Msi 970 gaming cooler installation

Some components that get on our test bench make us study them very thoroughly, since each component in their composition is implemented in a new way or has undergone significant changes since the last acquaintance. However, there are other situations when the new component is so familiar that you have to work hard to find the very changes that the manufacturers talk about in their presentation slides.

We will not be mistaken if we say that all users interested in hardware should be familiar with the AM3 + platform from AMD, and if not personally, then in absentia it is obligatory. This platform is a true long-liver of our time. Everything would be fine if only the platform did not change, we can say this is an ideal option, but there is a solid stagnation in the ranks of processors for AM3 +.

So series processors Fx are still based on the architecture announced back in 2012 ... Interestingly, AMD is very successfully moving in two other directions, these include entry-level solutions for the FS1b socket and, of course, the mid-level A-Series computing accelerators for the FM2 + platform, but in the enthusiast segment, everything is quiet. Of course, there is little movement, but it is taking place along a well-trodden path around the already mentioned Vishera architecture based on 32nm technology, which is a little alarming today.

An example of such movements can serve as three new variations on the Vishera theme recently presented to the public, we meet the FX-8370, FX-8320E and FX-8370E. And if the first of the three operates almost completely with the same characteristics, then the second two attract attention with the letter "e" in their name, by the way it is responsible for the TDP indicator, which is optimized for new products and is already more interesting 95 watts.

As they say, there is no smoke without fire, so a little earlier than the announcement of new processors, MSI presented the motherboard to the public. 970 GAMING... The board is the first representative of the AM3 + platform in the GAMING series, is based on the AMD 970 system logic set and uses the SB950 southbridge. This appears to be a pre-targeted option for future owners of the FX-8320E and FX-8370E. Let's check out what the aforementioned new items are capable of. Let's start with the motherboard.

The board arrived to us in a standard-sized package, but it was a little slender against the background of boxes from top-end solutions :). In the design, as with other solutions from the GAMING series, dark tones with the image of a dragon are commonly used. A prominent lettering clearly indicates the 970 GAMING model, and a couple of printed campbrids indicate the technologies used and the type of processors supported. The reverse side contains a more detailed description, it is a slightly abbreviated version of the official page dedicated to this board.

On the one hand, the package bundle does not please with abundance, here are a pair of SATA cables and a plug for the back of the case. Everything else is on the paper side of the issue, and the manufacturer has a little roam in it, here: user manual, disk with drivers and software, stickers on the SATA cable, and the nameplate on the case and the nameplate on the door make the board a little closer to elite products.

The board is made in a full-fledged ATX form factor. Belonging to the GAMING series does not let you forget about itself, the black color and a couple of red stripes on the radiators - everything is the same as on the previously reviewed one. Interestingly enough, within its line, the manufacturer does not visually break down solutions related to completely different platforms.

The interface panel contains a large number of USB connectors, there are ten of them, but only two of them are made in USB 3.0 format. Then there is a PS / 2 port for a mouse or keyboard, one LAN connector, six miniJack audio connectors, an optical S / PDIF output, a BIOS reset button, that's probably all. It may seem that something is missing, but this feeling is due to the lack of video outputs, which are not needed for these processors.

The AM3 + socket space is surrounded by a pair of radiators, but they are located at a considerable distance and are not so massive, so there should be no problems with installing even large cooling systems. During testing, we installed a robust Noctua HD-15 with a bang.

The board has four connectors for DDR3 RAM. The manufacturer claims support for memory operating at a frequency of up to 1866 MHz, and with the help of overclocking functions this threshold can be increased up to 2133 MHz. The maximum supported memory capacity is 32 GB, which is completely similar to the boards of the competitive platform from Intel.

The configuration of the expansion slots is very, very interesting, there are only a couple: Two PCI E 2.0 x1, two PCI, and two full-size PCI Express 2.0 capable of operating in 8x + 8x mode when using multi-tandem graphics systems. The presence of PCI slots can be useful for users to install specific expansion cards, we admit that now this connector is found less and less ...

The audio path is implemented on the 7.1-channel Realtek ALC1150 codec. Here, as on other boards in the series, the principle of isolation from the main part of the printed circuit board is used, a pair of amplifiers is installed, in the presence of which there is support for headphones with an impedance of up to 600 ohms, and the component base also uses Nichicon audio capacitors. Additionally, Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2 software is responsible for the software part of the question.

