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MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£230
  • Avg. price in US: ~$290
  • CPU socket: LGA 2011-3
  • Chipset: Intel X99
  • Form factor: E-ATX

MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

6.0

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%

6.0

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Good
6.0

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%

6.8

Memory

16.0%

6.2

Platform & Features

16.0%

4.5

Storage

15.0%

6.6

Network

13.0%

5.9

Ports & USB

8.0%

2.9

Expansion

8.0%

7.8

Power & Cooling

5.0%

8.6

Audio

Good
?

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%

?

User reviews

30.0%

?

Popularity

  • 4.8
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    9.0

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    3.3

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    4.6

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    3.4

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

  • No image
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Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

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

Verdict

The MSI X99A GAMING 9 ACK is a high-end E-ATX motherboard built on the Intel X99 Express chipset and LGA 2011-3 socket, supporting Core i7 Extreme Edition processors and up to 128GB of quad-channel DDR4 memory at overclocked speeds of 3333MHz. Key technical characteristics include five PCIe 3.0 x16 slots for 4-way SLI/CrossFire configurations, a Turbo M.2 slot reaching 32Gb/s, and a dedicated hardware-based Streaming Engine for 1080p/60Mbps recording without impacting CPU performance. Its main pros are the robust Killer DoubleShot Pro networking (teaming Wi-Fi AC and Gigabit LAN), high-fidelity Audio Boost 2 with dual headphone amplifiers, and the inclusion of USB 3.1 Gen2 for 10Gb/s transfer speeds. Potential cons include its large E-ATX footprint which requires a spacious chassis, the disabling of specific SATA ports when using M.2 or SATA Express, and a premium price point compared to entry-level X99 boards.

Technical Specifications of MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK

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%

?

Memory

16.0%

?

Platform & Features

16.0%

?

Storage

15.0%

?

Network

13.0%

?

Ports & USB

8.0%

?

Expansion

8.0%

?

Power & Cooling

5.0%

?

Audio

6.0
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has a technical score of 6.04 points, which is lower than that of 56.5% 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%

0.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

?
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.
1.0
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has a popularity of 1 points, which is lower than 77.9% 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%

6.0

Overall score

40.0%

9.3

Price

7.0
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has a quality-to-price ratio of 7 points, which is lower than 62.2% 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

LGA 2011-3
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK uses the LGA 2011-3 CPU socket, which is less advanced than that of 84.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 2.5% of motherboards.
CPU platform

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel
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

Intel X99
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK uses the Intel X99 chipset, which is less advanced than that of 67.4% of motherboards and equal to that of 2.4% 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

E-ATX
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has the E-ATX form factor, which is less versatile than that of 92% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.8% 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

DDR4
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK uses DDR4 memory, which is newer than that of 13.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 51% 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

8
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has 8 Memory slots, which is more than 94% of motherboards and equal to 5.7% 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

128 GB
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK supports up to 128 GB of memory, which is more than 40.4% of motherboards and equal to 32.1% 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

4
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK supports 4 memory channels, which is more than 92.8% of motherboards and equal to 6.9% 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

3,333 MT/s
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK supports memory speeds up to 3333 MT/s, which is lower than that of 61.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.6% of motherboards.
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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

1
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has 1 M.2 sockets, which is fewer than 69.2% of motherboards and equal to 19.1% 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

1x PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK offers 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA for M.2 slot interfaces, which is slower than that of 73.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 10.4% of motherboards.
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

10
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has 10 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 96.7% of motherboards and equal to 3.3% of motherboards.
some ports shared with SATA Express
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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
SATA only
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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK does not support NVMe RAID. 59.8% of motherboards support this feature.
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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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK 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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK 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

5
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has 5 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 97.4% of motherboards and equal to 2.1% 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/x16/x0/x8/x0, x16/x8/x0/x8/x8, x16/x8/x0/x0/x0, x8/x8/x0/x8/x0
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK uses x16/x16/x0/x8/x0, x16/x8/x0/x8/x8, x16/x8/x0/x0/x0, x8/x8/x0/x8/x0 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is more flexible than that of 96.7% of motherboards.
Depends on CPU.
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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK does not support PCIe bifurcation. 61% of motherboards support this feature.
Requires BIOS mod.
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

10
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has 10 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 75.6% of motherboards and equal to 15.7% 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

20
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has 20 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 92.1% of motherboards and equal to 2.9% 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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK 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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK 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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
10Gbps excluded.
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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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK 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

Killer E2205
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK uses the Killer E2205 LAN controller, which is less advanced than that of 94.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 2.2% 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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK 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

yes
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK supports Wi-Fi connectivity. 50.9% 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)

Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), which is newer than that of 49.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 10.7% of motherboards.
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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 ALC1150
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK uses the Realtek ALC1150 audio codec, which is more advanced than that of 52.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 9.3% 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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
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

115 dB
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has an audio SNR of 115 dB, which is higher than that of 46.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 8.2% 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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK 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

