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MSI MEG Z690 ACE & MAG Z690 Tomahawk Motherboards Review – High-End & Mainstream Tier In Action!

Today, we are taking a look at more Z690 motherboards, this time from MSI. Intel finally unleashed a sub-10nm (officially the Intel 7 process, which is comparable to TSMC 7nm) desktop CPU with its 12th Gen Alder Lake processors, and the company’s multi-year slippage at 14nm is officially over.

The Alder Lake architecture also features a plethora of innovative changes including a hybrid architecture with big.SMALL design features p and e-cores as well as a new hardware scheduling technology that will go live in Windows 11.

The company has largely been stagnant in the consumer desktop space. The main reason for this stagnation has been Intel’s reliance on its 14nm process node and Skylake architecture which has served the desktop space since 2015 up till 2020 (10th Generation Comet Lake) while Intel’s 10nm process dilemmas and yields couldn’t keep up with Skylake in mainstream desktop space. To build up its 10nm inventory for a mass consumer launch, Intel did release an intermediate platform, the Z590, and the respective 11th Gen Rocket Lake lineup with a new architecture but limited to just 8 cores due to power scaling and inefficiency on the 14nm process node.

One of the issues and an ongoing one is the competitive threat from AMD’s Ryzen processors which aren’t only tackling Intel in terms of pure core count but also in terms of IPC which has exceeded Skylake levels and also pricing in which AMD has simply made Intel’s once iconic Core i5 and Core i7 lineups disappear from the game. Despite the newer architecture, the Rocket Lake CPUs proved not to be competitive in the multi-threaded space and Ryzen 5000 CPUs even offered better gaming performance in several AAA titles.

There’s another key department where Intel still holds the lead over AMD which is due to the process maturation of the 14nm node over the years. In terms of clock speeds, Intel has taken the battle to AMD which makes sense in a way since while their remerged rival can beat them in terms of price, cores, they can surely flex their muscles in terms of clock speeds, however, AMD has been knocking the socks off Intel with its impressive gen-over-gen IPC gains which invalidate the clock speed gains that intel has been so proud of. Those clock speeds also come at a big disadvantage on the existing 14nm node and that’s power consumption. Intel Desktop CPUs are no longer the king in terms of efficiency.

Intel 12th Gen vs AMD Ryzen 5000 Desktop CPU Prices:

Intel CPU Cores / Threads Clocks (Max) Price (MSRP) Prices (Newegg) – 01/11/2021 Prices (Newegg) – 01/11/2021 Price (MSRP) Clocks (Max) Cores / Threads AMD CPU
N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $749.99 US $799 US 4.7 GHz (105W) 16/32 AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Intel Core i9-12900K 16/24 5.2 GHz (241W) $589 US (K)
$564 US (KF)
$649.99 K
$629.99 KF
$559.99 US $549 US 4.6 GHz (105W) 12/24 AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Intel Core i7-12700K 12/20 5.0 GHz (190W) $409 US (K)
$384 US (F)
$449.99 K
$419.99 KF
$394.99 US $449 US 4.7 GHz (105W) 8/16 AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
Intel Core i5-12600K 10/16 4.9 GHz (150W) $289 US (K)
$264 US (KF)
$319.99 K
$299.99 KF
$309.99 US $299 US 4.6 GHz (65W) 6/12 AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

So this year, Intel has decided to launch a second architecture overhaul, and oh boy! It’s a big one. Enter Alder Lake, a brand new approach to x86 consumer processors which feature two key cores technology and come with a brand new platform that is outfitted with the next-generation features such as DDR5 and PCIe 5.0. The Intel 12th Gen Alder Lake lineup will include the top to bottom i9, i7, i5, and i3 chips.

Main features of Intel’s Alder Lake Desktop CPUs include:

  • Intel 7 Process Technology
  • Performance hybrid architecture, combing P-Cores and E-Cores
  • Intel Thread Director
  • Core architecture featuring performance improvements
  • Up To 19% IPC increase
  • Up To 16 Cores (8 P-Cores + 8 E-Cores) and 24 threads
  • Increased L2 cache and L3 shared Intel Smart Cache
  • DDR5 Support (Up To 4800 MT/s)
  • Processor PCIe 5.0 (up to 16 lanes)
  • Chiplet PCIe 4.0 (up to 12 lanes)
  • Integrated WiFi 16E Support
  • Up To 8 DMI 4.0 lanes
  • Core and memory overclocking enhancements
  • Enhanced Intel UHD graphics driven by Xe architecture

Their main competitor is still the AMD Ryzen 5000 lineup based on the Zen 3 architecture that was introduced back in Q4 2020 and based on the Zen 3 core architecture. For this review, I’ll be putting the Core i9-12900K to test on two Z690 motherboards, the MSI MEG Z690 ACE and MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi.

Intel’s Alder Lake-S desktop CPU platform will feature support on LGA 1700 socket which made is a brand new socket design. The Alder Rocket Lake-S processors will be launching alongside the 600-series motherboards and won’t be compatible with existing LGA 1200 socket motherboards such as Z590 and Z490. In addition to the flagship Z690 motherboards, B660 motherboards will support memory overclocking which has been highly anticipated by budget PC builders.

Intel Z690 Platform Features:

The 11th gen desktop platform has a range of new features that mainly include:

  • Support for LGA 1700 Intel Core / Pentium Gold / Celeron Processors
  • TDP Support Up To 125W
  • DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200 Support For Alder Lake Desktop Processors
  • Support For Intel Wireless-AX (CNVi)
  • Up To 16 PCIe Gen 5.0 Lanes (Discrete GPU via CPU Only)
  • Up To 12 PCIe Gen 4.0 Lanes
  • Up To 16 PCIe Gen 3.0 Lanes
  • 8x SATA III ports (6 Gbps)
  • 4x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20 Gbps
  • 10 USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 10 Gbps
  • 10 USB 3.2 Gen 1×1 5 Gbps
  • 14 USB 2.0
  • x8 DMI Gen 4.0 (CPU-PCH Interconnect)
  • IRST 17 for PCIe storage RAID on CPU & PCH Support
  • Hardware-Level PCIe Gen 4 Integration from various board vendors
  • Optane Memory Ready
  • Thunderbolt 4.0
  • Integrated Intel 2.5G Base-T Ethernet
  • Integrated Intel WiFi 6E Support

Another interesting thing to talk about the Z690 PCH is its process node and dimensions. The Z690 PCH is based on the 14nm node and measures at 98mm2 which is slightly larger than the Z590 PCH featured on LGA 1200 socket motherboards.

