MSI X299 XPOWER Gaming AC Preview

MSI X299 XPOWER Gaming AC Preview

Introduction

The X299 motherboard has got a cool trick up its sleeve in that it supports a whole range of CPUs rather than just being able to run the biggest, most expensive models. This means you can buy a new system but go with an affordable CPU, and just save up next time round for one of the 18 core or similar options.

So if you can get the foundations right and adjust the components later on, it makes perfect sense to go for a flagship motherboard. You’ll be using it for a while so it’s important to have the biggest feature set that will last you the longest amount of time before you’re looking enviously at newer products.

When it comes to flagship MSI motherboards the XPOWER has always been sitting proudly at the top of their range. The X299 XPOWER Gaming AC is no different, with so many connection options and voodoo underneath the hood that you’ll struggle to fill up all the connectors for a long time to come.

Technical Specifications

It doesn’t matter where you look down the specifications table, you’re bound to be impressed. Memory is 8 slots of Quad channel supporting up to 128 GB of DDR4 at speeds upto 4133 MHz or 4500 MHz depending upon how many slots you fill. Storage is unquestionably the star of the show with Ten SATA ports, 3 M.2 ports and a U.2. If you are particularly wealthy and think 3 M.2 slots isn’t enough then there is also a PCI Expansion board with another two M.2 sockets on it. Or you can stuff your PCI Express slots – all four of them – with graphics cards. To cover the rest of the features we need to look at the motherboard itself, so click on.

MSI X299 XPOWER Gaming AC Preview Â