5
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has 5 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 49.8% of motherboards and equal to 36.8% 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

?
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

2
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has 2 CPU power connectors, which is more than 54.6% of motherboards and equal to 45.3% 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

5
MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has 5 fan headers, which is more than 35.8% of motherboards and equal to 14.5% 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

?
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

?
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MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK vs the average motherboard

  • 4 more memory slots
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more memory slots than the average motherboard (8 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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more memory slots than the average motherboard (8 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.8 vs 4
  • 2 more rear USB ports
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (10 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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (10 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.10 vs 8
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x16/x0/x8/x0, x16/x8/x0/x8/x8, x16/x8/x0/x0/x0, x8/x8/x0/x8/x0 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
    Depends on CPU.
    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

    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x16/x0/x8/x0, x16/x8/x0/x8/x8, x16/x8/x0/x0/x0, x8/x8/x0/x8/x0 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.x16/x16/x0/x8/x0, x16/x8/x0/x8/x8, x16/x8/x0/x0/x0, x8/x8/x0/x8/x0 vs x16/x1
  • 5 more total USB connections
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (20 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
    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

    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (20 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.20 vs 15
  • Includes POST code display
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
    What it is: Shows whether the board includes a diagnostic POST code readout for boot troubleshooting.
    When it matters: When you troubleshoot boot issues and want clearer error information.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 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

    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.2 vs 1
  • Includes dual BIOS
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes two BIOS chips for redundancy or recovery.
    When it matters: When BIOS safety and recovery matter to you.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support 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

    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Includes POST code display
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
  • Includes onboard power button
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has an onboard power button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.7% of motherboards include an onboard power button.
  • Includes onboard reset button
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
  • 4 more memory slots
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more memory slots than the average motherboard (8 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
  • More memory channels
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more memory channels than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 memory channel/s.
  • 6 more SATA 3 connectors
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (10 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x16/x0/x8/x0, x16/x8/x0/x8/x8, x16/x8/x0/x0/x0, x8/x8/x0/x8/x0 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
  • 4 more PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more PCIe 3.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (5 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slot/s.
  • 2 more rear USB ports
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (10 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
  • 5 more total USB connections
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (20 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
  • 2 more USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.

Total
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel X99 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • No BIOS flashback support
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • No integrated graphics support
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK does not support integrated graphics, while the average motherboard does. 89.4% of motherboards support integrated graphics.
  • Not ready for Windows 11
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK 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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK does not have debug LED indicators, while the average motherboard does. 78.8% of motherboards include debug LED indicators.
  • Narrower Windows support
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has narrower Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
  • 7 years older release date
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK is older than the average motherboard (2,014 vs 2,021). The average motherboard was released in 2,021.
    November 2014
  • 27.5% lower maximum RAM speed
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (3,333 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • 32.4% lower overclocked RAM speed
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has a lower overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (3,333 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4,933 MT/s.
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
  • No NVMe RAID support
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 1 fewer M.2 sockets
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
    Requires BIOS mod.
  • 1 fewer PCIe x1 slots
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
  • 1 fewer total USB-C connections
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has fewer total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 1 fewer HDMI outputs
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has fewer HDMI outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 HDMI outputs.
  • More basic LAN controller
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Killer E2,205 vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK 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.
  • Older Bluetooth version
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has older Bluetooth version than the average motherboard (4.1 vs 5.4). The average motherboard supports Bluetooth 5.4.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • 20 mm wider
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK is wider than the average motherboard (264 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel X99 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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel X99 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.Intel X99 vs Intel B860
  • More basic LAN controller
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Killer E2,205 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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Killer E2,205 vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.Killer E2205 vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK 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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK 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
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
    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

    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • No NVMe RAID support
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK 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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 1 fewer M.2 sockets
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (1 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 X99A Gaming 9 ACK has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.1 vs 2
  • No BIOS flashback support
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard can update BIOS without needing a fully installed or supported CPU to boot first.
    When it matters: When you may need to update BIOS before the system can boot.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
    Requires BIOS mod.
    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

    MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
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Overall
Platform & Features
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Ports & USB
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Third-party reviews

What customers like about MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK?

  • Comprehensive connectivity including built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB 3.1 support
  • User-friendly BIOS GUI and easy-to-use software for overclocking and updates
  • Robust feature set including a dedicated hardware-based streaming engine for game recording
  • High-quality onboard audio solution featuring Audio Boost and Sound Blaster Cinema
  • Excellent storage options with an x4 M.2 socket and ten SATA ports

What customers dislike about MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK?

  • Reported compatibility issues with USB 3.1 ports and certain peripherals like keyboards or mice
  • Short antenna cords for the Wi-Fi module limit placement flexibility
  • Potential memory slot issues where certain configurations may prevent the system from posting
  • Slow boot times reported by some users during initial startup
  • Lack of PCI accessory slots, though mitigated by many built-in features

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