The Z97A Gaming 6 ATX Motherboard from MSI lets you build your own computer utilizing a 4th or 5th Generation Intel processor in the LGA 1150 socket, up to three graphics cards, and SSDs connected via M.2, SATA Express, and SATA. To give credit to its name, the Gaming 6 motherboard has been designed with three PCIe 3.0 x16 slots for holding optional graphics cards so you can enjoy smoother frame rates and sharper graphics while playing games. In addition, it offers hardware and software features to boost the performance of the processor, GPU, and memory.
This Z97A Gaming 6 motherboard is outfitted with four memory slots that can accept up to 32GB of RAM with speeds up to 3300 MHz. For long-term storage, it lets you install storage drives and optical burners to the six SATA connections. When near instant access to your data is required, SSDs are a suitable choice since they offer faster read and write speeds than hard drives. To complement the fast access times these drives offer, MSI has equipped this motherboard with an M.2 slot and a SATA Express port that uses the PCIe 2.0 x2 interface to deliver up to 10 Gb/s transfer rates. Moreover, you can configure your storage drives as RAID to allow data redundancy, performance, or both.
The Z97A features Audio Boost 2 technology that delivers high quality audio with the use of Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2. With this technology, you will be immersed in clearer sounds and music through the 8-channel HD audio jacks. For headphone use, it provides dual amplifiers that boost the audio signals when connected to the back panel or the front panel of your computer case. Other connections include two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports as well as a USB 3.1 type C port. Furthermore, a Killer E2205 Gigabit LAN controller helps you win your online competitions by prioritizing the network traffic. Included along with the motherboard are a utility disk with drivers, SATA cable, I/O shield, and other goodies.
USB 3.1
Faster than USB 3.0, USB 3.1 allows for speeds up to 10 Gb/s, doubling the speed compared to USB 3.0 and up to 20x faster than legacy USB 2.0. In addition, the USB 3.1 port on the motherboard is built using a type C format that is smaller than a type A and also reversible, which lets you connect a USB 3.1 type C cable on the first try.
- Up to 2x faster than USB 3.0
- Up to 20x faster than USB 2.0
- Up to 10 Gb/s data transfer bandwidth
- Boost transfer rate between your PC and external storage devices
Audio Boost 2
The Z97A features Audio Boost 2 technology that delivers high quality audio with the use of Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2. With this technology, you can enjoy clearer sounds and music through the 8-channel HD audio jacks.
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 provides you an audio signal with more clarity.
Direct Audio Power
A dedicated power input to Audio Boost 2 provides more stable power so you can experience better sound quality.
Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2
Regardless if you're using headphones or speakers, Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2 enhances the audio's signal, which enables you to clearly hear specific sounds in gaming environments.
EMI Shielding
To shield the audio core from electromagnetic interference caused by other add-in cards, the audio chip is protected by an EMI cover with backlight illumination.
Dual Headphone Amplifiers
The integrated dual headphone amplifiers reward your headphones with studio level sound quality up to 600 ohms.
MSI Gaming motherboards are designed to be easy to use, featuring front and rear audio outputs fueled by Audio Boost 2.
MSI Gaming motherboards are designed to be easy to use, featuring front and rear audio outputs fueled by Audio Boost 2.
Audio Capacitors
With the use of professional Nichicon Japanese capacitors specially designed for audio purposes, MSI Gaming motherboards provide high level audio signal filtering, delivering high fidelity sound with strong acoustics and realism.
- Acoustic series
- Lower Tolerance
- Lower Dielectric Absorption
- Lower ESR
- Lower Leakage Current
- Higher Stability
Golden Audio Connectors
Golden audio connectors provide better signal output with less chance of distortion.
- Up to 600 ohms sound with strong acoustics
- Dedicated amplified output (red) optimized for studio-grade headgear
- Superb signal conductivity and will not wear over time
USB Audio Power
When connecting multiple USB devices, most motherboards are unable to deliver a strong 5V power signal to all USB ports. With a weak power signal, you will notice poor sound quality when using an external USB DAC.
MSI USB Audio Power continuously delivers a stable 5V current to the USB ports on the motherboard, making sure you can continue to enjoy the audio standard you expect.
