MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi motherboard evaluation

MSI’s Tomahawk motherboards normally fee extremely. They have an inclination to concentrate on a core characteristic set slightly than the premium tier options widespread to rather more costly boards. If the bells and whistles don’t matter to you, however you continue to need one thing able to driving a demanding Core i9 13900K (opens in new tab) CPU, then Tomahawk fashions will in all probability be in your radar.

The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi (opens in new tab)—because the identify suggests—is part of MSI’s MAG vary, its second tier sub model. It sits above the Professional vary and beneath the MPG and high-end MEG vary. At $319 / £337 / AU$569 it isn’t low-cost, although in comparison with what some premium tier boards are promoting for, it isn’t badly priced in any respect. There’s robust competitors from the opposite distributors in its value vary although.

Right here for evaluation I’ve the DDR5 model. There’s additionally a DDR4 model ought to you’ve set of DDR4 reminiscence readily available, although if it is advisable purchase reminiscence too, the DDR5 model is unquestionably the way in which to go. DDR4 could be very a lot on the finish of its life and the thirteenth Gen platform is sort of actually its final hurrah.

The Tomahawk adopts a tried and true all black theme, with loads of brushed steel heatsinks. It lacks onboard RGB, although you get 4 headers, three of that are addressable. Personally, I desire this sort of subtler design to ones that current you with overt RGB commercials each time you peer into your case.

The Tomahawk consists of help for 4 M.2 drives, although PCIe 5.0 SSD help is lacking. Would it not be good to have? Sure, however together with a complete lack of PCIe 5.0 drives, the Z790 platform requires an 8x/8x cut up between the 16x main slot and the M.2 slot, which means it isn’t one thing that is very important to have at this time limit. A very good high quality PCIe 4.0 drive can be greater than enough for years to return, very like PCIe 3.0 drive nonetheless stays related right now.

Not like some PCIe 5.0 SSD supporting boards, such because the costlier Gigabyte Aorus Z790 Grasp (opens in new tab) with its huge M.2 heatsink, the Tomahawk doesn’t want one, sticking with a low profile design that doesn’t require a number of floor space.

The Z790 Tomahawk comes with seven SATA ports. For bulk storage, SATA nonetheless has a spot and people seven ports alone could also be a deal maker for some customers. Some boards costing much more include solely 4 SATA.

The VRM is an actual spotlight in comparison with competing choices in its value vary. A 16+1+1 part answer with 90A phases is definitely able to pushing an overclocked Core i9 13900K. Nonetheless, you’ll must be sure to have lively airflow over the heatsink space as they don’t have a complete lot of floor space. Whereas looping Cinebench R23 on a Core i9 13900K with out energy limits, I noticed a peak VRM temperature of 69°C. That is okay however in a closed case with poor airflow, temperatures will rise much more than that. Much less demanding i5 and i7 CPUs will fare so much higher after all.

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The rear I/O is especially spectacular, with a complete of ten USB ports, topped by USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 and Gen 2 Kind-C ports. Add to that one other 4 USB Gen 2 ports and 4 Gen 1 ports. There’s 2.5G LAN and Wi-Fi 6E, a full set of audio ports powered by a Realtek ALC4080 codec, CMOS and BIOS flash buttons, and at last HDMI 2.1 and DP 1.4 ports.

That’s a really well-rounded set of choices, particularly at this value the place USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 isn’t anticipated. They’re the sorts of options that makers use to justify boards costing twice as a lot.

MSI’s BIOS has modified little through the years, and actually, it does not must. Should you’re acquainted with MSI boards since their first UEFI iterations, you will be proper at house. Although everybody may have their very own opinions on which structure they like, MSI’s interface will get my decide. I significantly like MSI’s fan management system. I hate to go away my system’s followers at auto. 

You would say I am a fan… I’ll present myself out.

The MSI BIOS presents you with a simplistic CPU TDP choice upon first boot. There is a default ‘Boxed Cooler’ setting which enforces Intel’s energy limits, a ‘Tower Cooler’ choice which raises TDP to 288W, and at last a ‘Water Cooling’ choice which removes all limits. Not that you’re going to ever want it, however this enables a hypothetical 4096W!

System Efficiency

Gaming Efficiency

I used to be lucky to get my fingers on each the DDR4 and DDR5 variations of the Z790 Tomahawk. That offers us an amazing alternative to take a look at like-for-like methods with each varieties of reminiscence. The takeaway—and it is a constant takeaway when speaking about reminiscence—is that quick reminiscence solely helps in very particular conditions. On this case I used to be utilizing set of DDR4-3600 C14 reminiscence, which means the DDR4 outcomes are close to sufficient to pretty much as good because it will get until you have obtained some actually high shelf B-Die reminiscence at 4000MHz+.

The Handbrake video encoding take a look at advantages vastly, the file compression take a look at much more so, whereas in different circumstances the variations are inside a margin of error.

Relating to gaming, the variations apply to particular video games. Now that DDR5 costs have fallen, it is sensible to go for the DDR5 Tomahawk over the DDR4 one. In fact, a greater graphics card or CPU will ship extra tangible efficiency advantages. 

When evaluating the DDR5 Tomahawk to another Z790 DDR5 boards, the outcomes are usually inside a margin of error. You may get sooner multithreading outcomes when you go away your CPU’s energy limits unlocked, although energy consumption will enhance and you may want superb cooling.

Lately, with per core CPU turbo designs, utilizing overclocking to judge a CPU is all however ineffective. Any mid-range board will deal with a Core i9 13900K and when you overclock, you’ll hit cooling limitations earlier than VRMs are overly burdened. Do not forget to maintain the VRM cool although, as talked about, the Z790 Tomahawk wants airflow to maintain it from getting too scorching. The Tomahawk wants a bit of little bit of BIOS optimization to help quick reminiscence. It is a small factor although, not many individuals will run 7600MHz+ on mid-range boards. Additionally, the Tomahawk does not formally help speeds past DDR5-7200, so it will possibly’t be faulted for not working ‘bonus’ speeds.

Because of inflation, provide chain points and a bit of (or so much) of greed, the pricing of motherboards and graphics playing cards is thru the roof. Meaning discovering worth for cash motherboard is significant, permitting you to divert cash in direction of a sooner GPU or CPU. Should you make up a guidelines of what you need from a motherboard, the MSI Z790 Tomahawk ought to have most of what you want. Issues like USB4 or 10G LAN are what board makers use to justify the worth of motherboards costing double the cash of the Z790 Tomahawk.

The guidelines is full for many customers. Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5G LAN, a powerful VRM able to dealing with 13900K, a number of USB ports together with 3.2 Gen 2×2, a strong BIOS, and a discrete design able to mix in with nearly any construct theme. Ask your self when you want extra? Should you do, be ready to take a step up in value.

Maybe its lack of PCIe 5.0 M.2 help counts in opposition to and it requires good airflow when you topic it to heavy masses, however the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk remains to be a strong, feature-rich board that delivers a core characteristic set that can swimsuit 95% or extra of customers. Do it is advisable spend extra? I would say you in all probability do not.