OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
REVIEWS
Scored using Motherboards Methodology v1.0
Motherboards Methodology v1.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are evaluated mathematically under Frontumo Motherboards Methodology v1.0 using verified laboratory benchmarks, technical specifications, and authentic consumer ratings with 0% commercial bias.
Explore Motherboards Methodology v1.0

MSI Z97M Gaming Review | 107 Data compared

Avg. price:~£110CPU socket:LGA 1150Chipset:Intel Z97Form factor:MicroATX

MSI Z97M Gaming Review: Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Motherboards category and whether it is worth buying.

5.1

Overall score

Score
5.1/ 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 80% of models
Score components

90%

4.7

Technical score

10%

8.7

User score

â–¼Worse than 80% of motherboards
4.7

Technical score

Technical score
4.7/ 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 84% of models
Score components

19%

3.9

Memory

16%

7.2

Platform & Features

16%

4.7

Storage

15%

3.2

Network

13%

3.4

Ports & USB

8%

4.5

Expansion

8%

4.6

Power & Cooling

5%

8.7

Audio

â–¼Worse than 84% of motherboards
8.7

User score

User score
8.7/ 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–² Better than 80% of models
Score components

70%

8.7

User ratings

30%

8.7

Number of reviews

Based on 434 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–²Better than 80% of motherboards
  • msi-z97m-gaming
msi-z97m-gaming

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 Z97M Gaming

Technical score
Technical score
4.7/ 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 84% of models
Score components:

19%

3.9

Memory

16%

7.2

Platform & Features

16%

4.7

Storage

15%

3.2

Network

13%

3.4

Ports & USB

8%

4.5

Expansion

8%

4.6

Power & Cooling

5%

8.7

Audio

4.7
User score
User score
8.7/ 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–² Better than 80% of models
Score components

70%

8.7

User ratings

30%

8.7

Number of reviews

Based on 434 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.
8.7
Popularity
Popularity
8.7/ 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–² Better than 80% of models
Popularity:
MSI Z97M Gaming has a popularity score of 8.7 points, which is higher than that of 79.6% of products in this category.
8.7
Value for money
Value for money
6.6/ 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 79% of models
Score components:

