MSI Reveals Z68 Motherboard With CrossFireX / SLI Support

The big news this week in the motherboard world? Z68! Tons of companies introduced new Z68 mainboards, including MSI. MSI's never one to wait around to release a new board once a platform is launched, and this week's no different. The company's newest device features OC Genie II, which enables insane performance boosts at the user's command. The company's also playing up the intense build quality, not to mention LucidLogix Virtu support for switching / mixing and matching GPUs.


There's full AMD CrossFire X and NVIDIA SLI support, HDMI / DVI video outputs and a ClickBIOS that's easy to customize. You'll also get USB 3.0 and SATA III support, not to mention THX TruStudio PRO audio. There's no word on price just yet, unfortunately, but it should be shipping soon.

Unmatched Performance Gains up to 457%! MSI Unveils Z68 Mainboard Family with Impressive Power
OC Genie II unleashes total system potential, backed by Military Class II components with top quality and stability

 (Taipei-Taiwan) Internationally renowned mainboard and graphic card manufacturer MSI has officially launched the latest Intel-Z68 platforms for power users with uncompromising demands for both materials and performance. All Inte-Z68 mainboards from MSI are equipped with MSI-exclusive features: OC Genie II technology and Military Class II materials. The OC Genie II delivers a much more powerful OC performance than its previous generation: In simply one second, users can boost up to 145% system performance for 3D games and even up to 457% hard drive performance. The industry-leading Military Class II electronics components, which meets the United States Department of Defense purchasing requirements to significantly enhance mainboard durability and lifespan, ensure optimal system stability in system OC. Integrating both features, the MSI Z68 mainboards enhance both system performance and system stability to fulfill the uncompromising demands of power users. Furthermore, they redefine the industry standards for high performance and premium quality.

OC Genie II unleashes total system power
The MSI-exclusive OC Genie II can boost stunning system performance within the shortest time and unleash the performance of CPU, memory and integrated graphics all at once. By maximizing system performance in the most stable condition, it saves system tuning time for power users. When measuring with industry-standard benchmarking software such as 3DMark Vantage and PCMark Vantage, the results show that OC Genie II boosts 3D game performance up to 145% and hard drive reading speed up to 457% along with Intel Smart Response Technology.

Military Class II brings top quality and stability
MSI has equipped all Intel Z68 mainboards with the leading-edge Military Class II components. In addition to Hi-c CAPs made with the rare element tantalum and the Solid CAPs with a lifespan longer than 10 years, Military Class II includes Super Ferrite Choke (SFC) that enhances power supply by 30% to ensure ultimate stability and performance for system OC.

Lucid Virtu integrates performance and energy saving
The MSI Z68 mainboards support, for the first time, Lucid Virtu technology for seamless switching between the integrated graphics and discrete graphics card. The Lucid Virtu is a smart system that can make the best resource allocation based on system performance needs. When running 3D games, the Lucid Virtu will automatically activate the discrete GPU resources to meet the exceptional needs of 3D games. In contrast, the Lucid Virtu will switch to the integrated graphics for general word-processing and web-browsing tasks to save unnecessary energy consumption of the discrete GPU. Besides a ground-breaking breakthrough in desktop application technology, the Lucid Virtu is realization of performance and energy-saving together.

Full AMD CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI support
The MSI Z68 mainboards support the AMD CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI multi-graphics cards technology to deliver the most practical expandability to power gamers.

HDMI and DVI video
To make things simpler and multimedia expansion easier, the MSI Z68 mainboards are equipped with the HDMI video output to integrate digital video and digital audio outputs at the same time. With simply one HDMI cable, users can enjoy high-definition video and high-definition audio at the same time, including the next-generation HD multimedia.

ClickBIOS
The friendly GUI allows users to adjust BIOS features with a mouse, including energy saving, OC, game and various practical utilities, all with multilingual support to meet the needs of worldwide users.

Instant OC (Control Center II) delivers independent control for OC and system monitoring
To ensure OC users can independently adjust and monitor their systems, the MSI Z68 mainboards are equipped with the Control Center II application for users to monitor the operating speed and voltage of CPU, RAM, PWM, system fan and other features, as well as adjusting the CPU voltage and frequency for total release of OC potential.

Super Charger provides off-power quick-charge of tablets and smartphones
Whether your computer system is on or off, the Super Charger can always help you to quickly charge your tablets (such as iPad) and smart phones, ensuring 24-7 operations of your handhelds.

USB 3.0 and SATA III standards transfer
The MSI Z68 mainboards are equipped with the latest USB 3.0 and SATA III (6Gb/s) standards enhance data transfer by 10 times faster than USB 2.0 and one time faster than SATA II at 3Gb/s. With USB3.0 at 5Gb/s and SATA III at 6Gb/s, users can effectively boost data transfer speed to meet the user’s demand for high-speed storage.

THX TruStudio PRO delivers the most perfect sound effect
The MSI Z68 mainboards come with the THX TruStudio PRO high-definition 3D surround sound effect. When playing a Blu-ray movie, multimedia or 3D games, users can enjoy the dynamic sound effect as found in reality, thus brining you the unprecedented sound effect experience.