MSI X299 PRO, Intel X299 motherboard - socket 2066

This chipset, code-named Lewisburg, proves to be a true all-rounder thanks to its up to 30 HSIO lanes (high-speed input / output) and the maximum of 24 PCI Express 3.0 lanes to be used, which allows the simultaneous use of several internal Connections allowed.

The features of the MSI X299 Pro at a glance:
– 4x PCIe (3.0) x16 (2x x16 / 2x x8)
– 1x USB 3.2 Type C (1x external), 1x USB 3.1 (1x Type-C internal)
– 8x USB 3.0 Type A (4x external / 4x internal) & 8x USB 2.0 (4x external / 4x internal)
– 2x M.2 / M-Key (2x PCIe 3.0 x4 / SATA) / 6x SATA 6G
– 8x DIMM slots for DDR4 RAM (max. 256 GB, quad-channel, max. 4200 GHz OC)

The MSI X299 Pro in detail
The MSI X299 Pro is a well-equipped enthusiast motherboard in ATX format, which is suitable for power users who are looking for an X299 & Skylake-X or Kaby Lake-X, Coffee Lake-X, Coffee Lake-S-Refresh-X or Cascade-Lake-X team. The extremely stylish, white-gray board has four PCIe-x16 slots, two of them reinforced with metal, which are connected to the chipset with two full 16 lanes, while the other two are electrically connected with eight data lines. This means that even NVIDIA 3-way SLI or AMD 3-way CrossFireX configurations are possible when using a 28 to 48 lane CPU.

Equipped with a total of eight DIMM slots for DDR4 memory, a CPU with 28 to 48 data lines allows all slots to be used in quad-channel mode and up to a maximum capacity of 256 GB. A CPU with 16 lanes supports the dual-channel operation of four slots with a maximum capacity of 64 GB. Officially, DDR4 modules with up to 2,933 MHz can be used, although much higher clock rates are possible after overclocking: 4,200 MHz!

For data carriers, the board provides extensive equipment with two M.2 slots for particularly fast NVMe M.2 SSDs with a data transfer rate of just under 4 GB / s. This means that M.2 PCIe SSDs are up to eight times faster than SATA 6G SSDs! Both are provided by the chipset, they can be connected both via PCIe-Express and with SATA. Finally, there are six SATA 6G connections available for 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch hard drives and SSDs (including RAID support). In addition, both of the M.2 slots are equipped with a so-called M.2 shield, which reduces the heat development on the modules and therefore performance is not lost.

External connections
There are numerous useful connections on the I / O panel of this performance mainboard, which should make life easier for the user. In addition to a new USB 3.2 Type-C port, which is particularly thin and can finally be inserted on both sides, the board also has four USB 3.0 and four USB 2.0 ports. For unlimited network connections, the MSI X299 Pro also has a Realtek RTL8125CG 2.5 gigabit and an Intel I219V 1 gigabit LAN port to enable an absolutely lag-free gaming and streaming experience. MSI also includes a PCIe card with a 10 Gbit connection. An M.2 memory stick can be accommodated in another card. The Realtek ALC1220 codec and the five audio ports with gold-plated connectors, which are complemented by an optical S / PDIF-Out connector, ensure decent sound. In addition, a classic PS / 2 port for keyboard or mouse is included in the I / O panel.

Technical details:
format
ATX form factor (30.5 x 24.4 cm)
chipset
Intel X299 (Lewisburg)
Base:
2066 (for Intel CPUs of the Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X, Coffee Lake-X, Coffee Lake-S-Refresh-X and Cascade-Lake-X generation)
R.A.M:
8x DDR4 (from Skylake-X: DDR4-2.666; up to 256 GB with a CPU with 28 to 48 lanes)
4x DDR4 (Kaby Lake-X: DDR4-2.666; up to 64 GB with a CPU with 16 lanes)
Quad-channel (from Skylake-X; supported for CPUs with 28 to 48 lanes)
Dual-Channel (Kaby Lake-X; supported for CPUs with 16 lanes)
Slots (physical):
48-lane CPU: 2x PCIe 3.0 x16
2x PCIe 3.0 x16 (electrical x8)
44-lane CPU: 2x PCIe 3.0 x16
1x PCIe 3.0 x16 (electrical x8)
1x PCIe 3.0 x16 (electrical x4)
28-lane CPU: 1x PCIe 3.0 x16
1x PCIe 3.0 x16 (electrical x8)
1x PCIe 3.0 x16 (electrical x4)
Compatible multi-VGA configurations: 3-way SLI * (quad-GPU), 3-way CrossFireX * (quad-GPU)

Internal connections:
6x SATA 6G
2x M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4 & SATA, 2242/2260/2280/22110)
1x USB 3.1 (USB 3.2 Gen2, Type-C, one header)
4x USB 3.0 (USB 3.2 Gen1, two headers)
4x USB 2.0 (two headers)
1x CPU fan (4-pin)
4x system fan (4-pin)
1x system fan / pump connection (4-pin)
1x RGB LED header (4-pin)
2x dRGB LED headers (3-pin)
1x JCORSAIR RGB header (3-pin)
2x front panel headers
1x front panel audio header
1x TPM header (Trusted Platform Module)
1x chassis intrusion connector
1x Thunderbolt connector
1x Virtual Raid on CPU Connector
1x power button
1x reset button
1x Clear CMOS jumper
External connections:
1x PS / 2 keyboard / mouse
1x USB 3.2 (USB 3.2 Gen2x2, Type-C)
4x USB 3.0 (USB 3.2 Gen1, Type-A)
4x USB 2.0
1x RJ45 LAN port (Intel I219V, 1 Gbit)
1x RJ45 LAN port (Realtek RTL8125-CG, 2.5 Gbit)
1x Clear CMOS button
1x optical S / PDIF out connection
5x audio (Realtek ALC1220)
Power supply:
1x 24-pin ATX
2x 8-pin ATX 12V
Scope of delivery:
1x manual
1x quick start guide
1x MSI logo sticker
1x DVD with drivers and utilities
2x SATA data cable
1x JRGB Y cable
1x JRAINBOW cable
1x JCORSAIR cable