MSI MEG Z790 ACE MAX & MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX Review – Upgrades Everywhere!

MSI MEG Z790 ACE MAX Motherboard - Unboxing & Close Up Inspection

It's no mystery that Intel is going to launch its 14th Gen Raptor Lake Refresh CPU lineup soon and as such, motherboard vendors are doing a soft refresh of their existing product lineups & offering new Z790/B760 chipset designs that come with better I/O, VRMs, cooling capabilities and more. As of today, MSI has introduced its next-gen Z790 MAX series of motherboards which are essentially a "maxing-out" of their original designs and offering something fresh to consumers.

For today's review, we take a look at MSI's MEG Z790 ACE MAX and MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX, both of which are aiming at the high-end market with prices of $699 and $329 US, respectively. We are still a month away from the launch of the Next-Gen CPUs so expect a revisit of these boards on the newer chips when they are available.

The Intel LGA 1700 Platform

Intel's Raptor Lake-S desktop CPUs feature support on LGA 1700 socket which is also used by the Alder Lake CPUs. The Raptor Lake-S CPUs launched alongside the 700-series motherboards. You can expect all the top-notch specs from the Z790 motherboards with the best overclocking & fine-tuning capabilities.

Another interesting thing to talk about the Z790 PCH is its process node and dimensions. The Z790 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	Arrow Lake-S (ARL-S) PCH / 800 Series (Z890)	Raptor Lake-S (RPL-S) PCH / 700 Series (Z790)	Alder Lake-S (ADL-S) PCH / 600 Series (Z690)	Rocket Lake-S (RKL-S) PCH / 500 Series (Z590)	Comet Lake-S (CML-S) PCH / 400 Series (Z490)	Coffee Lake S (CFL-S) PCH / 300 Series (Z390/H370, B360, Q370, H310)	Coffee Lake S (KBL-R) PCH / Z370 Platform
Process Node	7nm	14nm	14nm	14nm	14nm	14nm	22nm
Processor	24C, 20C, 14C, 12C, TBD)	24,16C,12C,10C,6C,4C	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)	8C, 6C, 4C, 2C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch)	8C, 6C, 4C (6 Consumer SKUs at Launch)
Memory	Up To DDR5-6400 (Native)	Up To DDR5-5600 (Native) Up To DDR4-3200 (Native)	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	eDP / 4DDI (DP, HDMI) Display Capabilities	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 2x2 (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 2x2 (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 2x2 (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 2x2 (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	PCIe 5.0 (CPU Lanes), 8x SATA 3.0	Next-Gen Intel Optane memory PCIe 5.0 (CPU Lanes), 6x SATA 3.0	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
Max PCH PCIe Lanes	Up To 24 (Gen 4)	Up To 20 (Gen 4) Up To 8 (Gen 3)	Up To 12 (Gen 4) Up To 16 (Gen 3)	Up To 24 (Gen 3)	Up To 24 (Gen 3)	Up To 24 (Gen 3)	Up To 24 (Gen 3)
Max CPU PCIe Lanes	Up To 20 (Gen 5) Up To 4 (Gen 4)	Up To 16 (Gen 5) Up To 4 (Gen 4)	Up To 16 (Gen 5) Up To 4 (Gen 4)	Up To 20 (Gen 4)	Up To 16 (Gen 3)	Up To 16 (Gen 3)	Up To 16 (Gen 3)
Max USB Ports	Up To 5 (USB 3.2 Gen 2z2) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 5 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 4 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 3 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 10 (USB 3.2) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 10 (USB 3.1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 10 (USB 3.0) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)
Security	Intel TET Intel Boot Guard	N/A	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	C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby	C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby	C8 Support
Launch	2024	2022	2021	2021	2019	2018	2017

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 Next-Gen, 13th & 12th Gen CPUs.

So as for the socket details, Intel has gone with an asymmetrical design since the Alder Lake CPUs are no longer square-shaped. The latest desktop CPUs will come in a 37.5x45.0mm package and are supported by the 'V0' socket which we know as LGA 1700.

The 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.

