Introduction

Specifications

Specifications MANUFACTURER: MSI MODEL: Big Bang Z77 MPower CPU SUPPORT: 2nd & 3rd Gen Intel Core i3/i5/i7 processor family for the LGA 1155 Socket POWER DESIGN: CPU Power: 16 Phases

PCH Power: 1 Phase

Memory Power: 2 Phase CHIPSET: Intel Z77 Express INTEGRATED GRAPHICS: Dependant on installed CPU MEMORY: 4 x DIMM, Max. 32 GB, DDR3 1066 to DDR3 3000+ BIOS: Dual AMI EFI BIOS with dual 64 Mb Flash ROMs SLOTS: 3 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots (x16/x0/x0 or x8/x8/x0 or x8/x4/x4)

4 x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots HDD CONNECTIVITY: 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s (Intel Z77)

4 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s (Intel Z77) NETWORKING: Realtek RTL8111E PCIe Gigabit LAN PORTS: 10 x USB 2.0 ports (4 at back panel, 6 at front panel)

8 x USB 3.0 ports (6 at back panel, 2 at front panel)

1 x RJ45 LAN connectors

1 x Audio port with 6 audio jacks

1 x SPDIF Output(Optical)

1 x HDMI port

1 x Displayport

1 x CMOS Clear button AUDIO: Realtek ALC898 HD CODEC FAN HEADERS: 5 x 4-pin PWM FORM FACTOR: ATX Form Factor (305 mm x 245 mm) EXCLUSIVE FEATURES: OC Certified

MSI Military Class III

Click BIOS II

OC Genie II

Command Center

Gaming Device Port

Super Charger

M-Flash

Active Phase Shifting

Winki 3

Live Update5

Instant OC

V-Check Points

Superpipe

It seems that quite a few new Intel Z77 Express board products have been released recently, with nearly every board manufacturer sending me a new model within the past few weeks. Not to be outdone by the others, MSI contacted me recently to inform me that they had a new product I was sure to like. Not one to judge hardware before it's in my hands, I eagerly awaited the board's arrival on my doorstep. MSI told me they'd be sending me a Big Bang Z77 MPower board, a board designed to overclock the pants off your CPU.