4 has the ability to switch between two gears.

A set of '+' and '-' buttons allows you to adjust your Base Clock in real time, even during benchmarking. The Direct OC software allows you to select 1 MHz or 0.1 MHz increments. The XPOWER AC allows for better control because it is equipped with a switch on the motherboard, which allows you to make the 1 MHZ or 0.1 MHz increments. On top of that it also comes with two extra Direct OC buttons to increase the multiplier ratio. It has buttons such as BLCK up, BLCK down, Multiplier up, and Multiplier down.

Holding the CLR CMOS button for two seconds completely wipes your motherboard from all settings. The CLR CMOS button only limits itself to the BIOS/VRAM but this Complete Discharge button removes information from the Z97 PCH.

After MOA feedback we enhanced the V-Check Points with two extra ground connectors. This way overclockers can use three multi-meters at the same time. Do not use CPU-Z to measure voltages. The increased switching frequencies and incompatibilities lead to large deviations. (VCCIN: CPU input voltage, DDR01: Memory voltage - Channel A/B, DDR23: Memory voltage - Channel C/D, VPP01: Memory VPP voltage - Channel A/B, VPP02: Memory VPP voltage - Channel C/D, Core: CPU core voltage, GND: Ground, GND: Ground, GND: Ground)

The overclocking motherboard features aligned PCIe 3.0 slots with enough space for an optimal airflow, when using multiple graphics cards. That way, you will never have to worry about an overheating PC, while you are experiencing optimal graphics jumping off from your monitor when running a NVIDIA SLI or AMD CrossFire gaming setup.

The Z97 XPOWER AC comes with a PLX-chip to enable 4-Way SLI/CrossFire. However, in the case you only use just one VGA card, the PLX chip may cause some latency. This is why the Z97 XPOWER AC comes with a dedicated PCI-E x16 slot, which is directly connected, to the CPU bypassing the PLX chip giving you the best possible performance when using only one VGA card.

To support 4-Way SLI/CrossFire the Z97 XPOWER AC is using the PLX8747 gen 3 switch chip. This way you have the maximum available bandwidth needed in order to run your benchmarks and games with four VGA cards.

When you are overclocking with LN2 with four VGA cards and want to switch to three or two cards you normally would have to remove the cards. However, with the LN2 pot on the motherboard and all the insulation, removing the card can be a big hassle. With MSI CeaseFire, it is very easy to disable one of the PCI-E x16 slots using an onboard switch, without the need of removing the cards.

Experience fast system boot up and loading of applications and games with overclocking motherboard. This motherboard offers the next generation of high speed storage support through M.2 and SATA Express. M.2 and SATA Express transfer data through a PCIe 2.0 x2 interface up to 10 Gb/s, making it 67% faster than SATA 3.0 solutions.

M.2 is the successor to mSATA, offering a 67% performance increase up to 10 Gb/s. M.2 is packed in a small form factor and is compatible with three different sizes to fit most storage solutions. All latest generation Intel based overclocking motherboards feature M.2 storage.

SATA Express with PCIe provides greater bandwidth for the latest generation SSDs. This motherboard offers flexible solutions with an M.2 to SATA Express converter for more convenience.

The MSI Click BIOS 4 is a UEFI BIOS with optimizations for Windows 8. It also reacts faster, runs smoother, and has better mouse support.

The Command Center software is a powerful tool to push your motherboard to the maximum. With an intuitive touch ready interface, Command Center allows users to tune settings to increase system stability, maximize overclocking performance and adjust cooling features.

This lightweight overclocking tool doesn't need installation and doesn't occupy unnecessary system resources, lowering system benchmark scores. With a single mouse click you have access to the most important overclocking features.

The Command Center integrates an unlimited RAMdisk. With a RAMdisk, you can create a virtual drive from your system memory enabling speeds 20 times faster than a modern SSD. There are options to load complete game images. You can speed up your browser or your page file which increases your whole game system performance.

With Audio Boost the Z97 motherboard delivers optimal audio quality so you can experience crystal clear sound and music in games. The built-in headphone amplifier allows you to use studio-grade headgear and get the most amazing sound quality out of your PC. Audio Boost features studio level integrated 600Ω headphone amplifier, golden audio jacks for pure audio signals, EMI shielded audio codec, high quality audio capacitors, and illuminated audio PCB separation.

When the MSI Overclocking, the motherboard detects a failure from hardware such as the CPU, it will shut down, prevent booting and protect other hardware from damage by disconnecting power to it. A red LED let's you know that overcurrent protection is active.

The OC Pen Drive features a native driver pack for overclocking motherboard. You can install drivers faster, save and load OC Profiles, save and load the latest BIOS, and much more.

Motherboards boot lightning fast due to the GO2BIOS button. Push it before you start or restart your system and you'll go straight to the system BIOS when your motherboard powers on.

The motherboard is connected with Intel Gigabit LAN networking. It is optimized for multimedia and gaming use to deliver a stable and fast network connection. Even when using LN2, to make sure you can upload your record-breaking scores.

The overclocking motherboard comes with an easily unpluggable Intel Wi-Fi (867 Mb/s)/Bluetooth (25 Mb/s) module. The support of 802.11 AC and Bluetooth 4.0 ensures that you have fast transfer speed.

With MSI ECO Center you can physically cut the power to unused chips to save up to 29% power usage.

10% Reduction in moisture absorption helps prevent Conductive Anodic Filament. Untreated PCB's can have ten times high failure rate.

All key components used in MSI motherboards have all passed military testing ensuring stable operation in the harshest environments.

Each and every I/O port is protected against the hazards of Electro Static Discharge.

The GAMING motherboard complies with stringent American FCC regulations and reduces the impact of Electromagnetic Interference.

With their aluminum core design, Dark CAP`s has been a staple in high-end design mainboard designs and provides lower Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) as well as its over-ten-year lifespan.

A Hi-c CAP is a very small, but efficient capacitor. Besides ensuring enough spacing around a CPU socket to install large coolers, it also allows for 93% energy efficiency.

Super Ferrite Choke uses a ferrite core that is Super-Permeable. This allows the Super Ferrite Choke to run at a 35°C lower temperature, have a 30% higher current capacity, a 20% improvement in power efficiency,` and better overclocking power stability.