Cooler Compatibility With LGA 1700 Socket

To make their existing coolers compatible with Intel's Raptor Lake & Alder Lake CPU lineup, many cooling brands have released LGA 1700 upgrade kits which feature mounting hardware for the new socket. But the Intel Raptor Lake and the Alder Lake CPU platform aren't just featuring a brand new mounting design but the CPU dimensions themselves 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.

The MSI MEG Z790 ACE MAX is a premium motherboard that comes in a rather bulky box. The front is themed in a black and golden color theme that features a picture of the box and the ACE theme. The front side also lists down support for Intel's 13th generation Core processors & also mentions next-gen CPU compatibility.

The backside of the package lists the specifications and special features of the motherboard such as the 24+1+2 phase power delivery, extreme cooling module design, a lightning-fast I/O solution, Quintuple M.2 connectors, and more.

Opening up the package reveals the large 'ACE' logo and a quote that reads 'Lustrous Aesthetics, Pure Performance'.

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.

Following is the full list of accessories in the package:

• 1x Wi-Fi Antenna
• 1x USB drive with drivers & utilities
• 1x EZ Front Panel Cable
• 4x SATA Cables
• 2x Thermistor Cables
• 1 to 2 RGB LED Extension Y Cable
• 1x Rainbow RGB LED Extension Cable
• 2x DP to Mini DP Cables
• 4x M.2 Screws / Standoff Sets / EZ M.2 Clips
• Cable Sticker Set
• 1x Quick Installation Guide

With all the accessories done, it's time to put that box aside and open up the top holder that contains the MSI MEG Z790 ACE motherboard.

MSI's MEG Z790 MAX isn't just any motherboard, it's a statement of quality and performance, enveloped within a masterful design that shines in every aspect. While the MEG GODLIKE MAX remains the flagship, the Z790 ACE MAX is still an enthusiast-grade design that has become more mature with each iteration.

The MEG Z790 ACE MAX motherboard features one of the most elegant designs of all Z790 boards with its white and black theme. Now there are people such as me who liked the gold & black colors on the previous ACE products, the new motherboard does offer that with its default gold RGB color that can be adjusted.

The pricing and quality of this product make it feel more premium than the previous generation ACE offerings from MSI. The MSI ACE motherboards have also dropped the ATX design of previous generations and gone with an E-ATX layout, allowing the manufacturer to cram even more features into this iconic motherboard.

The board uses the LGA 1700 socket to support Intel Core processors. The socket is compatible with Intel's Next-Gen, 13th & 12th Generation core family. The socket has a protective cover on top of it that points out the exclusivity with Raptor Lake 13th Gen & Alder Lake 12th Gen CPUs, refraining users from running 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. For its MAX series, you don't need to upgrade your BIOS as a prerequisite to installing a Next-Gen CPU as it already comes with the latest one out of the factory.

Next to the socket are four DDR5 DIMM slots that can support up to 192 GB of dual-channel memory.

These slots are rated to support XMP profiles up to 7800 MT/s (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. Each slot is also combined with a reinforced design to make sure signal integrity remains good while keeping the slots durable for long-term usage.

The MSI MEG Z790 ACE features a 24+1+2 (VCore/ VccGT/VccAUX)  phase digital power delivery that utilizes the RAA229131 PWM controller and RAA2201105 (105A) MOSFETs for the VCore. The Vcc GT and Vcc AUX MOSFETs (DRPS) are spec'd at 60A & 70A respectively.

MSI is using what it calls an 'Outstanding Cooling Module' for cooling the various components on the motherboard. It includes a high-end and stacked Fin Array Design with 7W/mK Thermal Pad, a DirectTouch Cross heatpipe solution on the top heatsinks, a double-sided M.2 shield Frozr design, an enlarged PCH heatsink, and a full-coverage aluminum backplate.

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 Next-Gen, 13th & 12th Gen Unlocked CPUs are very power-hungry with the maximum turbo power rated at 253W for the Core i9-13900K and more if you are planning to overclock these chips.

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 Z790 ACE MAX are rated at 7w/mK.

There's also a heat pipe that connects the two MOSFETs heatsinks for better heat dissipation. The heatsinks are coated in black color to enhance overall aesthetics and are very densely packed.

