After so much speculation we can today reveal Intel's X99 chipset, more specifically, the X99S Gaming 9 AC motherboard from MSI. MSI are widely regarded as one of the most overclocking friendly manufacturers and so our review will focus heavily on this area. While the Gaming 9 is not the flagship motherboard or even the flagship 'series' (this tag goes to the XPower range - soon to be reviewed by us), a motherboard's prowess is quite often judged not just by the abundance of features but by its ability to take your components to the edge without falling over in a smouldering mound of silicon and plastic.

There is a wealth of information to get through today as at Vortez we feel the end user deserves a thorough appraisal of the component reviewed rather than a basic - 'how fast can it go' overview. To this end, we hope you find this review both informative and enjoyable should you be dreaming of your next upgrade or indeed in the market for such components.