The Z97 GAMING 7 ATX Gaming Motherboard from MSI supports 4th and 5th generation Intel Core processors, and Intel Pentium and Celeron processors for LGA1150 socket. It is equipped with four DIMM slots and supports DDR3 3300 MHz (O.C.) and supports Intel Extreme Memory Profile (XMP). The motherboard is equipped with three PCIe 3.0 (support x16, x8/x8, x8/x4/x4 modes) and four PCIe 2.0 x1 slots. It is optimized for multiple graphics cards. The special USB 3.0 Redrivers on this motherboard, connected to the internal USB 3.0 ports, enable you to use longer USB 3.0 cables, especially in larger chassis.
With Audio Boost 2 and Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2, you can enjoy crystal clear sound and music through 8-channel HD audio. The MSI USB Audio Power continuously delivers a stable 5V to the USB ports on motherboards and also provides stable 5V power and better signal transmission over USB. With XSplit Gamecaster, you can easily record your gaming moments and broadcast your live gameplay sessions to Twitch, YouTube, UStream, and more. The Gaming Device port is optimized with triple gold-plating for high polling rate gaming devices. Featuring Advanced Stream Detect, Killer E2200 automatically detects and accelerates game traffic ahead of other network traffic for smoother, stutter-free in-game performance. Through the detection and prioritization of gaming traffic you can fully utilize your network. This enables true multi-tasking without manually enabling or disabling applications, updates, and installations.
Performance
Audio Boost 2
Audio Boost 2 delivers high audio quality with the use of Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2, so you can enjoy crystal clear sound and music through 8-channel HD Audio.
Isolated Audio PCB
With traditional onboard audio, the signal is distorted by electromagnetic signals from the rest of the PCB. Audio Boost 2 acts like a dedicated soundcard by physically isolating the audio circuitry, which is separated by a red LED path. Less interference gives you clear audio signal.
Direct Audio Power
You can enjoy heavy-caliber audio with Direct Audio Power. A dedicated power input to Audio Boost 2 allows for more powerful and stable power delivery, resulting in a more explosive and pure sound experience.
Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2
Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2 enables you to clearly hear specific sounds in gaming environments.
EMI Shielding
To shield the audio core from EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) caused by other add-in cards, the audio chip is protected by a high-grade EMI cover with backlight illumination.
Golden Audio Connectors
With golden audio connectors, you get optimal signal output with less chance of distortion. It has dedicated amplified output (red) optimized for studio-grade headgear. In addition, it provides enhanced signal conductivity and will not wear over time.
High-Quality Audio Capacitors
With the use of professional Nichicon Japanese capacitors, specially designed for audio purposes, MSI gaming motherboards provide optimal audio signal filtering. It delivers high-fidelity crystal clear sound with enhanced acoustics and realism.
Dual Headphone Amplifiers
The built-in dual headphone amplifier rewards your high quality headphones with optimal studio level sound quality up to 600Ω, delivered from your gaming PC. Also, MSI gaming motherboards are designed to be user-friendly featuring front and rear audio outputs fueled by Audio Boost 2.
USB Audio Power
MSI USB Audio Power continuously delivers a stable 5V to the USB ports on motherboards, so you can continue to enjoy the crystal clear audio standard you expect. It enhances USB audio quality stable 5V power and better signal transmission over USB
Killer E2200 Game Networking
The Killer E2200 Intelligent Networking Platform is built for maximum networking performance for online games and high quality streaming media. Featuring Advanced Stream Detect, Killer E2200 automatically detects and accelerates game traffic ahead of other network traffic for smoother, stutter-free in-game performance, and the competitive edge. With this automatic traffic prioritization, games and real-time chat get priority over low-level system chatter, giving you low latency for game data, on the most controllable network hardware available.
M.2 and SATA Express
Enjoy a fast system boot up and fast loading of applications and games with the next generation of high speed storage support through M.2 and SATA Express. The 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. The 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 MSI gaming motherboards feature M.2 storage. SATA Express introduces a solution in high speed storage through PCIe, providing greater bandwidth for the latest generation SSDs. Flexible solutions with an M.2 to SATA Express converter for more convenience is provided.
XSplit Gamecaster
XSplit Gamecaster lets you easily record your gaming moments and broadcast your live gameplay sessions to Twitch, YouTube, UStream, and more. It's simple, user-friendly, and suitable for sharing your gameplay with friends, family or the world.
Webcam and Chroma Key: Add a webcam and show your game face
Share your Broadcast
Realtime Notes: Draw attention whilst casting with in-game annotations
Record and Upload: Organize and upload your gaming moments
Webcam and Chroma Key: Add a webcam and show your game face
Share your Broadcast
Realtime Notes: Draw attention whilst casting with in-game annotations
Record and Upload: Organize and upload your gaming moments
SteamOS Support
MSI gaming motherboards support SteamOS by default, so MSI works close with numerous tier one system integrators that released their popular SteamBOX PC's.
