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MSI Z87 XPower Motherboard Review

Luke Hill July 12, 2013 Featured Announcement, Motherboard

With its emergence as the new standard for high-speed portable devices, USB 3.0 performance on a modern motherboard needs to be good to ensure that data transferral bottlenecks aren't created.

We tested USB 3.0 performance using a Kingston HyperX 3K SSD connected to an Icy Box IB-223StU3 USB 3.0 enclosure. ATTO was the benchmark which was used.

usb 3

Z87-Port ASMedia-ASM1074-port

Performance differences between the Z87-native USB 3.0 ports and those powered by ASMedia's controllers are non-existent.

One thing we did notice is that MSI's Z87 XPower motherboard doesn't feature any form of ‘Turbo' USB 3.0 mode. We have seen ASRock and Asus successfully activate UASP on some of their motherboards' USB 3.0 ports to unlock limitations relating to transfer speeds. We hope that MSI incorporates a similar ‘Turbo Mode' on its future motherboards to allow the full potential of USB 3.0 to be utilised.

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3 comments

  1. Stevie
    July 12, 2013 at 4:19 pm

    that is one big big mobo! lovely design, I like their boards this generation, very attractive designs.

  2. Andy
    July 12, 2013 at 4:20 pm

    been wondering about this board since it was announced. Id like to see a review of some of the maximum boards soon too. this MSI board is on my shortlist.

  3. Lance
    July 12, 2013 at 4:22 pm

    They make the sexiest boards but gigabyte Z87 are giving them a run for their money this time. Its a kick ass board, but im not moving to haswell, its a sucky generation. waiting on the next one, quite happy with my 3570k

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