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MSI Z77A G45 Gaming Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£130
  • Avg. price in US: ~$140
  • CPU socket: LGA 1155
  • Chipset: Intel Z77
  • Form factor: ATX

MSI Z77A G45 Gaming review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

4.4

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%

4.1

Technical Score

10.0%

6.6

User score

Poor
4.1

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%

3.8

Memory

16.0%

6.0

Platform & Features

16.0%

3.4

Storage

15.0%

4.9

Network

13.0%

1.9

Ports & USB

8.0%

3.1

Expansion

8.0%

4.2

Power & Cooling

5.0%

6.9

Audio

Poor
6.6

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%

7.6

User reviews

30.0%

4.1

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.2
(20)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.6
(36)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Good
  • 2.6
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    4.6

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    1.0

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    4.6

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    1.0

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

  • msi-z77a-g45-gaming
msi-z77a-g45-gaming

Best prices in UK

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 Z77A-G45 Gaming is an ATX motherboard built on the Intel Z77 Express chipset, supporting 2nd and 3rd Generation Intel Core processors via the LGA 1155 socket. Key specifications include four DDR3 DIMM slots supporting up to 32GB of RAM (overclocked up to 3000MHz), three PCIe 3.0 x16 slots with support for NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFire, and a storage array consisting of two SATA 6Gb/s and four SATA 3Gb/s ports with RAID 0/1/5/10 capability. It features gaming-centric characteristics like the Killer E2200 Gigabit Ethernet controller for traffic prioritization, Sound Blaster Cinema audio (Realtek ALC892), and Military Class III components for enhanced stability. Main pros include a user-friendly ClickBIOS II UEFI interface, a 1-second auto-overclocking tool via OC Genie II, and a robust aesthetic with dragon-themed heatsinks. Potential cons include limited power phases compared to higher-end models, which may restrict extreme overclocking, and a lack of newer standards like Thunderbolt or extra SATA 6Gb/s ports found on premium competitors.

Technical Specifications of MSI Z77A G45 Gaming

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%

3.8

Memory

16.0%

6.0

Platform & Features

16.0%

3.4

Storage

15.0%

4.9

Network

13.0%

1.9

Ports & USB

8.0%

3.1

Expansion

8.0%

4.2

Power & Cooling

5.0%

6.9

Audio

4.1
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has a technical score of 4.14 points, which is lower than that of 94.8% 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%

7.6

User reviews

30.0%

4.1

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.2
(20)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.6
(36)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

6.6
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has a user score of 6.56 points, which is lower than that of 87% 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.
4.1
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has a popularity of 4.1 points, which is lower than 50.2% 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%

4.4

Overall score

40.0%

9.8

Price

6.0
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has a quality-to-price ratio of 6 points, which is lower than 93.8% 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 1155
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming uses the LGA 1155 CPU socket, which is less advanced than that of 88.4% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.8% 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 Z77
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming uses the Intel Z77 chipset, which is less advanced than that of 83.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.5% 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

ATX
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has the ATX form factor, which is more versatile than that of 47.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 52.2% of motherboards.
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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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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

4
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has 4 Memory slots, which is more than 21.5% of motherboards and equal to 72.5% 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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

1,600 MT/s
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming supports memory speeds up to 1600 MT/s, which is lower than that of 93.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.4% 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

0
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming 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

2
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has 2 SATA 3 connectors, which is fewer than 95.3% of motherboards and equal to 3.9% 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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

2
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has 2 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 67.4% of motherboards and equal to 15.4% 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/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming uses x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is more flexible than that of 56.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 11.7% 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 Z77A G45 Gaming does not support PCIe bifurcation. 61% of motherboards support this feature.
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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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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

14
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has 14 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 51.8% of motherboards and equal to 12.9% 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
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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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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
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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 ALC892
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming uses the Realtek ALC892 audio codec, which is less advanced than that of 80.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 8.5% 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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

108 dB
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has an audio SNR of 108 dB, which is lower than that of 61.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 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

no
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming does not support a headphone amp. 63% of motherboards support this feature.
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

6
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has 6 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 86.6% of motherboards and equal to 13.4% of motherboards.
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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

6
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has 6 VRM phases, which is fewer than 85.5% of motherboards and equal to 1.9% 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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

5
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming 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

no
MSI Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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.
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MSI Z77A G45 Gaming vs the average motherboard