On the right side of the board there are six SATA 6 Gb / s ports, each of them originates from the AMD SB950 south bridge and supports RAID arrays of standards 0, 1, 5 and 10. Note that thanks to the south bridge, the board has fourteen USB 2.0 ports , six of them are internal. All USB 3.0 ports are based on the VIA VL806 controller, and since we are talking about controllers, we will mention that the LAN interface is implemented on the Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2205 already familiar to us with the functionality of prioritizing game traffic.

Three completely separate heatsinks are responsible for cooling the board. Each of them consists of an aluminum alloy and is covered with matt black paint. Heat pipes are absent even in the one that is intended for the power supply system, but at the same time the radiators have significant ribbing and are not monolithic bars. Let's see how they show themselves in testing.

The processor power system is based on the uP1601P PWM controller. Recall that for processors on the AM3 + platform, two main voltages are supplied: CPU Core and CPU NB Core, so the power system works according to the 4 + 1 principle, but since a doubled element base is used to obtain the CPU Core, as a result we get a more interesting bundle of 8 +1. Additionally, we note that the components used in the element base of the board have passed military certification and were awarded the Military Class 4 standard by MSI marking.

Entering the UEFI menu of the board, even after testing the array of boards on the Intel Z97 chipset, you feel at home. Here, a completely identical arrangement of the menu sections is used, their names are also similar to those that we saw on the previously considered

Every gamer in his life at least once, but must build his own PC. And here a number of difficult choices immediately arise, and sometimes one cannot do without reliable advice. After all, everything should be thought out in a gaming computer, since it must work, in most cases, at full capacity. Even such a trifle as the wrong choice, or delivered cooler- can lead to equipment failure or simply to uncomfortable play.

The hardest part, according to most, is choosing what everything focuses on and what makes everything work (besides the BP) - motherboard... There are many of them, however, due to different criteria, you can stop at one thing.

This article will not consider all possible options, only MSI 970 Gaming.

So, as many could already understand, a PC with this motherboard will have a base AMD... Socket for the processor, i.e. socket, built-in type AM3/ AM3+ and is compatible with processors Athlon II, Sempron, Phenom II, as well as a more interesting and tempting processor choice - AMD Fx. Chipset AMD 970 with south bridge SB950 .

The maximum allowable RAM is 32 GB... The frequency varies depending on the modules themselves up to 1866 but since the fee playroom, frequency can be increased before 2133 , which will slightly increase the performance of the assembled system. Obviously, this model supports the operation of modules in two-channel mode.

SupportPCI- Express3.0 missing, as on all MPs with a socket under AMD... There are many reasons for this, but now it is not about them. Video cards work great withPCI- E 2.0 , and therefore there is no point in getting upset - an insignificant loss. Sorry for amateurs Nvidia, MSI did not put the regime hereSLI means to set two GTX does not seem possible. Good, there is CrossFire .

Some gaming privileges endowed with this motherboard. For example: two specializedUSBexit to connect such devices. Also, this can include upgraded network adapterKiller 2200 which automatically prioritizes internet speed when playing online gameplay.

Designed for gamers, MSI® GAMING series boards deliver best-in-class functionality. MSI's impressive Dragon demonstrates that every motherboard is a masterpiece of engineering and gaming excellence.

THE BEST GAME WEAPONS IN YOUR HANDS

• Amazing sound from Audio Boost 2 enhanced by Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2
• Less Brakes, More Enemies Killed With Killer ™ E2200 Gaming Networking Card
• Military Class 4 components
• Dedicated production lines for GAMING motherboards
• OC Genie 4
• Gaming Device Port - GAME PORT
• Click BIOS 4 (go to the dedicated BIOS page)
• Optimized to support multiple graphics cards (CrossFire certified)
• Take full control with Command Center and Live Update 6

LET YOUR EARS HEAR TRUE QUALITY

Let your ears hear real quality with MSI Audio Boost2! With Audio Boost 2 technology, we deliver the ultimate in crystal-clear audio with Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2 for games and music with 8-channel HD Audio.

SOUND CARD ISOLATED FROM THE MOTHERBOARD

The signal quality of traditional integrated sound cards is distorted by electromagnetic interference from other components on the board. Audio Boost 2 works as a stand-alone sound card, the audio path of which is physically separated from the main board by a red, glowing line. Less interference results in a clearer audio signal.

Thanks to Sound Blaster Cinema 2 technology, you get stunning surround sound, even through regular stereo headphones or speakers.
Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2 allows you to hear specific sound effects in your gaming environment. Hear your enemies. Let the ears be the decisive weapon.

