Product comparison · 2 motherboards

MSI 970A-G46 AMD 970 Socket AM3+ ATX vs MSI X79A-GD65 motherboard Intel X79 LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX

53specifications compared
21differ
32identical
13known for one product only

Key differences

The MSI X79A-GD65 motherboard Intel X79 LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX has 32 GB more maximum internal memory than the MSI 970A-G46 AMD 970 Socket AM3+ ATX (64 GB vs 32 GB). The MSI 970A-G46 AMD 970 Socket AM3+ ATX has 1 more USB 2.0 connectors than the MSI X79A-GD65 motherboard Intel X79 LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX (3 vs 2). The MSI X79A-GD65 motherboard Intel X79 LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX has 1 more USB 3.2 Gen 1 (3.1 Gen 1) connectors than the MSI 970A-G46 AMD 970 Socket AM3+ ATX (1 vs 0). Processor manufacturer: AMD on the MSI 970A-G46 AMD 970 Socket AM3+ ATX, Intel on the MSI X79A-GD65 motherboard Intel X79 LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX. Processor socket: Socket AM3+ on the MSI 970A-G46 AMD 970 Socket AM3+ ATX, LGA 2011 (Socket R) on the MSI X79A-GD65 motherboard Intel X79 LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX.

Processor manufacturer
- 970A-G46 AMD 970 Socket AM3+ ATX:AMD
- X79A-GD65 motherboard Intel X79 LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX:Intel
Processor socket
- 970A-G46 AMD 970 Socket AM3+ ATX:Socket AM3+
- X79A-GD65 motherboard Intel X79 LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX:LGA 2011 (Socket R)
Memory channels
- 970A-G46 AMD 970 Socket AM3+ ATX:Dual-channel
- X79A-GD65 motherboard Intel X79 LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX:Quad-channel
Maximum internal memory
- 970A-G46 AMD 970 Socket AM3+ ATX:32 GB
- X79A-GD65 motherboard Intel X79 LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX:64 GB
Supported storage drive interfaces
- 970A-G46 AMD 970 Socket AM3+ ATX:SATA III
- X79A-GD65 motherboard Intel X79 LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX:SATA II, SATA III
Parallel processing technology support
- 970A-G46 AMD 970 Socket AM3+ ATX:2-Way CrossFireX, 2-Way SLI
- X79A-GD65 motherboard Intel X79 LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX:3-Way SLI
USB 2.0 connectors
- 970A-G46 AMD 970 Socket AM3+ ATX:3
- X79A-GD65 motherboard Intel X79 LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX:2
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (3.1 Gen 1) connectors
- 970A-G46 AMD 970 Socket AM3+ ATX:0
- X79A-GD65 motherboard Intel X79 LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX:1

Side by side

Differences highlightedShow differences only

Comparison of 970A-G46, X79A-GD65
66 specifications	A MSI 970A-G46 AMD 970 Socket AM3+ ATX Model 970A-G46 View product	B MSI X79A-GD65 motherboard Intel X79 LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX Model X79A-GD65 View product
Processor3 differ
Processor manufacturerDiffers	AMD	Intel
Processor socketDiffers	Socket AM3+	LGA 2011 (Socket R)
Compatible processor seriesDiffers	AMD Phenom II X2, AMD Phenom II X3, AMD Phenom II X4, AMD Phenom II X6	Intel® Core™ i7
System bus rateKnown for one	4.8 GT/s	Unknown — not stated by the source
Memory3 differ
Memory channelsDiffers	Dual-channel	Quad-channel
Supported memory clock speedsDiffers	800,1066,1333,1600,1866,2133 MHz	1066,1333,1600,1800,2133,2400 MHz
Maximum internal memoryDiffers	32 GB	64 GB
Unbuffered memoryKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Storage controllers1 differ
Supported storage drive interfacesDiffers	SATA III	SATA II, SATA III
Graphics1 differ
Parallel processing technology supportDiffers	2-Way CrossFireX, 2-Way SLI	3-Way SLI
On-board graphics cardKnown for one	No	Unknown — not stated by the source
Internal I/O5 differ
USB 2.0 connectorsDiffers	3	2
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (3.1 Gen 1) connectorsDiffers	0	1
Number of SATA III connectorsDiffers	6	4
Number of SATA II connectorsDiffers	0	4
S/PDIF out connectorKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Number of chassis fan connectorsDiffers	2	4
Number of IEEE1394 connectorsKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	1
Rear panel I/O ports2 differ
USB 2.0 ports quantityDiffers	6	8
Firewire (IEEE 1394) portsDiffers	0	1
Serial ports quantityKnown for one	1	Unknown — not stated by the source
Digital audio optical outKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	1
Networkidentical
Networking featuresKnown for one	Gigabit Ethernet	Unknown — not stated by the source
Features2 differ
Motherboard chipset familyDiffers	AMD	Intel
Motherboard chipsetDiffers	AMD 970	Intel X79
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	5
PCI Express slots versionDiffers	2.0	2.0, 3.0
PCI slotsKnown for one	2	Unknown — not stated by the source
BIOSidentical
Clear CMOS buttonKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Weight & dimensions1 differ
WidthDiffers	225 mm	244 mm
Other featuresidentical
Audio outputKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	4
BIOS switch buttonKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	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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