MSI Z170A Xpower Gaming Titanium Edition Motherboard Review

Motherboards/Intel S1151 by petervandamned @ 2016-02-16

Today the MSI Z170A Xpower Gaming Titanium Edition has arrived, looking astonishing in this new PCB coating.

All the new features like dual M.2, USB 3.1 gen 1, USB 3.1 gen 2, Nahimic audio enhancer and a game boost knob plus separate OC panel. Wow this is one bad boy!

 

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The Gameboost Knob in Action

Before we start here, i think MSI is not saying that each CPU can reach the values they have made with this option!

Click on the pictures for a bigger view.

Set 0

At first we leave it all standard settings giving us a 4200 MHz on the Core and 4000 MHZ on the Uncore (NB Frequency). I have disabled the EIST.

Set 1

Turning the knob one click, With this setting the core voltage goes up to a 1.325 already, and Multiplier goes up with one step. Rest is as before.

Set 2

With another turn to the right we go to setting 2, also one step higher on the MP.

Set 4

Now with this option the MP goes up one but also the Bus speed is 2 MHz gaining more speed on Core/Uncore and DRAM.

Set 6

Another MP step higher with higher Core voltages, however the Uncore and DRAM Frequency goes down?

Set 8

Here we see the MP up to 48 plus Voltage is higher. Bus speed, Uncore (NB Frequency) and DRAM are back to normal.

Set 10

Again the voltage is higher here and one step on the MP.

Final Set 11

The last stage giving the MP a boost to 50 with some extra power on the Core voltage. Uncore stays at 4000 MHz but DRAM is down to 2600 MHz.

But is this setting a bit stable?

Seems like it, however testing with Prime 95 give me a error on 2 workers, saying that one of the cores didn't work correctly on those speeds. Have to try again with manual settings in BIOS later. I was wondering if I would use MSIs own overclock software called Command Center, could I get any higher?

5100 Mhz 

Can we get any higher?

5200 Mhz

That is great but not stable, still very good for automatic settings.

Have to say I am happy this outcome and it really knocks me of my feet.

 

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