MSI Z87I Gaming AC Mini-ITX Motherboard Review

Rating: 9.0.

Much of the computing industry is rapidly moving towards physically smaller components without downsizing performance. Can MSI's Mini-ITX Z87I Gaming AC prove that Small Form Factor gamers need not worry about finding a motherboard which tends to their requirements?

MSI's first take on a gaming-orientated Mini-ITX motherboard sees the inclusion of a Killer E2205 NIC, Audio Boost sound system (with Sound Blaster Cinema support), 802.11ac WiFi, a specific Gaming Device Port, and a segregated power path for USB audio.

Holding all of those components together in the Z87I Gaming AC's Mini-ITX dimensions is a set of Military Class 4 components. And when stock speeds aren't satisfactory, the fourth iterations of MSI's Click BIOS and OC Genie packages open up the possibility of overclocking your SFF system.

With its red and black colour scheme and wealth of gaming-orientated features crammed onto a 6.7″ x 6.7″ PCB, does MSI's Z87I Gaming AC provide the performance that makes it the worthy backbone of a powerful SFF system?

Features:

• Killer E2205 NIC.
• Audio Boost.
• 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0.
• OC Genie 4.
• Military Class 4.
• USB Audio Power.
• Sound Blaster Cinema.
• Gaming Device Port.

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