MSI Z97 GUARD-PRO

MSI Z97 GUARD-PRO Socket 1150 Z97 DDR3 SATA3 USB 3.0 ATX

MSI Z97 GUARD-PRO Socket 1150 Z97 DDR3 SATA3 USB 3.0 ATX

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  • Supports 4th and 5th Gen Intel Core/Pentium/Celeron processors for LGA 1150 socket
  • Supports DDR3-3300(OC) Memory
  • M.2 + USB 3.0 + SATA 6Gb/s
  • Guard-Pro: Improved Protection and Power Efficiency
  • Military Class 4: Top Quality & Stability
  • OC Genie 4: Overclock in 1 Second
  • Click BIOS 4: Easily Fine-tune Your System
  • 4K UHD Support: Ultra-high Definition Visual Experience
  • Multi-GPU: AMD CrossFire Support
  • Command Center: Control & Customize Your PC Settings
  • Fast Boot: Quickly Boot Up & Enter OS in A Few Seconds
  • Smart Utilities: Easily Setup & Configure Intel Technologies

Specifications Overview

Model Z97 GUARD-PRO
Release Date May 2014

* First availability for purchase, it may not correspond to the actual market launch date.

Socket LGA1150
Form factor ATX
Chipset Intel Z97
Supported Memory DDR3
1066Mhz 1333Mhz 1600Mhz 1866Mhz 2000Mhz 2133Mhz 2200Mhz 2400Mhz 2600Mhz 2800Mhz 3000Mhz 3100Mhz 3200Mhz 3300Mhz
* High clock speeds may require enabling the XMP profile in the motherboard BIOS
** RAM support may also depend on the CPU memory controller
ECC RAM Support No
Audio Chipset Realtek ALC892
Audio Channels 8 Channels
LAN Chipset Realtek 8111E
Max LAN Speed 10/100/1000Mbps
SLI Support No
CrossFire Support Yes
RAID Support Yes
Back Connect No
Wireless LAN No
PCI-Express x16 Slots 2
PCI-Express x4 Slots 0
PCI-Express x1 Slots 4
SATA 6 Gbps Ports 6
SATA Express Ports 0
M.2 Ports 1
M.2 Devices support
  • 2242 / 2260 / 2280 - M Key
RAM Slots 4
Maximum Supported RAM 32 GB
Onboard USB 2.0 2
Onboard USB 3.2 Gen 1 1
Onboard USB 3.2 Gen 2 0
Onboard USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 0

Pros

  • Good overclocking for a low cost motherboard
  • M.2 Support

Cons

  • No HDMI output
  • Mediocre onboard audio
  • Realtek NIC

Description

CPU 

• Supports 4th and 5th Generation Intel® Core™ Processors, and Intel® Pentium® and Celeron® Processors for Socket LGA1150
Please refer to CPU Support for compatible CPU; the above description is for reference only.
 


Chipset

• Intel® Z97 Express Chipset
 


Main Memory

• Support four DDR3 DIMMs 1066/1333/1600/1866*/2000*/2133*/2200*/2400*/2600*/2666*/2800*/3000*/3100*/3200*/3300*(*OC) MHz, up to 32GB Max.
- Supports Dual-Channel mode
- Supports non-ECC, un-buffered memory
- Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
 

 
Slots

 

• 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slot (PCI_E2, supports x16 speed)
• 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slot (PCI_E4, supports x4 speed)
• 4 x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots
 


Onboard Graphics

 

• 1 x DisplayPort, supporting a maximum resolution of 4096x2304@24Hz, 2560x1600@60Hz, 3840x2160@60Hz,1920x1200@60Hz
• 1 x VGA port, supporting a maximum resolution of 1920x1200@60Hz
• 1 x DVI-D port, supporting a maximum resolution of 1920x1200@60Hz

 


Multi-GPU Support

 

• Supports AMD® CrossFire™ Technology*
* Supports Windows 7 and Windows 8/ 8.1
 


On-Board SATA

Intel® Z97 Express Chipset

- 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports (SATA1~6)

- 1 x M.2 port*

- M.2 port supports M.2 SATA 6Gb/s module

- M.2 port supports M.2 PCIe module up to 10Gb/s speed**

- M.2 port supports 4.2cm/ 6cm/ 8cm length module

- Supports RAID 0, RAID1, RAID 5 and RAID 10***

- Supports Intel Smart Response Technology, Intel® Rapid Start Technology and Intel Smart Connect Technology****

* The SATA5 and SATA6 ports will be unavailable when installing a module in the M.2 port.

** M.2 PCIe interface only supports UEFI option ROM, NOT support legacy option ROM.

*** M.2 PCIe interface does not support RAID 0, RAID1, RAID 5 and RAID 10.

**** Supports Intel Core processors on Windows 7 and Windows 8/ 8.1

 


USB

 

• Intel Z97 Express Chipset
- 6 x USB 3.0 ports (4 ports on the back panel, 2 ports available through the internal USB connectors)
- 6 x USB 2.0 ports (2 ports on the back panel, 4 ports available through the internal USB connectors*)
* Internal JUSB1 connector supports MSI Super Charger.

 


Audio

• Realtek® ALC892 Codec
- 7.1-Channel High Definition Audio
 


LAN 

• 1 x 10/100/1000 LAN by Realtek® RTL8111G Gigabit LAN controller 
 


Internal I/O Connectors

 

- 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector
- 1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector
- 6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
- 2 x USB 2.0 connectors (supports additional 4 USB 2.0 ports)
- 1 x USB 3.0 connector (supports additional 2 USB 3.0 ports)
- 1 x 4-pin CPU fan connector
- 3 x 4-pin system fan connectors
- 1 x Clear CMOS jumper
- 1 x Front panel audio connector
- 2 x System panel connectors
- 1 x TPM module connector
- 1 x Chassis Intrusion connector
- 1 x Serial port connector
- 1 x Parallel port connector

 


Back Panel I/O Ports

 

- 1 x PS/2 keyboard/ mouse port
- 2 x USB 2.0 ports
- 4 x USB 3.0 ports
- 1 x VGA port
- 1 x DVI-D port
- 1 x DisplayPort
- 1 x LAN (RJ45) port
- 6 x audio jacks



This platform supports dual-display and triple-display function
 

 

DVI+DisplayPort

DVI+VGA

VGA+DisplayPort

DVI+VGA+DisplayPort

Extend mode

(Extend the desktop to the second

and third monitor)

Clone mode

(Monitors have the same screen)



 


BIOS

 

• The motherboard BIOS provides "Plug & Play" BIOS which detects the peripheral devices and expansion cards of the board automatically.
• The motherboard provides a Desktop Management Interface(DMI) function which records your motherboard specifications.
 


Dimension

 

• 12 in. x 8.7 in. (30.5 cm x 22 cm) ATX Form Factor
 

 
Mounting

 

• 9 mounting holes



Expert reviews

86

So now that we have had a nice look at the Z97 GUARD-PRO and put it through some testing, how does it hold up when paired with the Intel Pentium G3258? Is it a viable gaming motherboard or should it be left for Mining as its sole purpose? Lets have a...


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