LAN_SpeedTest
With the same Killer E2205 Gigabit LAN controller as the Z87 model we didn’t expect much of a performance difference, but the new Wi-Fi 802.11ac adapter and position we were curious to know if this impacted the gaming Wi-Fi credentials. We used our HomeServer on a Gig-Ethernet network across Cat6. The file for the test transfer was created on the SSD’s which are in RAID 0. The server was on idle with no other users logged in, and no other traffic was present on the LAN at the time of the tests.
We were surprised at the differences over the range of tests, some better and some worse. We reckon you won’t notice from day to day, but over the course of a year, it all adds up. If you are gaming and nothing more, you will have all the bandwidth you need, you may be last getting on a Team Fortress 2 server though.
The Wi-Fi is a whole lot more constant and stable. The newer configuration gives at least 10% over the Z87 set up. The Wi-Fi test was over approximately 20 meters, using the same server but with an air gap of around 10 meters each way.
MSI Z97I GAMING AC Motherboard Review
Package - 9
Performance - 9.5
Price - 9
Consumer Experience - 9
9.1
This motherboard is aimed at gamers and it has all the right features excluding SLi. During our game tests we did not feel the need for SLi, justifying the little motherboard in its own right. You can get a GTX970 or 770, as we did, into most modern mITX Chassis, combing with this motherboard to make an excellent high end gamer rig or Steam Box.