Picking a motherboard is less about the longest feature list than matching the board to the Intel platform or named desktop you actually have. In cpus, motherboards & memory, these two choices split that decision neatly: the Dell XPS 8940 Desktop Motherboard is focused on a named Dell system, while the MSI Z390-A PRO is presented as an ATX board for a different Intel socket and processor generation.
Quick verdict
The USD 10.63 listed-price difference is small enough that platform fit should lead the choice. Pick the Dell XPS 8940 motherboard when replacing a board in the named Dell XPS 8940 desktop. Pick the MSI Z390-A PRO when its named model is the one already on your parts list. Both titles include DDR4, so the more useful distinction is the Intel platform wording and the build details each board names.
At a glance
| Detail | Dell XPS 8940 motherboard | MSI Z390-A PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | USD 161.58 | USD 172.21 |
| Processor and socket wording | 10th and 11th Gen Intel Core processors; LGA1200 | 9th/8th Intel; LGA 1151 |
| Memory wording | DDR4; 128GB maximum memory configuration | DDR4 |
| Other named build details | RJ-45, USB Type-C, USB 3.1, USB 2.0, M.2, SATA and PCIe | ATX, M.2 and USB 3.1 |
Where each motherboard wins
Dell wins for a stated memory-capacity target. Its 128GB maximum memory configuration gives shoppers a specific capacity figure to work from. That is a useful deciding point when memory planning is central to the replacement or build decision.
MSI wins when ATX is already part of the plan. ATX appears directly in the Z390-A PRO title, making MSI the more direct choice for a shopper who is filtering their motherboard options by that named format. It also names M.2 and USB 3.1 in the title.
Product notes
Dell XPS 8940 motherboard
The Dell XPS 8940 motherboard is the focused route for a shopper beginning with a Dell XPS 8940 replacement. Its port list is particularly detailed, naming RJ-45, USB Type-C, USB 3.1, USB 2.0, M.2, SATA and PCIe. Choose Dell when those connection labels help you compare the board against the desktop setup you are maintaining. The important limitation is just as concrete: its compatibility wording is tied to Dell and the XPS 8940. That makes the Dell option most compelling when that named desktop is already the center of your decision, rather than when you are selecting from broadly described component platforms.
MSI Z390-A PRO
The MSI Z390-A PRO takes a more component-list-oriented approach. Its title combines LGA 1151 support for 9th and 8th Gen Intel with ATX, M.2 and USB 3.1 wording, so several key build terms are visible in one place. Choose MSI when M.2 and USB 3.1 are named priorities alongside the Z390-A PRO model. Its constraint is the processor-generation focus: the board is described for 9th/8th Intel rather than the 10th/11th Gen Intel wording used for Dell. That distinction should carry more weight than the modest price separation when choosing between the two.
Final choice by use case
Choose the Dell XPS 8940 motherboard when the H470 chipset wording and 10th/11th Gen Intel Core processor support define your CPU plan. Choose the MSI Z390-A PRO when LGA 1151 is the socket that defines it. Since both options carry DDR4 wording, settle the decision by the processor and system platform you need first.
