MSI Launches X79A-GD45 PLUS Motherboard

[btarunr]

MSI launched the X79A-GD45 PLUS socket LGA2011 motherboard, targeting the US $200~250 price-range. The board uses a 9-phase DrMOS VRM to power the CPU socket, which is wired to eight DDR3 DIMM slots, supporting up to 128 GB of quad-channel DDR3-2400 MHz memory; and three PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots (gray). The other two PCI-Express x16 slots (black) are electrical gen 2.0 x4, and wired to the X79 PCH. A lone PCI-Express 2.0 x1 finds some room in there.

The X79A-GD45 PLUS sticks to the chipset's feature-set, with very little third-party controller functionality. Storage connectivity includes two SATA 6 Gb/s and three SATA 3 Gb/s, all of which are internal ports. The board features four USB 3.0 ports (two on the rear panel, two by headers), 8-channel HD audio with optical and coaxial SPDIF outputs, gigabit Ethernet, PS/2 mouse/keyboard, and a number of USB 2.0/1.1 ports making up the rest of the connectivity. It is driven by an AMI UEFI BIOS, with a few overclocker-friendly features such as diagnostic LEDs, POST state display, accessible CMOS reset button, etc.

[m6tzg6r]

X79 is overkill for me, seeing i just game, but that is one sexy board.

[Animalpak]

yes nice looking motherboard fo sho.

[Dj-ElectriC]

This board seems more rigid than my GD65 8D

[brian111]

Is implementing all Sata 3 ports that much more expensive than having just two on the board? Or is there another reason?

[Dj-ElectriC]

Implementing means using a 3rd party chip like an ASMedia one, witch is not that expensive TBH.

[Maban]

The two black x16 slots are electrically x1. Unless I'm miscounting, there is a single PCIe lane on the PCH that goes unused. Would have been nice to see an extra SATA controller, or if they feel daring, make one of the x1 slots x2.

[Octavean]

Well the price is reasonable for an X79 motherboard and that is a plus. However, the feature set is a little weak likely due to the target market and lower price.

No new features though,......

I have heard of no new chipset for the upcoming Ivy Bridge-E release nor have I heard of new features like Thunderbolt

[jagd]

3 PCI Express gen3 x16 slots

- PCI_E1 & PCI_E4 support up to PCIE 3.0 x16 speed
- PCI_E6 supports up to PCIE 3.0 x 8 speed

• 2 PCI Express gen2 x16 slots
- PCI_E2 & PCI_E5 support up to PCIE 2.0 x1 speed

• 1 PCI Express 2.0 x1 slot

EDİr: Confused with MSI X79A-GD45 (8D)

Originally Posted by Maban

The two black x16 slots are electrically x1. Unless I'm miscounting, there is a single PCIe lane on the PCH that goes unused. Would have been nice to see an extra SATA controller, or if they feel daring, make one of the x1 slots x2.

[Maban]

Originally Posted by jagd

http://www.msi.com/product/mb/X79A-G...l#/?div=Detail

3 PCI Express gen3 x16 slots
- PCI_E1 & PCI_E4 support up to PCIE x16 speed

- PCI_E6 supports up to PCIE x8 speed

• 4 PCIE x1 slots

Wrong motherboard. This is the X79A-GD45 PLUS, not the X79A-GD45.

[las]

Is the PCB black or brown? Can be hard to see on pics, depends on light etc Who seen it IRL?

[neliz]

Originally Posted by las

Is the PCB black or brown? Can be hard to see on pics, depends on light etc Who seen it IRL?

ME

The PCB itself is black, but the top layer of traces (copper) might show as "brown" through the coating when exposed to bright light.

edit: the product page is here: http://www.msi.com/product/mb/X79A-GD45-Plus.html

[Dj-ElectriC]

Would really like if they were matte black like the Mpower Z77 though...