The X299M-A Pro LGA 2066 Micro-ATX Motherboard from MSI is built on the Intel X299 chipset with an LGA 2066 socket designed for Intel Core X-series processors, specifically Core i7-7740X and i5-7640X processors only. It's equipped with four DDR4 memory slots that support up to 64GB of 4400 MHz RAM. For storage, it has eight SATA III ports and two M.2 slots, both which also support Intel Optane Memory. The X299M-A Pro has three PCIe 3.0 x 16 slots for expansion cards as well as graphics cards. Due to their layout, this motherboard supports up to 2-way AMD CrossFireX or NVIDIA SLI. Other integrated features include Intel Gigabit LAN and Realtek ALC1220 7.1-channel high-definition audio.
Cooling
The X299M-A Pro features six fan headers that support DC and PWM modes for complete fan control via BIOS or a third-party software. Furthermore, it has a dedicated pump header for those who are planning to install liquid cooling.
Multi-GPU Support
This motherboard is equipped with three PCIe 3.0 x16 slots. Due to their placement, it supports up to two dual-slot graphics cards for 2-way AMD CrossFireX or NVIDIA SLI using the included SLI bridge.
RAM
The memory circuity on this motherboard has an optimized layout for stability. Moreover, it supports a wide variety of RAM from multiple manufacturers as well as Intel's Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) for enhanced performance.
Storage
The M.2 slots on this motherboard supports transfer speeds of up to 32 Gb/s using the PCIe Gen3 x4 interface. They also support Intel Optane Memory to speed up system performance. Using MSI's software, you can enable X-Boost, which optimizes your storage drives to maximize their performance.
Audio
- Audio Boost - Delivers an enhanced and immersive listening experience with multiple hardware and software features.
- Isolated Audio Design with LED Border - Physically isolated circuitry ensures better audio signal.
- Separated Audio Layers - Separated layers in the PCB provide better sound quality for left- and right-audio channels.
- De-Pop Protection - Eliminates loud popping sounds when plugging or unplugging devices, or turning your system on or off.
- Dedicated Audio Processor - An EMI-shielded HD audio processor offers enhanced sound quality for both stereo and surround sound.
- Quality Capacitors - Golden audio capacitors ensure reliable and clear sound output.