MSI Z77 MPower preview

[TheGoat Eater]

MSI Z77 MPOWER
testing by TGE

I have been testing this board a few days and I am definitely impressed with it. At $220 USD I think it its a absolutely a great bargain for the features and quality that it exhibits during my tests.

I will be testing this board throughout the next couple of weeks so I will be updating this often. Be sure to check back as I plan to test with some different CPUs and memory sets as well as push it even more with some tweaking on the tests as well

So Stay tune and check back often

Youtube MPower Teaser

About the MSI Z77 MPOWER

Galleries for your ease of viewing

Motherboard

BIOS

Up to date Results

The Board

The BIOS

Testing Results
(to be updated with best scores over the next few weeks)

Super Pi 32m @ 4.99GHz


wPrime 32m and 1024m @ 5GHz



Hexus PiFast @ 5GHz



Hyper Pi 32m @ 4.9GHz

[douglatins]

I like it, might cover the yellow with some dinoc thouugh

[SonDa5]

Looks like a beast. Hope it has something special for over clocking.

Only 6 SATA connectors?

[TheGoat Eater]

with NDA lifted I still am getting some stuff put together, but I want to leave you with a nice sub 5 super pi 32m screen shot. I will be making this write up and review in segments so I can take time to focus on different things as I have only had a limited time with the board (though I love it)

Result image moved to first post**

[SonDa5]

Did you test with IB cpu?

[TheGoat Eater]

I will be - mine aren't on hand currently

-I have updated the first post and included a BIOS gallery for everyone-

[SonDa5]

Originally Posted by SonDa5

Looks like a beast. Hope it has something special for over clocking.

Only 6 SATA connectors?

I found out that it has 2xSATA 3 and 4xSATA 2.

That is the only weakness I can see for this MB. Z77 and Z68 GD65 models both have 4xSATA 3 and 4xSATA 2. I'm using 7 SATA ports on my Z68 GD65. Too bad the Mpower cut the number of SATA ports down on the Z77.

[TheGoat Eater]

yeah, I do agree that is a drawback for some people as well. I do think that with the other features it does have its a good trade off though for most (that aren't working with a lot of drives)

[SonDa5]

Available at Newegg right now.

MSI Z77 MPOWER LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s ...

[TheGoat Eater]

now newegg has this board for only $210 w/ a free 8GB kit of RAM - great deal *link*

[Solaris17]

Originally Posted by TheGoat Eater

with NDA lifted I still am getting some stuff put together, but I want to leave you with a nice sub 5 super pi 32m screen shot. I will be making this write up and review in segments so I can take time to focus on different things as I have only had a limited time with the board (though I love it)

Result image moved to first post**

ah i always loved your posts do you still go to the comps and cool with LN2? or are you just doing the reviews?


awesome teaser cant wait to see what you do with her.

[TheGoat Eater]

Originally Posted by Solaris17

ah i always loved your posts do you still go to the comps and cool with LN2? or are you just doing the reviews?


awesome teaser cant wait to see what you do with her.

Thanks a lot man
I am upgrading my subzero equipment and looking for a new residence, Need to have a garage in which to put my benching setup in as hardwood and LN2 likely not a great idea. will have a few events coming up that are in the works. I am also doing reviews and write-ups though I never liked calling it a review... I think testing and actual usage is what I am best at relaying and it seems to work to stay on that track. I hope to have some Ivy Bridge results and then sub-zero as well... then maybe some other of that stuff that is in the works

[Solaris17]

Originally Posted by TheGoat Eater

Thanks a lot man
I am upgrading my subzero equipment and looking for a new residence, Need to have a garage in which to put my benching setup in as hardwood and LN2 likely not a great idea. will have a few events coming up that are in the works. I am also doing reviews and write-ups though I never liked calling it a review... I think testing and actual usage is what I am best at relaying and it seems to work to stay on that track. I hope to have some Ivy Bridge results and then sub-zero as well... then maybe some other of that stuff that is in the works

lookin forward to it keep in touch TGE

[SonDa5]

Originally Posted by TheGoat Eater

now newegg has this board for only $210 w/ a free 8GB kit of RAM - great deal *link*

I got in on that deal when I saw it in my email. Should be receiving my Z77 MPower in the next few hours.

I couldn't resist its electrical conducting powers.

Going to be fun playing with it!!!

[cadaveca]

Originally Posted by SonDa5

I couldn't resist its electrical conducting powers.

