OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
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REVIEWS
Scored using Motherboards Methodology v1.0
Motherboards Methodology v1.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Motherboards Methodology v1.0: technical specifications plus authentic consumer ratings, with 0% commercial bias.
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MSI Z97I Gaming AC Review | 107 Data compared

Avg. price:~£130CPU socket:LGA 1150Chipset:Intel Z97Form factor:Mini-ITX

MSI Z97I Gaming AC Review: Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Motherboards category and whether it is worth buying.

MSI Z97I Gaming AC
4.4/10

Overall score

Score
4.4/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 94% of models
Score components

90%

4.2

Technical score

10%

6.6

User score

â–¼Worse than 94% of motherboards
6.0

Value for money

Value for money
6.0/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 95% of models
Score components

70%

4.4

Overall score

30%

9.8

Price

â–¼Worse than 95%
4.2

Technical score

Technical score
4.2/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Motherboards category across these key areas: Platform & Features, Memory, Storage, Expansion, Ports & USB, Network, Audio, Power & Cooling.
When it matters
When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 94% of models
Score components

19%

2.1

Memory

16%

6.9

Platform & Features

16%

4.6

Storage

15%

4.7

Network

13%

1.8

Ports & USB

8%

2.5

Expansion

8%

4.6

Power & Cooling

5%

8.7

Audio

â–¼Worse than 94%
6.6

User score

User score
6.6/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 94% of models
Score components

70%

7.4

User ratings

30%

4.7

Number of reviews

Based on 17 buyer reviews from online shops.
Read buyer reviews on Amazon →
How we calculate this
User ratings – average star rating across all shop listings, weighted by how many reviews each has, on a 1–10 scale.
Number of reviews – how many buyer reviews the product has, on a logarithmic scale; the 8% most-reviewed models in the category get 10.
â–¼Worse than 94%
  • msi-z97i-gaming-ac
msi-z97i-gaming-ac
Best prices
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Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of motherboard MSI Z97I Gaming AC

Technical score
Technical score
4.2/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Motherboards category across these key areas: Platform & Features, Memory, Storage, Expansion, Ports & USB, Network, Audio, Power & Cooling.
When it matters
When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 94% of models
Score components:

19%

2.1

Memory

16%

6.9

Platform & Features

16%

4.6

Storage

15%

4.7

Network

13%

1.8

Ports & USB

8%

2.5

Expansion

8%

4.6

Power & Cooling

5%

8.7

Audio

4.2
User score
User score
6.6/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 94% of models
Score components

70%

7.4

User ratings

30%

4.7

Number of reviews

Based on 17 buyer reviews from online shops.
Read buyer reviews on Amazon →
How we calculate this
User ratings – average star rating across all shop listings, weighted by how many reviews each has, on a 1–10 scale.
Number of reviews – how many buyer reviews the product has, on a logarithmic scale; the 8% most-reviewed models in the category get 10.
6.6
Popularity
Popularity
4.7/ 10
✕
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.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 66% of models
Popularity:
MSI Z97I Gaming AC has a popularity score of 4.7 points, which is lower than that of 65.4% of products in this category.
4.7
Value for money
Value for money
6.0/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 95% of models
Score components:

