MSI Z97 MPower MAX AC Motherboard Review
System Benchmarks
wPrime is a good quick CPU-sensitive multi-threaded math calculation benchmark that utilizes square roots instead of prime numbers. The 32 million number benchmark is used.
The AIDA64 suite has various benchmarks for CPU, FPU and memory testing: CPU Queen is an integer benchmark that tests branch prediction and misprediction penalties. CPU PhotoWorxx tests the SIMD integer arithmetic execution units of the CPU and the memory subsystem. CPU ZLib is a compression benchmark that tests the combined CPU and memory performance. CPU AES is a multi-core encryption benchmark that uses Advanced Encryption Standard data encryption. CPU Hash is an integer benchmark that measures performance using SHA1 hashing algorithm. FPUJulia measures single precision FP, FPU Mandel measures double precision FP, FPUSinJulia measures extended precision FP while FPUVP8 is a video compression test utilizing the FPUJulia fractal module.
PCMark 8 simulates typical home-related workloads including web browsing, gaming, photo editing, video chat and productivity. A work-related series of tests can also be conducted with the Work preset, focusing on spreadsheets, video conference and other office-related scenarios. The third test is the Creative preset which tests media authoring, video editing and more. Like Futuremark’s 3DMark, a numerical score is generated from the combination of semi-synthetic tests.
Compression and Multimedia Benchmarks
WinRAR is a very popular compression program and has a built-in multi-threaded benchmark.
MAXON’s Cinebench R15 runs two sets of benchmarks, a processor test for the CPU and an OpenGL test for the graphics cards. The 3D rendering workload is based on Maxon’s Cinema 4D, a program utilized by movie production studios world wide for special effects so it is a semi-synthetic test closer to real-world 3D graphics benchmarking.
x264 is a popular free software library for encoding video streams into the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC format. x264 FHD measures how efficient a system is in encoding H.264 video and produces results in frames-per-second.
Handbrake is free open-source video transcoder that can convert various video file formats to compatible video files for other typical media viewing applications such as in an iPhone or Android tablet. A 52:55 1.1GB H.264 MKV file was used converted to the built-in iPod Preset (5G Support), then manually timed. The results are in seconds and the lower number is the better result.
Good job, liked the attention to detail in your review like the electronic components used, allost noone is doing that these days they are most show off marketing than proper reviews. Thx
Thank you very much for reading. We are always trying to improve our reviews so reader feedback is always welcome. Cheers, –Ron
Great review!, love that you put time into looking what the power delivery system is on this board. They downgraded from the 20 to 12 and changed the components of it, my question is; Is this worse or better than the old power delivery system of the Z87 MPOWER (MAX)?
Hello, thanks for reading. I am fairly conservative when it comes to economics and design so I don’t fault them completely for doing that. Also, MSI is not the only one who scaled back with the design on their boards, which I think is much efficient anyway given current and upcoming CPUs. Hybrid plus less capacitors understandably is harder to accept after seeing the last model but I have a feeling we will see less and less monster VRMs from all manufacturers. I am not an LN2 overclocker so unfortunately I cannot speak with authority on how grossly this is affected but on air, I don’t think it is an issue IMO. The Z87 Mpower MAX AC is still the better deal of the two currently ($239 on NewEgg) hence I did not give the Z97 version an Editor’s Choice award.
Technically is a kinda of an upgrade since previous generation used a 5 true phases design with quadruples (5×4=20 hybrid phase design) and it was controlled by a digital high quality IR3563B PWM, now they use 6 true phases with doublers/drivers package (6×2=12 hybrid phase design) but with a ISL6388 PWM witch is a new product with no much info about it and products from ISL usually are hybrid analog/digital controler witch is not better than fully digital and for that is also a kinda of downgrade but still needs confirmation. The rest of the components mosfets and inductors seems to be as equal quality as from previous generation. In real world this only appears to affect price that seems pretty good for the features and power delivery is more efficient no doubt on that. MSI is pretty solid manufacturer and a lot bigger than most people think.
It seems to be that ISL6388 is Intersil’s first fully digital controller. I have no clue if it is in indeed an upgrade.
Is there any difference on mpower and mpower max? For a average game/media use? maybe some slight overclocking too? Hows the PWM or such compared to each other?
The PWM design is the same, judging by photos from XFastest’s Review: http://www.xfastest.com/thread-135126-1-1.html
Looks like the difference is just a few features: fewer USB 2.0 and 3.0, lack of fixed MOSFET heatsink barbs, WiFi, e-SATA and additional HDMI for Intel graphics.
I hope this won’t go unnoticed
On the Intel Chipset heatsink, with the big M, is that thermal paste? Or is it some kind of thermal compound?
It is solid (albeit soft), flat and very thin tape at room temperature. It is closer to thermal compound in terms of moisture than the drier pink thermal tape used on other chipset heatsinks which leaves harder to remove residue (ASUS Z87 RoG chipsets).
Oh, good. If i take off the heatsink, do i have to replace or change it? I intend to paint the heatsink, but i dont know what to do with the thermal compound/pads.
You can scrape it off completely and just replace it with thermal paste or a thin thermal pad. The chipset itself has a very low TDP ~5W so cooling it is not really going to be difficult.