Are MSI B85i Gaming and Z87i gaming the same board?

[vtomi80]

I just figured out that the MSI B85i Gaming looks equally as the MSI Z87i Gaming.
Difference is the number of USB 3.0 and Sata 6 ports, and the pre-installed Wi-fi card on the Z87i board and some extra features (RAID, smart response) which of course come with the Z87 chipset.

https://us.msi.com/Motherboard/Z87I-GAMING-AC.html#hero...

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B85I-GAMING.html#hero-s...

Check out the layouts.

Am I correct stating that if you buy a B85i gaming board, you technically get a Z87i board, at least from overclocking perspective (6 phase VRM with heatsinks, etc.)?

 

[dork_police]

Short answer yes and no - technically the same, just the wireless and Memory clock that differs - this is where digging into the Product Books will be helpfull.

What Memory speeds the B85I might support on overclock (which on the face looks to max out at DDR3-1600 vs DDR3-3000).


Other than that, I cant spot any differences.

 

[celtic_warrior99]

Hi, no the B85i will NOT have the same overclocking capabilities and features that the Z87 varient has. The Z87 will overclock better, support faster RAM and have more features in the BIOS. It may physically look the same, but it is not in terms of its capabilities and features.

 

[vtomi80]

Hi, no the B85i will NOT have the same overclocking capabilities and features that the Z87 varient has. The Z87 will overclock better, support faster RAM and have more features in the BIOS. It may physically look the same, but it is not in terms of its capabilities and features.

I understand the differences e.g. different speed of RAM supported, but what is the difference in CPU overclocking?

 

[celtic_warrior99]

The Z board will have much better overclocking capabilities. The B board may not even have ANY at all. The Z board will have a better power phase design and better cooling for its components that are used when overclocking.

 

[celtic_warrior99]

Ok i see MSI say it does support overclocking, but B grade boards will not be good for overclocking at all. If you want to overclock, get a Z series board definitely.

 

[vtomi80]

Ok i see MSI say it does support overclocking, but B grade boards will not be good for overclocking at all. If you want to overclock, get a Z series board definitely.

You got me wrong, I do own a MSI B85i Gaming, overclocked preiously a 4690K, 4770K and now a 4790K in it without any problem.
This board supports overclocking, believe me. 😉

My question is if I spotted it correctly, that this is the same board as the Z87i Gaming, except 1 SATA port, RAM slots and 2 USB ports have been replaced to fit into B85 chipset standards.

The board still have military grade 4 components, 6 phase VRM, heatsink, etc.

 

[celtic_warrior99]

Oh ok, my bad. Well usually the case is that teh Z grade boards are much better for overclocking, but it seems that the only differencesz arein fact the ram slots and sata ports.