70%

4.4

Overall score

30%

9.8

Price

6.0
Brand name
MSI
CPU socket
LGA 1150
This motherboard uses the LGA 1150 CPU socket, which is less advanced than that of 90.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.6% of motherboards.
CPU platform
Intel
This motherboard is built for the Intel CPU platform, which is more versatile than that of 31.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 68.4% of motherboards.
Chipset
Intel Z97
This motherboard uses the Intel Z97 chipset, which is less advanced than that of 77.9% of motherboards and equal to that of 2% of motherboards.
Form factor
Mini-ITX
This motherboard has the Mini-ITX form factor, which is less versatile than that of 84.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 7.3% of motherboards.
Show more
DDR memory version
DDR3
This motherboard uses DDR3 memory, which is older than that of 86.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 13.3% of motherboards.
Memory slots
2
Market range: <2 – >4
This motherboard has 2 Memory slots, which is fewer than 78.6% of motherboards and equal to 21.4% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
16 GB
Market range: <32 GB – >256 GB
This motherboard supports up to 16 GB of memory, which is less than 98.2% of motherboards and equal to 1.6% of motherboards.
Memory channels
2
This motherboard supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.6% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
1,600 MT/s
Market range: <2k MT/s – >8k MT/s
This motherboard supports memory speeds up to 1,600 MT/s, which is lower than that of 93.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.3% of motherboards.
Show more
N. of M.2 sockets
1
Market range: <0 – >4
This motherboard has 1 M.2 sockets, which is fewer than 69.3% of motherboards and equal to 19.1% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
N/A
N. of SATA 3 connectors
4
Market range: <4 – >8
This motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 5.6% of motherboards and equal to 46.2% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
0/1/5/10
This motherboard supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 32% of motherboards and equal to 68% of motherboards.
NVMe RAID support
no
This motherboard does not support NVMe RAID. 59.8% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
0
Market range: <0 – >1
This motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 31.5% of motherboards and equal to 68.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
0
Market range: <0 – >1
This motherboard has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 44.5% of motherboards and equal to 55.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
1
Market range: <0 – >3
This motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 40.5% of motherboards and equal to 26.8% of motherboards.
PCIe slot electrical configuration
x16/x0
This motherboard uses x16/x0 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is less flexible than that of 79.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.4% of motherboards.
PCIe bifurcation support
no
This motherboard does not support PCIe bifurcation. 59.7% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
6
Market range: <6 – >10
This motherboard has 6 USB ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.3% of motherboards and equal to 32.7% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
12
Market range: <11 – >19
This motherboard has 12 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 72.6% of motherboards and equal to 16.3% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
0
Market range: <0 – >2
This motherboard 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)
0
Market range: <0 – >3
This motherboard has 0 USB-C ports (including headers), which is fewer than 69.7% of motherboards and equal to 30.3% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
0
Market range: <0 – >1
This motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is fewer than 18.3% of motherboards and equal to 81.7% of motherboards.
Show more
LAN speed
1 Gbps
Market range: <1 Gbps – >2.5 Gbps
This motherboard supports LAN speeds up to 1 Gbps, which is lower than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 49.2% of motherboards.
LAN controller
Killer E2205
This motherboard uses the Killer E2205 LAN controller, which is less advanced than that of 95.9% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.5% of motherboards.
N. of RJ45 ports
1
Market range: <1 – >2
This motherboard has 1 RJ45 ports, which is fewer than 14.4% of motherboards and equal to 85.6% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
yes
This motherboard supports Wi-Fi connectivity. 50% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
This motherboard 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.
Show more
Audio codec
Realtek ALC1150
This motherboard uses the Realtek ALC1150 audio codec, which is more advanced than that of 52.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 9.2% of motherboards.
Audio channels
7.1
This motherboard offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
115 dB
Market range: <95 dB – >120 dB
This motherboard has an audio SNR of 115 dB, which is higher than that of 48.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 7.6% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
yes
This motherboard supports a headphone amp. 40.8% of motherboards support this feature.
supports up to 600Ω.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
6
Market range: <2 – >6
This motherboard has 6 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 86.7% of motherboards and equal to 13.3% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
4+1+1
This motherboard has 4+1+1 VRM phases, which is fewer than 87.7% of motherboards and equal to 0.6% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
1
Market range: <1 – >2
This motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors, which is fewer than 45.5% of motherboards and equal to 54.5% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
2
Market range: <3 – >8
This motherboard has 2 fan headers, which is fewer than 92% of motherboards and equal to 8% of motherboards.
Pump header
yes
This motherboard has a pump header. 21.9% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
1 A
Market range: <0 A – >3 A
This motherboard supports up to 1 A on the pump header, which is lower than that of 56.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 19.7% of motherboards.
Show more

