Product comparison · 2 motherboards

ASUS M5A97 R2.0 vs MSI FM2-A55M-E33 motherboard AMD A55 Socket FM2 micro ATX

56specifications compared
24differ
32identical
22known for one product only

Key differences

The ASUS M5A97 R2.0 has 2 more memory slots than the MSI FM2-A55M-E33 motherboard AMD A55 Socket FM2 micro ATX (4 vs 2). The ASUS M5A97 R2.0 has 16 GB more maximum internal memory than the MSI FM2-A55M-E33 motherboard AMD A55 Socket FM2 micro ATX (32 GB vs 16 GB). The ASUS M5A97 R2.0 has 1 more USB 2.0 connectors than the MSI FM2-A55M-E33 motherboard AMD A55 Socket FM2 micro ATX (3 vs 2). Only the MSI FM2-A55M-E33 motherboard AMD A55 Socket FM2 micro ATX has on-board graphics card. Processor socket: Socket AM3+ on the ASUS M5A97 R2.0, Socket FM2 on the MSI FM2-A55M-E33 motherboard AMD A55 Socket FM2 micro ATX.

Processor socket
- M5A97 R2.0:Socket AM3+
- FM2-A55M-E33 motherboard AMD A55 Socket FM2 micro ATX:Socket FM2
Number of memory slots
- M5A97 R2.0:4
- FM2-A55M-E33 motherboard AMD A55 Socket FM2 micro ATX:2
Maximum internal memory
- M5A97 R2.0:32 GB
- FM2-A55M-E33 motherboard AMD A55 Socket FM2 micro ATX:16 GB
Supported storage drive interfaces
- M5A97 R2.0:SATA III
- FM2-A55M-E33 motherboard AMD A55 Socket FM2 micro ATX:SATA II
RAID levels
- M5A97 R2.0:0, 1, 5, 10
- FM2-A55M-E33 motherboard AMD A55 Socket FM2 micro ATX:0, 1, 10, JBOD
Parallel processing technology support
- M5A97 R2.0:Quad-GPU CrossFireX
- FM2-A55M-E33 motherboard AMD A55 Socket FM2 micro ATX:Not supported
On-board graphics card
- M5A97 R2.0:No
- FM2-A55M-E33 motherboard AMD A55 Socket FM2 micro ATX:Yes
USB 2.0 connectors
- M5A97 R2.0:3
- FM2-A55M-E33 motherboard AMD A55 Socket FM2 micro ATX:2

Side by side

Differences highlightedShow differences only

Comparison of M5A97 R2.0, FM2-A55M-E33
78 specifications	A ASUS M5A97 R2.0 View product	B MSI FM2-A55M-E33 motherboard AMD A55 Socket FM2 micro ATX Model FM2-A55M-E33 View product
Processor2 differ
Processor manufacturer	AMD	AMD
Processor socketDiffers	Socket AM3+	Socket FM2
Compatible processor seriesDiffers	AMD Phenom II X2, AMD Phenom II X3, AMD Phenom II X4, AMD Phenom II X6	AMD A
Maximum number of SMP processorsKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	1
System bus rateKnown for one	4.8 GT/s	Unknown — not stated by the source
Memory2 differ
Supported memory types	DDR3-SDRAM	DDR3-SDRAM
Number of memory slotsDiffers	4	2
Memory slots type	DIMM	DIMM
Memory channels	Dual-channel	Dual-channel
Memory voltageKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	1.5 V
Supported memory clock speeds	1066,1333,1600,1866,2133 MHz	1066,1333,1600,1866,2133 MHz
Maximum internal memoryDiffers	32 GB	16 GB
Unbuffered memory	Yes	Yes
ECC сompatibilityKnown for one	ECC & Non-ECC	Unknown — not stated by the source
Storage controllers2 differ
Supported storage drive interfacesDiffers	SATA III	SATA II
RAID levelsDiffers	0, 1, 5, 10	0, 1, 10, JBOD
Graphics2 differ
Parallel processing technology supportDiffers	Quad-GPU CrossFireX	Not supported
On-board graphics cardDiffers	No	Yes
Graphics card familyKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	AMD
DirectX versionKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	11
Discrete graphics supportKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Internal I/O4 differ
USB 2.0 connectorsDiffers	3	2
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (3.1 Gen 1) connectorsDiffers	1	0
Number of SATA III connectorsDiffers	6	0
Number of SATA II connectorsDiffers	0	4
Number of SATA connectorsKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	4
Number of Parallel ATA connectors	0	0
Front panel audio connector	Yes	Yes
ATX Power connector (24-pin)	Yes	Yes
Number of EATX power connectors	1	1
CPU fan connector	Yes	Yes
Chassis intrusion connectorKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Number of COM connectors	1	1
TPM connector	Yes	Yes
S/PDIF out connectorKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Number of chassis fan connectorsKnown for one	3	Unknown — not stated by the source
Rear panel I/O ports4 differ
USB 2.0 ports quantityDiffers	6	4
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (3.1 Gen 1) Type-A ports quantityDiffers	2	0
Ethernet LAN (RJ-45) ports	1	1
eSATA ports quantity	0	0
PS/2 ports quantity	2	2
Firewire (IEEE 1394) ports	0	0
VGA (D-Sub) ports quantityDiffers	0	1
HDMI ports quantityDiffers	0	1
DVI-D ports quantity	0	0
Microphone in	Yes	Yes
Headphone outputsKnown for one	1	Unknown — not stated by the source
S/PDIF out portKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Modem (RJ-11) portsKnown for one	0	Unknown — not stated by the source
Network1 differ
Ethernet LAN	Yes	Yes
Ethernet interface type	Gigabit Ethernet	Gigabit Ethernet
LAN controllerDiffers	Realtek RTL8111F	Realtek RTL8111E
Features2 differ
Component for	PC	PC
Motherboard form factorDiffers	ATX	micro ATX
Motherboard chipset family	AMD	AMD
Motherboard chipsetDiffers	AMD 970	AMD A55
Audio chip	Realtek ALC887	Realtek ALC887
Audio output channels	7.1 channels	7.1 channels
Cooling typeKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Passive
Power source type	ATX	ATX
Overclocking featuresKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	OC Genie II
Motherboard southbridgeKnown for one	AMD SB950	Unknown — not stated by the source
Expansion slots3 differ
PCI Express x1 slotsDiffers	2	1
PCI Express x16 slotsDiffers	2	1
PCI Express configurationsKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	1x1, 1x16
PCI Express slots version	2.0	2.0
PCI slotsDiffers	2	1
BIOSidentical
BIOS type	UEFI	UEFI
Clear CMOS jumper	Yes	Yes
BIOS memory sizeKnown for one	64 Mbit	Unknown — not stated by the source
ACPI versionKnown for one	2.0a	Unknown — not stated by the source
Weight & dimensions2 differ
WidthDiffers	305 mm	226 mm
DepthDiffers	229 mm	173 mm
Packaging contentidentical
Cables included	SATA	SATA
Drivers included	Yes	Yes
Other featuresidentical
Controller interface typeKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	AMD A55
Audio outputKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	3
Quick installation guide	Yes	Yes

A dash means the value is not stated by the source. Unknown values are never counted for or against a product, and there is no overall score.

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