MSI H110M Grenade Micro ATX Motherboard Review

[Guest]

The H110M Grenade adds features to fill the price gap between low-end H110 and H170 boards. We take a look at how these added features move the value needle.

MSI H110M Grenade Micro ATX Motherboard Review : Read more

 

[dstarr3]

I used to build exclusively with ASUS motherboards, for obvious reasons. A couple recent times, I've given Gigabyte a shot and haven't been disappointed. After watching them for a couple years, I think it's time I gave MSI a shot, as well.

 

[Virtual_Singularity]

"There is no status code display on the board. There are, however, four diagnostic red LEDs to help identify a CPU, RAM, VGA, or boot device issue on POST... ...the audio section is bordered with an LED strip that has a breathing effect"

Just trying to wrap my mind around this. Breathing LED strip and a vague LED diagnostic display take precedence over a proper status code display? Somehow, am reminded of that old V Slims cigarette ad, "You've come a long way, baby". lol

Decent mobo review just the same, thanks Joe.

 

[Onus]

They don't use one of those hex digit displays, but the diagnostic LEDs will give you an idea of what to check (typically RAM) if the system won't boot. It sure beats "nothing at all."

 

[logainofhades]

At that price, you could get a decent B150/B250 board.

 

[Onus]

MSI's Arsenal line may have a bit of a pricing problem, which is probably a reasonable lead-in for the Arsenal B150M Mortar Arctic which is also in the queue.

 

[nzalog]

"Grenade" just should not be a name for anything you don't want blowing up.

 

[Onus]

Well, just don't use a Diablotek PSU-shaped object to power it.

 

[bit_user]

This name is either really bold, or really stupid. Imagine the irony, if these end up having lots of exploding caps.

 

[bramahon]

Speaking from personal experiences, MSI boards have been an enigma to me. They offer more features within given price points, sport a very clean layout, seem solid and made out of quality components and then suddenly one day stop working! Me thinks it's down to QC. Anyway, great to see some entry level love;may we expect it to extend in a H110/B150/B250 shootout of some short?

 

[Olle P]

I'm a bit puzzled by the RAM data (in the UEFI).
The RAM sticks are identified as wanting 2400MHz with XMP enabled, yet the UEFI says (in the screenshots) the RAM runs at 2133MHz no matter if XMP is enabled or not.
Comments?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

I'm a bit puzzled by the RAM data (in the UEFI).
The RAM sticks are identified as wanting 2400MHz with XMP enabled, yet the UEFI says (in the screenshots) the RAM runs at 2133MHz no matter if XMP is enabled or not.
Comments?

In all non Z170/Z270 boards, ram is limited to 2133

 

[logainofhades]

B250 and H270 are 2400, as that is the ram spec for Kaby Lake.

 

[Onus]

My attitude about the quality of MSI boards has really changed. While their older (and cheaper) AMD boards are horrible, I've not seen a single lemon among any of their Intel boards I've tested. Sometimes the price is a little high, but seems to be buying some quality. My next purely experimental build is likely to be AM4 (if Ryzen is at least comparable to an i3), and I'll probably have MSI on my short list.
And yes, 2133 seems to be the limit on all of the boards I've tested.

 

[logainofhades]

Yea, all the non Z 100 series chipset boards are limited to 2133, except for some select asrock boards that allow you to overclock ram.

 

[Tino_3]

Can you use a SSD M.2 as boot device on this MOBO? I ask because the ssd m2 doesnt appear on BIOS

 

[Onus]

A PCIe M.2 SSD does not appear in the BIOS. I did not try to load Windows to it. I did not test with a mSATA SSD as I don't currently have one in that form factor. The QVL does include drives of this type; I'll need to get one for testing! You lose SATA port #4 if you put a SSD in this slot.

 

[spentshells]

Grenades have a bad habit of exploding.... poor naming scheme/nomenclature

 

[Virtual_Singularity]

Grenades have a bad habit of exploding.... poor naming scheme/nomenclature

Agreed. Have always felt the same in re to the "Fatal1ty" naming scheme for that matter. Fatality PSUs, mobos, etc. Maybe especially for the PSUs though, just seems like something not very logical to see on one. I know, it just signified the inclusion of an eSports gaming brand teaming up with various manufacturers for product designs, but still...

 

[spentshells]

Grenades have a bad habit of exploding.... poor naming scheme/nomenclature

Agreed. Have always felt the same in re to the "Fatal1ty" naming scheme for that matter. Fatality PSUs, mobos, etc. Maybe especially for the PSUs though, just seems like something not very logical to see on one. I know, it just signified the inclusion of an eSports gaming brand teaming up with various manufacturers for product designs, but still...

Fatality PSU... nice

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Nice little board for a budget setup.

 

[Onus]

It is. On a tight budget, its user would not be suffering.

 

[XENO_1]

Hey does anyone now how to get full read and write speed from the m.2 slot the bios settings are not that in depth.

 

[Onus]

What do you mean? The slot is PCIe 2.0 x4; to get "full speed" you need PCIe 3.0 x4. The B150M Mortar Arctic I reviewed has a M.2 slot that is PCIe3.0 x4; it is definitely faster.

 

[XENO_1]

What do you mean? The slot is PCIe 2.0 x4; to get "full speed" you need PCIe 3.0 x4. The B150M Mortar Arctic I reviewed has a M.2 slot that is PCIe3.0 x4; it is definitely faster.

Sorry I should have worded it better I already bought the msi h110m grenade for my first build. Anyway I managed to find a Samsung 960 evo m.2 and install a fresh copy of windows 10 but in a benchmark I'm only hitting 5 gigs of transfer speed what gives? I know now of my boards limit as far pcie speed and I can still return it do you think I should go for the B150M Mortar Arctic?