Review: msi x99s gaming 7

Technical characteristics

FEATURES MSI X99S GAMING 7
CPU	Supports new Intel ® Core i7 ™ Extreme Edition processors for LGA2011-3 socket.
Chipset	Intel ® X99 Express Chipset
Memory	Supports eight DDR4 2133/2200 (OC) / 2400 (OC) / 2600 (OC) / 2666 (OC) / 2750 (OC) / 3000 (OC) / 3110 (OC) / 3333 (OC) MHz DIMMs, up to 128 GB Max. Supports Quad-Channel architecture. Supports non-ECC, un-buffered memory.
Multi-GPU Compatible	4 x PCIe 3.0 x16 and 2 xx PCI x1. Supports 3-Way AMD® CrossFireTM Technology. * Supports 3-Way NVIDIA® SLI ™ Technology.
Storage	Intel ® X99 Express Chipset. 10 x 6 Gb / s SATA ports (2x ports reserved for the SATA express port). * Supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10 on SATA1 through 6 ports. SATA7 to 10 ports only support IDE mode and AHCI mode. Supports Intel ® Smart Response Technology (Windows 7/8 / 8.1). 1 x SATA Express port. * 1 x M.2 port, supports up to 32Gb / s speed. ** M.2 supports 4.2cm / 6cm / 8cm length module. M.2 PCIe interface does not support RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10. * SATA Express port or SATA5 to 6 ports will not be available when M.2 SATA interface module is installed on M.2 port. ** Intel RST does not support PCIe SSD M.2 with Legacy ROM.
USB and ports.	Intel X99 Express Chipset: 6 x USB 3.0 ports (2 ports on the rear panel, 4 ports available through the internal USB 3.0 connectors ) 6 x USB 2.0 ports (2 ports on the rear panel, 4 ports available via internal USB 2.0, connectors) ASMedia ASM1042AE: 2 x USB 3.0 ports on the rear panel. VIA VL805: 4 x USB 3.0 ports on the rear panel. Altek ® ALC10 c4º3odec connector. 7.1 channels High Definition Audio. Supports S / PDIF output. LAN: Killer LAN Gigabit e2205. * Red Killer Manager is only available for Windows 7 and Windows 8 / 8.1 currently. Drivers compatible with other operating systems are
Wifi and Bluetooth	Do not.
Audio	Realtek ALC1150 codec 7.1 channel High Definition Audio. Supports S / PDIF output.
Connectors	1 x 24-pin AT. 1 x 8-pin AT x 12V. 10 x SATA 6Gb / s. 1 x SATA E xpress. 1 x M.2. 2 x USB 2.0 (supports 4 additional USB 2.0). 2 x USB 3.0 (supports additional 4 USB 3.0) 2 x 4-pin CPU fan. 3 x 4-pin system fan. 1 x Front panel audio. 2 x System panel. 1 x TPM module. 1 x Chassis Intrusion. 1 x Clear CMOS jumper. 1 x Slow mode booting jumper. 1 x Power button. 1 x Reset button. 1 x OC Genie button. 1 x Multi-BIOS switch. Rear I / O connectors: 1 x PS / 2 keyboard / mouse combo. 2 x USB 2.0. 1 x Clear CMOS button 8 x USB 3.0. 1 x LAN (RJ45). 1 x Optical S / PDIF OUT. 5 x OFC audio jacks.
Format.	ATX format: 30.5cm x 24.4cm
BIOS	The on-board BIOS provides "Plug & Play" that detects peripheral devices and expansion cards automatically. The motherboard provides a Desktop Management Interface (DMI) function that records the specifications of the motherboard.

MSI X99s Gaming 7

The presentation is very good with an elegant red and black box. On the cover we find the image of the dragon and some large letters where the model of the motherboard appears. On the back we have all the characteristics of the motherboard.

Once we open the box we see that the MSI X99s Gaming 7 is protected by a plastic bag and in the second compartment we have all the accessories.

The bundle is made up of:

MSI X99s Gaming motherboard 7.User manual.Back back. 10 SATA cables 6GB / s. Stickers for SATA cables. 2 SLI jumpers. One cable for sound. 1 Quick connection kit for sound. 1 MSI sticker. 1 a warning for door. quick guide and applications. CD with drivers and software. Molex thief.

The board is impressive when you see it for its design and excellent color combination: black PCB and heatsinks with red accents. It has an ATX format with measures 30.5 x 24.4 cm.

We like the detail that all the capacitors are black. The MSI X99S Gaming 7 incorporates 8 digital power phases with Military Class 4 technology. What is new in this new technology?