SHIELDING FROM ELECTRIC MAGNETIC RADIATION

To protect the audio path from electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by other components and modules of the computer, the components of the sound card are protected by a special backlit screen that is impervious to electromagnetic interference.

PAIRED HEADPHONE AMPLIFIERS

Get ready to experience amazing sound. Paired headphone amplifiers can do more than just reward your ears with studio-quality sound. They also allow you to connect headphones with an impedance of up to 600Ω.

Tired of plugging your headset into hard-to-reach audio ports on your computer? MSI GAMING motherboards are easy to use. The sound ports of the boards are connected directly to Audio Boost 2.

SPECIAL AUDIO CONDENSERS

With Japanese Nichicon capacitors used in professional audio equipment, MSI GAMING motherboards provide the highest level of audio filtering possible. This enables high fidelity crystal clear sound with exceptional sonic realism.

• Acoustic series
• Low margin of error
• Low dielectric absorption

• Low Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR)
• Low leakage currents
• High temperature stability

GOLD-PLATED SOUND CONNECTORS

Thanks to the gold-plated pins of the connectors, possible signal distortion during commutation is minimized.

• The ability to connect a load with resistance up to 600Ω while maintaining high signal parameters.
• Dedicated output (red) optimized for studio grade headphones
• High signal quality that does not degrade over time

Killer ™ E2200
Game networking

REMOVE BRAKES!

The Killer ™ E2200 Intelligent Networking Platform is designed specifically to maximize your online gaming performance and high-quality streaming content. With Advanced Stream Detect ™, the Killer E2200 automatically detects and accelerates game traffic relative to other network streams for smoother dynamics and less stutter in games. Exclusive traffic prioritization technology allows game data to be transmitted over the network and real-time messaging with minimal latency. This is achieved through the use of a state-of-the-art, manageable network controller.

EXAMPLE: Top 3 Apps by Total Traffic Battlefield 4 (89%) Internet Explorer (9%) Origin (2%)

GAME
NETWORK TRAFFIC
TRAFFIC OTHER
TRAFFIC

By identifying and prioritizing game traffic, you can make the most of your network without fear of being kicked out of the game due to too much ping. This allows for true multitasking without manually turning applications on or off, updating or installing programs. Killer networking technology actually allows you to use your computer 24 hours a day.

Military Class 4 COMPONENTS

Military Class 4 is the next step in the development of high quality components. High efficiency Hi-c CAPs, SFC super ferrite coils, combined with Dark CAPs, make your computer more stable under extreme loads.

SUPER FERRITE SFC COILS

Super ferrite coils use a ferrite core with the highest magnetic permeability. This allows super ferrite coils to operate at a lower temperature of 35 degrees Celsius, have 30% more current headroom and 20% higher efficiency, resulting in better overclocking and stability.

CAPACITORS Dark CAP

Due to the aluminum core, black capacitors are an integral part of high-end board design. Capacitors have extremely low ESR values ​​and a service life of at least 10 years.

FOCUS ON QUALITY

We work hard to meet the demands of discerning consumers. The number of service calls has dropped significantly over the past few years.
The highest quality of MSI GAMING motherboards is achieved through the use of the most advanced design and perfect product lines.

We are also continuously improving the quality of our customer service. Thus, you can be sure that you will be answered quickly in case of problems and questions.

Gaming Device Port - GAME PORT

MSI Gaming Port is optimized for mice with high polling speed, resulting in faster reaction times and better control when gaming.

Advantages in games

• higher sensitivity
• smoother gameplay
• fast reaction

Technical Advantages

• 3 times more gold than conventional connectors
• service life with multiple connections /
  blackouts 10 times longer
• prevent oxidation

OC Genie 4

OC Genie is the world's first built-in motherboard overclocking technology. With overclocking technology in one second, MSI delivers even more performance. Just press a button and your computer will go to another level of performance. The performance of the processor, memory and integrated graphics will increase by 20%.

ACCELERATION PERFORMANCE LAGGER OC Genie 120% * Specifications may vary depending on your platform and model

MSI Click BIOS 4 is the most advanced UEFI BIOS optimized for Windows 8. It not only responds faster and smoother, but also has improved mouse support. It also has a large set of new and exciting features. Find out more by visiting the dedicated BIOS page by clicking on the button on the right.

