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MSI Z87 Mpower Sp Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£170
  • Avg. price in US: ~$120
  • CPU socket: LGA 1150
  • Chipset: Intel Z87
  • Form factor: ATX

MSI Z87 Mpower Sp review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

5.0

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%

5.0

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Good
5.0

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%

3.8

Memory

16.0%

6.9

Platform & Features

16.0%

3.4

Storage

15.0%

5.9

Network

13.0%

3.4

Ports & USB

8.0%

3.8

Expansion

8.0%

6.4

Power & Cooling

5.0%

8.7

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

  • 3.5
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    7.6

    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

  • No image
No image

Best prices in UK

    N/A~ £170

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 Z87 MPOWER SP is an enthusiast-grade ATX motherboard built for the Intel LGA 1150 socket and Z87 chipset, specifically designed for extreme overclocking with a 16-phase DigitALL power design and Military Class 4 components. Key features include support for DDR3 memory up to 3000MHz (OC), three PCIe 3.0 x16 slots for multi-GPU setups (SLI/CrossFire), eight SATA 6Gb/s ports, and an onboard mSATA slot. Its main pros are the robust 'OC Certified' burn-in testing, a specialized thermal design with SuperPipe cooling, and helpful overclocking tools like the V-Check Points, Debug LED, and Clear CMOS button. However, its downsides include the lack of modern M.2 slots (relying on older mSATA) and the fact that using the mSATA port disables one of the standard SATA ports.

Technical Specifications of MSI Z87 Mpower Sp

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

5.0
MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has a technical score of 4.96 points, which is lower than that of 80% 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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%

5.0

Overall score

40.0%

9.6

Price

6.4
MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.4 points, which is lower than 81.8% 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 1150
MSI Z87 Mpower Sp uses the LGA 1150 CPU socket, which is less advanced than that of 90.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.6% 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 Z87
MSI Z87 Mpower Sp uses the Intel Z87 chipset, which is less advanced than that of 80% of motherboards and equal to that of 3% 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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

8
MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has 8 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 85.5% of motherboards and equal to 11.2% 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 Z87 Mpower Sp supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
JBOD excluded from RAID-level set
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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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

3
MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has 3 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 82.8% of motherboards and equal to 11.1% 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

x8/x4/x4, x8/x8
MSI Z87 Mpower Sp uses x8/x4/x4, x8/x8 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is less flexible than that of 95.9% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.6% 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

yes
MSI Z87 Mpower Sp supports PCIe bifurcation. 39.1% 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

8
MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has 8 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 40.3% of motherboards and equal to 30.7% 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

16
MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has 16 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 61.8% of motherboards and equal to 10.2% 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 + Killer E2205
MSI Z87 Mpower Sp uses the Realtek RTL8111G + Killer E2205 LAN controller, which is less advanced than that of 72.9% of motherboards.
dual LAN
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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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)

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 ALC1150
MSI Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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

6
MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has 6 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 86.6% of motherboards and equal to 13.4% 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

16
MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has 16 VRM phases, which is more than 78.4% of motherboards and equal to 3.2% 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

2
MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has 2 CPU power connectors, which is more than 54.6% of motherboards and equal to 45.3% of motherboards.
Dual 8-pin CPU power.
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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp vs the average motherboard

  • Includes POST code display
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
    Dual 8-pin CPU power.
    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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • More VRM phases
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (16 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
    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

    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (16 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.16 vs 10
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • 3 more PCIe x1 slots
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 3 connectors
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (8 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 Z87 Mpower Sp has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (8 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.8 vs 4
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 POST code display
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
  • 4 more SATA 3 connectors
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (8 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • Supports mSATA
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp supports mSATA, while the average motherboard does not. 1.9% of motherboards support mSATA.
  • 3 more PCIe x1 slots
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (4 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 2 more PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has more PCIe 3.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slot/s.
  • 1 more USB 2.0 headers
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has more USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.
  • 2 more USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp 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.
  • 1 more total USB connections
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (16 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 more HDMI outputs
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has more HDMI outputs than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 HDMI outputs.
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • 1 more 3.5mm audio jacks
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has more 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (6 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
  • More VRM phases
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (16 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.

Total
Platform & Features
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z87 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • No BIOS flashback support
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
    requires CPU/RAM
  • Fewer BIOS update options
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has fewer BIOS update options than the average motherboard (UEFI utility vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app). The average motherboard offers UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app BIOS update methods.
  • Older CPU socket
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has older CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,150 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • Not ready for Windows 11
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp is not ready for Windows 11, while the average motherboard is. 77.1% of motherboards are ready for Windows 11.
  • Narrower Windows support
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has narrower Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
  • 75% less maximum memory capacity
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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.
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • Less flexible PCIe lane configuration
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has less flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x8/x4/x4, x8/x8 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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.
  • Older HDMI version
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp has fewer total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp 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.
  • More basic LAN controller
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8111G + Killer E2205 vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.
    dual LAN
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • Older Bluetooth version
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has older Bluetooth version than the average motherboard (4 vs 5.4). The average motherboard supports Bluetooth 5.4.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • No pump header
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp does not have a pump header, while the average motherboard does. 77% of motherboards include a pump header.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z87 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 Z87 Mpower Sp has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z87 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.Intel Z87 vs Intel B860
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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
  • More basic LAN controller
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8111G + Killer E2205 vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.
    dual LAN
    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 Z87 Mpower Sp has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8111G + Killer E2205 vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.Realtek RTL8111G + Killer E2205 vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C
  • 75% less maximum memory capacity
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp 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 Z87 Mpower Sp has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR3 vs DDR4
  • No BIOS flashback support
    MSI Z87 Mpower Sp does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
    requires CPU/RAM
    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 Z87 Mpower Sp does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
Total
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Platform & Features
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Ports & USB
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Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

What customers like about MSI Z87 Mpower Sp?

  • Exceptional overclocking stability and capability, often reaching very high clock speeds
  • High-quality build with Military Class 4 components and a thick, sturdy PCB
  • Advanced thermal design with large heatsinks and 'SuperPipe' technology for efficient cooling
  • Extensive feature set including dual BIOS, onboard OC buttons, and V-check points for enthusiasts
  • Visually appealing black and yellow aesthetic with high-quality isolated audio circuitry
  • User-friendly UEFI Click BIOS 4 with intuitive Board Explorer and Hardware Monitor features

What customers dislike about MSI Z87 Mpower Sp?

  • Premium pricing that can be significantly higher than competitor boards with similar features
  • BIOS interface can be quirky and overwhelming for novice users or first-time overclockers
  • Removing the lack of DVI connectivity on some versions may be an inconvenience for some users
  • Reported issues with BCLK (Base Clock) controls being unstable in early UEFI versions
  • Physical layout around VRM coolers can be cramped, making it difficult to access PCIe release levers

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