60%

5.1

Overall score

40%

9.9

Price

6.6
Brand name
MSI
CPU socket
LGA 1150
CPU socket
LGA 1150
â–¼ Worse than 90% of models
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
CPU platform
Intel
â–² Better than 32% of models
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
Chipset
Intel Z97
â–¼ Worse than 78% of models
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
MicroATX
Form factor
MicroATX
â–¼ Worse than 52% of models
This motherboard has the MicroATX form factor, which is less versatile than that of 52.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 32.4% of motherboards.
Show more
DDR memory version
DDR3
DDR memory version
DDR3
â–¼ Worse than 87% of models
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
4
Memory slots
4
â–² Better than 21% of models
Market range: <2 – >4
This motherboard has 4 Memory slots, which is more than 21.5% of motherboards and equal to 72.5% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
32 GB
Maximum memory capacity
32 GB
â–¼ Worse than 87% of models
Market range: <32 GB – >256 GB
This motherboard supports up to 32 GB of memory, which is less than 87% of motherboards and equal to 11.1% of motherboards.
Memory channels
2
Memory channels
2
â–¼ Worse than 7% of models
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
Maximum RAM speed
1,600 MT/s
â–¼ Worse than 93% of models
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.
maximum depends on CPU configuration
Show more
N. of M.2 sockets
1
N. of M.2 sockets
1
â–¼ Worse than 69% of models
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
1x PCIe 2.0 x2/SATA
M.2 slot interface per slot
1x PCIe 2.0 x2/SATA
â–¼ Worse than 86% of models
This motherboard offers 1x PCIe 2.0x2/SATA for M.2 slot interfaces, which is slower than that of 85.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.7% of motherboards.
N. of SATA 3 connectors
6
N. of SATA 3 connectors
6
â–² Better than 53% of models
Market range: <4 – >8
This motherboard has 6 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 52.6% of motherboards and equal to 32.1% of motherboards.
some SATA ports disabled with certain M.2 use
Supported RAID levels
0/1/5/10
Supported RAID levels
0/1/5/10
â–² Better than 32% of models
This motherboard supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 32% of motherboards and equal to 68% of motherboards.
JBOD excluded from RAID-level set
NVMe RAID support
no
NVMe RAID support
no
â–¼ Worse than 60% of models
This motherboard does not support NVMe RAID. 59.8% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
0
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
0
â–¼ Worse than 31% of models
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
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
0
â–¼ Worse than 45% of models
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
2
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
2
â–² Better than 67% of models
Market range: <0 – >3
This motherboard has 2 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 67.3% of motherboards and equal to 15.4% of motherboards.
PCIe slot electrical configuration
x16/x0, x8/x8
PCIe slot electrical configuration
x16/x0, x8/x8
â–¼ Worse than 76% of models
This motherboard uses x16/x0, x8/x8 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is less flexible than that of 76.4% of motherboards and equal to that of 2.9% of motherboards.
Depends on slot/M.2 population.
PCIe bifurcation support
yes
PCIe bifurcation support
yes
â–² Better than 40% of models
This motherboard supports PCIe bifurcation. 40.4% of motherboards support this feature.
x8/x8.
Show more
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
8
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
8
â–² Better than 40% of models
Market range: <6 – >10
This motherboard has 8 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 40.2% of motherboards and equal to 30.5% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
14
Total USB ports (including headers)
14
â–¼ Worse than 52% of models
Market range: <11 – >19
This motherboard has 14 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 52.5% of motherboards and equal to 12.4% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
0
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
0
â–¼ Worse than 65% of models
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
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
0
â–¼ Worse than 70% of models
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
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
0
â–¼ Worse than 18% of models
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
LAN speed
1 Gbps
â–¼ Worse than 51% of models
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
LAN controller
Killer E2205
â–¼ Worse than 96% of models
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
N. of RJ45 ports
1
â–¼ Worse than 14% of models
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
no
Wi-Fi connectivity
no
â–¼ Worse than 50% of models
This motherboard does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 50.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
N/A
Show more
Audio codec
Realtek ALC1150
Audio codec
Realtek ALC1150
â–² Better than 53% of models
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
Audio channels
7.1
â–² Better than 5% of models
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
Audio SNR
115 dB
â–² Better than 48% of models
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
Headphone amp support
yes
â–² Better than 41% of models
This motherboard supports a headphone amp. 40.8% of motherboards support this feature.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
6
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
6
â–² Better than 87% of models
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
8
VRM phases
8
â–¼ Worse than 70% of models
This motherboard has 8 VRM phases, which is fewer than 69.9% of motherboards and equal to 7.1% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
1
N. of CPU power connectors
1
â–¼ Worse than 45% of models
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
4
N. of fan headers
4
â–¼ Worse than 65% of models
Market range: <3 – >8
This motherboard has 4 fan headers, which is fewer than 64.7% of motherboards and equal to 12.4% of motherboards.
Pump header
no
Pump header
no
â–¼ Worse than 78% of models
This motherboard does not have a pump header. 78.1% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
0 A
Pump header max current
0 A
â–¼ Worse than 76% of models
Market range: <0 A – >3 A
This motherboard supports up to 0 A on the pump header, which is lower than that of 76% of motherboards and equal to that of 24% of motherboards.
Show more

