HARDWARE

MSI Z77 MPOWER Mainboard - Military Class Burn-in Test Passed (Part 2)

4/9/2013 2:54:26 PM

In previous review of MSI mainboards, we discussed MSI Click BISO II, representing for a quite successful of UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface). The top platform that not only provides info but also allows choosing interface language and changing boot priority by dragging and dropping them with the cursor. Operating devices will be marked.

The screen’s center display BIOS setting, with main selectable icon on the left and right sides. Move to the first section called “Settings”, which contain some sub-sections.

The “system status” section is actually the same start screen we saw when logging into the conventional BIOS. It indicates info of the main system.

“Advanced”

“Advanced”

The variety of setting in “Advanced” section didn’t surprise us, as they are moved from the common BIOS without being adjusted. Here, you can activate and configure Intel’s proprietary technologies, such as “Intel Rapid Start” and “Intel Smart Connect”.

Configuring the technological setting

Configuring the technological setting

There’s a new small “Windows 8 Configuration”, in which you can activate the typically own start-up system of this specific OS and boost start-up time.

Now, let’s check “Hardware Monitor” section, where you can activate dynamic mode of CPU’s fan speed based on the current temperature of the processor. The adjustment only takes effect with 4-pin fans. All 3-pin fans will run at maximum speed. However, if you connect a 3-pin with one of 4-pin’s four connectors, its speed will be as slow as needed. Speed adjustment for connectors of these two fans may be left at Auto or a specific level.

“Hardware monitor”

“Hardware monitor”

“Boot” sub-section will allow you to set up boot priority and a few things used during system start-up.

 “Save & Exit” sub-section’s function is as clear as crystal, no explanation is needed.

 “OC” section is the largest in default installation. It contains most of options necessary for configuring and overclocking successfully. It also has some informational parameters reporting current system status.

"OC"

OC

You can use “Enhanced Turbo” BIOS in case you want to slightly overclock while keeping energy-efficient technologies all running. When these functions are on, under any kind of load, the processor clock frequency multiplier will increase to the maximum level allowed for this Intel’s typical Turbo Boost processor. If you desire a higher result, you should use OC Genie II function, enabling overclocking by selecting options suitable for BIOS mainboard or by pressing OC Genie button. Any dynamic overclocking system has some drawbacks, which can be partly erased via user’s adjustment. “My OC Genie” allows adjusting some parameter to the favorable values, used when overclocked with “OC Genie II’ function.

Several parameters were moved to other pages

Several parameters were moved to other pages

For an easier work with this multi-function section, some parameters were moved to other pages. Specifically, the memory timings are isolated in an individual sub-section. They may be the same for all memory channels, or configured individually for each channel.

All parameters relative to processor voltage regulator configuration have been transferred to an individual page dubbed as “Hybrid Digital Power”.

“Hybrid Digital Power”

“Hybrid Digital Power”

The mainboard can save up to 6 full BIOS settings in “Overclocking Profiles” sub-section. It allows saving and re-downloading setting profiles from external media. A little inconvenience is that you couldn’t realize which setting has been used when looking at the list.

However, the actual effectiveness with the settings is no problem at all. The timing of creating setting as well as BIOS version that it belongs to are automatically saved for each setting. You can give each setting a memorable name, or remove one setting from the memory if necessary.

Removing a setting from the memory if necessary

Removing a setting from the memory if necessary

The next two sub-sections are called “CPU Specifications” and “Memory-Z”, performing purely informational functions. The first informs all basic info of the CPU.

Purely informational functions

Purely informational functions

You can dig deeper, if you want, and check the list of supported processor technologies

“Memory-Z” subsection is arranged in a similar way. The first that you will notice is info recorded in SPD module. The mainboard will use these specific settings by default.

“Memory-Z”

“Memory-Z”

However, the actual potential of the memory modules can only be found in the “X.M.P.” setting, where you can also log into.

In “CPU Features” sub-section, we can assign processor clock frequency multipliers, acceptable power consumption range and various processor technologies. This crucial sub-section is in the list’s bottom for some reason, yet it is still very easy to be entered, as all parameters in the “OC” section are repeated. You don’t have to press the “down” key endlessly to access the last sub-sections or settings. Just press the “up” key once and you will get there instantly.

“CPU Features”

“CPU Features”

“ECO” section is the previous “Green Power”. Here, we can work with some energy-saving parameters, disable LEDs in the circuit and control current values of the most important voltages in the system.

“ECO”

“ECO”

The “Browser” icon in the right side will let you browse the Internet, check emails, use some office apps or IM, but only when you have installed Winki 3 Linux – based on the OS from the accompanied DVD.

Browse the Internet, check emails…

Browse the Internet, check emails…

The similar will work with HDD Backup and Live Update hidden behind “Utilities” icon.

“Utilities”

“Utilities”

In “M-Flash” sub-section, we can try and boot, use a BIOS image on a flash drive, save the current BIOS version or update it. It is quite inconvenient when images are not just saved in the source folder, they should be there for successful updates. There’s no file management or arrangement, NTFS file system is not supported and the flash drive has to be formatted as FAT or FAT32.

In “Security” section, you will be able to set up password for system login, which is what other boards allow. There’s an interesting proprietary feature of MSI that lets you turn a common flash drive into a login key.

“Security”

“Security”

You can press F1 at any time in any folder of BIOS to display general help. They also introduced new hot keys – F8 and F9, allowing you to download profiles and installation based on external media. I wish they could have created a key letting you safely remove changes and return to the previous installation by just one key stroke.

Overall, MSI Click BIOS II looks friendly to work with and illustrative, and the company is improving it. They introduce newer parameters, making working with this board much easier. However, they still didn’t eliminate the typical drawback that MSI boards all face: MSI mainboards are still unable to increase the processor core voltage in “Offset” mode simply by adding the necessary value to the nominal. Moreover, the biggest difficulty user may experience with Micro-Star mainboard often stems from BIOS concerns which we are discussing later in this review.

 

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