Intel Desktop Platform Chipset Comparison

Chipset Name Alder Lake-S (ADL-S) PCH / 600 Serie (Z690) Rocket Lake-S (RKL-S) PCH / 500 Series (Z590) Comet Lake-S (CML-S) PCH / 400 Series (Z490) Coffee Lake S (CNL-H) PCH / 300 Series (Z390/H370, B360, Q370, H310) Coffee Lake S (KBL-R) PCH / Z370 Platform
Process Node TBA 14nm 14nm 14nm 22nm
Processor 16C,12C,10C,6C,4C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch) 8C, 6C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch) 10C, 8C, 6C, 4C, 2C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch)
Enhanced IA and Memory Overclocking
Gen 9 Intel Graphics GT2 (Up To 24 EUs)
Corporate/vPro & Consumer
8C, 6C, 4C, 2C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch)
Enhanced IA and Memory Overclocking
Gen 9 Intel Graphics GT2 (Up To 24 EUs)
Corporate/vPro & Consumer
8C, 6C, 4C (6 Consumer SKUs at Launch)
Enhanced IA and Memory Overclocking
Gen 9 Intel Graphics GT2 (Up To 24 EUs)
Consumer Only
Memory Up To DDR5-4800 (Native)
Up To DDR4-3200 (Native)
Up To DDR4-3200 (Native) Up To DDR4-2933 (Native) Up To DDR4-2666 (Native) Up To DDR4-2666 (Native)
Media, Display & Audio eDP / 4DDI (DP, HDMI) Display Capabilities DP 1.2 & HDMI 2.0, HBR3
HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON)
12-bit AV1/HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12
Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP With USB Audio offload
SoundWire Digital Audio Interface
DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4
HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON)
HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12
Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP
SoundWire Digital Audio Interface
DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4
HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON)
HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12
Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP
SoundWire Digital Audio Interface
DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4
HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON)
HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12
Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP
I/O & Connectivity Integrated USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20G)
Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi6E/ 7 BT CNVio) with Gig+
Integrated SDXC 4.0 Controller
Thunderbolt 4.0
Integrated USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20G)
Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi6E/ BT CNVi)
Integrated SDXC 3.0 Controller
Thunderbolt 4.0 (Maple Ridge)
Integrated USB 3.2 Gen 2
Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi / BT CNVi)
Integrated SDXC 3.0 Controller
Thunderbolt 3.0 (Titan Ridge) w/ DP 1.4
Integrated USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi / BT CNVi)
Integrated SDXC 3.0 Controller
Thunderbolt 3.0 (Titan Ridge) w/ DP 1.4
Integrated USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
Thunderbolt 3.0 (Alpine Ridge)
Storage Next-Gen Intel Optane memory
PCIe 5.0, 6x SATA 3.0
Next-Gen Intel Optane memory
PCIe 4.0, 6x SATA 3.0
Next-Gen Intel Optane memory
PCIe 3.0, 6x SATA 3.0
Next Gen Intel Optane memory
PCIe 3.0, 6x SATA 3.0
Next Gen Intel Optane memory
PCIe 3.0, 6x SATA 3.0
Security N/A N/A Intel SGX 1.0 Intel SGX 1.0 Intel SGX 1.0
Power Management C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby C8 Support
Launch 2022 2021 2019 2018 2017

Meet The LGA 1700 Socket – 12th Generation CPU Support

As mentioned earlier, LGA 1200’s reign is finally over and the LGA 1700 socket is here now. The new socket adds more pins to the socket and changes the dimensions entirely. The new LGA 1700 socket offers 500 more pin connections to the CPU, allowing for more communication channels with the board itself and accommodating electrical pin configurations that are required to support 12th Gen CPUs.

So as for the socket details, Intel is going with an asymmetrical design which poses since the Alder Lake CPUs are no longer square-shaped. The Alder Lake desktop CPUs will come in a 37.5×45.0mm package and will be supported by the ‘V0’ socket which we know as LGA 1700. The new socket also changes the mounting positions to a 78x78mm grid rather than a 75x75mm grid. The Z-height has also changed to 6.529mm compared to 7.31mm on the previous LGA 12**/115* sockets.

This would lead to two big changes, first of all, CPU coolers will have to be mounted properly over the CPU which needs to be confirmed with the vendor prior to installation, and secondly, new and refreshed mounting brackets need to be shipped by cooler manufacturers for Intel Alder Lake and LGA 1700 support.

Specifications
Intel LGA1700 Socket details
IHS to MB Height (Z-Stack, validated range): 6.529 – 7,532 mm
Thermal Solution Hole Pattern: 78 x 78 mm
Socket Seating Plane Height: 2.7 mm
Maximum Thermal Solution Center of Gravity Height from IHS: 25.4 mm
Static Total Compressive Minimum: 534N (120 lbf), Beginning of Life 356 N (80 lbf)
End of life maximum: 1068 N (240 lbf)
Socket Loading: 80-240 lbf
Dynamic Compressive Maximum: 489.5 N (110 lbf)
Maximum Thermal Solution Mass: 950 gm
Important Note: A Keep In Zone is introduced for LGA17xx-18xx thermal solutions. Two volumes are provided.
The Asymmetric volume provides the maximum available design space. The Symmetric volume
provides for designs to be rotatable on the board. The thermal solution under load should fit within the volume

What’s interesting is that the Alder Lake CPUs use an asymmetrical design and while we don’t know how the dies will be positioned under the IHS, we do know from AMD Threadripper that CPUs that carry such design require full IHS coverage and that may be the tricky part when it comes to cooling the brand new Alder Lake CPUs. So far, we know that Alder Lake will be a monolithic yet hybrid CPU design so it remains to be seen how cooling is handled for these 12th Generation chips.

Cooler Compatibility With LGA 1700 Socket

To make their existing coolers compatible with Intel’s Alder Lake lineup, many cooling brands have released LGA 1700 upgrade kits which feature mounting hardware for the new socket. But the Intel Alder Lake platform isn’t just featuring a brand new mounting design but the CPU dimensions itself have changed too.

The LGA 1700 (V0) socket not only has an asymmetrical design but also comes with a lower Z-stack height. This means that proper mounting pressure is needed to make full contact with the Intel Alder Lake IHS. Certain cooler manufacturers have already been using larger cold plates for Ryzen and Threadripper CPUs to make proper contact with the IHS but these are mostly higher-end and new cooling designs. Those who are still running older AIOs with round cold plates could have trouble maintaining the required pressure distribution which could lead to inadequate cooling performance.

Cooling will play a major role in determining the performance of Intel’s Alder Lake CPUs, especially the unlocked lineup, which as per the leaked benchmarks, runs really hot. Users will have to utilize the best of the best cooling hardware to maintain an adequate temperature & more so if they are planning on overclocking the chips.

We know from the official announcement that Intel’s 12th Gen Alder Lake Desktop CPUs will be available in two main die configurations. These include an 8+8 (C0) die which will be featured on high-end unlocked and non-K SKUs and a 6+0 (H0) die that will be used for non-K SKUs. All of the dies are based on the 10nm ESF process node (Intel 7) and feature a smaller die size compared to 14nm SKUs.