MSI Z97M Gaming vs the average motherboard

246810TotalPlatform & FeaturesMemoryStorageExpansionPorts & USBNetworkAudioPower & Cooling
  • Includes POST code display
    POST code display
    yes
    â–² Better than 73% of models
    This motherboard has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    Dual BIOS
    yes
    â–² Better than 77% of models
    This motherboard has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 23% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    yes
    â–² Better than 73% of models
    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
    Audio codec
    Realtek ALC1150
    â–² Better than 53% of models
    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
  • 2 more SATA 3 connectors
    N. of SATA 3 connectors
    6
    â–² Better than 53% of models
    Market range: <4 – >8
    This motherboard has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
    some SATA ports disabled with certain M.2 use
    6 vs 4
  • Includes onboard power button
    Onboard power button
    yes
    â–² Better than 72% of models
    This motherboard has an onboard power button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.7% of motherboards include an onboard power button.
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    N. of PCIe x1 slots
    2
    â–² Better than 56% of models
    Market range: <0 – >3
    This motherboard has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
    2 vs 1
  • 61 mm shorter
    Height
    244 mm
    â–² Better than 62% of models
    Market range: <170 mm – >320 mm
    This motherboard is shorter than the average motherboard (244 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.
    244 mm vs 305 mm
  • 9.1% higher user score
    User score
    8.7/ 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 Z97M Gaming
    the average motherboard
    MSI Z97M Gaming has a higher user score than the average motherboard (8.73 vs 8.000).
    8.73 vs 8
  • Includes POST code display
    POST code display
    yes
    â–² Better than 73% of models
    This motherboard has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    Dual BIOS
    yes
    â–² Better than 77% of models
    This motherboard has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 23% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    yes
    â–² Better than 73% of models
    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.
  • Includes onboard power button
    Onboard power button
    yes
    â–² Better than 72% of models
    This motherboard has an onboard power button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.7% of motherboards include an onboard power button.
  • 2 more SATA 3 connectors
    N. of SATA 3 connectors
    6
    â–² Better than 53% of models
    Market range: <4 – >8
    This motherboard has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
    some SATA ports disabled with certain M.2 use
    6 vs 4
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    N. of PCIe x1 slots
    2
    â–² Better than 56% of models
    Market range: <0 – >3
    This motherboard has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
    2 vs 1
  • Better audio codec
    Audio codec
    Realtek ALC1150
    â–² Better than 53% of models
    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
    N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
    6
    â–² Better than 87% of models
    Market range: <2 – >6
    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
  • 61 mm shorter
    Height
    244 mm
    â–² Better than 62% of models
    Market range: <170 mm – >320 mm
    This motherboard is shorter than the average motherboard (244 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.
    244 mm vs 305 mm
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    Chipset
    Intel Z97
    â–¼ Worse than 78% of models
    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
    LAN speed
    1 Gbps
    â–¼ Worse than 51% of models
    Market range: <1 Gbps – >2.5 Gbps
    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
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    M.2 slot interface per slot
    1x PCIe 2.0 x2/SATA
    â–¼ Worse than 86% of models
    This motherboard has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 2x2/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5x4, 2x PCIe 4x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
    1x PCIe 2.0x2/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • 75% less maximum memory capacity
    Maximum memory capacity
    32 GB
    â–¼ Worse than 87% of models
    Market range: <32 GB – >256 GB
    This motherboard 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
  • No NVMe RAID support
    NVMe RAID support
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 60% of models
    This motherboard does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    DDR memory version
    DDR3
    â–¼ Worse than 87% of models
    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
    N. of M.2 sockets
    1
    â–¼ Worse than 69% of models
    Market range: <0 – >4
    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
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
    0
    â–¼ Worse than 65% of models
    Market range: <0 – >2
    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
  • 12.6% worse value for money
    MSI Z97M Gaming has worse value for money than the average motherboard (6.58 vs 7.4).
    6.58 vs 7.41
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    Chipset
    Intel Z97
    â–¼ Worse than 78% of models
    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
    BIOS flashback
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 51% of models
    This motherboard does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.9% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • Older CPU socket
    CPU socket
    LGA 1150
    â–¼ Worse than 90% of models
    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
    Windows 11 ready
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 77% of models
    This motherboard is not ready for Windows 11, while the average motherboard is. 76.9% of motherboards are ready for Windows 11.
  • Fewer BIOS update options
    BIOS update methods
    UEFI utility, Windows app
    â–¼ Worse than 85% of models
    This motherboard has fewer BIOS update options than the average motherboard (UEFI utility, Windows app vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app). The average motherboard offers UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app BIOS update methods.
    UEFI utility, Windows app vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app
  • No debug LED indicators
    Debug LED indicators
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 79% of models
