MSI Z97 Gaming 5 Motherboard Review

We measured the power consumption with the system resting at the Windows 7 desktop, representing idle values.

The power consumption of our entire test system (at the wall) is measured while loading only the CPU using Prime95′s in-place large FFTs setting. The rest of the system’s components were operating in their idle states, hence the increased power consumption values (in comparison to the idle figures) are largely related to the load on the CPU and motherboard power delivery components.

Power consumption is a strength for the low-cost MSI gaming motherboard. Relying largely upon features already incorporated onto the chipset, not provided via add-on controllers, the Z97 Gaming 5 delivers low idle power consumption.

Load power consumption numbers increase to levels set by the controller-heavy Gigabyte and Asus Z97 motherboards.

Given the comparably larger increase in power consumption from idle to load conditions, data would suggest that MSI's Z97 Gaming 5 is either using a low average core voltage at idle, or the power delivery components are not as efficient under load as those used on Asus and Gigabyte higher-end parts.

We do not have the measurement equipment to certify those claims, so treat them as an analysis of data that provides a possible interpretation of the motherboard's operating states and power delivery components.

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