Intel Alder Lake CPU Dies, Hot Spots & Best Cooling Configurations

The Intel Alder Lake C0 die has a surface area of 215.25mm2 while the H0 die has a surface area of 162.75mm2. This means that as the area shrinks and transistor density increases, heat dissipation will become a major challenge. The CPUs will use a Tin TIM material between the die and IHS along with a soldered design. Just for comparison, the 14nm Rocket Lake CPUs with 8 cores & 16 threads had a surface area of 276mm2.

Since both Alder Lake dies have a different core configuration, their hot spots are also different. As shown in the thermal imagery by MSI, the C0 (8+8) die has its hot spot close towards the center but the H0 (6+0) die has its hot spot slightly towards the left side. So it will be important to use the right cooling configuration based on the SKU you are getting.

For this purpose, MSI has shown some best cooling configurations to use with the Intel Alder Lake CPUs. For starters, it is suggested that copper-based heatsinks are used instead of aluminum ones. The positioning will also play an important role as you are advised to have the heat pipes running parallel to the die and not perpendicular. The parallel configuration will ensure that the heat pipes are making direct contact over the hot spots and not making inefficient contact.

The Intel Alder Lake-S Desktop CPU lineup will include the 12th Gen Core processors. Intel will kick off its lineup with the introductory ‘K’ and ‘KF’ chips which will be followed by more mainstream variants in the following weeks (early 2022 around CES).

The architecture has seen several optimizations and key refinements that have led to an increase from 8 cores and 16 threads to 16 cores and 24 threads. The new 10nm ESF (Intel 7) process retains Intel’s clock leadership, pushing the chips up to 5.2 GHz.

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Intel’s Alder Lake will be built using the company’s new E and P cores, you can read the architectural deep dive over here, and represent a significant evolution in the company’s power efficiency targets. It will be built on the Intel 7 process and scale from 9 watts to 125 watts. DDR5 and PCIe gen5 will be supported (first to market) and feature new technologies like the Intel Thread Director.

Alder Lake will be fully scalable from Desktop (LGA1700) to ultra-mobile. Interestingly, however, while the platform has 8 P-cores and 8 E-cores, only the P-cores will support hyperthreading making for a total of 24 threads available. The integrated GPU will have 96 EUs of Xe architecture (good but nothing to write home about) but the thing that impressed us the most was the fact that Intel is claiming a 19% IPC uplift over Rocketlake – which should handily beat AMD parts if true.

Alder Lake will feature up to 30 MB of noninclusive LL Cache and support DDR5-4800, LP5-5200 along with DDR4-3200, and LP4x-4266. It will also support two times the PCIe bandwidth thanks to its support of PCIe 5 and will be able to provide up to 16 lanes of PCIe Gen5 with up to 64 GB/s. The new design is fully modular and built like lego and should be completely scalable and flexible. The compute fabric interconnect has a bandwidth of 1000 GB/s while the IO fabric has a BW of 64 GB/s. The memory subsystem supports up to 204 GB/s but more importantly can scale memory frequency (and power) according to the need of the SoC

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Intel Core i9-12900K 16 Core / 24 Thread Desktop CPU

The Intel Core i9-12900K will be the flagship chip in the 12th Gen Alder Lake Desktop CPU lineup. It will feature 8 Golden Cove cores and 8 Gracemont cores for a total of 16 cores (8+8) and 24 threads (16+8). The P-cores (Golden Cove) will operate at a maximum boost frequency of up to 5.3 GHz with 1-2 active cores and 5.0 GHz with all-cores active while the E-cores (Gracemont) will operate at 3.90 GHz across 1-4 cores and up to 3.7 GHz when all cores are loaded. The CPU will feature 30 MB of L3 cache and TDP values are maintained at 125W (PL1) and 241(PL2).

The CPU is said to feature a 1st stage power limit of 125W which is standard for a flagship Intel SKU and the 2nd stage power limit or PL2 is rated at 241W. This means that when hitting its maximum advertised clock speeds, the CPU could end up pulling even higher wattage from the PSU. Overall performance creation is also seeing a giant leap in performance across the board. Interestingly, however, if you want the same performance as an Intel Core i9 11900k, then you can drop the power consumption by 1/4 to 65W and get the same performance! This is an incredible leap in performance efficiency thanks to the e-cores.

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The Intel Core i9-12900K will have an MSRP of $589 US which puts it $40 expensive than the Ryzen 9 5900X and $210 US cheaper than the Ryzen 9 5950X. The KF variant will be priced even lower at a $564 US MSRP.

Intel Core i7-12700K 12 Core / 20 Thread Desktop CPU

Moving over to the Core i7, Intel will offer 8 Golden Cove cores but cut down the Gracemont cores to 4. This will result in a total of 12 cores (8+4) and 20 threads (16+4). The P-cores (Golden Cove) will operate at a maximum boost frequency of up to 5.0 GHz with 1-2 active cores and 4.7 GHz with all-cores active while the E-cores (Gracemont) will operate at 3.8 GHz across 1-4 cores & up to 3.6 GHz when all cores are loaded. The CPU will feature 25 MB of L3 cache and TDP values are maintained at 125W (PL1) and 228W (PL2).

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As for pricing, the Core i7 will also be cheaper than the Core i9 variant at $409 US & $394 US (for the KF) variant. This puts it in the same price category as the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X which offers 8 cores and 16 threads at $449 US.

Intel Core i5-12600K 10 Core / 16 Thread Desktop CPU

Lastly, we have the Intel Core i5-12600K which will be the entry-level unlocked chip within the line. The CPU will carry 6 Golden Cove and 4 Gracemont cores for a total of 10 cores (6+4) & 16 threads (12+4). The P-cores (Golden Cove) will operate at a maximum boost frequency of up to 4.9 GHz with 1-2 active cores and 4.5 GHz with all-cores active while the E-cores (Gracemont) will operate at 3.6 GHz across 1-4 cores & up to 3.4 GHz when all cores are loaded. The CPU will feature 20 MB of L3 cache and TDP values are maintained at 125W (PL1) and 228W (PL2).

Now the main proving ground for this chip against the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X will be its performance to price value. The Ryzen 5 5600X with a $299 US MSRP is slightly higher in terms of pricing when we compare it to its predecessor. The Core i5-12600K on the other hand will be replacing the Core i5-11600K and will retain at $289 US standard and $264 US for the KF variant. This alone is cheaper than the Ryzen 5 5600X.

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Based on performance and availability, the Core i5-12600K could indeed become a hot selling chip in the mainstream gaming market. With that said, we also have to take into account the availability of the Core i5-12600K. Technically, mainstream SKUs aren’t affected a lot by supply issues as is the case with the Ryzen 5 5600X but a small delay in stock could result in Intel missing an opportunity to create a dent in AMD’s Ryzen 5 segment. Consumers have already seen what AMD delivered as a successor to its Ryzen 5 3600X so now it’s time to see if Alder Lake can really shake things up in the mainstream gaming segment.

