MSI has recently introduced its first AMD AM3+ socket motherboard under their GAMING brand – the MSI 970 GAMING motherboard. The 970 GAMING is based on AMD 970 chipset that supports AMD FX, Phenom II, Athlon II and Sempron processors for AM3+ socket. It also features Killer E2200 LAN for its wired network connection, Audio Boost 2 powered by Creative Sound Blaster Cinema2, USB Audio Power, Military Class 4 components, OC Genie 4 and it is CrossFire certified for multiple graphics cards configuration. Check out the rest of its features and specifications below.
MSI 970 GAMING AM3+ Features
MSI 970 GAMING motherboards feature Killer high-performance networking and provide the highest level of control and networking speed for video streaming and gaming. A Smooth, stutter-free network is a must in today’s world of on-line gaming, where a single packet of network data can make the difference between a win or a loss, Killer makes sure that it arrives.
Powered by Creative Sound Blaster Cinema2
As for the audio department, the MSI 970 GAMING is powered by Creative Sound Blaster Cinema2, Audio Boost 2 combines a revolutionary hardware layout for audio on the motherboard with the best customizable audio options like Multi-Channel Speaker Calibration and headphone profiles that dramatically enhance your audio experience. The Sound hardware is not only EMI shielded and separated from the motherboard, the power to the high quality amplifiers and audio components is delivered through ultra stable design. Ensuring clean power delivery for the audio components combined with the electrical shielding provides the highest level of on board audio ever experienced.
Continuous clear audio, USB Audio Power
The MSI 970 GAMING motherboard comes with USB Audio Power, that are the perfect solution for headsets and external audio DACs connected through USB. The optimized power design of MSI GAMING motherboards ensures a consistent 5 Volt power delivery on USB ports. This way the signal quality is always optimal regardless of the amount of devices connected, this is critical for USB. Thanks to MSI USB Audio Power you’ll always enjoy crystal clear audio from USB audio devices.
GAMING engineered to perfection
MSI continues to showcase its love for GAMING products by crafting each GAMING motherboard to perfection. From the inspiring new heat sink with GAMING DNA, a cleaner layout around the CPU socket, matte black PCB across the entire line-up and impressive M-Shield I/O panel cover it’s an inspiring sight for gamers. Details make the difference.
The most stable and power efficient motherboards
MSI uses award-winning Military Class 4 components in the MSI 970 GAMING. Military Class 4 is the next step in high quality components. Hi-C CAPs, Solid CAPs, Dark CAPs, together with SFC and Dark Chokes, ensure your PC runs stable under extreme conditions. These key components have all passed extreme testing ensuring stable operation in the harshest environments. The core of Military Class 4 is based on Guard-Pro, a set of tools which increases your stability in the worst conditions, featuring ECO power, circuit protection, humidity protection, high temperature protection, EMI protection and ESD protection. ECO power features MSI ECO Center which allows you to physically cut the power to unused chips to save up to 29% power usage.
OC Genie 4 & Click BIOS 4
The MSI 970 GAMING motherboard is equipped with many exclusive new technologies, including the all new two-stage one-second overclocking OC Genie 4, the world’s first graphical monitoring interface Click BIOS 4, and the Control Center software that combines monitoring, tuning and remote controlling, and much more. The easy to use high quality software and hardware design allow consumers to gain more convenient experiences.
MSI 970 GAMING Specifications
| Processor | Supports AMD®FXTM/ Phenom™ II/ Athlon™ II and Sempron™ processors for the AM3/ AM3+ socket |
| Hyper Transport Bus | HyperTransport 3.0 supporting speed up to 4.8GT/s |
| Chipset | AMD® 970 and SB950 Chipset |
| Main Memory | 4 x DDR3 memory slots supporting up to 32GB Supports DDR3 2133(OC)/ 1866/ 1600/ 1333/ 1066 MHz Dual channel memory architecture |
| Slots | 2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slots (PCI_E2 supports up to PCIe 2.0 x16 speed) (PCI_E4 supports up to PCIe 2.0 x8 speed) 2 x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots 2 x PCI slots |
| Multi-GPU | Supports 2-Way AMD® CrossFire™ Technology |
| On-Board SATA | AMD SB950 Chipset 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports Supports RAID 0, RAID1, RAID5 and RAID 10 |
| USB | AMD® SB950 Chipset 14x USB 2.0 ports (8 ports on the back panel, 6 ports available through the internal USB 2.0 connectors) VIA VL806 Chipset 4 x USB 3.0 ports (2 ports on the back panel, 2 ports available through the internal USB 3.0 connector) |
| Audio | Realtek® ALC1150 Codec 7.1-Channel High Definition Audio Supports S/PDIF output |
| LAN | Killer E2205 Gigabit LAN controller 1 x LAN port on the backpanel |
| Internal I/O Connectors | 1x 24-pin ATX main power connector 1x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector 6x SATA 6Gb/s connectors 3x USB 2.0 connectors (supports additional 6 USB 2.0 ports) 1x USB 3.0 connector 1x 4-pin CPU fan connector 2x 4-pin system fan connectors 2x 3-pin system fan connectors 1x Front panel audio connector 2x System panel connectors 1x Chassis Intrusion connector 1x TPM module connector 1x Serial port connector 1x S/PDIF-Out connector 1x Clear CMOS jumper 1x Slow mode booting switch |
| Back Panel I/O Ports | 1x PS/2 keyboard/ mouse combo port 8x USB 2.0 ports 2x USB 3.0 ports 1x Optical S/PDIF-Out connector 1x LAN (RJ45) port 6x OFC audio jacks |
| BIOS | The motherboard BIOS provides "Plug & Play" BIOS which detects the peripheral devices and expansion cards of the board automatically. The motherboard provides a Desktop Management Interface(DMI) function which records your motherboard specifications. |
| Dimension | 12 in. x 9.6 in. (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm) ATX Form Factor |
| Mounting | 9 mounting holes |
Price and Availability
As of today, MSI hasn’t disclosed yet the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the MSI 970 GAMING AM3+ motherboard. I’m guessing that it would be priced around $100 USD (or probably more). They also didn’t mention when this motherboard would be released in the market. But I think they might release the 970 GAMING by July.
so brilliant no one has bought it
I did. And I can confirm that is a good motherboard.