Top Ten Gamer

Reviews and Hardware Talk

  • Home
  • For The Money
    • PC Builds
    • Gaming Mouse
    • Computer Cases
    • Graphics Cards
    • Computer Monitors
    • Power Supplies
    • Laptops
    • Gaming Chairs
    • Gaming Keyboards
    • Gift Ideas
  • PC Builds
    • $150 Gaming PC
    • $200 Gaming PC
    • $300 Gaming PC
    • $400 Gaming PC
    • $500 to $600 Gaming PC
    • $700 to $800 Gaming PC
    • $1,000 Gaming PC
    • $1250 and $1500 Gaming PC
    • $2,000 Gaming PC
  • Gaming Mice
    • FPS
      • CSGO
    • Cheap
  • Computer Monitors
    • Best Overall
      • Under $200
    • Photo Editing
    • FreeSync
    • Budget FPS
MSI H110M Pro-VD Plus Motherboard Review

MSI H110M Pro-VD Plus Motherboard Review

November 3, 2016 By Brandon

msi-h110m-pro-vd-plus-motherboard-buildIf you’re looking to build a budget PC, a good place to cut costs is the motherboard. There are a lot of micro ATX boards out there that have plenty of expansion slots, can support  full-sized graphics cards, and that cost under $50. The motherboard we’re reviewing today, the MSI H110M Pro-VD Plus, does exactly that.

We’re using it in a budget $450 build you can see on the right along with the Thermaltake Versa H23 case. Our components will include the i3-6100 and the RX 470 Windforce from Gigabyte.

As the model number shows the Pro-VD Plus uses the H110 chipset. It’s a micro ATX motherboard that should fit in any micro, standard, or full-sized ATX case. Here’s a look at its specifications:

MSI H110M Pro-VD Specifications

ModelMSI H110M Pro-VD Plus
Support / ChipsetsLGA 1151, H110
Memory2x288 Pin, DDR4 2133, 32GB, Dual Channel
Expansion1 x PCIe 3.0 x 16, 2 x PCIe 2.0x1
Storage4x SATA 6Gb/s
AudioRealtek ALC886, 7.1 channels
Onboard LanRealtake 8111H, 10 100 1000Mbps
Rear Ports1 PS/2 mouse, 1 PS2 Keyboard, 1 DVI-D, 1 VGA, 1 RJ45, 2 USB 3.1, 2 USB 2.0 3 Audio Ports
Internal I/O2 x USB 2.0 connectors (supports additional 4 USB 2.0 ports), 1 x USB 3.1 Gen1 connector (supports additional 2 USB 3.1 Gen1 ports), 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector, 1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector, 1 x 4-pin CPU fan connector, 1 x 4-pin system fan connectors, 1 x Front panel audio connector, 2 x Front panel connectors, 1 x TPM, 1 x Serial Port, 1 x Chassis Intrusion, 1 x Clear CMOS Jumper
Additional SpecsMicro ATX, 8.9" x 6.8", 24 Pin
FeaturesDDR4 Boost, VGA Armor, Click Bios, Audio Boost, Military Class 4, Guard-Pro, EZ Debug LED, Intel SBB Support

msi-h110m-motherboard

Limitations to the H110 Chipset vs Z170 Chipset

The H110 chipset does have some limitations vs the Z170; however, if you understand and accept what these are before you begin your build, it shouldn’t be a big deal. First of all the H110 doesn’t support CPU overclocking or M.2. In addition, “supposedly” the H110 has 6 lanes that run at slower PCIe 2.0  speeds compared to the Z170 which has 20 PCIe 3.0 lanes. But the H110M from MSI states that it has 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x16. Tom’s Hardware recently showed that these limitations don’t matter and in fact, the H110 did just as well or better than the H170 chipset. The H110 board does in fact support a full 16 lanes of support for PCIe 3.

So for stock performance, the motherboard ultimately didn’t matter. By stock, I simply mean if you don’t plan on overclocking or tweaking in any sort of way. That’s why a motherboard like the MSI H110M Pro-VD Plus is so tempting where we bought it at just $40 after rebate.

MSI H110M Pro-VD In The Box

Here’s a look of everything that comes in the MSI H110M Pro-VD Plus’ box. It includes the installation CD, guide, motherboard, SATA cables, and rear port plate.

msi-h110m-pro-motherboard-in-the-box-vd-plus

Summary

In short, a motherboard like this works perfectly for the gamer that’s building a budget build. For our build, we wanted as much of our budget as possible to go to the GPU and CPU. Adding an unlocked processor, z170 motherboard, and additional CPU cooler would’ve eaten up our budget. Instead, we used this motherboard and were able to build a cheap gaming PC capable of Ultra settings in 1080p for all major AAA titles available. Looking for a smaller motherboard? Here’s a list of our favorite SFF Mini ITX LGA 1151 boards.

Related

Filed Under: Motherboards, Reviews

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

PC Builds

Build Your Own Custom Gaming PC

Building a Gaming Computer – $150 to $2,500 2021

March 31, 2021 By Brandon

AMD RYZEN PC R7 1700 1800x Processor 1080

A Good $700 to $800 Gaming PC Build 2018

May 2, 2018 By Brandon

Cheap 300 PC Build

Cheap $300 to $350 PC Build Showdown – Pentium vs Ryzen

May 2, 2018 By Brandon

In the News

A Good Gaming Chair for Big and Tall Guys – EwinRacing XL Series

March 18, 2022 By Brandon

Best Budget Kid’s MP3 Players 2018

April 23, 2018 By Brandon

AGPTek 8GB A26 MP3 Player Review

April 9, 2018 By Brandon

Gaming Tools

What is Mouse DPI or CPI and Is it Important for Gaming?

March 21, 2018 By admin

Overwatch Gaming Mice

11 Best Overwatch Gaming Mice for Ruling the Battle Arena 2018

February 3, 2018 By Brandon

The 3 Best Budget Controllers for Playing on Your PC in 2018

February 1, 2018 By Joker

Information

About

 

Videos

YouTube Channel

Questions

Contact Us

Affiliate Disclaimer

© 2011–2023 • Top Ten Gamer • All Rights Reserved