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Intel 12th Gen Alder Lake Desktop CPU Specs “Preliminary”

CPU Name P-Core Count E-Core Count Total Core / Thread P-Core Base / Boost (Max) P-Core Boost (All-Core) E-Core Base / Boost E-Core Boost (All-Core) L3 Cache TDP (PL1) TDP (PL2) Expected (MSRP) Price
Core i9-12900K 8 8 16 / 24 3.2 / 5.2 GHz 5.0 GHz 2.4 / 3.9 GHz 3.7 GHz 30 MB 125W 241W $599 US
Core i9-12900 8 8 16 / 24 2.4 / 5.1 GHz TBA 1.8 / TBA GHz TBA 30 MB 65W ~200W TBA
Core i9-12900T 8 8 16 / 24 TBA / 4.9 GHz TBA TBA TBA 30 MB 35W TBA TBA
Core i7-12700K 8 4 12 / 20 3.6 / 5.0 GHz 4.7 GHz 2.7 / 3.8 GHz 3.6 GHz 25 MB 125W 190W $419 US
Core i7-12700 8 4 12 / 20 2.1 / 4.9 GHz TBA 1.6 / TBA GHz TBA 25 MB 65W ~190W TBA
Core i7-12700T 8 4 12 / 20 TBA / 4.7 GHz TBA TBA TBA 25 MB 35W TBA TBA
Core i5-12600K 6 4 10 / 16 3.7 / 4.9 GHz 4.5 GHz 2.8 / 3.6 GHz 3.4 GHz 20 MB 125W 150W $299 US
Core i5-12600 6 0 6 / 12 3.3 / 4.8 GHz 4.4 GHz N/A N/A 18 MB 65W ~200W TBA
Core i5-12600T 6 0 6 / 12 TBA / 4.6 GHz TBA N/A N/A 18 MB 35W TBA TBA
Core i5-12500T 6 0 6 / 12 TBA / 4.4 GHz TBA N/A N/A 18 MB 35W TBA TBA
Core i5-12400 6 0 6 / 12 2.5 / 4.4 GHz 4.0 GHz N/A N/A 18 MB 65W ~150W TBA
Core i5-12400T 6 0 6 / 12 TBA / 4.2 GHz TBA N/A N/A 18 MB 35W TBA TBA
Core i3-12200T 4 0 4 / 8 TBA / 4.2 GHz TBA N/A N/A 12 MB 35W TBA TBA
Core i3-12100T 4 0 4 / 8 TBA / 4.1 GHz TBA N/A N/A 12 MB 35W TBA TBA

The MSI Z690 motherboard lineup features a range of families. These include the MEG or Massive Enthusiast Gaming lineup which focuses on the enthusiast gaming segment, MPG which stands for Massive Performance Gaming and carters the high-end market, MAG, or the Massive Arsenal Gaming which focuses on the mainstream and budget segment while the PRO series is designed with content creators in mind.

MSI is back with its flagship MEG ZCE, this time featuring the Z690 chipset and design that is much powerful than ever. The MSI MEG Z690 ACE hosts a stunning gold-plated design & is powerful than ever.

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The MEG Z690 ACE rocks a Direct 22 Phase All-Digital VRM with 105A Amp Smart Power Stages. Power to the VRM and CPU socket is provided through a dual 8-pin connector configuration.

MSI MEG Z690 ACE Motherboard Features:

  • Supports 12th Gen Intel Core / Pentium Celeron processors for LGA 1700 socket
  • Supports DDR5 Memory, Dual Channel DDR5-6666+MHz(OC)
  • Genuine 24K Gold: Premium aesthetics with its dark black finish and genuine 24K-gold foil heatsink perfectly show off the concept of beauty.
  • Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports: Thunderbolt USB-C at true 40 Gb/s speeds, 8K display support, Daisy-Chaining, and Multi-Port Accessory Architecture provide reliable connectivity and better user experience.
  • Quintuple M.2 Connectors: Onboard 5x M.2 connectors for the maximum storage performance with quad Lightning Gen 4 solution. Double-sided Shield Frozr design keeps M.2 SSDs safe while preventing throttling, making them run faster.
  • Extreme Power Design: Premium digital PWM, direct 19+1+2 phases with 105A Smart Power Stage, Titanium Choke III, and dual CPU power connectors to unleash the true power of your processors.
  • Outstanding Cooling Solution: Aluminum Cover, VRM Heat-pipe, 7W/mK thermal pads, Double-sided M.2 Shield Frozr and Aluminum Backplate ensure the extreme performance with low temp.
  • Dual 2.5G LAN with latest Wi-Fi 6E: Onboard dual 2.5G LAN with LAN manager and latest Wi-Fi 6E solution which supports 6GHz spectrum delivering the best online gaming experience.
  • Lightning Fast Game experience: PCIe 5.0 slots, Lightning Gen 4 x4 M.2, Dual Front USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20G.
  • 8 Layer PCB with 2oz Thickened Copper: Provides higher performance and long-lasting system stability without any compromise.
  • Audio Boost 5 HD: Ultimate audio solution with the latest premium ALC4082 audio processor combining ESS audio DAC and amplifier delivers the breathtaking experience.

The MEG Z690 ACE also features support for four DDR5 Rams with speeds of up to 6666+ MHz (OC) and a capacity of up to 128 GB. The board features 6 SATA III ports and two USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 front-panel header. Before we talk about I/O and expansion on this motherboard, let’s look at the design itself.

MSI has gone with a stunning black and gold design on its ACE motherboard this time. Gone is the flashy RGB design and we get a more elegant look that people should expect from a high-end Z690 motherboard.

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Now coming to the expansion slots, the MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi motherboard features three PCIe slots (2 x Gen 5 & 1 x Gen 4), and five M.2 slots (3x Gen4x4, 1x Gen 3×4, 1x Optane), all of which are cooled by the M.2 Shield Frozr heatsinks.

For I/O, you get dual Thunderbolt 4 40 Gbps Type-C ports, 8 USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 2 USB 2.0 ports, HDMI + DP ports, dual 2.5G (Intel I225V) Ethernet LAN ports, Intel WiFi 6E (BT 5.2) functionality, Audio Boost HD and to top it all off, a button for flashing the BIOS. The board has a listed MSRP of $699 US making it the most expensive MSI Z690 motherboard so far.

The MEG Z690 ACE motherboard features one of the most elegant designs of all Z690 boards with its gold and black theme. The pricing and quality of this product make it feel more premium than the previous generation ACE offerings from MSI. While the MEG Z590 ACE featured an ATX design, this time the Z690 ACE has been upgraded to an E-ATX form factor. It also has a more futuristic look to it.

