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MSI A88XM E35 Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£60
  • Avg. price in US: ~$50
  • CPU socket: FM2+
  • Chipset: AMD A88X
  • Form factor: microATX

MSI A88XM E35 review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

3.9

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the motherboard's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best motherboards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

3.5

Technical Score

10.0%

7.8

User score

Poor
3.5

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

2.0

Memory

16.0%

4.9

Platform & Features

16.0%

3.3

Storage

15.0%

5.0

Network

13.0%

1.6

Ports & USB

8.0%

2.3

Expansion

8.0%

3.7

Power & Cooling

5.0%

6.6

Audio

Poor
7.8

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.1

User reviews

30.0%

7.2

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.1
(121)
amazon
4.0
(39)
amazon
3.8
(18)
amazon
3.9
(7)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
(135)
Amazon_logo.png
4.2
(39)
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
(7)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Very good
  • 2.6
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    4.1

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    1.0

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    4.6

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    1.4

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

  • msi-a88xm-e35
msi-a88xm-e35

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Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The MSI A88XM-E35 is a micro-ATX motherboard built on the AMD A88X chipset, supporting FM2+ and FM2 socket A-Series and Athlon processors. It features two DDR3 DIMM slots for up to 32GB of memory at speeds up to 2133MHz (OC), six SATA 6Gb/s ports with RAID 0/1/5/10 support, and a single PCIe 3.0 x16 slot alongside PCIe x1 and legacy PCI slots. Key advantages include its durable 'Military Class 4' components, such as solid capacitors and dark chokes, and a versatile I/O panel offering HDMI, DVI, and VGA outputs for integrated graphics. However, notable drawbacks include its limited expansion capability with only two RAM slots and a lack of support for multi-GPU CrossFire configurations.

Technical Specifications of MSI A88XM E35

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

2.0

Memory

16.0%

4.9

Platform & Features

16.0%

3.3

Storage

15.0%

5.0

Network

13.0%

1.6

Ports & USB

8.0%

2.3

Expansion

8.0%

3.7

Power & Cooling

5.0%

6.6

Audio

3.5
MSI A88XM E35 has a technical score of 3.47 points, which is lower than that of 99% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.1

User reviews

30.0%

7.2

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.1
(121)
amazon
4.0
(39)
amazon
3.8
(18)
amazon
3.9
(7)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
(135)
Amazon_logo.png
4.2
(39)
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
(7)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

7.8
MSI A88XM E35 has a user score of 7.83 points, which is lower than that of 56.2% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you prefer a motherboard that has already been bought and reviewed by many other users.
7.2
MSI A88XM E35 has a popularity of 7.2 points, which is higher than 70.3% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the motherboard's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a motherboard that offers a strong balance of features, performance, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

3.9

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

5.7
MSI A88XM E35 has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.7 points, which is lower than 97.9% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The brand that makes the motherboard.
When it matters: When you have a brand preference for support, BIOS, or build quality.

Importance: MEDIUM

MSI
CPU socket
What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

Importance: HIGH

FM2+
MSI A88XM E35 uses the FM2+ CPU socket, which is less advanced than that of 97.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.4% of motherboards.
Backward compatible with FM2 processors.
CPU platform

Importance: MEDIUM

AMD
Chipset
What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

Importance: HIGH

AMD A88X
MSI A88XM E35 uses the AMD A88X chipset, which is less advanced than that of 98% of motherboards and equal to that of 1% of motherboards.
Form factor
What it is: The physical size standard of the motherboard, such as ATX or Micro-ATX.
When it matters: When you need the board to fit a specific case size.

Importance: HIGH

microATX
MSI A88XM E35 has the microATX form factor, which is less versatile than that of 52.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 32.4% of motherboards.
Show more
DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: DDR5

DDR3
MSI A88XM E35 uses DDR3 memory, which is older than that of 86.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 13.4% of motherboards.
Memory slots
What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4

2
MSI A88XM E35 has 2 Memory slots, which is fewer than 78.6% of motherboards and equal to 21.4% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

32 GB
MSI A88XM E35 supports up to 32 GB of memory, which is less than 87% of motherboards and equal to 11.2% of motherboards.
Memory channels
What it is: The memory channel configuration supported by the motherboard platform.
When it matters: When memory bandwidth matters for your build.

