MSI launches a featured-packed X299 motherboard tuned for high overclocks

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A new flagship emerges.

MSI went all out on its new X299 XPower Gaming AC, a top-shelf motherboard that offers up just about every modern amenity you can think of. Built to handle Intel's Core X series processors, the X299 XPower Gaming AC features a 14 phase (12+1+1) power design with loadline calibration to help keep overclocks stable.

The new motherboard supports up to 128GB of DDR4-4133+ (OC) quad-channel memory. It also has four PCI-Express x16 slots, a single PCI-Express x1 slot, 10 SATA 6Gbps ports, three M.2 slots, and a single U.2 slot.

For external connectivity, users have access to plenty of USB ports, including six USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A ports, a USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A port, a USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port, and two USB 2.0 ports on the rear. There are also USB 3.1 and 2.0 headers.

The rear I/O is home to dual Intel LAN ports, though it's not clear if the motherboard supports port aggregation. MSI also includes an Intel Wireless-AC card. Both wired and wireless solutions come with bandwidth management and traffic prioritization.

This is a heavily armored motherboard, both for sturdiness and to prevent electromagnetic interference (EMI), in case that's something you struggle with. It also features isolated memory circuitry to help with performance and stability.

Audio circuitry is also isolated. It's powered by Nahimic 2+ and has an added audio cover and golden audio connectors.

Unfortunately MSI did not say when the X299 XPower Gaming AC will be available or for how much.

Paul Lilly
Paul Lilly

Paul has been playing PC games and raking his knuckles on computer hardware since the Commodore 64. He does not have any tattoos, but thinks it would be cool to get one that reads LOAD"*",8,1. In his off time, he rides motorcycles and wrestles alligators (only one of those is true).