The MSI Z170I Gaming Pro AC Mini-ITX Motherboard measures less than 7" wide but still packs the most important features you would find on a standard ATX motherboard. It supports Intel's Skylake processors as well as two modules of DDR4 memory. You can build a responsive system utilizing the performance of an M.2 PCIe or a SATA Express drive. Designed with gaming in mind, it features a PCI Express x16 slot along with MSI software, which optimizes the networking throughput and overclocks your system.
Network connectivity is achieved using an Intel I219-V LAN controller that supports wired Gigabit Ethernet speeds. The wireless module supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi connections and additional compatible peripherals may be connected using Bluetooth 2.1, 2.1+EDR, 3.0, 4.0 BLE, and 4.2 modes.
This motherboard comes outfitted with four SATA 6 Gb/s connectors for your drives. Additionally, the Intel Z170 chipset offers various RAID modes for SATA-based storage drives. The rear I/O panel has three USB 2.0 ports and four USB 3.0 ports to access printers, external storage drives, and other USB-based devices. For multimedia, it comes with five OFC audio jacks as well as an optical out, DisplayPort, and HDMI. To connect with a legacy keyboard or mouse, it offers a PS/2 combo port. Furthermore, it comes with other built-in features to help ensure your system runs reliably.
DDR4 Technology
MSI introduces DDR4 Boost technology with optimized traces and fully isolated memory circuitry. This design ensures the memory signals stay pure for optimal performance and stability.
Intel Wi-Fi AC and Bluetooth
This motherboard includes two removable Intel Wi-Fi/Bluetooth antennas. The support of 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.2 ensures that you have the fastest available transfer speed. With Intel Wireless Display (Intel WiDi), Intel WiDi for Home, or Pro WiDi for Business, you can wirelessly send movies, photos, presentations, and more from MSI's gaming motherboard to an HDTV.
Intel i219 LAN Controller
The Intel i219 LAN controller offers Gigabit Ethernet speeds and is suitable for online as well as LAN eSports gameplay. It reduces the CPU overhead by offering high TCP and UDP throughput. To optimize networking traffic with lowest latency, MSI Gaming LAN manager lets you change the application's traffic priority and customize the bandwidth for each application. Featuring 15KV anti-surge protection, LAN Protect is a LAN connector designed to shield your network from lightning strikes and static electricity. It's highlighted with a red LED inside the RJ45 jack to show its functionality.
Audio Boost 3
With premium audio components, this motherboard offers studio grade sound by delivering clear sound and music through 8-channel HD audio or high impendence headphones. Audio Boost 3 protects your ears against loud popping sounds when you plug devices in or out or turn your PC on or off. This motherboard comes with 7.1-channel audio connectors, Chemi-Con audio capacitors, separated audio layers, and dual headphone amplifiers as well as an isolated audio PCB, EMI-shielded HD audio processor, and a front dedicated headphone out connector.
USB Audio Power PRO
This motherboard comes with USB Audio Power PRO that delivers a stable 5V to the USB ports, making sure you can continue to enjoy clear high quality audio when using a premium DAC or professional USB headset.
Tune Your PC's Responsiveness
MSI DPC Latency Tuner is a convenient software tool that helps you optimize the PC's settings to offer a smooth audio/video playback experience and a fast responsive system.
Game Boost
Game Boost provides a button that overclocks your system instantly. You can also enable XMP using the XMP button in Click BIOS.
Gaming Hotkey
MSI offers you a Gaming Hotkey utility program that enables more functionality using your own keyboard. Simply assign functions or macros to any key and turn your PC on/off, launch your favorite games, load overclocking profiles, or enable real-time overclocking with the push of a single button. MSI also provides a MSI Smart keys program that logs into your applications with one key press.
USB 3.0 Connectivity
This motherboard comes with two USB 3.0 headers so you can connect your case's front USB 3.0 ports. These ports allow you to enjoy USB speeds without having to use the rear USB ports. The USB 3.0 headers come built with protective ICs that prevent damage caused by Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) from plugging or unplugging USB devices.
Storage Expansion
SATA Express offers a solution in high speed storage through PCI-Express, providing more bandwidth for the latest generation SSDs up to 16 Gb/s. For faster data transfers, the Turbo M.2 slot delivers speeds up to 32 Gb/s, which is five times faster than a SATA III connection. With a PCI x4 M.2 SSD, the system will boot up nearly instantaneously and your applications will run faster.
CPU Over-Current Protection
A red LED light near the 24-pin power connection lets you know that protection is activated to prevent overvoltage and short-circuit damage of the CPU and other components.
EZ Debug LED
The EZ Debug LED features three LED lights to indicate CPU, memory, and VGA operation when you boot up your system. These lights help you determine which part needs replacement when the system does not function properly.
Military Class 4 Components
- Dark Choke - uses a special core design that allows it to run at lower temperatures with higher capacity and better power efficiency and stability
- Solid Caps - are made with an aluminum core design as well as provide lower Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) and a 10-year lifespan
Guard Pro
MSI has built the PCB with humidity protection, which reduces its moisture absorption to help prevent conductive anodic filament. For key components, they have passed military testing to ensure stable operation in a harsh environment. With carefully selected materials, multiple PCB layers, and shielding, you get circuit protection for this motherboard. MSI has also protected the I/O ports against Electro Static Discharge. In addition, the motherboard meets FCC regulations and produces less Electromagnetic Interference than other motherboards.
MSI VGA Armor
With increased size and weight of high-end graphics cards, the PCI Express slots have been strengthened by using more solder points to make sure you never have to worry about breaking off any of the slots.
Click BIOS 5
MSI Click BIOS 5 is optimized for Windows 10. You can control your system in two modes: EZ mode provides frequently used settings and functions, while Advanced mode offers detailed settings and fine-tuning options to boost your system's performance. It's also easy-to-use and has high-resolution multi language scalable fonts as well as advanced overclocking options.
Gaming Port Features
The PS/2 and USB gaming device ports feature three times more gold than regular connectors and offer ten times longer lifespan when plugging and unplugging devices. They are also better equipped to prevent oxidation.
Software Bundle
MSI Mouse Master software lets you customize your mouse's DPI to change the accuracy and program macro combinations. The MSI Gaming app allows simultaneous control of both your motherboard and graphics card's overclocking. It features a transparent overlay over your application to provide on-screen speeds and temperatures. You can monitor in real time the GPU core, DRAM frequency, GPU & CPU temperatures, and more. Another included app which is similar is CPU-Z, but offers greater details about your system. MSI also gives you RAMDisk so you can create a virtual drive from your system memory. This drive offers speeds up to twenty-five times faster than SSDs. It can also prolong the life of your SSD by reducing unnecessary read and write operations.