Product comparison · 2 motherboards

MSI X79A-GD45 motherboard LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX vs MSI Z68MA-G45 Intel Z68 LGA 1155 (Socket H2) micro ATX

41specifications compared
15differ
26identical
22known for one product only

Key differences

Processor socket
- X79A-GD45 motherboard LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX:LGA 2011 (Socket R)
- Z68MA-G45 Intel Z68 LGA 1155 (Socket H2) micro ATX:LGA 1155 (Socket H2)
Memory channels
- X79A-GD45 motherboard LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX:Quad-channel
- Z68MA-G45 Intel Z68 LGA 1155 (Socket H2) micro ATX:Dual-channel
Maximum internal memory
- X79A-GD45 motherboard LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX:64 GB
- Z68MA-G45 Intel Z68 LGA 1155 (Socket H2) micro ATX:32 GB
Parallel processing technology support
- X79A-GD45 motherboard LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX:2-Way SLI, 3-Way SLI
- Z68MA-G45 Intel Z68 LGA 1155 (Socket H2) micro ATX:2-Way CrossFireX, 2-Way SLI
USB 2.0 connectors
- X79A-GD45 motherboard LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX:2
- Z68MA-G45 Intel Z68 LGA 1155 (Socket H2) micro ATX:4
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (3.1 Gen 1) connectors
- X79A-GD45 motherboard LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX:1
- Z68MA-G45 Intel Z68 LGA 1155 (Socket H2) micro ATX:0
Firewire (IEEE 1394) ports
- X79A-GD45 motherboard LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX:1
- Z68MA-G45 Intel Z68 LGA 1155 (Socket H2) micro ATX:0
VGA (D-Sub) ports quantity
- X79A-GD45 motherboard LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX:0
- Z68MA-G45 Intel Z68 LGA 1155 (Socket H2) micro ATX:1

Side by side

Differences highlightedShow differences only

Comparison of X79A-GD45, Z68MA-G45
63 specifications	A MSI X79A-GD45 motherboard LGA 2011 (Socket R) ATX Model X79A-GD45 View product	B MSI Z68MA-G45 Intel Z68 LGA 1155 (Socket H2) micro ATX Model Z68MA-G45 View product
Processor2 differ
Processor manufacturer	Intel	Intel
Processor socketDiffers	LGA 2011 (Socket R)	LGA 1155 (Socket H2)
Compatible processor seriesDiffers	Intel® Core™ i7	Intel® Core™ i3, Intel® Core™ i5, Intel® Core™ i7
Memory3 differ
Supported memory types	DDR3-SDRAM	DDR3-SDRAM
Number of memory slots	4	4
Memory channelsDiffers	Quad-channel	Dual-channel
Memory voltageKnown for one	1.5 V	Unknown — not stated by the source
Supported memory clock speedsDiffers	1066,1333,1600,1800,2133,2400 MHz	1066,1333,1600,1866,2133 MHz
Maximum internal memoryDiffers	64 GB	32 GB
Memory slots typeKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	SO-DIMM
Storage controllersidentical
Supported storage drive interfaces	SATA II, SATA III	SATA II, SATA III
RAID levels	0, 1, 5, 10	0, 1, 5, 10
Graphics1 differ
Parallel processing technology supportDiffers	2-Way SLI, 3-Way SLI	2-Way CrossFireX, 2-Way SLI
On-board graphics cardKnown for one	No	Unknown — not stated by the source
Internal I/O2 differ
USB 2.0 connectorsDiffers	2	4
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (3.1 Gen 1) connectorsDiffers	1	0
Number of SATA III connectors	2	2
Number of SATA II connectors	4	4
Number of Parallel ATA connectors	0	0
Front panel audio connectorKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
ATX Power connector (24-pin)	Yes	Yes
Number of EATX power connectors	1	1
CPU fan connector	Yes	Yes
Number of chassis fan connectorsKnown for one	4	Unknown — not stated by the source
Chassis intrusion connector	Yes	Yes
Number of IEEE1394 connectorsKnown for one	1	Unknown — not stated by the source
TPM connectorKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Parallel connectorKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Rear panel I/O ports4 differ
USB 2.0 ports quantity	6	6
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (3.1 Gen 1) Type-A ports quantity	2	2
Ethernet LAN (RJ-45) ports	1	1
eSATA ports quantity	0	0
PS/2 ports quantity	1	1
Firewire (IEEE 1394) portsDiffers	1	0
VGA (D-Sub) ports quantityDiffers	0	1
HDMI ports quantityDiffers	0	1
DVI-D ports quantityDiffers	0	1
Headphone outputs	1	1
Microphone in	Yes	Yes
S/PDIF out portKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Digital audio optical outKnown for one	1	Unknown — not stated by the source
COM ports quantityKnown for one	1	Unknown — not stated by the source
Parallel ports quantityKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	0
Serial ports quantityKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	0
Networkidentical
Ethernet interface type	Gigabit Ethernet	Gigabit Ethernet
LAN controller	Realtek RTL8111E	Realtek RTL8111E
Ethernet LANKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Wi-FiKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Yes
Wi-Fi standardsKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	802.11b, 802.11g, Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
Features1 differ
Component for	PC	PC
Motherboard form factorDiffers	ATX	micro ATX
Motherboard chipset family	Intel	Intel
Audio chip	Realtek ALC892	Realtek ALC892
Power source type	ATX	ATX
Motherboard chipsetKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	Intel Z68
Audio output channelsKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	7.1 channels
Expansion slots1 differ
PCI Express x16 slotsDiffers	3	2
PCI slotsKnown for one	4	Unknown — not stated by the source
PCI Express x1 slotsKnown for one	Unknown — not stated by the source	2
BIOSidentical
Clear CMOS buttonKnown for one	Yes	Unknown — not stated by the source
Weight & dimensions1 differ
Width	244 mm	244 mm
DepthDiffers	305 mm	244 mm
Other featuresidentical
Controller interface typeKnown for one	Intel X79	Unknown — not stated by the source

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.

More motherboard comparisons

All motherboard comparisons