MSI X79A-GD45 8D Review

The MSI X79A GD65 8D was one of the first X79 motherboards we reviewed and while it impressed, it didn't set our pulses racing. Conversely, the MSI Big Bang II is perhaps the best X79 motherboard we have had through our doors. Both mid and top range motherboards have been met with varying levels of success, not least because of the cost of the X79 chipset. It's been a while arriving but MSI have finally released an entry level motherboard in the guise of the GD45 8D. I say entry level but in all fairness, the X79 chipset feature list is anything but entry level as it has many features, lower end chipsets would only serve up in their flagship products so even though this motherboard is marketed as a budget motherboard, you have to place this in context, there is simply no such thing as a budget X79 motherboard!