MSI X79-GD45 Plus Motherboard Review (inc. CPU Gaming Performance Comparison)

The MSI X79A-GD45 Plus motherboard is a solid, cost-effective solution that makes an entrance into the X79 platform that bit more affordable.

Overclocking performance of the X79A-GD45 Plus is solid, but not quite good enough to push our 4960X CPU to its limits. Using the 1.00x CPU strap, our processor multiplier hit a wall at 44x. Garnering stability at anything higher than 4400MHz required the use of a 1.25x CPU strap.

Switching to a 125MHz base clock, the MSI X79A-GD45 Plus did manage to take our 4960X processor to 4.5GHz with complete stability, but this resulted in a forced decrease to memory frequency. While 4.5GHz isn't as high as the level that Asus' more expensive X79-Deluxe took our 4960X to, we can't complain about hitting 4.5GHz with an entry-level X79 motherboard.

Performance-wise, the MSI X79A-GD45 Plus doesn't have any glaring issues. Benchmark numbers were exactly where we expected them to be and SATA 6Gb/s performance was restriction-free. USB 3.0 throughput was fairly lacklustre due to the omission of a UASP-activating tool. The Renesas D720202 controllers may not have the best implementation on MSI's motherboard, either.

In terms of features, the MSI X79A-GD45 Plus is more bare than what we have come to expect from a circa-£150 motherboard. The X79 chipset itself is an expensive solution to implement, so MSI has worked hard to keep the GD45 Plus' price low and does so by limiting the number of add-on features.

Four USB 3.0 ports is likely to suffice for a large number of people, while only a pair of SATA 6Gb/s ports may be more of an issue for some. There's no fancy WiFi or Bluetooth support nor is a particularly high-end audio chip used. Thanks to the LGA 2011 processors' 40 PCI-E lanes, the MSI X79A-GD45 Plus is able to offer 3-way CrossFire and SLI. Eight DIMM slots also enhance the board's upgrade potential.

Priced at £144.68 from Aria, the MSI X79A-GD45 Plus is sat very close to the market-entry price point for an X79 solution. Given its use of the X79 chipset, you get a solid, multi-GPU capable board for less than £150. Gigabyte and ASRock do offer stiff competition in this market segment, but the attractive MSI X79A-GD45 Plus has the performance and concise feature set to make it a smart buy.

Pros:

• Generally good layout decisions.
• 3-way CrossFire/SLI support.
• Attractive colour scheme.
• High-quality power delivery components – Military Class III.
• Eight DIMM slots.
• Solid memory overclocking performance.
• Cost-effective solution.

Cons:

• Not the best USB 3.0 header positioning.
• USB 3.0 performance isn't great.
• BIOS layout could use some improvements.
• Two SATA 6Gb/s ports may not be enough for some users.

KitGuru says: The MSI X79A-GD45 Plus motherboard's solid performance and concise feature set make it worth buying if you're looking to opt for X79 on a budget.

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