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The board uses the LGA 1700 socket to support Intel Core processors. The socket is compatible only with Intel’s 12th Generation core family. The socket has a protective cover on top of it that points out the exclusivity with Alder Lake 12th Gen CPUs & refrains users from running an older 11th and 10th generation CPUs as they won’t fit in the socket at all and forcing them in the socket is only going to cause permanent damage to your motherboard.

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Next to the socket are four DDR5 DIMM slots that can support up to 128 GB dual-channel memory. These slots are rated to support XMP profiles up to 6666 MHz (OC Plus). The DIMM slots feature metallic shielding around them for extra durability. Each slot is labeled, making it easier to install DIMMs in the proper orientation. DDR5 memory comes with a different latch position so forcing a DDR4 module into a DDR5 slot will cause permanent damage.

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The MSI MEG Z690 ACE features a 19+1+2 (VCore/ VccGT/VccAUX) phase digital power delivery that makes utilizes the RAA229131 PWM controller and RAA2201105 (105A) MOSFETs for the VCore. The Vcc GT and Vcc AUX MOSFETs are spec’d at 60A & 70A respectively.

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As you can see, the VRMs are getting ample cooling from the extended heatsinks that are both beefy in terms of size and also feature actual cooling fins. This motherboard is designed for overclocking so expect a smooth & stable operation of the electrical circuitry when this board is running. The motherboard also comes with a backplate that features thermal pads for extra cooling performance.

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The CPU is supplied power through an 8+8 pin power connector configuration. This will feed the CPU with up to 300 Watts of power. The Intel 12th Gen Unlocked CPUs are very power-hungry with the maximum turbo power rated at 241W for the Core i9-12900K and more if you are planning to overclock these chips.

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Getting a closer look at the VRM heatsinks reveals an aluminum fin design on both heatsinks. Each heatsink has thermal pads located underneath for efficient transfer of heat. The thermal pads on the MEG Z690 ACE are rated at 7w/mK. There’s also a heat pipe that connects the two MOSFETs heatsinks for better heat dissipation.

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Expansion slots include three PCI Express x16 (2 x Gen 5.0 x16/8 / 1x Gen 4.0 x4) and five M.2 slots. The board can technically support three-way multi-GPU (CrossFireX / SLI) however we know that no existing gaming GPU offers 3-Way connectivity anymore. Five M.2 slots are rated to support NVMe PCIe gen4 x4/gen3 x4 and Intel Optane series memory while a singular slot is rated to operate at M.2 3.0 x4/x2 speeds if all SATA ports are not sharing the bandwidth with it.

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MSI is using a PCIe Armor cover on the sides of all expansion slots which provides protection to some extent. It adds more retention and shearing resistance by reinforcing the slots with metal plates. Aside from adding more protection, they do look really sweet.

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All five M.2 slots are cooled off by the thermal pad and aluminum baseplate cooling. This will ensure stable operation for M.2 storage devices. The thermal adhesive has a plastic cover over them which needs to be removed before using them with the storage devices.

  • 5x M.2 slots (Key M)
    • M2_1 slot (From CPU)
      • Supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4
      • Supports 2260/ 2280/ 22110 storage devices
    • M2_2 & M2_3 slots (From Z690 chipset)
      • M2_2 slot supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4
      • M2_3 slot supports up to PCIe 3.0 x4
      • Supports 2260/ 2280 storage devices
    • M2_4 & M2_5 slots (From Z690 chipset)
      • Supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4
      • Supports up to SATA 6Gb/s
      • M2_4 slot supports 2280/ 22110 storage devices
      • M2_5 slot supports 2260/ 2280 storage devices
    • M2_2~5 slots support Intel Optane Memory
  • Supports Intel Smart Response Technology for Intel Core processors
  1. SATA7 will be unavailable when installing M.2 SATA SSD in the M2_5 slot.
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The Z690 PCH is housed beneath a large heatsink with the MSI ACE logo etched over it that looks great. The logo on the PCH cover is covered in 24K Gold Film.

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For the latest ACE, MSI has gone away with all RGB LEDs and given it a more simplistic approach that looks great on its own. There are ARGB headers for those who want to make their PCs flash.

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Storage options include six SATA III ports rated to operate at 6 GB/s. These can support 6 different storage devices at once. There are also two USB 3.2 front panel connectors (2 x Gen 2×2 + 2 x Gen 1). USB 2.0 dual connectors are also included.

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MSI is using its Audio Boost 5 HD system for audio which is a combination of various high-end hardware, software audio solutions. 7.1 CH HD audio with the latest Realtek ALC4082 CODEC & ESS’s SABRE9018Q2C Combo DAC/HPA.

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There are a few buttons on the motherboard to turn it on/off, reset.

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The full list of connectors on the motherboard is listed as follows.

  • 1x 24-pin ATX main power connector
  • 2x 8-pin ATX 12V power connectors
  • 6x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
  • 5x M.2 slots (M-Key)
  • 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gbps Type-C ports
  • 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps connectors (supports additional 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps ports)
  • 2x USB 2.0 Type-A connectors (supports additional 4 USB 2.0 ports)
  • 1x 4-pin CPU fan connector
  • 1x 4-pin water-pump fan connector
  • 6x 4-pin system fan connectors
  • 1x Front panel audio connector
  • 2x System panel connectors
  • 1x Chassis Intrusion connector
  • 1x 3-pin Water Flow connector
  • 2x 2-pin Thermal sensor connectors
  • 1x TPM module connector
  • 1x Tuning Controller connector

MSI is using Intel’s WiFi 6E 802.11 AX210 WiFi Module to power wireless connectivity such as 802.11ax WiFi (2.4/5/6 GHz WiFi) and Bluetooth 5.2. In terms of Ethernet, there are also dual 2.5G Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports which is powered by Intel’s I225V network controller chip.

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The motherboard comes with the following I/O connectors:

  • Clear CMOS Button
  • 2.5G LAN
  • 2.5G LAN
  • USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps (Type-A)
  • Thunderbolt 4 40Gbps (Type-C)
  • Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
  • HD Audio Connectors
  • Flash BIOS Button
  • USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps (Type-C Display port)
  • USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps (Type-A)
  • Mini DisplayPort Input (for Thunderbolt passthrough)
  • Optical S/PDIF-Out

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MSI is back with its MAG Tomahawk, this time featuring the Z690 chipset and design that is much powerful than ever. The MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi features the best design to date and also packs in a great punch in terms of power delivery.

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The product is MSI’s flagship MAG product so expect it to be spec’d out accordingly, the MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi rocks a Direct 18 Phase All-Digital VRM with 70A Amp Smart Power Stages. Power to the VRM and CPU socket is provided through a dual 8-pin connector configuration.

MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi Motherboard Features:

  • Supports 12th Gen Intel Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors for LGA 1700 socket
  • Supports DDR5 Memory, up to 6400(OC) MHz
  • Premium Thermal Solution: Extended Heatsink Design and M.2 Shield Frozr is built for a high-performance system and non-stop works
  • 2.5G LAN and Intel Wi-Fi Solution: Upgraded network solution for professional and multimedia use. Delivers a secure, stable, and fast network connection
  • Lightning M.2: Running at PCIe Gen 5 maximizes performance for NVMe based SSDs
  • Lightning USB 20G: Built-in USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port, offers 20Gbps transmission speed, 4X faster than USB 3.2 Gen 1
  • AUDIO BOOST 5: Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality for the most immersive gaming experience
  • Multi-GPU: With Steel armor PCIe slots. Supports AMD Crossfire

The MAG Z690 Tomahawk also features support for four DDR5 Rams with speeds of up to 6400+ MHz (OC) and a capacity of up to 128 GB. The board features 6 SATA III ports and a single USB 3.2 Gen 2 front-panel header. Before we talk about I/O and expansion on this motherboard, let’s look at the design itself.

MSI’s MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi design’s inclined towards the budget gaming segment. The ATX motherboard features a very nice brushed metallic black and matte black design. The extended heatsink design makes use of 7W/MK to dissipate heat effectively.

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Now coming to the expansion slots, the MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi motherboard features three PCIe slots (1 x Gen 5 & 2 x Gen 3), and four M.2 slots (3x Gen4x4, 1x Gen 3×4), all of which are cooled by the M.2 Shield Frozr heatsinks.

For I/O, you get 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (2 Type-C) ports, 3 USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 2 USB 2.0 ports, HDMI + DP ports, 2.5G (Intel I225V) Ethernet LAN ports, Intel WiFi 6E (BT 5.2) functionality, Audio Boost HD and to top it all off, a button for flashing the BIOS. The MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi is going to be priced at an official MSRP of $309.99 US which makes it $10 US more expensive than the DDR4 variant.

The MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI comes in the standard cardboard package. The front is themed in a very simple black and silver color theme. The front side also lists down support for Intel’s 12th generation Core processors. The motherboard clearly lists down support for Windows 11 & TPM 2.0 along with Lightning Gen 5 marketing on the packaging.

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The backside of the package lists down the specifications and special features of the motherboard such as Direct 16+1+1 phase power delivery, DDR5 support, Lightning Gen 5, and Lightning USB 20 GB/s slots/ports, WiFi 6E/Bluetooth 5.2, Audio Boost 5, Mystic Light and the overall look that this motherboard has to offer.

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The top of the box opens up to reveal a cool “MPG” branding within the package itself. This is a very high-end motherboard and little things like this do make up for the extra cash you will be spending on a board like this.

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Inside the package is another box that contains the accessories and is located right below the box holder for the board itself. It is very easy to access although the accessories are a bit scattered and things could get messy sorting out the various additions.

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There are several accessories included in the package such as a Wi-Fi antenna module, two SATA III cables, screws for the M.2 storage devices, a USB stick with drivers and software, a driver disk, a manual for the board, and even a few stickers. Following is the full list of accessories in the package.

  • Quick Installation Guide
  • User Manual
  • USB Drive (With Drivers/Softwares)
  • MSI Case Badge
  • WiFi Antenna
  • MAG Stickers
  • Reward Program / Shout Out Flyer
  • Product Catalog
  • Registration Card
  • M.2 Screw / Standoff Set
  • EZ M.2 Clips
  • 2 x SATA Cables

The motherboard is housed within the cardboard package and has anti-static wrapping to protect it from any built-up electrical resistance that can affect the board.

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The MSI MAG might not be the flagship but it has a design that screams high-end and the addition of an all M.2 heatsink design makes it look even better.

The MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI is themed in all-black. This is a mainstream product that retails at over $300 US. The motherboard comes in the standard ATX form factor and is jam-packed with features.

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The board uses the LGA 1700 socket to support Intel Core processors. The socket is compatible only with Intel’s 12th Generation core family. The socket has a protective cover on top of it that points out the exclusivity with Alder Lake 12th Gen CPUs & refrains users from running an older 11th and 10th generation CPUs as they won’t fit in the socket at all and forcing them in the socket is only going to cause permanent damage to your motherboard.

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Next to the socket are four DDR5 DIMM slots that can support up to 128 GB dual-channel memory. These slots are rated to support XMP profiles up to 6400 MHz (OC Plus). Each slot is labeled, making it easier to install DIMMs in the proper orientation. DDR5 memory comes with a different latch position so forcing a DDR4 module into a DDR5 slot will cause permanent damage.

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The MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI packs a 16+1+1 phase power delivery configuration that makes use of the Renesas 70A MOSFETs. The motherboard also makes use of a 6 layer PCB with a 2oz copper design.

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As you can see, the VRMs are getting ample cooling from two aluminum-based heatsinks, one of which features an extended fin design. The Tomahawk series weren’t always designed to overclock but this one should be an exception.

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The CPU is supplied power through an 8+8 pin power connector configuration. This will feed the CPU with up to 300 Watts of power. The Intel 12th Gen Unlocked CPUs are very power-hungry with the maximum turbo power rated at 241W for the Core i9-12900K and more if you are planning to overclock these chips.

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Getting a closer look at the VRM heatsinks reveals an aluminum fin design underneath the baseplate for the topmost heatsink. Each heatsink has 7w/Mk thermal pads located underneath for efficient transfer of heat.

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The MAG logos are laser-etched on both heatsinks and provide a nice aesthetic for the motherboard.

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Expansion slots include three PCI Express x16 (one Gen 5 x16 / 2 Gen 3 x4/x1), and 4 M.2 slots. The M.2 slots are rated to support NVMe PCIe gen4 x4 (1 Gen 3 x4) and Intel Optane series memory.

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MSI is using a metallic cover on the sides of the Lightning Gen5 expansion slots which provides protection to some extent. It adds more retention and shearing resistance by reinforcing the slots with metal plates. Aside from adding more protection, they do look really sweet.

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The quadruple M.2 slots are cooled off by the thermal pad and aluminum baseplate cooling. This is part of MSI’s M.2 Shield Frozr cooling technology and ensures stable operation for M.2 storage devices. The thermal adhesive has a plastic cover over them which needs to be removed before using them with the storage devices.

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The Z690 PCH is housed beneath a large heatsink with the Tomahawk logo on top of it. The design on the heatsink cover is just for aesthetic since it has several RGB LEDs running on MSI’s Mystic Light technology underneath it.

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The PCH heat sink has RGB LEDs and provides a good light show for those that are interested in RGB trends. You can also turn off the LEDs entirely through MSI’s bundled software if you are not a fan of such LEDs.

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Storage options include six SATA III ports rated to operate at 6 GB/s. These can support six different storage devices at once. There are also dual USB 3.2 (1x Gen 2 / 1x Gen 1) front panel connectors. Many fan headers and jumpers can be found beneath the storage ports.

