MSI has released four motherboard models for the new socket LGA2011 platform, the X79A-GD45, the X79MA-GD45, the X79A-GD65, and the X79A-GD65 (8D), targeted to the most high-end processor Intel offers for desktops today, the Core i7 “Sandy Bridge-E” models. Let’s take a look at the X79A-GD65 (8D), which comes with five PCI Express x16 slots.

To better understand the MSI socket LGA2011 motherboard line-up, we compiled the table below.

In Figure 1, you see the MSI X79A-GD65 (8D) motherboard.

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Figure 1: MSI X79A-GD65 (8D) motherboard