OPTIMIZED TO SUPPORT MULTIPLE VIDEO CARDS

MSI GAMING motherboards have 2 PCI-Express x16 slots, ideally positioned with ample space for optimal air circulation when using multiple graphics cards. This way, you never have to worry about overheating your PC while enjoying the best graphics available today with NVIDIA® SLI ™ or AMD CrossFire ™ configurations.

SOFTWARE

Live Update 6

New version of MSI Live Update utility! This popular software automatically downloads and installs the latest drivers, BIOS and additional software. Rest assured that the latest software will ensure maximum performance and stability.

Command Center

MSI's exclusive Command Center software is a very powerful tool for unlocking all the hidden features of your motherboard. With an intuitive interface, Command Center allows users to customize system settings to increase stability, maximize overclocking, and control the cooling system of the entire PC.

UNLIMITED SIZE RAMDISK

MSI Command Center integrates an unlimited RAMdisk with a retail value of $ 35. With RAMdisk, you can create a virtual disk from RAM, which allows speeds up to 20 times faster than modern SSDs.

• Increase system performance
• Download full game images
• Speed ​​up your games, apps and browser

Smart Fan Control allows full control of all fans connected to the motherboard, which is a very convenient solution for gamers and overclockers.

• Users can monitor all fans in real time
• Installing profiles
• Record fan speeds, voltages, and temperatures to a log file.

RADIATOR DRAGON

Awesome product, awesome radiator! Styled in the form of MSI GAMING Dragon. The cooling radiator is oversized for better heat dissipation, and makes it possible to use the computer 24 hours a day.

What's in the box? Check it yourself! In addition to the necessary cables and connectors, you will find a cool "Do-Not-Disturb" sign, a cool MSI GAMING PC case badge, a set of cable labels and a stylish black M-badge.

BADGE ON THE BODY

DOOR SIGN

When it comes to top-end gaming systems, the search for the right products in the computer hardware market is very narrow. In fact, the choice comes from 2-3 offers from the seller, because many representatives of the High-End segment are not able to satisfy all the requirements of a potential buyer. This article focuses on the elite MSI 970 GAMING motherboard - a high-tech device designed to provide a complete set of functions for fans of the most productive games in the world. The review, description, characteristics and reviews of the owners will help the reader to get to know this product better.

Confusion with MSI 970 GAMING markings

In the computer hardware market, the buyer may find that under the same labeling are two completely different products from the manufacturer MSI, which are positioned in the top segment. In addition to the motherboard under the same name, the MSI GeForce GTX 970 GAMING 4G video card passes. After asking a company representative for such a strange coincidence, the reader learns that these products are designed to work in pairs. In fact, this is a common marketing ploy, where one product promotes another, positioning it as the best solution for building a platform.

Many users in their reviews note that they built their gaming systems in this way, since the seller convinced them before buying that compatibility would be 100 percent guaranteed. Here it is up to the reader to decide whether to make a double purchase or not, but in this article there is a place to talk about a gaming video card.

Getting to know the base board for the first time

The MSI 970 GAMING motherboard comes in a huge black cardboard box with a vibrant red finish. Its appearance tells the buyer that there is clearly not a corporate logo of the company in the form of a dragon occupies the entire front of the display. On the back of the box is a brief description of all the technologies that are involved in the production of the motherboard.

Judging by the reviews of the owners, it would be better to see the image of the motherboard itself on the box, since the presence of the necessary connectors is much more interesting than the obscure functionality. In general, the description of the characteristics is rather strange - the phrases "Killer", "Military", "Multi", "Boost" do not carry any semantic load. Catchy names should be changed to a detailed description of the characteristics themselves.

Device complete set

Here the manufacturer tried his best to please the buyer. The MSI 970 GAMING package bundle is very rich and interesting. In addition to the motherboard itself, the kit contains: two brackets for the rear panel of the case, discs with software, instructions for use and installation, an SLI bridge and a small sealed plastic bag. It is the contents of this package that delight all owners of this motherboard:

• stickers for signing SATA cables;
• MSI Gaming Series branded sticker to be placed on the PC case;
• a huge sign on the doorknob with the inscription: “Sorry, I'm playing”;
• a folded advertising brochure with a dragon image and a recommendation for purchasing an MSI GeForce GTX 970 GAMING 4G video card to improve gaming performance (having carefully trimmed the dragon with scissors, many users placed its image on the wall, near the computer - it looks very nice).