  • 3 more PCIe x1 slots
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (4 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe x1 slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want space for smaller add-in cards.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=2

    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (4 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.4 vs 1
  • 4 more SATA 2 connectors
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more SATA 2 connectors than the average motherboard (4 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 SATA 2 connectors.
    What it is: The number of SATA 3Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you still use older SATA devices.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more SATA 2 connectors than the average motherboard (4 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 SATA 2 connectors.4 vs 0
  • 1 more PCIe 2.0x16 slots
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe 2.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you compare older full-length expansion options.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.1 vs 0
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
    What it is: A rear I/O button used to clear BIOS or CMOS settings quickly.
    When it matters: When you overclock or troubleshoot and want an easier reset method.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
  • 1 more USB 2.0 headers
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.
    What it is: The number of internal USB 2.0 headers available for case connections.
    When it matters: When your case or accessories need internal USB connections.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.3 vs 2
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane 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

    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4 vs x16/x1
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more DVI outputs than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 DVI outputs.
    DVI-D output
    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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming has a VGA connector, while the average motherboard does not. 22% of motherboards include a VGA connector.
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
  • 4 more SATA 2 connectors
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more SATA 2 connectors than the average motherboard (4 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 SATA 2 connectors.
  • 3 more PCIe x1 slots
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (4 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 1 more PCIe 2.0x16 slots
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
  • 1 more USB 2.0 headers
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more DVI outputs than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 DVI outputs.
  • Includes VGA connector
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has a VGA connector, while the average motherboard does not. 22% of motherboards include a VGA connector.
  • 2 more USB 2.0 ports
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
  • Includes coaxial S/PDIF out
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has coaxial S/PDIF out, while the average motherboard does not. 2.6% of motherboards include coaxial S/PDIF out.
  • 1 more 3.5mm audio jacks
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (6 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.

Total
Platform & Features
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Audio
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z77 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • No BIOS flashback support
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
    requires CPU/RAM
  • Not ready for Windows 11
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming does not have debug LED indicators, while the average motherboard does. 78.8% of motherboards include debug LED indicators.
  • Older CPU socket
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has older CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,155 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • 8 years older release date
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming is older than the average motherboard (2,013 vs 2,021). The average motherboard was released in 2,021.
  • Narrower Windows support
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has narrower Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
  • 75% less maximum memory capacity
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (32 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 65.2% lower maximum RAM speed
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (1,600 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • 39.2% lower overclocked RAM speed
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has a lower overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (3,000 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4,933 MT/s.
    maximum depends on CPU configuration
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
    other video outputs only
  • 1 fewer total USB connections
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (14 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • Older HDMI version
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC892 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
  • No headphone amp support
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming does not support a headphone amp, while the average motherboard does. 63% of motherboards support a headphone amp.
  • 7 dB lower audio SNR
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (108 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • Fewer VRM phases
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (6 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • No pump header
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming does not have a pump header, while the average motherboard does. 77% of motherboards include a pump header.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z77 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 Z77A G45 Gaming has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z77 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.Intel Z77 vs Intel B860
  • More basic LAN controller
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.0 vs 2
  • No NVMe RAID support
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming 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 Z77A G45 Gaming has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.6 vs 8
  • Older DDR memory generation
    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    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

    MSI Z77A G45 Gaming has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR3 vs DDR4
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.2
20 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.6
36 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about MSI Z77A G45 Gaming?

  • Great value for money, offering a solid feature set for a mainstream price
  • Aesthetically pleasing red and black gaming theme with high-quality 'Military Class III' components
  • Includes specialized gaming features like the Killer E2200 network chip for traffic prioritization
  • Offers decent overclocking performance with simple tools like OC Genie II
  • Includes Sound Blaster Cinema software to enhance onboard audio quality
  • Stable performance in both stock and overclocked conditions

What customers dislike about MSI Z77A G45 Gaming?

  • Lacks some physical features found on higher-end boards, such as on-PCB power or reset buttons
  • UEFI BIOS interface can feel cluttered and confusing to navigate
  • Limited to only two SATA 6Gbps ports, which may restrict users with multiple high-speed SSDs
  • Design choices like the CMOS battery and reset jumper placement can be hard to reach when using large GPUs
  • Onboard audio relies on a standard Realtek ALC892 chip despite the 'Gaming' branding
  • Fiddly front-panel pin connections with no easy-to-read color coding or Q-connectors included

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