CES 2016: MSI’s Golden Idea for Motherboards
by Ian Cutress on January 13, 2016 4:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
- Gaming
- Intel
- MSI
- Trade Shows
- Skylake
- CES 2016
- H150
The problem with a gold motherboard color is that it often looks too much like copper, and several companies have tried it in recent years (ASUS on Z77, ECS’ Golden Series) with limited success. Back during Z77 launch, one group of users seems to not like the scheme, or couldn’t found a combination that works. There is the old gold themed specialist modded PC that looks good, but I’ll be honest and say I have not seen that many in general when red and black themes tend to win out. I have heard proponents of gold components suggest that the color scheme works in certain markets, such as China and the Middle East, but until I see those numbers I’d take it with a grain of salt.
Nonetheless, for Skylake, MSI has you covered.
As part of the Gaming range, this model is aimed at the H150/B150 crowd more than the high end, and while I have heard remarks that it looks like the brown PCBs of old, that is actually a gold colored PCB that seems to have glitter embedded in it. The booth lighting didn’t help capture the effect properly, but I wonder if this isn’t part of a bigger idea.
MSI has been playing around with color schemes for a while, such as the ECO and the Krait series of motherboards which are both separate from the regular Gaming line or something like the OC Certified line. It is only going to be a matter of time before we try all colors, but it makes me wonder if this model was done at the request of a regional SI who wanted a few thousand units for their customers as part of a custom order. I have seen other motherboard companies put custom product runs into the mainstream before, and this might be the case here.
No word on regional release or pricing as of yet. I’m not sold on the color scheme straight away, and the glittery effect made me think about putting it in pink and slapping a Hello Kitty logo on it. I would be interested in seeing the scope of the sales though, especially where and to which retailers/system integrators.
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Shadow7037932 - Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - link
Looks tacky as hell.close - Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - link
As I see it in these pictures they take me back to the age of green or brown PCBs. Which begs the question: when will green motherboards be a thing again?ddriver - Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - link
Better off, make the pcb transparent, and backlit it in any color with rgb leds.WorldWithoutMadness - Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - link
Nope, the tracing would be horrendous and ugly as well.Also, it is not possible to make transparent pcb with the same material and same function.
ddriver - Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - link
What I mean to say is not transparent but translucent, a transparent board will not be illuminated by the leds, it is possible to manufacture translucent pcbs, as I actually have a few unetched sheets for prototyping laying around.slyphnier - Friday, January 15, 2016 - link
isnt the PCB layered with copper? those gigabyte ultra durable, marketing 2x copper PCB over traditional/standard pcb... if so how transparent even translucent possible ? ... i am think maybe possible for simple electronic pcb, but not as complex as moboAspiring Techie - Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - link
Put that in a creamy "windows 95" colored case and don't tell anyone. Watch friends' reactions as they see you play modern games on an "old" computer.Aside from the above situation, I can't see of any possible way that anyone would dare put that color of mobo into his computer.
MrSpadge - Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - link
I would.. if it's cheaper. But that's because my case has solid sound-damping side panels instead of windows.Alexvrb - Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - link
Spadge: Ditto!Aspiring Techie: Only if you can successfully mod the loading screen so it looks like an old 95 boot sequence (I remember replacing the Win95 splash screen back in the day with a pic from Shadowrun on Genesis - I used a screenshot of a Matrix CPU node it was excellent). Then install a Win95 theme. :P
StormyParis - Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - link
Gold is soooo passé ! It's Rose Gold these days.