Importance: MEDIUM

2
MSI A88XM E35 supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.5% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
What it is: The highest officially supported memory speed for the motherboard.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=6400 MT/s

1,866 MT/s
MSI A88XM E35 supports memory speeds up to 1866 MT/s, which is lower than that of 91.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.5% of motherboards.
Show more
N. of M.2 sockets
What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=3

0
MSI A88XM E35 has 0 M.2 sockets, which is fewer than 88.4% of motherboards and equal to 11.7% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

Importance: HIGH

N/A
N. of SATA 3 connectors
What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

6
MSI A88XM E35 has 6 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 52.6% of motherboards and equal to 32.1% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
What it is: The RAID modes officially supported by the motherboard storage platform.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple drives in a RAID setup.

Importance: MEDIUM

0/1/5/10
MSI A88XM E35 supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
NVMe RAID support
What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

Importance: LOW

no
MSI A88XM E35 does not support NVMe RAID. 59.8% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
MSI A88XM E35 has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is equal to 68.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 4.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for modern expansion cards.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
MSI A88XM E35 has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is equal to 55.6% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 3.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need more full-length expansion slots.

Importance: MEDIUM

1
MSI A88XM E35 has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 40.6% of motherboards and equal to 26.7% of motherboards.
PCIe slot electrical configuration
What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

Importance: HIGH

x16/x1/x1
MSI A88XM E35 uses x16/x1/x1 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is less flexible than that of 61.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 8% of motherboards.
PCIe bifurcation support
What it is: Shows whether the board can split PCIe lanes across multiple devices from one slot or link.
When it matters: When you plan multi-SSD adapters or more advanced expansion setups.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
MSI A88XM E35 does not support PCIe bifurcation. 61% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8

6
MSI A88XM E35 has 6 USB ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.2% of motherboards and equal to 32.9% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=14

12
MSI A88XM E35 has 12 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 72.4% of motherboards and equal to 16.6% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=1

0
MSI A88XM E35 has 0 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.6% of motherboards and equal to 35.4% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB-C ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C connectivity across the whole build.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=2

0
MSI A88XM E35 has 0 USB-C ports (including headers), which is fewer than 69.6% of motherboards and equal to 30.4% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
MSI A88XM E35 has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
Show more
LAN speed
What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.5GbE

1 Gbps
MSI A88XM E35 supports LAN speeds up to 1 Gbps, which is lower than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 49.1% of motherboards.
LAN controller
What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek RTL8111G
MSI A88XM E35 uses the Realtek RTL8111G LAN controller, which is less advanced than that of 85.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 3.1% of motherboards.
N. of RJ45 ports
What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

Importance: LOW

1
MSI A88XM E35 has 1 RJ45 ports, which is equal to 85.6% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes onboard Wi-Fi hardware instead of requiring a separate adapter.
When it matters: When you want wireless networking without adding an extra card.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
MSI A88XM E35 does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 49.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
What it is: The supported Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
When it matters: When you care about wireless speed and router compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)

N/A
Show more
Audio codec
What it is: The onboard audio codec used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When sound quality from the built-in audio matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek ALC887
MSI A88XM E35 uses the Realtek ALC887 audio codec, which is less advanced than that of 89% of motherboards and equal to that of 7.9% of motherboards.
Audio channels
What it is: The audio channel configuration supported by the onboard sound solution.
When it matters: When you want surround sound from the motherboard audio outputs.

