14 DAY TRIAL // Micro-Star International is not one for conventions, shown clearly by how it ignored all established expectations when building the Z77IA-E53 mini-ITX motherboard.
Mini-ITX motherboards are normally easy to categorize: small platforms with basic specs, enough to serve as an HTPC platform or something of the sort, but nothing more.
Micro-Star International bulldozed its way through that standard and made a mini-ITX based on the chipset normally found in high-end, overclocking-ready and/or gaming motherboards: Intel Z77.
The LGA 1155 CPU socket, compatible with Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge CPUs, is connected to two DDR3 DIMM memory slots.
Thus, a CPU can be backed by up to 16 GB of RAM (random access memory). Coupled with the OC Genie II technology, one-touch OC, the ClickBIOS UEFI firmware utility and the 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS connectors, this leads to considerable clock tweaking headroom. The 7-phase CPU VRM further adds to this.
Already it is clear that, whenever and wherever MSI decides to ship this item, it won't be as cheap as others of its size.
Thus, since the product is going to be expensive by default, MSI went all the way and included a PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot (for high-end graphics cards) and a mini PCI-Express 2.0 slot.
Furthermore, for storage, the spec sheet includes two SATA 6.0 Gbps ports (SATA III) and a pair of SATA 3.0 Gbps connectors (SATA II).
Other assets include eSATA 3.0 Gbps support, four USB 3.0 ports, a bunch of USB 2.0 connectors (including a high-current header), Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and, of course, video outputs (D-Sub/VGA and HDMI).
We have no idea what the price will be, nor on when, exactly, shipments will begin. It isn't even possible to pre-order the Z77IA-E53 yet. We will keep an eye out and an ear to the ground though.