MSI USB Audio Power continuously delivers a stable 5V current to the USB ports on the motherboard, making sure you can continue to enjoy the audio standard you expect.
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. With this automatic traffic prioritization, games and real-time chat get priority over low-level system chatter, offering lower latency for game data. In addition, Killer E2200 lets you customize which applications get traffic priority.
Push Your SSD to the Limit
Enjoy faster system boot up times along with loading of applications and games with MSI Gaming motherboards. It offers high speed storage support through M.2 and SATA Express, which transfer data through a PCI Express 2.0 x2 interface. PCIe 2.0 x2 provides up to 10 Gb/s - where as SATA III offers 6 Gb/s.
M.2
M.2 is the successor to mSATA, offering a 67% performance increase due to the 10 Gb/s transfer speed. It is packed in a small form factor and is compatible with 3 different sizes to fit most storage solutions.
SATA Express
SATA Express introduces a solution in high speed storage through PCI Express, providing more bandwidth for the SSDs. MSI offers flexible solutions with an optional M.2 to SATA Express converter for convenience.
M.2
M.2 is the successor to mSATA, offering a 67% performance increase due to the 10 Gb/s transfer speed. It is packed in a small form factor and is compatible with 3 different sizes to fit most storage solutions.
SATA Express
SATA Express introduces a solution in high speed storage through PCI Express, providing more bandwidth for the SSDs. MSI offers flexible solutions with an optional M.2 to SATA Express converter for convenience.
XSplit Gamecaster & Broadcaster V2
XSplit Gamecaster & Broadcaster V2 lets you record your gaming moments and broadcast your live gameplay sessions to online streaming services.
It's easy to use and suitable for sharing your gameplay with friends, family, and other spectators.
It's easy to use and suitable for sharing your gameplay with friends, family, and other spectators.
- Webcam & Chroma Key - Add a webcam and show your game face
- Share Your Broadcast - Distribute your gameplay with others
- Realtime Notes - Draw attention while casting with in-game annotations
- Record & Stream - Use XSplit Gamecaster to stream and record all of your gaming activities
SteamOS Support Out of the Box
MSI is committed to PC gaming and that is why MSI Gaming motherboards support SteamOS by default. Because of this, MSI works close with numerous tier #1 system integrators that release their SteamBOX PC's
Military Class 4 Components
Military Class 4 includes high quality components. The Super Ferrite Choke and Dark CAP will help make sure that your PC runs more stable under extreme gaming conditions.
Super Ferrite Choke
Super Ferrite Choke uses a ferrite core that is super-permeable. This allows the choke to run at a 35°C lower temperature, have a 30% higher current capacity, a 20% improvement in a power efficient, and improved overclocking stability.
Dark Cap
With their aluminum core design, Dark CAPs have been a staple in motherboard design and help provide a lower Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) as well as its over 10-year lifespan.
Super Ferrite Choke
Super Ferrite Choke uses a ferrite core that is super-permeable. This allows the choke to run at a 35°C lower temperature, have a 30% higher current capacity, a 20% improvement in a power efficient, and improved overclocking stability.
Dark Cap
With their aluminum core design, Dark CAPs have been a staple in motherboard design and help provide a lower Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) as well as its over 10-year lifespan.
Guard Pro
Circuit Protection
Carefully selected materials, multiple PCB layers, and shielding result in the circuit protection for gaming motherboards.
ECO Power
With the MSI ECO Center, you can physically cut the power to unused chips to save up to 29% power usage.
Humidity Protection
A 10% reduction in moisture absorption helps prevent "Conductive Anodic Filament." Untreated PCBs can have a ten times higher failure rate.
High Temperature Protection
All key components used in MSI motherboards have all passed military testing to help ensure stable operation in harsh environments.
ESD Protection
Every I/O port is protected against the hazards of Electro Static Discharge.
EMI Protection
MSI motherboards comply with American FCC regulations to reduce the impact of electromagnetic interference.
Carefully selected materials, multiple PCB layers, and shielding result in the circuit protection for gaming motherboards.
ECO Power
With the MSI ECO Center, you can physically cut the power to unused chips to save up to 29% power usage.