MSI Z97I Gaming AC vs the average motherboard

246810TotalPlatform & FeaturesMemoryStorageExpansionPorts & USBNetworkAudioPower & Cooling
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    This motherboard has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.7% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
    Rear-panel Clear CMOS button.
  • Better audio codec
    This motherboard has better audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC1150 vs Realtek ALC897). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC897 audio codec.
    Realtek ALC1150 vs Realtek ALC897
  • Supports Bluetooth
    This motherboard supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 48.9% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • 135 mm shorter
    This motherboard is shorter than the average motherboard (170 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.
    170 mm vs 305 mm
  • 74 mm narrower
    This motherboard is narrower than the average motherboard (170 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.
    square board layout
    170 mm vs 244 mm
  • 1 more HDMI outputs
    This motherboard has more HDMI outputs than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 HDMI outputs.
    2 vs 1
  • 2 more USB 2.0 ports
    This motherboard has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
    4 vs 2
  • 1 more 3.5mm audio jacks
    This motherboard has more 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (6 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
    6 vs 5
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    This motherboard has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.7% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
    Rear-panel Clear CMOS button.
  • 1 more HDMI outputs
    This motherboard has more HDMI outputs than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 HDMI outputs.
    2 vs 1
  • 2 more USB 2.0 ports
    This motherboard has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
    4 vs 2
  • Supports Bluetooth
    This motherboard supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 48.9% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • Better audio codec
    This motherboard has better audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC1150 vs Realtek ALC897). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC897 audio codec.
    Realtek ALC1150 vs Realtek ALC897
  • 1 more 3.5mm audio jacks
    This motherboard has more 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (6 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
    6 vs 5
  • 135 mm shorter
    This motherboard is shorter than the average motherboard (170 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.
    170 mm vs 305 mm
  • 74 mm narrower
    This motherboard is narrower than the average motherboard (170 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.
    square board layout
    170 mm vs 244 mm
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    This motherboard has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z97 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    Intel Z97 vs Intel B860
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    This motherboard 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
  • 87.5% less maximum memory capacity
    This motherboard has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (16 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    16 GB vs 128 GB
  • 2 fewer memory slots
    This motherboard has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
    2 vs 4
  • No NVMe RAID support
    This motherboard does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    This motherboard 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
    This motherboard has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    DDR3 vs DDR4
  • 1 fewer M.2 sockets
    This motherboard has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    1 vs 2
  • 22.7% worse value for money
    MSI Z97I Gaming AC has worse value for money than the average motherboard (6.04 vs 7.4).
    6.04 vs 7.41
  • 21.3% lower user score
    User score
    6.6/ 10
    ✕
    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 distribution
    â–¼
    â–¼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    MSI Z97I Gaming AC
    the average motherboard
    MSI Z97I Gaming AC has a lower user score than the average motherboard (6.59 vs 8.000).
    6.59 vs 8
  • 32.8% less popular
    MSI Z97I Gaming AC is less popular than the average motherboard (4.71 vs 6.3).
    4.71 vs 6.26
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    This motherboard has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z97 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    Intel Z97 vs Intel B860
  • No BIOS flashback support
    This motherboard does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.9% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • Older CPU socket
    This motherboard has older CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1150 vs LGA 1151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1151 CPU socket.
    LGA 1,150 vs LGA 1,151
  • Not ready for Windows 11
    This motherboard is not ready for Windows 11, while the average motherboard is. 76.9% of motherboards are ready for Windows 11.
  • Less versatile form factor
    This motherboard has less versatile form factor than the average motherboard (Mini-ITX vs ATX). The average motherboard comes in ATX form factor.
    Mini-ITX vs ATX
  • Narrower Windows support
    This motherboard has narrower Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 8.1, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
    Windows 8.1, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10
  • 7 older release date
    This motherboard is older than the average motherboard (2014 vs 2021). The average motherboard was released in 2021.
    May 2014
    2014 vs 2021
  • 87.5% less maximum memory capacity
    This motherboard has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (16 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    16 GB vs 128 GB
  • 2 fewer memory slots
    This motherboard has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
    2 vs 4
  • Older DDR memory generation
    This motherboard has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    DDR3 vs DDR4
  • 66.2% lower maximum RAM speed
    This motherboard has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (1600 MT/s vs 4733 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4733 MT/s.
    1,600 MT/s vs 4,733 MT/s
  • 33.1% lower overclocked RAM speed
    This motherboard has a lower overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (3300 MT/s vs 4933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4933 MT/s.
    3,300 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s
  • No NVMe RAID support
    This motherboard does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 1 fewer M.2 sockets
    This motherboard 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 PCIe bifurcation support
    This motherboard does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 59.7% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • Less flexible PCIe lane configuration
    This motherboard has less flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x0 vs x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4). The average motherboard uses x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4 PCIe slot lane configuration.
    x16/x0 vs x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4
  • No multi-GPU support
    This motherboard does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
    Single PCIe x16 slot only.
  • 1 fewer PCIe x1 slots
    This motherboard has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
    0 vs 1
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    This motherboard has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    6 vs 8
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    This motherboard has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
    0 vs 1
  • 3 fewer total USB connections
    This motherboard has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (12 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
    12 vs 15
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    This motherboard 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.
    0 vs 1
  • 1 fewer USB 2.0 headers
    This motherboard has fewer USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.
    1 vs 2
  • Older HDMI version
    This motherboard has older HDMI version than the average motherboard (1.4 vs 2.1). The average motherboard supports HDMI 2.1.
    1.4 vs 2.1
  • 1 fewer total USB-C connections
    This motherboard has fewer total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
    0 vs 1
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    This motherboard 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
  • Older Bluetooth version
    This motherboard has older Bluetooth version than the average motherboard (4 vs 5.4). The average motherboard supports Bluetooth 5.4.
    4.0 vs 5.4
  • More basic LAN controller
    This motherboard has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Killer E2205 vs Killer + Intel + Realtek). The average motherboard uses Killer + Intel + Realtek LAN controller.
    Killer E2205 vs Killer + Intel + Realtek
  • Fewer VRM phases
    This motherboard has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (4+1+1 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
    4+1+1 vs 10
  • 3.5 fewer fan headers
    This motherboard has fewer fan headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 5.5). The average motherboard has 5.5 fan header/s.
    2 vs 5.5
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    This motherboard has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
    0 vs 2
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    This motherboard does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.4% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    This motherboard has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
    0 vs 1
  • 1 A lower pump header current limit
    This motherboard has a lower pump header current than the average motherboard (1 A vs 2 A). The average motherboard provides pump header current of 2 A.
    1 A vs 2 A