Small, more efficient Hi-C capacitors for installing large heatsinks. Choke Super Ferrite that works at 35 degrees, has 30% more capacity, saves 20% more energy, protection against humidity and increases overclocking power. Black capacitors that improve dissipation and offer greater resistance than normal capacitors. They have a useful life of 10 years.

With an 8 socket design (same number as in the x79 chipset) 288-pin DDR4 memory allows us to install a total of 128 GB of non-ECC memory. This structure is more designed to meet the needs of a server rather than a home user, which today with 16GB covers all their needs.

MSI, even though it is one of the most affordable motherboards in this socket, includes two large heatsinks in the chipset (south zone) and in the power supply phases. That as we can see the aesthetics is brutal.

We have a distribution of four complete PCI Express 3.0 to x16 slots that allows us multiple possibilities in the graphics sector: 3 Way-SLI from Nvidia and 3 Way CrossFireX from AMD. We specify the possible configurations:

1 graphics card: x162 Graphics cards: x16 / x16 / x0 / x0 *, 16 / x8 / x0 / x0 **. 3 graphics cards: x16 / x16 / x0 / x8 *, x8 / x8 / x8 / x0 **.

It also includes two PCI Express to x1 slots ideal for expanding with a dedicated sound card, capture card, network card, etc…

Between the first two sockets we find an M.2 connection. which is incorporated into the enthusiastic platform for the first time. This connection will allow us to connect a solid state disk with a transfer of 10 Gbp / s.

In the lower area of the motherboard we have a control panel that allows us to activate the OC Genie II capacity , turn on the equipment, debug LEDs and reset it. We also have the option of choosing the Dual BIOS through a switch.

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On SATA connections we have 8 SATA 6Gbp / s and a SATA Express in the lower area.

The sound card integrates the Audio Boost 2 technology with Realtek chip, accompanied by an EMI shield with LEDs, 7.1 analog output, Creative Sound Blaster Cine software, USB DAC, double amplifier with an impedance of up to 600 ohms. In short, one of the best integrated sound cards on the market. As well as special USB connections to avoid noise from the microphone or our headphones.

Finally we stop at the rear connections where we find the following connections:

1 PS / 2.2 port, USB 2.0 connections, 8 USB 3.0 connections, 1 gigabit RJ45 network socket, 7.1 digital audio output.

Test bench and tests

TESTING BENCH
Processor:	Intel i7 5820k
Base plate:	MSI X99S GAMING 7
Memory:	16 GB KINGSTON PREDATOR 3000 MHZ.
Heatsink	Noctua NH-D15
HDD	Crucial M500 250GB
Graphic card	GTX 780
Power supply	Antec HCP 850

To check the stability of the processor and motherboard, we have overclocked up to 4300mhz with Prime 95 Custom and air cooling. The graphics that we have used is an Nvidia GTX780, without further distractions let us see the results obtained in our tests with a 1920 × 1080 monitor:

TESTS
3dMark FireStrike	9991
Vantage	45141
tomb Raider	90 FPS
CineBench R11.5 / R15	13.71 / 1178 -
Metro Last Night	91.5 FPS.

BIOS

We've put together a little tour of the BIOS. We will try to improve the camera in the next reviews.

Video Unboxing

We have also added an unboxing video where you can see the motherboard live.

Final words and conclusion

The MSI X99S Gaming 7 ATX format is positioned among the mid / high range of the LGA 2011-3 platform from Intel Haswell-E. Compatible with up to 128GB of DDR4 memory, possibility of 3 Way SLI & CrossFireX, 10 SATA + SATA Express connections, Audio Boost, Killer network card and an excellent cooling makes it a very important motherboard to consider.

In our tests we were able to overclock 4, 400 mhz with 1.32v with DDR4 memory at 3000 Mhz. The result has been very good, reaching the height of an i7-4930K at 5, 000 mhz. The Gaming experience has been much more satisfactory than that experienced on the X79 platform… in addition to the chipset, much of the blame is found in the excellent Gigabit Killer network card and Audio Boost sound card.

In short, if you are looking for a motherboard that ranges from € 250, which is beautiful, offers a good overclocking experience and playing the MSI X99s Gaming 7 must be among its candidates.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ AESTHETICS	- NO WIFI AC CONNECTION.
+ ALLOWS MULTI-GPU CONFIGURATION
+ SATA EXPRESS AND M.2 CONNECTION.
+ GOOD OVERCLOCK
+ SIMPLE BIOS
+ GOOD PRICE.