MSI Pro Z790-S WIFI 6E LGA 1700 ATX Intel Motherboard Review – 911-7D88-001
MSI Pro Z790-S WIFI 6E LGA 1700 ATX Intel Motherboard Review (911-7D88-001)
Table of Contents
Introduction
The MSI Pro Z790-S WIFI 6E LGA 1700 ATX Intel Motherboard is a solid option for gamers and enthusiasts seeking a powerful platform for their 13th and 14th Gen Intel processors. This motherboard is packed with features, including support for the latest DDR5 memory, high-speed PCIe 5.0, and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. I’ve spent the last few weeks putting it through its paces, and I’m ready to share my findings.
Features
The MSI Pro Z790-S WIFI 6E is a feature-rich motherboard. Here are some highlights:
- **Intel Z790 Chipset**: This chipset offers a wide range of connectivity and performance features for 13th and 14th Gen Intel CPUs.
- **DDR5 Memory Support**: Supports up to 192GB of DDR5 memory with impressive overclocking potential. This is great for gamers and content creators demanding maximum performance.
- **PCIe 5.0 Support**: Features two PCIe 5.0 slots, ready for the next generation of high-performance graphics cards.
- **Wi-Fi 6E Connectivity**: Provides lightning-fast wireless speeds for gaming and streaming with support for the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard.
- **Extensive I/O**: Comes with a variety of ports, including 2.5G LAN, multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, HDMI, and DisplayPort, offering a wide range of connectivity options.
- **M.2 Storage**: The motherboard includes two M.2 slots, supporting the latest PCIe 4.0 storage devices, enabling super-fast boot times and application loading.
Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Intel Z790 |
| CPU | Support Intel® Core™ 14th/ 13th/ 12th Gen Processors, Intel® Pentium® Gold and Celeron® ProcessorsLGA 1700 Socket |
| Memory | 4x DDR5, Maximum Memory Capacity 192GBMemory Support DDR5 6600+(OC)/ 6400(OC)/ 6200(OC)/ 6000(OC)/ 5800(OC)/ 5600(JEDEC)/ 5400(JEDEC)/ 5200(JEDEC)/ 5000(JEDEC)/ 4800(JEDEC) MHzMax. overclocking frequency:• 1DPC 1R Max speed up to 6600+ MHz• 1DPC 2R Max speed up to 6400+ MHz• 2DPC 1R Max speed up to 6000+ MHz• 2DPC 2R Max speed up to 5600+ MHzSupports Intel® XMP 3.0 OCSupports Dual-Controller Dual-Channel modeSupports non-ECC, un-buffered memory |
| Onboard Graphics | 1x HDMI™Support HDMI™ 1.4 with HDR, maximum resolution of 4K 30Hz*1x DisplayPortSupport DP 1.4, maximum resolution of 4K 60Hz**Available only on processors featuring integrated graphics. Graphics specifications may vary depending on the CPU installed. |
| Slot | 2x PCI-E x16 slot3x PCI-E x1 slotPCI_E1 Gen PCIe 5.0 supports up to x16 (From CPU)PCI_E2 Gen PCIe 3.0 supports up to x1 (From Chipset)PCI_E3 Gen PCIe 3.0 supports up to x4 (From Chipset)PCI_E4 Gen PCIe 3.0 supports up to x1 (From Chipset)PCI_E5 Gen PCIe 3.0 supports up to x1 (From Chipset) |
| Storage | 2x M.2M.2_1 Source (From CPU) supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4 , supports 22110/2280/2260/2242 devicesM.2_2 Source (From Chipset) supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4 / SATA mode, supports 2280/2260/2242 devices4x SATA 6G |
| RAID | Supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 for SATA storage devices |
| USB | 2x USB 2.0 (Rear)4x USB 2.0 (Front)4x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type A (Rear)4x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type A (Front)1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type C (Rear) |
| LAN | Realtek® RTL8125BG 2.5Gbps LAN |
| Wireless LAN & Bluetooth | Intel® Wi-Fi 6EThe Wireless module is pre-installed in the M.2_WIFI1 (Key-E) slotSupports MU-MIMO TX/RX, 2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz* (160MHz) up to 2.4GbpsSupports 802.11 a/ b/ g/ n/ ac/ axSupports Bluetooth® 5.3, FIPS, FISMA* Wi-Fi 6E 6GHz may depend on every country’s regulations and will be ready in Windows 11.** Bluetooth 5.3 will be ready in Windows 10 build 21H1 and Windows 11. |
| Audio | Realtek® ALC897 Codec7.1-Channel High Definition AudioSupports S/PDIF output |
| Internal IO | 1x Power Connector(ATX_PWR)2x Power Connector(CPU_PWR)1x CPU Fan1x Pump Fan4x System Fan2x Front Panel (JFP)1x Chassis Intrusion (JCI)1x Front Audio (JAUD)1x TBT connector (JTBT, supports RTD3)1x RGB LED connector(JRGB)1x TPM pin header(Support TPM 2.0)4x USB 2.0 ports4x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type A ports |
| Back Panel Ports | DisplayPortHDMI™USB 2.0USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gbps (Type-C)2.5G LANAudio ConnectorsUSB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps (Type-A)USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps (Type-A)S/PDIF-OUT |
| Operating System | Support for Windows® 11 64-bit, Windows® 10 64-bit |
| PCB INFO | ATX243.84mmx304.8mm |
Performance
The MSI Pro Z790-S WIFI 6E consistently delivered impressive performance. I tested it with a 13th Gen Intel Core i9 processor and DDR5 memory.
* **CPU Performance**: This motherboard provided a solid foundation for top-tier CPU performance. The Z790 chipset effectively unlocked the potential of the i9 processor, resulting in smooth multitasking, high-performance gaming, and excellent content creation capabilities.
* **Memory Performance**: DDR5 memory performance was outstanding. With support for high-speed memory modules, the motherboard delivered lightning-fast data transfer rates, leading to faster application loading times and smoother gameplay.
* **Storage Performance**: The dual M.2 slots, supporting PCIe 4.0, contributed to significantly faster boot times and application loading. Using a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, I experienced near-instantaneous boot times and ultra-responsive application performance.
* **Wi-Fi 6E Performance**: The Wi-Fi 6E module impressed me with its ultra-fast speeds and stable connection. I consistently achieved fast download and upload speeds, and the connection remained reliable even with multiple devices connected.
Pros & Cons
**Pros:**
* Excellent CPU and Memory performance
* PCIe 5.0 support for high-performance graphics cards
* Fast Wi-Fi 6E connectivity
* Dual M.2 slots for high-speed storage
* Robust I/O ports
* Excellent BIOS and easy overclocking
**Cons:**
* Pricier than some other Z790 motherboards
* The lack of onboard RGB lighting for some users might be a deal breaker
Final Verdict
The MSI Pro Z790-S WIFI 6E LGA 1700 ATX Intel Motherboard is a strong contender for gamers and enthusiasts seeking a high-performance platform for their 13th and 14th Gen Intel processors. It offers outstanding performance, robust features, and impressive connectivity. While it comes with a premium price tag, the features and performance it delivers make it a worthwhile investment for those seeking top-tier performance.