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

Third-party reviews

Based on 17 buyer reviews from online shops.
Reviews last updated: May 2026 · How we calculate this
Read buyer reviews on Amazon →

What we like about MSI Z97I Gaming AC

  • High-quality onboard audio featuring Audio Boost 2 and Japanese capacitors for clear sound
  • Excellent networking performance with Killer E2200 Ethernet and built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi
  • Strong overclocking capabilities for a small board, including easy-to-use BIOS and OC Genie 4
  • Sleek and premium black-and-red aesthetic with effective heat sink designs
  • Comprehensive I/O for its size, including dual HDMI, DisplayPort, and eSATA ports
  • Includes useful software extras like the MSI Command Center and a 6-month XSplit subscription

What we don't like about MSI Z97I Gaming AC

  • Lack of an M.2 slot, which was present on some competing mini-ITX boards of the same era
  • Reported issues with a 'wobbly' Wi-Fi adapter if not properly secured with the provided underside screw
  • Limited CPU cooler compatibility due to the dense layout and proximity of components on the mini-ITX board
  • Higher price point compared to some other Z97 mini-ITX options at the time of release
  • Some BIOS versions reportedly had conflicts with specific peripherals like Corsair Link

Verdict

The MSI Z97I Gaming AC is a compact Mini-ITX motherboard designed for enthusiast gamers, featuring the Intel Z97 chipset and LGA 1150 socket to support 4th and 5th Gen Intel Core processors. Key specifications include two DDR3 slots supporting up to 16GB of memory at speeds reaching 3300MHz (OC), one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, and four SATA 6Gb/s ports with RAID 0/1/5/10 support. Its primary strengths lie in its high-end features packed into a small footprint, such as Killer E2205 Gigabit Ethernet for low-latency gaming, Audio Boost 2 with a dedicated power source, and an included 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 module. However, its small size leads to some drawbacks, specifically limited compatibility for larger air-based CPU coolers due to the cramped layout and a lack of on-board M.2 storage slots.

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