    This motherboard does not have debug LED indicators, while the average motherboard does. 78.7% of motherboards include debug LED indicators.
  • Less versatile form factor
    Form factor
    MicroATX
    â–¼ Worse than 52% of models
    This motherboard has less versatile form factor than the average motherboard (MicroATX vs ATX). The average motherboard comes in ATX form factor.
    MicroATX vs ATX
  • 7 older release date
    Release date
    2014
    â–¼ Worse than 86% of models
    Market range: <2k – >2k
    This motherboard is older than the average motherboard (2014 vs 2021). The average motherboard was released in 2021.
    May 2014
    2014 vs 2021
  • Narrower Windows support
    Supported Windows versions
    Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XP
    â–¼ Worse than 83% of models
    This motherboard has narrower Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XP vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
    Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XP vs Windows 11, Windows 10
  • Fewer useful accessories
    Included accessories
    4x SATA cables, I/O shield, GPU bridge
    â–² Better than 56% of models
    This motherboard has fewer useful accessories than the average motherboard (4x SATA cables, I/O shield, GPU bridge vs 2x SATA cables, Wi-Fi antenna, M.2 kit, front-panel adapter, RGB cable). The average motherboard comes with 2x SATA cables, Wi-Fi antenna, M.2 kit, front-panel adapter, RGB cable.
    4x SATA cables, I/O shield, GPU bridge vs 2x SATA cables, Wi-Fi antenna, M.2 kit, front-panel adapter, RGB cable
  • 75% less maximum memory capacity
    Maximum memory capacity
    32 GB
    â–¼ Worse than 87% of models
    Market range: <32 GB – >256 GB
    This motherboard 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
  • Older DDR memory generation
    DDR memory version
    DDR3
    â–¼ Worse than 87% of models
    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
    Maximum RAM speed
    1,600 MT/s
    â–¼ Worse than 93% of models
    Market range: <2k MT/s – >8k MT/s
    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.
    maximum depends on CPU configuration
    1,600 MT/s vs 4,733 MT/s
  • 33.1% lower overclocked RAM speed
    Maximum overclocked RAM speed
    3,300 MT/s
    â–¼ Worse than 76% of models
    Market range: <2.7k MT/s – >8.2k MT/s
    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
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    M.2 slot interface per slot
    1x PCIe 2.0 x2/SATA
    â–¼ Worse than 86% of models
    This motherboard has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 2x2/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5x4, 2x PCIe 4x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
    1x PCIe 2.0x2/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • No NVMe RAID support
    NVMe RAID support
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 60% of models
    This motherboard does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 1 fewer M.2 sockets
    N. of M.2 sockets
    1
    â–¼ Worse than 69% of models
    Market range: <0 – >4
    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
  • Less flexible PCIe lane configuration
    PCIe slot electrical configuration
    x16/x0, x8/x8
    â–¼ Worse than 76% of models
    This motherboard has less flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x0, x8/x8 vs x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4). The average motherboard uses x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4 PCIe slot lane configuration.
    Depends on slot/M.2 population.
    x16/x0, x8/x8 vs x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
    0
    â–¼ Worse than 65% of models
    Market range: <0 – >2
    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
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    N. of USB 3.2 Gen2 ports (USB-A)
    0
    â–¼ Worse than 63% of models
    Market range: <0 – >4
    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 total USB connections
    Total USB ports (including headers)
    14
    â–¼ Worse than 52% of models
    Market range: <11 – >19
    This motherboard has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (14 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
    14 vs 15
  • Older HDMI version
    HDMI version
    1.4
    â–¼ Worse than 55% of models
    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
    Total USB-C ports (including headers)
    0
    â–¼ Worse than 70% of models
    Market range: <0 – >3
    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
    LAN speed
    1 Gbps
    â–¼ Worse than 51% of models
    Market range: <1 Gbps – >2.5 Gbps
    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
  • No Wi-Fi connectivity
    Wi-Fi connectivity
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 50% of models
    This motherboard does not support Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does. 50% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    Wi-Fi antenna included
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 51% of models
    This motherboard does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • More basic LAN controller
    LAN controller
    Killer E2205
    â–¼ Worse than 96% of models
    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
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    N. of ARGB headers (3-pin)
    0
    â–¼ Worse than 62% of models
    Market range: <0 – >3
    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 pump header
    Pump header
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 78% of models
    This motherboard does not have a pump header, while the average motherboard does. 78.1% of motherboards include a pump header.
  • Fewer VRM phases
    VRM phases
    8
    â–¼ Worse than 70% of models
    This motherboard has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (8 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
    8 vs 10
  • 1.5 fewer fan headers
    N. of fan headers
    4
    â–¼ Worse than 65% of models
    Market range: <3 – >8
    This motherboard has fewer fan headers than the average motherboard (4 vs 5.5). The average motherboard has 5.5 fan header/s.
    4 vs 5.5
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    Onboard RGB lighting
    no
    â–¼ Worse than 50% of models
    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
    N. of RGB headers (4-pin)
    0
    â–¼ Worse than 69% of models
    Market range: <0 – >2
    This motherboard has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
    0 vs 1
  • 2 A lower pump header current limit
    Pump header max current
    0 A
    â–¼ Worse than 76% of models
    Market range: <0 A – >3 A
    This motherboard 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.
    0 A vs 2 A