Circuit Protection
Carefully selected materials, multiple PCB layers and shielding result in optimal circuit protection for gaming motherboards.
Eco Power
With MSI Eco center you can physically cut the power to unused chips to save up to 29% power usage.
Humidity Protection
10% reduction in moisture absorption helps prevent "Conductive Anodic Filament". Untreated PCB's can have 10 times higher failure rate.
High Temperature Protection
All key components used in MSI motherboards have all passed military testing ensuring stable operation in the harshest environments.
ESD Protection
Each and every I/O port is protected against the hazards of Electro Static Discharge.
EMI Protection
The MSI motherboards comply with stringent American FCC regulations and reduce the impact of Electromagnetic Interference.
Gaming Device Port
MSI gaming device port is optimized to deliver optimal connectivity for high-end gaming mice to fully utilize its speed. You can have more responsive and smoother gameplay with faster reactions.
OC Genie 4
OC Genie is a built-in hardware overclocking technology on motherboards. With this one-second overclocking option your PC gets another adrenalin shot, delivering up to 20% of free extra performance for the CPU, memory, and iGPU. Simply select your preferred mode with the click of a button Silent, Gaming, or OC. This allows you to tune the system to your pleasure, without any technical knowledge of overclocking.
MSI Gaming App
MSI gaming app allows simultaneous control of both your motherboard and graphics card's overclocking.
Click BIOS 4
The MSI Click BIOS 4 is UEFI BIOS with optimizations for Windows 8. It reacts faster, runs smoother, and has better mouse support.
Optimized for Multiple Graphics Cards
With three PCIe 3.0 x16 slots and optimal placement for better fitting and airflow, you can enjoy graphics at high-frame rate jumping off from your screen when running a NVIDIA SLI or AMD CrossFire gaming setup.
Connectivity
You can take full advantage of all the gaming weapons by connecting your devices to the optimized ports. It has 30µg gold-plated audio connectors for amplified audio, optimized stable 5V USB ports for optimal sound quality for external DACs, gaming device port, optimized for high-rate gaming keyboards and mice with triple gold plating for extended lifetime. In addition to this, the triple gold-plated PS/2 and USB ports provides 10 times longer lifetime when plugging/un-plugging and also prevents oxidization.
OC Essentials
A small set of tools that are essential to get the optimal performance out of your motherboard. It increases stability, assist in trouble shooting, allow you to keep your complete system in check, and also allow for simple management.
Super Charger
With MSI Super Charger you can simply deliver more power than regular USB chargers to your smartphone, tablet, USB game controller or portable console. This allows you to quickly charge these devices for use when you're not gaming on your PC, eliminating the need for wall power sockets.
Smart Fan Control
Smart Fan Control gives you complete control of all fans on the motherboard, convenient for gamers and overclockers. Users can real-time monitor the status of the fans, set profiles, and record fan speed, voltage, and temperate status into a log file.
USB Redrivers
USB 3.0 signal integrity suffers with longer cable length. The special USB 3.0 Redrivers on this motherboard, connected to the internal USB 3.0 ports, enable you to use longer USB 3.0 cables, especially in larger chassis.
Dragon Heat Sink
The heat sink is oversized to provide the optimal thermal transfer and heat dissipation to enable your PC to game 24 hours per day.
Software
Live Update 6
The MSI Live Update software automatically downloads and installs the latest drivers, BIOS, and software. Rest assured while your system is always configured using the latest software, so you get the maximum performance and stability.
Command Center
MSI's 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.
Unlimited RAMDisk
MSI 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. You can speed up system performance, load complete game images, and speed up games, apps, and browser.
BIOS
The motherboard BIOS provides "plug-and-play" BIOS which detects the peripheral devices and expansion cards of the board automatically. The motherboard provides a Desktop Management Interface (DMI) function which records your motherboard specifications
Military Class 4 Components
Super Ferrite Choke
Super Ferrite Choke uses a ferrite core that is super-permeable. This allows the Super Ferrite Choke to run at 95°F, have a 30% higher current capacity, a 20% improvement in power efficiency, and better overclocking power stability.
Dark Cap
With the aluminum core design, Dark CAP`s has been a staple in high-end design main board designs and provides lower Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) as well as an over-10-year lifespan.
Hi-C CAP
A Hi-C CAP is a very small, but super-efficient capacitor. Besides ensuring enough spacing around a CPU socket to install large coolers, it also allows for 93% energy efficiency.