Verdict and Conclusion
If you’re planning to build an Intel-based PC for whatever reason, choosing the correct motherboard can be a little bewildering, especially when there’s so much choice on the market. Furthermore, one of the major concerns that a lot of users highlight with regards to Intel Z890 motherboards, is the price … and I agree!
Luckily for us, MSI have 3 categories in their motherboard series, that can help alleviate this problem and give users the choice based on features and price.
- Affordability – MSI MAG (MSI Arsenal Gaming) series is a line of gaming hardware known for its durability, stability, and functional design.
- Peformance – MSI MPG (MSI Performance Gaming) is a series of gaming products known for a balance of performance and aesthetics. It’s designed for gamers who want powerful hardware with a stylish, modern look and feel.
- High-end Enthusiast – MSI MEG (MSI Enthusiast Gaming) series represents MSI’s flagship line of gaming products, designed for gamers who demand the best performance and features. It’s known for pushing the boundaries of gaming hardware with cutting-edge technology, refined aesthetics, and a focus on delivering an immersive and high-end gaming experience.
So with that said, this review focuses on the MSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WIFI motherboard, which is aimed at users who’s after affordability without compromising on performance or features. The motherboard comes in a black matte finish, and includes their Frozr Guard cooling system with a large chipset heatsink, as well as a heavy plated VRM heatsinks for more efficient cooling. It offers good stability and reliability, thanks to the 16+1+1+1 Duet Rail Power System with 90A SPS, and a 6-layer, 2oz copper PCB made with server-grade materials.
The motherboards comes with a decent amount features that you normally find on more higher-end enthusiast motherboards. Such as the diagnostic LEDs, clear CMOS switch and BIOS flashback button, as well as their unique PCIE supplemental power connector for extra GPUs used in AI computing and gaming.
Expansion slots include 2 x PCIE 4.0 x16 slots and 1 x PCIE 5.0 x16 slot featuring their EZ PCIe Release mechanism which allows for easy securing or removal of graphics cards. It also comes with 4 x DDR5 DIMM slots with Memory Boost, and supports XMP memory modules with speeds of up to DDR5-9200+ OC.
During our tests, we managed to get excellent scores in all of our benchmarks. For Cinebench 2024, we got a decent score of 2,425 points for multi core, and 114 points for single core. For PCMark 10, we got a very good score of 9,998, and a score of 18,159 for PassMark 11.
We also got a very good score of 4,990 for Procyon Video Editing Benchmark, and a score of 221 for the AI Computer Vision Benchmark. For 3DMark Steel Nomad and Speedway, we got amazing scores of 8,638 and 8,868 respectively. And finally, for Port Royal and Timespy, we got a very good score of 21,588 and 29,518 respectively.
For storage, you get a total of 4 SATA ports, 1 x PCIE Gen5 M.2 slot and 3 x PCIE Gen4 M.2 slots, which is cooled by large heatsinks and features their EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II and EZ M.2 Clip II.
And for connectivity, MSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WIFI has plenty supporting a total of up to 22 USB ports. On the back I/O panel, you’ll find a HDMI output, 2 x Thunderbolt 4 ports, 3 x USB 3.2 Gen2 ports (Type-A), 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 port (Type-C), Flash BIOS button, Clear CMOS Button, 4 x USB 3.0 ports, 5GB LAN, connectors for WiFi 7, Line-out, Mic-in and optical S/PDIF.
Building your own or buying an Intel-based PC, with a Z890 chipset motherboard doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive. You should be able to get an affordable one within a price range of between $270 and $300. A higher-end Z890 with more enthusiast features will cost well above $300.
What makes the MSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WiFi motherboard so enticing, is that it offers good performance at an attractive price, and comes packed with a load of features normally found on higher-end Z890 motherboards.
You can buy the MSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WiFi motherboard from Amazon for around USD $299 –https://amzn.to/3Tzvmi1 (CAD $329 – https://amzn.to/4laSJu8)
Final Words:
If you’re after an affordable Z890 motherboard for gaming, content creation or AI computing, then the MSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WiFi motherboard has it all. It offers decent aesthetics, good performance, and comes packed with a load of features normally found on more expensive higher-end motherboards.
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