Video reviews

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

Third-party reviews

Based on 434 buyer reviews from online shops.
Reviews last updated: May 2026 · How we calculate this
Read buyer reviews on Amazon →

What we like about MSI Z97M Gaming

  • High build quality with a sturdy, heavy feel and aesthetically pleasing red/black design
  • Excellent feature set for a micro-ATX board, including M.2 support, SLI/CrossFire compatibility, and Killer LAN
  • High-quality onboard audio (Audio Boost 2) featuring Japanese capacitors and EMI shielding
  • User-friendly UEFI (Click BIOS 4) and helpful software suite for system monitoring and overclocking
  • Convenient physical buttons for power, reset, and CMOS clear, plus an LED POST code readout
  • Reliable long-term stability reported by users for multi-year operation

What we don't like about MSI Z97M Gaming

  • Using the M.2 slot disables two of the six available SATA ports
  • Heavier voltage (vCore) requirements reported to achieve high stable overclocks compared to some competitors
  • Limited expansion space; multi-GPU setups often block the remaining PCIe x1 slots
  • Slow POST/boot times compared to other motherboards in the same class
  • The 8-pin power connector placement near the top heatsink can make cable installation tight

Verdict

The MSI Z97M Gaming is a high-performance Micro-ATX motherboard built on the Intel Z97 chipset, supporting 4th and 5th Generation Intel Core processors via the LGA 1150 socket. It features four DDR3 DIMM slots supporting up to 32GB of overclocked memory at speeds reaching 3300MHz, dual PCIe 3.0 x16 slots for 2-Way SLI or CrossFire configurations, and a high-speed M.2 slot offering up to 10Gb/s throughput. Main pros include its premium Audio Boost 2 technology with isolated circuitry, a dedicated Killer E2205 Gigabit LAN for prioritized gaming traffic, and robust Military Class 4 components designed for stability and overclocking. However, a notable con is that using the M.2 slot disables two of the six available SATA 6Gb/s ports, and it lacks integrated Wi-Fi or Bluetooth modules found on higher-tier models.

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