Humidity Protection
A 10% reduction in moisture absorption helps prevent "Conductive Anodic Filament." Untreated PCBs can have a ten times higher failure rate.
High Temperature Protection
All key components used in MSI motherboards have all passed military testing to help ensure stable operation in harsh environments.
ESD Protection
Every I/O port is protected against the hazards of Electro Static Discharge.
EMI Protection
MSI motherboards comply with American FCC regulations to reduce the impact of electromagnetic interference.
Gaming Device Port
The MSI Gaming Device port provides a better connectivity for gaming mice to fully utilize its speed. This results in a faster and smoother mouse response in games.
Technical Benefits:
Technical Benefits:
- 3x more gold than regular connectors
- 10x longer lifetime when plugging/un-plugging
- Helps prevent oxidation
OC Genie 4
OC Genie is built-in overclocking hardware technology that provides an increase of 20% to the processor, memory, and GPU.
Boost Your Frame Rate
Outperform your competition with the MSI Gaming app, which allows simultaneous overclocking of the motherboard and graphics card. You can simply select from three modes that include Silent, Gaming, or OC to tune your system without any technical overclocking knowledge.
Click BIOS 4
The MSI Click BIOS 4 is a UEFI BIOS with optimizations for Windows 8 that reacts faster, runs smoother, and has better mouse support
Optimized for Multiple Graphics Cards
This motherboard features three optimally spaced PCIe 3.0 x16 slots to offer an easier installation and improve airflow. With three optional graphics cards installed, you can enjoy faster frame rates when running in a NVIDIA SLI or an AMD CrossFire setup.
Software
Live Update 6
MSI Live Update automatically downloads and installs drivers, BIOS, and software updates.
Command Center
MSI's Command Center software features an intuitive touch-ready interface that lets you tune the system's settings to help increase system stability, maximize overclocking performance, and adjust cooling features.
Unlimited RAMdisk
RAMdisk lets you can create a virtual drive from your system memory, which is 20% faster than an SSD. This virtual drive speeds up system performance, games, apps, and Internet browsers as well as loads complete game images faster.
Smart Fan Control
Smart Fan Control allows you to control of all the fans connected to the motherboard. You will be able to monitor the status of the system's fans in real time and create profiles. In addition, you can record the fan's speed, voltage, and temperature status into a log file.
Dragon Heatsink
This motherboard features an oversized heatsink that provides increased thermal transfer and heat dissipation to enable your system to run intensive gaming sessions.
MSI Live Update automatically downloads and installs drivers, BIOS, and software updates.
Command Center
MSI's Command Center software features an intuitive touch-ready interface that lets you tune the system's settings to help increase system stability, maximize overclocking performance, and adjust cooling features.
Unlimited RAMdisk
RAMdisk lets you can create a virtual drive from your system memory, which is 20% faster than an SSD. This virtual drive speeds up system performance, games, apps, and Internet browsers as well as loads complete game images faster.
Smart Fan Control
Smart Fan Control allows you to control of all the fans connected to the motherboard. You will be able to monitor the status of the system's fans in real time and create profiles. In addition, you can record the fan's speed, voltage, and temperature status into a log file.
Dragon Heatsink
This motherboard features an oversized heatsink that provides increased thermal transfer and heat dissipation to enable your system to run intensive gaming sessions.
Connectivity
Be sure to take advantage of all the ports that this motherboard provides:
Audio Boost 2
30µg Gold plated Audio Connectors
Amplified Audio
USB Audio Power
Optimized stable 5V USB ports
Good sound quality for external DACs
Gaming Device Port
Optimized for high-rate gaming keyboards and mice
Triple gold plating for an extended operational use
Triple Gold Plated PS/2 and USB Ports
Up to a 10x longer lifetime when plugging and unplugging Helps prevent oxidation
Audio Boost 2
30µg Gold plated Audio Connectors
Amplified Audio
USB Audio Power
Optimized stable 5V USB ports
Good sound quality for external DACs
Gaming Device Port
Optimized for high-rate gaming keyboards and mice
Triple gold plating for an extended operational use
Triple Gold Plated PS/2 and USB Ports
Up to a 10x longer lifetime when plugging and unplugging Helps prevent oxidation