The X99A Series will expand the socket LGA2011-3 lineup

Jan 29, 2015 07:47 GMT  ·  By

LGA 2011-3 is the socket that Intel created for the Haswell-E extreme edition central processing units, like the Core i7-5960K. For once, however, it is not the extreme-performance socket that comprises the core of a motherboard release, but the I/O.

More precisely, Micro-Star International has unveiled a line of LGA 2011-3 socket-based motherboards that have something still underrepresented on the PC front: the latest in Universal Serial Bus technology.

We aren't talking about USB Type-C. MSI decided to forgo that bi-directional interface for now. Instead, it's USB 3.1 connectors that steal the show here.

While you still get USB 3.0 connectors wired through the Intel chipset itself and a VIA integrated circuit, there are now two USB 3.1 ports as well, controlled by an ASMedia ASM1352R microcontroller.

You can find the ports on the rear I/O panel of the new motherboards, which MSI is collectively calling the X99A Series. Right between the two USB 3.0 connector sets is where you'll see them.

The MSI X99A Series of motherboards

These motherboards will replace the MSI X99S series, though not all at once since retailers still have stocks of the things.

You will have to be careful not to mistake one for the other for a while, so read the product names and spec sheets carefully if you're in the market.

The USB 3.1 specification is superior to USB 3.0 because of the double bandwidth and, thus, performance. 10 Gbps instead of 5 Gbps through the same port type.

This, incidentally, also means that the connectors are backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and 2.0 devices, unlike USB Type-C.

To wire the ports to the X99 PCH, MSI used the PCI Express 2.0 x2 root complex, which provides just the necessary amount of downstream bandwidth needed to permit for 10 Gbps transfers. Everything else is the same as on the previous models in the X99S line.

Availability and pricing

Since the MSI X99A motherboard line will replace the X99S series, the transition will happen gradually, so some retailers will list it sooner than others. Also, the two series will coexist for a while, as we said before. The prices should stay unchanged from those of the X99A line as well.

MSI USB 3.1 speed test (5 Images)

The ASMedia ASM1352R microcontroller
The USB 3.1 ports in useUSB 3.1 ports location
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