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Full-size ATX motherboard, matte black finish, silver heatsinks, red accent lines, I/O shield attached

MSI

MSI Z97 GAMING 9 AC Intel motherboard

SKU CH-CCZZ-DEW3W

An LGA 1150 ATX board with Intel Z97 chipset, four DDR3 slots up to 32 GB, three PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, eight SATA ports, one M.2 slot, Killer E2205 LAN, Realtek ALC1150 7.1 audio.

  • Processor4th and 5th generation Intel Core ™ Processors, Intel Pentiu
  • ChipsetIntel Z97
  • CPU socketLGA 1150
  • Supported memorySupports DDR3 1066-3200 (OC) MHz memory
  • Max supported RAM32 GB
  • PCI slots3 PCIe 3.0 x16 slots (supports x16, x8/x8, x8/x4/x4 operatin
  • Supports 4th and 5th generation Intel Core processors with LGA 1150 socket
  • Intel Z97 chipset enables DDR3 memory up to 3200 MHz overclocked
  • 32 GB maximum memory capacity across four DDR3 slots
  • Three PCIe 3.0 x16 slots allow multi-GPU configurations
  • Realtek ALC1150 codec delivers 7.1 channel high-definition audio

Z97 chipset with LGA 1150 socket

This ATX motherboard is built around the Intel Z97 chipset and supports 4th and 5th generation Intel Core, Pentium and Celeron processors in the LGA 1150 package. It targets enthusiasts who want a feature-rich platform for a high-end Haswell or Broadwell build.

Suits DDR3 builders; not for newer sockets

The board accepts up to 32 GB of DDR3 memory at speeds from 1066 to 3200 MHz, making it suitable for users who already own DDR3 kits or prefer that memory type. Builders planning a Skylake or later CPU must choose a different motherboard.

Three PCIe 3.0 x16 slots with flexible lane modes

The expansion layout provides three PCIe 3.0 x16 slots that can operate at x16, x8/x8 or x8/x4/x4, giving multi-GPU configurations the bandwidth they need. This lane flexibility is the key spec for deciding if the board matches a planned graphics setup.

How it compares

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

Price $133.99
Pricier than about 66% of the 2,965 comparable items (median $97.99).

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Specifications

Product
Brand nameMSI
Product lineMSI Z97 GAMING 9 AC
Model nameMSI Z97 GAMING 9 AC
Processor
Processor4th and 5th generation Intel Core ™ Processors, Intel Pentium, Celeron processors with Socket 1150 architecture
CPU socketLGA 1150
ChipsetIntel Z97
Memory
Supported memorySupports DDR3 1066-3200 (OC) MHz memory
Max supported RAM32 GB
Storage
SATA and RAID support1XM.2 interface, 8xSATA III interface
Audio & video
Audio chipRealtek ALC1150 decoding chip
- 7.1 channel high-quality sound effects
- Supports S/PDIF output
CMedia CM6631A (for JAUD1)
- Supports USB 2.0 high-speed sound effects
Connectivity
Ethernet controller1 Killer E2205 Gigabit network interface card *
Ports & slots
PCI slots3 PCIe 3.0 x16 slots (supports x16, x8/x8, x8/x4/x4 operating modes)
3 PCIe 2.0 x1 slots

Questions about this item

Which processor socket must my CPU already have to fit this board?

The board uses the LGA 1150 socket, so you need a 4th- or 5th-generation Intel Core, Pentium or Celeron processor built for that socket.

Will my existing DDR3 memory modules run at their rated speed on this motherboard?

The board supports DDR3 from 1066 up to 3200 MHz when overclocked, and it can hold up to 32 GB across the available slots.

How can I confirm the Killer E2205 network controller is active after I build the system?

Open Device Manager in Windows; the adapter will appear as Killer E2205 Gigabit Ethernet, and the driver version will be listed under its properties.

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