Verdict and Conclusion
The first board MSI sent me the X79-GD65 (4D) had some issues and was sent back. MSI then sent the X79-GD65 (8D) and it impressed me throughout testing.
Compared to the other boards I have tested I was disapointed at the lack of 4-way video card solutions. This board is limited to 3-way which is still plenty for most people it would be nice to have that added capabilities of 4-way.
The GD65 has a nice and spacious layout on the motherboard. Never did I feel like I was cramped and looking for space.
The only time things get cramped is if you install memory into all eight slots on the board. It can make installing a heatsink a pain in the butt if the memory has relatively large heatsinks.
The bios that was included with the board was more recent than anything else on the MSI website so I can only assume it was a beta bios. With that being said, it was relatively stable throughout testing. Aside from a few hickups it was not bad. If I could have it my way a couple of things would be changed but looking at the bios as a whole I think MSI has done a good job.
Performance testing showed just how efficient this board is. I was pretty impressed by how good the benchmark scores were with this board. Coupled with the extremely stable voltages and built-on overclocking buttons this board has some great potential to hit some massive overclocking frequencies.
The price on the X79-GD65 (8D) is roughly right around $280usd. While this is not terrible it could be a bit lower. The last board I reviewed, the X79-Professional came in at that same price and included more features. If MSI could lower the price by $20 or so I think it would be perfect at that price point.
Pros:
- Voltage Read points
- Voltages were rock solid with overclocking
- Eight memory slots
- 8 SATA ports
- LED Debug screen
- Physical overclocking buttons
Cons:
- Memory could not be tightened super tight
- Could use a second 8-pin power plug
- Bios needs a little work
Final Verdict:
If you are looking for a solid board with eight memory slots the X79-GD65 (8D) is a good choice. Most other boards in its price range only have four memory slots so this is a great bonus. Overclocking is a breeze and voltages are rock solid even with extreme overclocks. This board may not be flashy, but it will give you solid performance you need with a strong platform like X79.
8.4/10
