MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk Wifi DDR4

amazon MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk Wifi DDR4 reviews

In the past few years, both Intel and AMD have pursued a strategy of simplifying chipset versions, which used to make it difficult for many users to choose the right motherboard for their processor.

Meanwhile, component manufacturers also changed their production tactics to respond to this situation by releasing more versions, with different equipment, creating a product range stretching from high-end to the popular range, even though they have the same chipset, enough to meet all the needs of users without having to “frustrate” too much about compatibility between components.

That is why at the end of October, after Intel launched its 12th generation Intel Core processor product line, MSI also quickly launched a range of motherboards using its Z690 chipset with enough versions.

Ordinary users can encounter the familiar version of the Tomahawk series motherboard MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk Wifi DDR4.

In MSI’s current hierarchy, the MEG product line represents the company’s most technological advancements in a generation of motherboards that meet the heaviest demands of professional users, users with high-performance requirements will come to the MPG product line that focuses on promoting power.

As for the general user with a tighter wallet, the MAG product line will provide all the basic features for you, among them, the Tomahawk product line is always an ideal choice for users by the high level of build quality and the full range of connectivity technology that this product line offers.

Right from the packaging stage, despite the slight difference in design, the MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk Wifi DDR4 is not much different from the new MSI MAG Z590 TOMAHAWK WIFI version released earlier this year.

Meanwhile, the back has been redesigned in a neater listing style, almost identical to the back of the MSI MPG Z690 Carbon Wifi version with many features shared with its predecessor.

Most notably, this motherboard model has been upgraded to PCIe 5.0 technology, Wifi 6E technology, and USB 3.2 Gen 2 technology with super-fast transfer speeds.

That’s not to mention 4 M.2 slots, one more port than the version with the Z590 chipset, enough to satisfy the high-speed storage needs of gamer users. This is a bright upgrade, especially in the context that card-type SSDs for M.2 slots are much cheaper than a few years ago.

Unpacking the product, it is easy to see that the version equipped with the Z690 chipset has a design that is not much different from the version using the Z590 chipset, except for the third heatsink (arranged at the bottom edge of the motherboard) is stretched to be able to dissipate heat for the fourth M.2 slot as mentioned above.

With the 12th generation of Intel Core processors that “waste” a lot of power compared to the previous generation, MSI has equipped the MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk Wifi DDR4 with a rather massive power supply configuration of 16+1+1, accompanied by an integrated cooling system for VRM as massive as the top motherboard MSI X570 Godlike.

These large VRM heatsinks can catch the wind from the CPU heatsink, especially extremely “matching” with the new generation MSI Core Liquid S Series AIO water coolers launched with On occasion with Z690 motherboards, because these water coolers all integrate a small 60mm cooling fan that creates a cooling airflow for the surrounding VRMs, enhancing the motherboard’s stability when “acceleration” for the CPU.

It is also because of the “follow” of the 12th generation processor models, especially the top processor model Intel Core i9 12900K, which is even more than the high-end processor versions from the red team such as AMD Ryzen 9 5900x, so MSI has equipped this board model with two 8pin power supplies for the CPU instead of the 8+4pin configuration as before.

Therefore, even though the MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk Wifi DDR4 is only classified as an entry-level Z690 motherboard, you can still use a motherboard model with Intel’s powerful flagship processors in low-end mode standard level without any power issues without trying to overclock the processor to a high level.

To “save” manufacturing costs, there is only one mainstream PCIe slot with a reinforced armored 16x configuration to protect the pins from “lean” graphics cards such as series high-end Gaming X has a massive heatsink and three fans with enough to bend any motherboard.

The other two slots are only used with ordinary plastic structures. These slots are all soldered to the motherboard using SMT soldering technology, which reduces the possibility of short circuits caused by components or wires touching the solder pins like in the old soldering method.

As an entry-level motherboard version, MSI offers users the choice of using current DDR4 memory models with lower speeds than the new generation DDR5 series, but with a “lower” price.

These four memory slots are all equipped with automatic memory overclocking technology “Memory Boost” and manually overclock settings “Memory Try It!” to make overclocking RAM easier.

This feature allows amateur users to experiment with MSI OC Lab’s tested setups on popular RAM models to find optimal speed and latency levels higher than the factory presets in the traditional XMP (eXtreme Memory Profile) feature.

Despite owning a lot of M.2 slots for high-speed SSD hard drives, the MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk Wifi DDR4 still uses a traditional screw instead of the easy-to-use EZ M.2 Clip knob MSI’s mid-range and high-end motherboards launched this time.

This is a pity because this detail is small but extremely useful for those who often have to disassemble the M.2 slot SSD.

In terms of connectivity, MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk Wifi DDR4 possesses all of today’s leading high-speed connectivity technologies such as USB 3.2 Gen 2 with transfer speeds up to 20Gbps, 2.5G LAN port and standard connectivity high-speed Wifi 6E connection, even a USB type C 3.2 Gen 2 port for the front panel if used with MSI’s new generation of chassis models.

What is surprising is that MSI still equips a quick BIOS flash button for this motherboard model, although the average user probably rarely plays around with the BIOS features.

Overall, although not equipped with many convenient features and a powerful power supply configuration like the MSI MPG Z690 Carbon Wifi, the mid-range MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk Wifi DDR4 motherboard can still “carry” Get top-of-the-line CPU models thanks to a powerfully upgraded power supply configuration.

Besides, the advanced features also easily satisfy the needs of the majority of users today, including gamers with relatively high requirements for their devices.

where can you get a MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk Wifi DDR4 online

MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 Gaming Motherboard (ATX, 12th Gen Intel Core, LGA 1700 Socket, DDR4, PCIe 4, CFX, M.2 Slots, Wi-Fi 6E): Buy it now