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MSI is using its Audio Boost 5 HD system for audio which is a combination of hardware, software audio solutions. 7.1 CH HD audio with the latest Realtek ALC4080 audio codec.

The full list of connectors on the motherboard is listed as follows.

  • 1x 24-pin ATX main power connector
  • 2x 8-pin ATX 12V power connectors
  • 6x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
  • 4x M.2 slots (M-Key)
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps Type-C port
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps connector (supports additional 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps ports)
  • 2x USB 2.0 Type-A connectors (supports additional 4 USB 2.0 ports)
  • 1x 4-pin CPU fan connector
  • 1x 4-pin water-pump fan connector
  • 6x 4-pin system fan connectors
  • 1x Front panel audio connector
  • 2x System panel connectors
  • 1x Chassis Intrusion connector
  • 1x TPM module connector
  • 1x Clear CMOS jumper
  • 1x TBT connector (supports RTD3)
  • 1x Tuning Controller connector

MSI is using Intel’s Wi-Fi 6E to power wireless connectivity such as 802.11ax WiFi (2.4G WiFi) and Bluetooth 5.2. In terms of Ethernet, there is a single Gigabit Ethernet LAN port which includes an I225V 2.5G Networking chip.

The I/O plate comes with an I/O cover with MSI’s iconic dragon logo imprinted over it. Following is the full list of I/O ports on the MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI motherboard:

  • DisplayPort 1.4
  • USB 2.0 Port
  • USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps Type-A
  • 2.5G LAN Port
  • Wi-Fi / Bluetooth Antenna
  • HD Audio Connectors
  • HDMI 2.1 Port
  • Flash BIOS Button
  • USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps Type-A
  • USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps Type-A
  • USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gbps Type-C
  • Optical S/PDIF OUT

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For testing, I used the Intel Core i9-12900K and Core i5-12600K which were sent to us by Intel. The motherboards used included the MSI MEG Z690 ACE & MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi motherboards.

Processors Intel Core i9-12900K
Intel Core i5-12600K
Intel Core i9-11900K
Intel Core i9-10900K
Intel Core i7-10700K
Intel Core i5-10600K
Intel Core i9-10980XE
Intel Core i9-9900KS
Intel Core i9-9900K
Intel Core i7-8700K
Intel Core i5-8600K
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
Motherboard Z690 AORUS Master
MSI MEG Z690 ACE
MSI MPG Z690 CARBON WIFI
MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI
Power Supply ASUS ROG THOR 1200W
Solid State Drive Samsung SSD 980 PRO M.2 (1 TB)
Memory G.SKILL Trident Z5 32 GB (2 x 16GB) CL36 6000 Mbps
Video Cards MSI GeForce RTX 3090 SUPRIM X
Cooling Solutions Corsair H115i (With LGA 1700 Mounting Kit)
OS Windows 11 64-bit

Our test rig includes the Samsung 980 Pro 1 TB SSD that boots up our main OS while a 2 TB Seagate HDD is used for the storage of games and applications. In addition to these, we are running an MSI GeForce RTX 3090 SUPRIM X graphics card, an ASUS ROG Thor 1200W power supply. For this specific review, we used the G.Skill’s latest Trident Z5 DDR5-6000 memory kit running at CL36 timings. We also got an LGA 1700 mounting kit for the Corsair H115i to use as a cooling solution for our test setup. The cooling solution choices are very limited so far due to the availability of mounting kits but things are expected to get better by the end of November.

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3DMark Time Spy CPU Performance

3DMark Time Spy is a widely popular video card benchmark test for Windows that is designed to measure your PC’s gaming performance. While the overall benchmark is great, the utility also provides a good indication of the CPU performance.

Blender

Blender is the free and open-source 3D creation suite. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, even video editing and game creation.

Cinebench R15

CINEBENCH is a real-world cross-platform test suite that evaluates your computer’s performance capabilities. CINEBENCH is based on MAXON’s award-winning animation software CINEMA 4D, which is used extensively by studios and production houses worldwide for 3D content creation. MAXON software has been used in blockbuster movies such as Iron Man 3, Oblivion, Life of Pi or Prometheus, and many more.

Cinebench R20

Cinebench is a real-world cross-platform test suite that evaluates your computer’s hardware capabilities. Improvements to Cinebench Release 20 reflect the overall advancements to CPU and rendering technology in recent years, providing a more accurate measurement of Cinema 4D’s ability to take advantage of multiple CPU cores and modern processor features available to the average user.

Cinebench R23

Cinebench is a real-world cross-platform test suite that evaluates your computer’s hardware capabilities. Improvements to Cinebench Release 20 reflect the overall advancements to CPU and rendering technology in recent years, providing a more accurate measurement of Cinema 4D’s ability to take advantage of multiple CPU cores and modern processor features available to the average user.

CPU-Z

CPUz is a freeware that gathers information on some of the main devices of your system such as the Processor name and number, codename, process, package, cache levels, Mainboard, and chipset, Memory type, size, timings, and module specifications (SPD), and Real-time measurement of each core’s internal frequency, memory frequency.

Geekbench 5

Geekbench 5, the latest major upgrade to Primate Labs’ easy-to-use cross-platform benchmark, is now available for download. Geekbench 5 allows you to measure your system’s power more accurately than ever before.

HandBrake

HandBrake is a tool for converting video from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported codecs.

PCMark 10

PCMark 10 is a complete PC benchmarking solution for Windows 10. It includes several tests that combine individual workloads covering storage, computation, image and video manipulation, web browsing, and gaming. Specifically designed for the full range of PC hardware from netbooks and tablets to notebooks and desktops, PCMark 10 offers complete Windows PC performance testing for home and business use.

POV-Ray

The POV-Ray package includes detailed instructions on using the ray-tracer and creating scenes. Many stunning scenes are included with POV-Ray so you can start creating images immediately when you get the package.

SuperPI

Super PI is used by many overclockers to test the performance and stability of their computers. In the overclocking community, the standard program provides a benchmark for enthusiasts to compare “world record” pi calculation times and demonstrate their overclocking abilities. The program can also be used to test the stability of a certain overclock speed.

WinRAR

WinRAR is a powerful archive manager. It can backup your data and reduce the size of email attachments, decompress RAR, ZIP, and other files downloaded from the Internet, and create new archives in RAR and ZIP file format.

X264 HD Encode Benchmark

This benchmark measures the encoding performance of the processor. It offers a standardized benchmark for the clip as well as the encoder used is uniform.

y-Cruncher Compute Benchmark

y-cruncher is a program that can compute Pi and other constants to trillions of digits. It is the first of its kind that is multi-threaded and scalable to multi-core systems. Ever since its launch in 2009, it has become a common benchmarking and stress-testing application for overclockers and hardware enthusiasts. Do note that the single-thread test makes use of AVX-512 instructions while the multi-thread test relies on memory & SMT performance as well.

