14 DAY TRIAL // MSI has recently updated its motherboard product page with two new budget-friendly solutions based on the Intel Z68 chipset, the Z68A-G43 (B3) and the Z68A-GD55 (G3), which are compatible with processors using the LGA 1155 socket.
From what we can tell, the Z68A-GD55 (G3) is actually a revamped version of the previous Z68A-GD55, but the motherboard has now received a new series of PCI lane switches to make it compatible with the PCI Express 3.0 standard.
Otherwise, the board is identical with its older sibling as it sports the same layout and features set, including dual PCI Express x16 slots, six SATA ports (two 6Gbps) and dual USB 3.0 ports.
Moving to the second Intel Z68 solution to be announced, this is actually based on a new design and it targets budget conscious users who don't require all the bells and whistles associated with top of the line boards.
As a result, MSI's Z68A-G43 uses a pretty simple VRM that relies on just 4+1 power phases, while the second PCI Express x16 slot present on the motherboard is limited at supporting x4 speeds.
The rest of the expansion options list includes two PCIe x1 and three 32-bit legacy PCI slots as well as six SATA ports, two of these supporting SATA 6Gbps transfer speeds.
Moving to the back of the Z68A-G43, we get to see that it packs a pair of PS/2 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet connector and 7.1-channel audio.
Users also get a DVI and a D-Sub video output, but HDMI or DisplayPort are nowhere to be seen.
Price wise, the Z68A-G43 is listed for around €110 in Europe, which makes it €10 cheaper than its older brother, the MSI Z68A-G45. As far as the Z68A-GD55 (G3) is concerned, this has not yet been listed for sale. (via VR-Zone)
