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Black ATX motherboard with red accents and heatsinks

MSI

MSI 970 GAMING AMD 970 motherboard AM3+ DDR3 32GB

SKU CH-MSR9-9X6TR

ATX board for AM3/AM3+ CPUs with AMD 970 chipset, dual-channel DDR3 up to 2133 MHz, 32 GB max, 14 USB ports, 7.1 audio and Killer E2205 LAN

  • ProcessorAMD FXTM/PhenomTM II/AthlonTM II/SempronTM processors with A
  • ChipsetAMD 970
  • CPU socketSocket AM3/AM3+
  • Supported memorySupports dual-channel DDR3 2133 (overclocking)/1866/1600/133
  • Max supported RAM32 GB
  • PCI slots2 PCIe 2.0 x16 slots - PCI_E2 supports PCIe 2.0 x16 speeds -
  • Supports up to 32GB DDR3 memory
  • Dual-channel DDR3 up to 2133MHz overclocking
  • Killer E2205 gigabit LAN for low-latency gaming
  • Realtek ALC1150 delivers 7.1 channel high-fidelity audio
  • 14 USB 2.0 plus 4 USB 3.0 ports for peripherals

Socket AM3/AM3+ gaming board

The MSI 970 GAMING motherboard pairs the AMD 970 chipset with Socket AM3/AM3+ support for FX, Phenom II, Athlon II and Sempron processors. It targets builders who want a full-size ATX platform for legacy AMD CPUs and DDR3 memory. Dual-channel memory architecture scales up to 32GB across four slots.

Sustained-load behaviour

The AMD SB950 southbridge and 14 USB 2.0 ports handle heavy peripheral traffic without saturating the bus. Killer E2205 Gigabit LAN prioritises gaming packets during long sessions, while the Realtek ALC1150 codec maintains clean 7.1 channel output. PCIe 2.0 x16 and x8 slots keep graphics bandwidth stable under continuous load.

Build quality and connectors

Military Class 4 components and reinforced PCIe slots resist flex when large cards are installed. Two USB 3.0 ports on the rear I/O and two more via internal headers give front-panel flexibility. Six SATA III connectors support RAID arrays, and the included I/O shield simplifies case integration.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in Motherboards for AMD CPUs, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $75.99
Cheaper than about 84% of the 1,906 comparable items (median $224.49).

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Specifications

Product
Brand nameMSI
Product lineMSI 970 GAMING
Model nameMSI 970 GAMING
Processor
ProcessorAMD FXTM/PhenomTM II/AthlonTM II/SempronTM processors with AM3/AM3 + architecture support
CPU socketSocket AM3/AM3+
ChipsetAMD 970
Memory
Supported memorySupports dual-channel DDR3 2133 (overclocking)/1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz memory
Max supported RAM32 GB
Storage
SATA and RAID support6XSATA III interface
Audio & video
Audio chipRealtek ALC1150 Decoder Chip
- 7.1 channel high-fidelity sound
Supports S/PDIF output
Connectivity
Ethernet controllerKiller E2205 Gigabit Network Controller *
- 1 network port located on the backplane
Ports & slots
PCI slots2 PCIe 2.0 x16 slots
- PCI_E2 supports PCIe 2.0 x16 speeds
- PCI_E4 supports PCIe 2.0 x8 speeds
2 PCIe 2.0 x1 slots
2 PCI slots

Questions about this item

How much power does the MSI 970 GAMING motherboard draw when the system runs all day under load?

The board itself does not publish a TDP figure; total system draw depends on the CPU, graphics cards and drives you install.

Which components must I already own before this AM3/AM3+ board will boot?

You need a compatible AM3 or AM3+ processor, DDR3 memory modules up to 32 GB total, a power supply with 24-pin ATX and 8-pin CPU connectors, and a chassis that fits ATX.

Will my existing PCIe 2.0 graphics card and SATA III SSDs work at full speed on this 970 chipset board?

Yes — the two PCIe 2.0 x16 slots and six SATA III ports run at their native 2.0 and 6 Gb/s rates respectively.

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