Importance: LOW

Good value: 7.1

7.1
MSI A88XM E35 offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
surround needs jack retasking.
Audio SNR
What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=120 dB

97 dB
MSI A88XM E35 has an audio SNR of 97 dB, which is lower than that of 67.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 16.8% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

Importance: LOW

yes
MSI A88XM E35 supports a headphone amp. 37% of motherboards support this feature.
supports up to 600Ω.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
What it is: The number of rear 3.5mm audio jacks on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more analog audio connection options.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=5

3
MSI A88XM E35 has 3 3.5mm audio jacks, which is fewer than 50.3% of motherboards and equal to 38.2% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=12

3+1
MSI A88XM E35 has 3+1 VRM phases, which is fewer than 98.9% of motherboards and equal to 0.5% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=2

1
MSI A88XM E35 has 1 CPU power connectors, which is equal to 54.5% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

3
MSI A88XM E35 has 3 fan headers, which is fewer than 76.7% of motherboards and equal to 15% of motherboards.
Pump header
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a dedicated header designed for a liquid-cooling pump.
When it matters: When you build with an AIO or custom liquid cooling loop.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
MSI A88XM E35 does not have a pump header. 77% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
What it is: The maximum current the dedicated pump header can supply.
When it matters: When you want to make sure the pump header can power your cooling setup.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2 A

0 A
MSI A88XM E35 supports up to 0 A on the pump header, which is lower than that of 74.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 25.7% of motherboards.
Show more

MSI A88XM E35 vs the average motherboard

  • 1 more PCI slots
    MSI A88XM E35 has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.
    What it is: The number of legacy PCI slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you need compatibility with older expansion cards.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI A88XM E35 has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.1 vs 0
  • More BIOS update options
    MSI A88XM E35 has more BIOS update options than the average motherboard (UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app, DOS vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app). The average motherboard offers UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app BIOS update methods.
    What it is: The available ways to update the motherboard BIOS.
    When it matters: When you want easier BIOS maintenance and recovery.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI A88XM E35 has more BIOS update options than the average motherboard (UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app, DOS vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app). The average motherboard offers UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app BIOS update methods.UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app, DOS vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app
  • 89 mm shorter
    MSI A88XM E35 is shorter than the average motherboard (216 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.
    What it is: The physical height of the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you check case fit or compare board size.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI A88XM E35 is shorter than the average motherboard (216 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.216 mm vs 305 mm
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    MSI A88XM E35 has more DVI outputs than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 DVI outputs.
    What it is: The number of DVI video outputs on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you plan to use older compatible monitors.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI A88XM E35 has more DVI outputs than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 DVI outputs.1 vs 0
  • Includes VGA connector
    MSI A88XM E35 has a VGA connector, while the average motherboard does not. 22% of motherboards include a VGA connector.
    What it is: Shows whether the rear I/O includes an analog VGA display output.
    When it matters: When you need compatibility with older displays or projectors.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI A88XM E35 has a VGA connector, while the average motherboard does not. 22% of motherboards include a VGA connector.
  • 2 more SATA 3 connectors
    MSI A88XM E35 has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
    What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=6

    MSI A88XM E35 has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.6 vs 4
  • 2.67x cheaper
    MSI A88XM E35 is cheaper than the average motherboard (£60 vs £160).
    MSI A88XM E35 is cheaper than the average motherboard (£60 vs £160).£60 vs £160
  • Broader Windows support
    MSI A88XM E35 has broader Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
    What it is: The Windows versions officially supported by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to know whether your planned Windows version is supported.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI A88XM E35 has broader Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10
  • More BIOS update options
    MSI A88XM E35 has more BIOS update options than the average motherboard (UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app, DOS vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app). The average motherboard offers UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app BIOS update methods.
  • Broader Windows support
    MSI A88XM E35 has broader Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
  • 2 more SATA 3 connectors
    MSI A88XM E35 has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • 1 more PCI slots
    MSI A88XM E35 has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    MSI A88XM E35 has more DVI outputs than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 DVI outputs.
  • Includes VGA connector
    MSI A88XM E35 has a VGA connector, while the average motherboard does not. 22% of motherboards include a VGA connector.
  • 2 more USB 2.0 ports
    MSI A88XM E35 has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
  • 89 mm shorter
    MSI A88XM E35 is shorter than the average motherboard (216 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.
  • 18 mm narrower
    MSI A88XM E35 is narrower than the average motherboard (226 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.

Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    MSI A88XM E35 has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD A88X vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • No BIOS flashback support
    MSI A88XM E35 does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • Older CPU socket
    MSI A88XM E35 has older CPU socket than the average motherboard (FM2+ vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
    Backward compatible with FM2 processors.
  • Not ready for Windows 11
    MSI A88XM E35 is not ready for Windows 11, while the average motherboard is. 77.1% of motherboards are ready for Windows 11.
  • No debug LED indicators
    MSI A88XM E35 does not have debug LED indicators, while the average motherboard does. 78.8% of motherboards include debug LED indicators.
  • Less versatile form factor
    MSI A88XM E35 has less versatile form factor than the average motherboard (microATX vs ATX). The average motherboard comes in ATX form factor.
  • 75% less maximum memory capacity
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (32 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
  • 2 fewer memory slots
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    MSI A88XM E35 has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 59.4% lower maximum RAM speed
    MSI A88XM E35 has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (1,866 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • 56.8% lower overclocked RAM speed
    MSI A88XM E35 has a lower overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (2,133 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4,933 MT/s.
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • No NVMe RAID support
    MSI A88XM E35 does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    MSI A88XM E35 does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • No multi-GPU support
    MSI A88XM E35 does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
    Single PCIe x16 slot only.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
  • 3 fewer total USB connections
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (12 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
  • 2 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
    other video outputs only
  • Older HDMI version
    MSI A88XM E35 has older HDMI version than the average motherboard (1.4 vs 2.1). The average motherboard supports HDMI 2.1.
  • 1 fewer total USB-C connections
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • More basic LAN controller
    MSI A88XM E35 has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111G vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    MSI A88XM E35 has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    MSI A88XM E35 does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • More basic audio codec
    MSI A88XM E35 has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC887 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
  • 18 dB lower audio SNR
    MSI A88XM E35 has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (97 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • 2 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (3 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
  • No optical S/PDIF out
    MSI A88XM E35 does not have optical S/PDIF out, while the average motherboard does. 55.7% of motherboards include optical S/PDIF out.
  • Fewer VRM phases
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (3+1 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • No pump header
    MSI A88XM E35 does not have a pump header, while the average motherboard does. 77% of motherboards include a pump header.
  • 2 fewer fan headers
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer fan headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    MSI A88XM E35 does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • 2 A lower pump header current limit
    MSI A88XM E35 has a lower pump header current than the average motherboard (0 A vs 2 A). The average motherboard provides pump header current of 2 A.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    MSI A88XM E35 has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD A88X vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
    When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI A88XM E35 has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD A88X vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.AMD A88X vs Intel B860
  • More basic LAN controller
    MSI A88XM E35 has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111G vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.
    What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI A88XM E35 has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111G vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.Realtek RTL8111G vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    MSI A88XM E35 has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
    What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: 2.5GbE

    MSI A88XM E35 has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps
  • 75% less maximum memory capacity
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (32 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
    When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=128 GB

    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (32 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.32 GB vs 128 GB
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=3

    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.0 vs 2
  • 2 fewer memory slots
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
    What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=4

    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.2 vs 4
  • No NVMe RAID support
    MSI A88XM E35 does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
    What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
    When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI A88XM E35 does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=8

    MSI A88XM E35 has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.6 vs 8
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.1
121 Reviews
amazon
4.0
39 Reviews
amazon
3.8
18 Reviews
amazon
3.9
7 Reviews
United States
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4.1
135 Reviews
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4.2
39 Reviews
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4.0
7 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about MSI A88XM E35?

  • Excellent value for a budget-friendly price point
  • Feature-rich UEFI BIOS with intuitive hardware monitoring and fan control
  • Solid expansion options for a micro-ATX board, including support for triple displays (HDMI, VGA, DVI)
  • Supports multiple RAID configurations (0, 1, 5, 10) for data security and performance
  • Easy BIOS updating through M-Flash without needing an operating system

What customers dislike about MSI A88XM E35?

  • Limited to only two RAM slots, which can restrict future memory upgrade paths
  • High-end graphics cards may physically obstruct the use of the PCIe x1 slot
  • Lacks a physical jumper for clearing CMOS, requiring users to short pins manually
  • BIOS interface can be confusing for novices due to long lists of options instead of sub-pages
  • HDMI output is limited to 4K at only 30Hz when using Kaveri APUs

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