Build quality and item placement

Not only technologists, but also designers have clearly had a hand in the creation. As noted by the owners of the device in their reviews, the MSI 970 GAMING motherboard is made according to feng shui. All elements of the printed circuit board are arranged in sectors. If we are talking about power elements, they are placed in one block and covered with a radiator. The pins for connecting USB devices and power management are located in a row under the south bridge. SATA connectors are also taken out in one block, and are not scattered across the printed circuit board, like in budget devices.

There are only complaints about PCI slots. Once again, MSI fails to provide the owner with access to all ports at the same time. For example, two high-performance video cards (the same MSI GTX 970 GAMING 4G), in SLI mode, simply close the PCI interfaces with their cooling system, so you can forget about connecting a TV tuner or a RAID controller. I was only pleased with the PCIx1 slot, which has recently been used to connect high-speed SSD-drives - its manufacturer has placed it over the PCIex16 bus.

Installation of basic accessories

Users will like the platform for installing a cooling system on the processor - it is completely devoid of power elements. Any cooler existing in the world can be mounted in this system. Overlockers will appreciate this in the MSI 970 GAMING motherboard. Flip the PCB over to reveal a copper passive cooling core for the processor socket. Quite an interesting solution for owners of expensive cases, where there is a corresponding notch on the mounting base for the motherboard to accommodate an additional cooler.

Slots for installing memory modules are located at the processor level. On the one hand, this arrangement creates ease of installation (the connectors are not blocked by the video card cooling system), on the other hand, in a small case (miniATX), they will not allow installing a DVD drive. Although, as practice shows, such motherboards are purchased by owners who have an ATX-Tower case available.

Overlocker tool

The basic input-output system (BIOS) MSI 970 GAMING deserves special attention. The motherboard is provided with a graphical UEFI shell, which is designed in the style of the manufacturer. As the owners note in their reviews, the control is very simple, you can configure any element of the system, however, before proceeding with the settings, you should open the operating instructions and take the time to read it. First of all, it is recommended to save the current BIOS settings to a Flash drive, since the first steps with the configuration rarely lead to positive results. And loading the working settings is always easier than resetting the BIOS using a jumper on the motherboard.

Those who come across such a device for the first time need to know one truth: the overclocking potential of the MSI 970 GAMING is not limited by the capabilities of the components. For example, the motherboard can freely overclock the processor up to 5 GHz, but it is not a fact that the crystal itself supports this frequency. That is, you need to focus on the capabilities of devices, and the motherboard is just a tool.

Remote Control

The fact that the motherboard is designed to install the MSI GAMING gaming graphics card is evidenced by the software included in the package. Before entering the utility, the user is prompted to select a device that will be configured: a motherboard or video adapter. Quite an interesting combination of a solution from the manufacturer. As the owners note, the utility takes over the management of all top-end video cards based on GeForce.

In the process of using the software, the user will find that a large set of its functions is intended for testing and monitoring, but things are bad with overclocking. If the video adapter (for example, GAMING 4G) can be overclocked by the graphics core, memory or shaders, then it is blocked with an increase in the frequency of the central processor (only from the BIOS). You should not despair, there are enough programs that can solve this problem.

Building a gaming system

The representative of the High-End class, the MSI GeForce GTX 970 GAMING video card, is based on the high-performance GM204 chip. The device has 1664 CUDA cores, 104 texture units, uses a 256-bit GDDR5 memory bus. Obviously, all of the listed characteristics hint at the gaming properties of the video adapter.

Not all potential buyers understand the company's policy regarding the MSI 970 GAMING motherboard, which is designed for the AMD platform. Logically, a Radeon video adapter from the same manufacturer should be recommended by the manufacturer. But within the walls of MSI, apparently, they thought differently. What will come of this, the user will find out after purchasing both devices, however, there is no negative media outlets regarding the incompatibility of the motherboard with the MSI GTX 970 GAMING video card.

Finally

The new motherboard from the renowned manufacturer MSI, labeled 970 GAMING, is definitely the best solution for all overclocking enthusiasts. This is evidenced by the great functionality and the technologies corresponding to it. All installed elements can be overclocked without exception (albeit only in the BIOS menu). There are many overheating protection systems, and the chipset cooling system itself is implemented at the highest level. It is not entirely clear the company's policy to promote the GTX 970 GAMING 4G gaming adapter for this motherboard, because for an AMD-based device it would be worth offering a solution from Radeon. In any case, it is up to the user to decide which graphics accelerator to install, because the motherboard works with any video card.