Battlefield V

Battlefield V brings back the action of the World War 2 shooter genre. Using the latest Frostbite tech, the game does a good job of looking gorgeous in all ways possible. From the open-world environments to the intense and gun-blazing action, this multiplayer and single-player FPS title is one of the best-looking Battlefields to date. The game was tested at max settings at 1440p.

DOOM Eternal

DOOM Eternal brings hell to earth with the Vulkan-powered idTech 7. We test this game using the Ultra Nightmare Preset and follow our in-game benchmarking to stay as consistent as possible.

GTA V

GTA V is one handsomely optimized title for the PC audience. It’s scalable across various PC configurations and delivers an impressive frame rate. Rockstar did an amazing job with the PC build of GTA V and it comes with a large array of settings that can be configured by PC gamers. We tested the title at 1440P with everything set to Ultra and 4x MSAA.

Metro Exodus

Metro Exodus continues the journey of Artyom through the nuclear wasteland of Russia and its surroundings. This time, you are set over the Metro, going through various regions and different environments. The game is one of the premier titles to feature NVIDIA’s RTX technology and does well in showcasing the ray-tracing effects in all corners. The game was tested at Ultra setting with RTX settings turned off at 1440p.

Shadow of The Tomb Raider

Sequel to The Rise of the Tomb Raider, Shadow of The Tomb Raider is visually enhanced with an updated Foundation Engine that delivers realistic facial animations and the most gorgeous environments ever seen in a Tomb Raider Game. The game is a technical marvel and really shows the power of its graphics engine in the latest title.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI

Civilization VI is the pinnacle of the series. It’s featured huge, sweeping changes, and nothing was left out. Everything has found a purpose, they all work together in tandem but also have a reason to stand alone. It uses a more fleshed-out engine that now supports DirectX 12 capabilities. We tested the game with every setting maxed out (4x MSAA, 4096×4096 shadow textures) at 1440P in DirectX 12.

Watch Dogs Legion

Watch Dogs: Legion is a 2020 action-adventure game published by Ubisoft and developed by its Toronto studio. It is the third installment in the Watch Dogs series and the sequel to 2016’s Watch Dogs 2. Set within a fictionalized representation of a futuristic, dystopian London, the game’s story follows the hacker syndicate DedSec as they seek to clear their names after being framed for a series of terrorist bombings

Ashes of The Singularity (4K)

Stardock’s Ashes of the Singularity RTS title is a new take on the historical genre. The game incorporates several things that many pc gamers have been curious about and anxious to try for themselves such as Explicit Multi-Adapter Support and full Asynchronous Compute under DirectX 12 API. We tested the game at 4K with 4x MSAA on Crazy Settings under DirectX 12.

The Intel Alder Lake CPUs feature the brand new hybrid architecture approach composed of Golden Cove and Gracemont cores. The chip also relies on a brand new 10nm Enhanced SuperFin process node which delivers up to 5.2 GHz clock speeds on the flagship Core i9-12900K. The faster clocks along with the addition of more cores should lead to more power consumption but Intel is also touting increased efficiency per watt thanks to the overall performance increases we get this generation.

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In terms of packaging, AMD Ryzen Desktop CPUs ship with a Solder TIM interface and higher-quality gold-plating under the IHS. The thermal testing was carried out with the Corsair H1150i AIO liquid cooler:

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The two motherboards from MSI that I tested today show us how their mainstream and high-end lineup stacks to one another. The Tomahawk costs $309 US while the ACE costs more than twice that. So you should also expect the ACE to be a much more feature-rich offering. It is true that the ACE is a much better-looking board with lots of features but don’t think that Tomahawk is any less. It offers a lot within a $309 US price tag and to be very honest, the RGB-less design approach that MSI is approaching is an eye-pleaser.

MSI MEG Z690 ACE Motherboard

Starting with the MSI MEG Z690 ACE, you are getting literally the best of the best. A powerful VRM for overclocking, top-notch DDR5 memory support, dual PCIe Gen 5.0 slots, and also quadruple the M.2 slots, all of which have their own dual-sided thermal-padded heatsinks. The Z690 ACE has all that you want and so much more in terms of storage expandability. You still get the standard six SATA III ports but with a board like this, you would want to invest in those high-end Gen 4 drives. The second PCIe Gen 5.0 slot can be used with something like a Gen 5 AIC which will let you install a next-gen M.2 drive without any hassle, in fact, MSI has a Gen 5 AIC solution on the horizon.

Getting rid of the RGB wouldn’t be something that everyone wants but the board itself rocks in terms of looks, with its brushed black heatsinks and 24K gold plated film, the motherboard is an icon by itself. There are still those ARGB headers for users who want to go that route but if I was building a PC with this motherboard, I would definitely go the non-RGB route. As for thermals, the VRM heatsinks did a good job in keeping temps under control at stock and while they did get warm at overclocked loads, they are still under the maximum threshold.

The strongest suite of the ACE is its abundance of IO, with several 3.2 Gen 2×2 headers internally and externally and dual 2.5G LAN ports, this motherboard just tops them all out. What I would have loved to see on the ACE was a 10 GbE LAN or at least one 5GbE LAN port but I guess that may have been kept for the more premium GODLIKE offering. The Z690 ACE from MSI is designed for users who prefer elegant looks in a package that offers an abundance of IO, features, and a solid design that will let you unleash the true power of your 12th Gen Intel Desktop CPUs, the $699 US pricing is really high but in the case of the ACE, it is fully justified.

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MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi Motherboard

Now let’s head over to the MAG Z690 Tomahawk, and my oh my, MSI, you are just teasing us now! This has to be without a doubt one of the best Tomahawk designs to date, rocking that all-black & stealthy look which we usually see on the higher-end Unify series. All the essential features are on this motherboard and at its mainstream $309 US pricing, it is one of the stronger offerings in the MSI Z690 lineup. We can see why most builders will be buying this motherboard as it offers an 18 phase power delivery and a powerful design that matches some of the high-end Z690 designs.

The motherboard is complimented with a nice set of IO with internal and external USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 ports and a 2.5GbE LAN port along with WiFi6E connectivity. The VRMs did get warmer than the ACE but as expected, the motherboard delivered fantastic performance out of the box at stock and overclocked specs. Now in a perfect world, I would want some of the changes on the Tomahawk to be right-angled SATA/USB ports and a slightly better cooling design. Storage is once again a strong part of this motherboard with quadruple M.2 slots, all with their own set of heatsinks. Tomahawk should definitely be on your list of motherboards in the $300 US range considering its fantastic IO, storage, and design.

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The post MSI MEG Z690 ACE & MAG Z690 Tomahawk Motherboards Review – High-End & Mainstream Tier In Action! by Hassan Mujtaba appeared first on Wccftech.

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