MSI Z97 MPower Overclocking Motherboard Review

As overclockers we often demand more from our hardware and want something that is specially built to help us reach insane levels regardless of what hardware we are planning to run.  Causal overclockers and hardware enthusiasts will often look to the mainstream for a suitable alternative but sometimes need more than what is available there.  The MSI Z97 MPower is an entry level overclocking motherboard that is designed to provide hardware enthusiasts with the overclocking control they need while also giving them added features they want.  

Benchtop options like voltage test points, onboard buttons for power and reset and a sizeable PWM are great features for the overclocker but features like onboard Sound Blaster quality audio combined with Killer Networks e2200 Ethernet ensure that when you are done overclocking you can enjoy low latency gaming and high quality studio sound.
 
Motherboard layout is quite good and follows, what appears to be, a typical design layout for dual GPU video card support.  Overall the design will support up to three graphics cards but is clearly optimized for dual card operation.  As part of the Z97 chipset you will get support for SATA Express with an M.2 slot that can be used for SSD caching or as your primary hard drive.

Overclocking the Z97 MPower was as easy as you would imagine and with some work we eventually got a solid 4.8Ghz out of our 4790K Devils Canyon Haswell using straight multiplier adjustments.  The real challenge was with BCLK controls which are available in the UEFI and via onboard buttons however, any setting other than AUTO would cause the system to fail at POST.  We didn't even bother trying the onboard controls mostly because we didn’t need them.  If you launch the MSI Command Center you have the ability to make changes inside Windows.  If you wanted to make changes from inside a running program (like a benchmark) the onboard buttons may come in handy, or will cause the system to crash.

The Z97 MPower is a very solid motherboard and while some of the onboard features make it seem like a gaming motherboard it still comes with the extras needed to get the most from your processor.  Components like Killer Networks e2200 controller and separated Sound Blaster Cinema w/ Audio Boost are typically found on gaming boards to increase gaming performance which can also translate to overclocking and bridge the markets. 

Dual Card SLI Support
Killer Nic e2200
Sound Blaster Cinema
Onboard Video
12-Phase DigitALL PWM
Gold Plated Audio Sockets
Separated Audio Electronics
Onboard SATA Express M.2

BCLK adjustments are sketchy
Lots of extra jumpers scattered around the motherboard