The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WIFI (DDR5) Motherboard Assessment: A Respectable Mid-Ranged Z690

As we close to the tip of Intel’s twelfth Gen (Alder Lake) life cycle, its thirteenth Gen Core sequence is anticipated to be due by the tip of the 12 months; we’re a premium mannequin from the Z690 chipset. As we already know, Intel’s Z690 chipset (LGA 1700) will provide assist for the upcoming thirteenth Gen Core sequence, so it does provide a viable improve path for customers seeking to construct a twelfth Gen Core sequence system at this time and probably improve at a later date.

At present’s mannequin on the check bench is the MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WIFI with a stable function set that features 2.5 GbE and Wi-Fi 6E networking, two full-length PCIe 5.0 succesful slots, 4 PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots, in addition to a big 19-phase energy supply. The MPG Z690 Carbon WIFI is positioned within the mid-range phase of the market, however on the $350-400 worth level, MSI does have some stiff competitors. It is time to see how the Z690 Carbon WIFI stacks up and if its gaming-focused mannequin beneath its enthusiast-level MEG sequence can ship the products.

MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WIFI Overview

MSI has a couple of key ranges that concentrate on customers seeking to construct differing kinds and ranges of techniques to distinguish its numerous ranges of motherboards. Its Professional sequence targets professionals and SMBs, and its MPG (Efficiency Gaming) vary is geared toward players seeking to maximize body charges and efficiency. It has motherboards for all totally different situations, together with its MEG (Fanatic Gaming) vary reserved for its flagship and high-spec fashions and the MAG (Arsenal Gaming) sequence providing aggressive controller units and options at decrease entry worth factors.

The flagship fashions, such because the MEG Z690 Godlike, provide virtually every little thing any person may wish on a desktop platform. In fact, any of MSI’s Z690 fashions might be used for numerous and mixed workloads, together with rendering, picture manipulation, and gaming. Nonetheless, every sequence focuses on totally different worth factors and ranging ranges of controller assist.

Having a look on the MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WIFI, it’s primarily based round a carbon fiber aesthetic, with black heatsinks masking an all-black PCB. MSI features a customizable RGB Dragon emblem on the rear panel cowl, with an RGB Carbon emblem that can also be customizable on the chipset heatsink. Throughout the center part of the board is one other customizable RGB LED zone, with the M.2 heatsinks and chipset heatsink additionally encompassing a futuristic and neat gray and black patterning. MSI does provide customers additional customization avenues by way of one 4-pin and three 3-pin RGB LED connectors.

The board’s PCIe and storage slots are on the underside half of the MPG Z690 Carbon WIFI. Sandwiched between swathes of covers and heatsinks are a pair of full-length PCIe 5.0 slots that may function at x16/x0 or x8/x8, with a 3rd full-length slot electronically locked all the way down to PCIe 3.0 x4. Relating to storage, MSI features a complete of 5 M.2 slots, three of which permit assist for PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 drives, one with PCIe 4.0 x4 and SATA assist, and a fifth with assist for PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA. For typical storage or gadgets similar to optical drives, MSI contains six SATA ports in complete, 4 of that are powered by the chipset and assist RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays, and two by way of an ASMedia ASM1061 SATA controller.

Situated within the prime right-hand nook are 4 reminiscence slots with assist for as much as DDR5-6666 (1DPC 1R), though customers opting to populate all 4 slots can set up as much as DDR5-5600. By way of capability, customers can set up as much as 128 GB throughout all 4 slots, though customers can profit from quicker reminiscence (as much as DDR5-6000) when utilizing 1DPC 2R reminiscence (two sticks in dual-channel).

Specializing in the facility supply, MSI is utilizing a direct 18+1+1 part design with eighteen Renesas 220075R0 75 An influence levels for the CPU VCore, and one Renesas 220075R0 75 energy stage for the iGPU. Controlling the facility supply is a Renesas RAA229131 20-phase PWM controller with the facility supply working at 18+1. It represents a simple one-phase-per-channel design with out teaming, pairing, or doublers. Powering the board’s CPU VCAUX voltage is a single Monolithic Energy Programs M2940A PWM controller that drives one MP87992 70 An influence stage, making the design an 18+1 (CPU VCore/iGPU) and 1+0 (VCCAUX), which by all accounts is a premium energy supply able to overclocking Intel’s unlocked twelfth Gen Core even additional.

The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WIFI has an honest onboard audio resolution that makes use of a Realtek ALC4080 HD audio codec. The HD audio codec itself would not have any EMI shielding, however it’s barely lined by an prolonged twin M.2 heatsink between the underside two full-length PCIe slots. Seven Japanese Gold Nichicon audio capacitors complement this, and MSI features a line of PCB separation from the remainder of the board’s controllers and componentry.

On the rear panel, MSI contains a big number of enter and output consisting of 1 USB 3.2 G2x2 Sort-C, 5 USB 3.2 G2 Sort-A, and 4 USB 2.0 ports. Additionally current is a pair of video outputs, together with one HDMI 2.1 and one DisplayPort 1.4 output, in addition to an honest networking array with a single Intel I225-V 2.5 GbE controller and an Intel AX211 Wi-Fi 6E CNVi. MSI additionally has a aggressive onboard audio resolution with 5 3.5 mm audio jacks and single S/PDIF optical output powered by a Realtek ALC4080 HD audio codec.

Ending off the rear panel is a small BIOS Flashback button with the related USB port highlighted by a white rectangular ring. Customers searching for the CMOS battery can discover it sitting behind the audio enter/output array, with the jumper pings situated on the underside row of the board’s header choice.

Included with the board throughout the retail packaging is a modest but ample collection of equipment to get customers going proper out of the field. This contains two black SATA cables, three RGB LED extension cables, a nifty cleansing brush, a case badge, a pair of screwdrivers, EZ set up M.2 clips, a USB flash drive with the board’s software program and drivers, person manuals, and an Intel AX211 Wi-Fi 6E antenna.

The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WIFI has an MSRP of $400, however it may be bought (on the time of writing) at Amazon for $350 or at Newegg for the marginally larger worth of $369. By way of competitors, a number of boards within the $350 to 400 worth vary additionally provide robust competitors. These embrace fashions such because the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-F Gaming WIFI at $368, in addition to GIGABYTE’s standard Z690 Aorus Grasp, which we have beforehand reviewed and advantages from 10 GbE networking, and it’s at the moment on sale at Newegg for $320 (on the time of writing).

Given the degrees of stable competitors on the worth level with all of the distributors seeking to provide customers the most effective worth for his or her cash, in the event you can think about a $350 to 400 worth, then MSI has lots to do. The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WIFI does have lots going for it, together with Wi-Fi 6E, 5 M.2 slots, and a stable 19-phase energy supply. Nonetheless, the proof is all the time within the pudding (efficiency), and it is time to see the way it stacks up in opposition to different Z690 fashions we have examined, together with GIGABYTE’s very attractive-looking Z690 Aorus Grasp.

Learn on for our prolonged evaluation.