MSI MPG X870E CARBON WIFI Motherboard, ATX - Supports AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 Processors, AM5 - 110A SPS VRM, DDR5 Memory Boost 8400+MT/s (OC), PCIe 5.0 x16 & 4.0 x16, M.2 Gen5, Wi-Fi 7, 5G LAN

Design & Build Quality:The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi sports a sleek, matte black finish with tasteful, understated accents that give it a refined, military-inspired aesthetic. It avoids flashy RGB, which will appeal to users who prefer a more professional, no-nonsense look. Build quality is exceptional — from the reinforced PCIe 5.0 slot designed to handle the heft of modern GPUs, to the conveniently placed EZ PCIe release button for hassle-free installation and removal.Each M.2 slot includes its own heatsink, helping keep high-speed SSDs cool under load. The VRM and chipset are also equipped with efficient heatsinks, contributing to the board's stability and long-term durability. Speaking of which, MSI has opted for an 8-layer server-grade PCB, which further enhances reliability. Even the BIOS UI aligns nicely with the board’s visual identity, offering a cohesive and premium experience throughout.Features & Connectivity:Right out of the box, this motherboard supports the latest AMD Ryzen 9000 series processors. MSI has included robust AMD overclocking support, with a BIOS that is intuitive and user-friendly, making tweaking CPU and memory settings a breeze for both newcomers and enthusiasts.The X870 Tomahawk WiFi also delivers excellent storage and connectivity options:• Multiple M.2 slots, including two ultra-fast PCIe 5.0 x4• 4x SATA 6G ports• Dual USB 4 Type-C (40Gbps) ports• A wide array of USB Type-A options (2.0, 5Gbps, and 10Gbps)• Built-in WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for next-gen wireless performance• 5G LAN for ultra-fast wired networkingAdditionally, MSI includes several enthusiast-friendly features such as:• Multiple fan headers positioned intelligently around the board• A flash BIOS and clear CMOS button on the rear I/O• A debug code screen alongside four diagnostic LEDs for easy troubleshooting• EZ Conn connector for simplified cabling• 5.1/7.1 USB audio support• A surprisingly included PCIe 8-pin power connector — possibly in anticipation of future GPUs needing extra powerWhat Could Be Improved:One of the few areas where MSI could have gone further is warranty coverage. While a standard 3-year warranty is included, a 5-year warranty would have aligned it with competitors like Gigabyte, offering buyers additional peace of mind for long-term use.Conclusion:The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi is a stellar motherboard that strikes an impressive balance between value, performance, and premium features. Whether you’re building a high-end gaming rig or a productivity powerhouse, this board delivers on all fronts without breaking the bank. It's a future-ready, cost-effective option that doesn't compromise on quality or performance.

This board is a level above any I've bought before for previous builds. I'd usually go for low/mid tier boards as the higher priced ones offered little in extra features, however this board is the exception.It's packed with features and super high quality components. Functionally it does everything right and without a load of faffing about. The BIOS UX is great and easy to navigate for setup and fine tuning of components. For once this is really worth doing for the Ryzen 9 series CPU's as they are very flexible on clock and voltage.It was as simple to fit as any other board. A big benefit for me was the large number of ARGB ports which allowed me to do without the port hub I needed in my previous B550 build. I also appreciated the PCI slot latch mechanism that I think is unique to these boards, and the 4 NVME drive ports come with integrated cooling plates and thermal pads for the contact points which is an excellent additional feature.Connectivity is excellent and a cut above other boards in this price range. Boot speed is a little slow at post, but the setup flies once booted and hasn't had any hiccups or crashes since built a few weeks back now.

Nice heavy motherboard, lots of heatsinking and easy to use. Good to have full size PCIe slots (even if they're only 1x or 4x electrically) so it's possible to install lots of expansion. Integrated IO shield is nice but can show a silver border.Memory training went quite quickly and the BIOS is intuitive, plus fan curves aren't too noisy by default like some motherboards can be. Turn on XMP and there's not much else that needs to be adjusted.Toolless M.2 slot is nice, even if a bit fiddly to line up when putting back - no screws to lose!Not supplied with a manual and the QR code links a PDF that is still a bit basic without full written instructions, but for experienced builders there shouldn't be a problem.5 GbE is nice and links at 2.5 GbE as well. Not able to test the Wifi 7, but the antenna is quite large - be careful if you're used to a smaller one!