Meh. My review should be live Friday as well.

[erocker]

Let's hope BMW isn't as copyright/lawsuit frenzied as some tech companies.

[cadaveca]

I think MPower stands for "MilitaryPower"?


This isn't M Power...it's MPower. Note the lack of a space.

[SonDa5]

GRRRRR. I just got my Mpower MB and upon un-boxing I notice it looks like it has been opened before. The plastic bag over the mb has holes in it and is not sealed tight. I look at the MB through the plastic and I see a huge kink in the SuperPipe.

[cadaveca]

Originally Posted by SonDa5

GRRRRR. I just got my Mpower MB and upon un-boxing I notice it looks like it has been opened before. The plastic bag over the mb has holes in in and is not sealed tight. I look at the MB through the plastic and I see a huge king in the SuperPipe.

too bad. Each Z77 M Powerboard is hand-tested, so there should have been some one who used hte board, for sure, but a kink in the pipe..I dunno. That's kinda hard to do, even.

There should be a sticker on the back of the board from the "testing facility"...what number do ya go on it?

[SonDa5]

Originally Posted by cadaveca

too bad. Each Z77 M Powerboard is hand-tested, so there should have been some one who used hte board, for sure, but a kink in the pipe..I dunno. That's kinda hard to do, even.

There should be a sticker on the back of the board from the "testing facility"...what number do ya go on it?

I'm on the phone with NE right now. No such sticker is on the MB. I got a dud that fell through the cracks. Trying to figure out a quick replacement. Sucks. I planned on having fun today and tomorrow with this MB.

[TheGoat Eater]

do you mean its blemished or that the board itself doesn't power on, as from what I am reading you seem to mean blemished... Is that right? and I am not sure what you are saying when it is not sealed tight, it is usually put in the bag and excess folded over - not vacuum packed or anything

[SonDa5]

Originally Posted by TheGoat Eater

do you mean its blemished or that the board itself doesn't power on, as from what I am reading you seem to mean blemished... Is that right? and I am not sure what you are saying when it is not sealed tight, it is usually put in the bag and excess folded over - not vacuum packed or anything

That bag wasn't folded over. It was all loose and had hole all over it. I took alot of photos of all the damaged. Here are some photos.

Here are some photos from my dud MSI Z77 Mpower from Newegg.

Beat up box.







No Prime95 stability testing sticker on the back of the PCB.




Nasty kink in the SuperPipe.

[cadaveca]

Send it back. Clearly used, and abused. "kink" looks like someone hit it with cooler mount when removing cooler.

You can see the MTC sticker above on TGE's board, mine has one as well...maybe that's review samples only, that sticker, not sure, but that heatpipe and ripped box...I'd not accept that, myself!

[TheGoat Eater]

MSI Testing Center - the MTC is only on the backs of pre-release and review samples... I would hesitate to agree that it is a dud as it seems you have not powered it on. so some clarity would help if you say that it is from the looks and nothing to do with how it works. I do doubt you got a scond hand board and that this particular one took the transit roughly from China

[cadaveca]

Originally Posted by TheGoat Eater

MSI Testing Center - the MTC is only on the backs of pre-release and review samples... I would hesitate to agree that it is a dud as it seems you have not powered it on. so some clarity would help if you say that it is from the looks and nothing to do with how it works. I do doubt you got a scond hand board and that this particular one took the transit roughly from China

I was told every single Z77 MPower board is hand-tested.

[quote]OC Certified is MSI's overclocking testing procedure where MSI's Z77 MPOWER mainboard is tested for stability with a 24-hour Prime95 stress test. OC Certified tests a mainboard in three key areas:
OC Performance
Stable Power
PWM Cooling
OC Performance means that all OC Certified tests are run at a 4.6GHz CPU speed, this simulates the high-end overclock range of today's 3rd Generation Intel Core CPUs. Stable Power is tested by running Prime95 for 24-hours in low airflow conditions. This ensures that the PWM is capable of supplying stable power to the CPU under extreme conditions. The PWM cooling is stressed in low-airflow conditions combined with high overclocks. Other motherboards might become unstable or fail under these conditions.
/quote]


If MTC doesn't test each Mpower board, then what's the point?



Guess I'l lahve to send off an email.


Also, yes, definitely possible it's just shipping damage, but that doesn't mean it should now be replaced. I personally would not accept damage if any sort to any products I purchase, no matter whether it was from the factory, from the store, or from shipping.