MSI A88X-G45-GAMING-ACLHD A88X - Is it good

[TheJackle]

MSI A88X-G45-GAMING-ACLHD A88X:
is this a good motherboard

 

[Barney6262]

In general, I would avoid MSI for motherboards as their customer support is laughable and any 'utility' from them breaks your computer (Lost a G45 gaming to a flashing utility published by MSI, bricked the board they did crap all to help me get it replaced.)

As long as you avoid the software it comes with (live updater for example) it looks to be a decent board.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgXqds8K5g4

 

[rcw001]

Everyone always says they have problems with MSI motherboards but I have never had a problem with one. Toms hardware had a review for a88x motherboards. I'd go with the Gigabyte F2A88X-UP4 but the MSI board isn't bad.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/a88x-socket-fm2-motherboard,3764.html

 

[TheJackle]

In general, I would avoid MSI for motherboards as their customer support is laughable and any 'utility' from them breaks your computer (Lost a G45 gaming to a flashing utility published by MSI, bricked the board they did crap all to help me get it replaced.)

As long as you avoid the software it comes with (live updater for example) it looks to be a decent board.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgXqds8K5g4

I've never had any problems with MSI boards, just saying

 

[Calculatron]

I think MSI is the fourth largest seller of motherboards currently? Either way, since they are not quite in the "top-tier" you will hear many people say bad things about them. Some of it is justified, like how their VRMs on certain chipsets (970, for example) can get really hot, and when people start overclocking and otherwise using them not according to specifications, bad things happen.

Anyway, the A88X-Gaming is a pretty good motherboard. It's roughly equal to its peers, and probably only something like the top-tier ASUS boards are going to be noticeably better for an enthusiast - otherwise, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better motherboard for the FM2+ platform.

 

[TheJackle]

I think MSI is the fourth largest seller of motherboards currently? Either way, since they are not quite in the "top-tier" you will hear many people say bad things about them. Some of it is justified, like how their VRMs on certain chipsets (970, for example) can get really hot, and when people start overclocking and otherwise using them not according to specifications, bad things happen.

Anyway, the A88X-Gaming is a pretty good motherboard. It's roughly equal to its peers, and probably only something like the top-tier ASUS boards are going to be noticeably better for an enthusiast - otherwise, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better motherboard for the FM2+ platform.

I agree, but I generally don't like color scheme of Asus boards, I want my build to be color-coordinated, just to satisfy my OCD

 

[rcw001]

I think MSI is the fourth largest seller of motherboards currently? Either way, since they are not quite in the "top-tier" you will hear many people say bad things about them. Some of it is justified, like how their VRMs on certain chipsets (970, for example) can get really hot, and when people start overclocking and otherwise using them not according to specifications, bad things happen.

Anyway, the A88X-Gaming is a pretty good motherboard. It's roughly equal to its peers, and probably only something like the top-tier ASUS boards are going to be noticeably better for an enthusiast - otherwise, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better motherboard for the FM2+ platform.

Yeah the MSI 970 gaming had terrible VRMs.s I don't like Asus's yellow/gold color scheme like on the a88x pro. Don't get me wrong Asus boards are great but I want it to look nice as well. I'm assuming he wanted black and red and the best a88x motherboards with that color scheme are the MSI a88x g45 gaming/ Gigabyte F2A88X-UP4/ ASUS Crossblade ranger
And the ranger is $160

 

[TheJackle]

I think MSI is the fourth largest seller of motherboards currently? Either way, since they are not quite in the "top-tier" you will hear many people say bad things about them. Some of it is justified, like how their VRMs on certain chipsets (970, for example) can get really hot, and when people start overclocking and otherwise using them not according to specifications, bad things happen.

Anyway, the A88X-Gaming is a pretty good motherboard. It's roughly equal to its peers, and probably only something like the top-tier ASUS boards are going to be noticeably better for an enthusiast - otherwise, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better motherboard for the FM2+ platform.

Yeah the MSI 970 gaming had terrible VRMs.s I don't like Asus's yellow/gold color scheme like on the a88x pro. Don't get me wrong Asus boards are great but I want it to look nice as well. I'm assuming he wanted black and red and the best a88x motherboards with that color scheme are the MSI a88x g45 gaming/ Gigabyte F2A88X-UP4/ ASUS Crossblade ranger
And the ranger is $160

you assume correctly

 

[Calculatron]

ROG Crossblade Ranger, which is $160, is also black and red. (lol.)

You could try taking a look at the ASRock Fatal1ty FM2A88X+ Killer. The biggest difference, BIOS aside, is the lack of addition PCIe slots, and Displayport. It's about $20 bucks cheaper than the MSI Gaming.

 

[rcw001]

Yeah and Gigabyte’s F2A88X-UP4 nearly matches MSI’s feature set, is $10 more than the killer, and it has a better power phase. Regardless the question was if it was a good board or not. The MSI board is great. If you like it and want to get it then get it. If you want to overclock on it go ahead. You should get a nice overclock on it. I'm not going to say "oh hey this is cheaper and not built as well but oh look its black and red"