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 gen5 x4/gen4 x4.

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.

All five M.2 slots are cooled off by the thermal pad and aluminum baseplate cooling which is part of the M.2 Shield Frozr heatsink design. 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. The topmost heatsink which has the bulkiest heatsink has a magnetic lock that makes it easy to remove and install the heatsink itself.

5x M.2 slot

• M.2_1 Source (From CPU) supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4, supports 22110/2280/2260 devices
• M.2_2 Source (From Chipset) supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4, supports 2280/2260 devices
• M.2_3 Source (From Chipset) supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4 / SATA mode, supports 2280/2260 devices
• M.2_4 Source (From CPU) supports up to PCIe 5.0 x4, supports 2280 devices
• M.2_5 Source (From Chipset) supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4 / SATA mode, supports 22110/2280/2260 devices
• 6x SATA 6G

*The M2_4 slot will be unavailable when installed in the PCI_E2 slot.
**SATA7 will be unavailable when installing the M.2 SATA SSD in the M2_5 slot.

The topmost heatsink which has the bulkiest heatsink has a magnetic lock that makes it easy to remove and install the heatsink itself.

The Z790 PCH is housed beneath a large heatsink with the MAX logo etched over it that looks great.

While the MSI MEG Z790 ACE didn't feature any RGB LED Illumination, the MEG Z790 ACE MAX & Z790 ACE bring it back and there are three accent points which include one on the PCH heatsink, one on the I/O cover (Dragon logo), and one on the sides. There are ARGB headers for those who want to make their PCs flash.

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 6 USB 3.2 front panel connectors (2 x Gen 2x2 + 4 x Gen 1). Four USB 2.0 front panel connectors are also included. The motherboard also features a 60W PD (Power Delivery) mode for fast charging when the auxiliary 6-pin connector is plugged in.

MSI is using its Audio Boost 5 HD system for audio which is a combination of various high-end hardware, and software audio solutions. 7.1 CH HD audio with the latest Realtek ALC4082 CODEC & ESS's ES9280AQ Combo DAC/HPA.

MSI has a massive amount of fan headers along with RGB Enable/Disable and Dual-BIOS switches scattered at the bottom of the motherboard. There are also the Power On/Off and reset switches. It also comes with voltage reading, and measuring points near the DEBUG LED at the top right corner of the motherboard.

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

•  1x Power Connector(ATX_PWR)
• 2x Power Connector(CPU_PWR)
• 1x Front Type-C Quick Charge Connector(PD_PWR1)
• 1x CPU Fan
• 2x Pump Fan
• 5x System Fan
• 2x Front Panel (JFP)
• 1x Chassis Intrusion (JCI)
• 1x Water Flow connector
• 1x Slow Mode Booting Jumper(JSLOW)
• 1x Front Audio (JAUD)
• 2x Thermal Sensor connectors(T_SEN)
• 1x Tuning Controller connector(JDASH)
• 3x Addressable V2 RGB LED connector (JARGB_V2)
• 1x RGB LED connector(JRGB)
• 1x TPM pin header(Support TPM 2.0)
• 4x USB 2.0 ports
• 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type A ports
• 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type C ports
• V-check point
• 1x ARGB+FAN Header (JAF_1)

MSI is using Intel's WiFi 67 802.11 AX210 WiFi Module to power wireless connectivity with up to 5.8 Gbps data transfer rates, up to 320 MHz bandwidth, and Bluetooth 5.4. In terms of Ethernet, there are also dual 2.5G Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports which are powered by Intel's I225V controller chip.

The motherboard comes with the following I/O connectors:

• Clear CMOS Button
• Flash BIOS Button
• 2.5G LAN
• 2.5G LAN
• Thunderbolt 4 40Gbps (Type-C)
• Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
• Audio Connectors
• Smart 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

The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WIFI comes in the standard cardboard package. The front is themed in a very simple black and green color theme. The front side also lists down support for Intel's 13th-generation Core processors and next-gen CPUs. The motherboard also lists down WIFI 7 and Lightning Gen 5 on the packaging.

The backside of the package lists the specifications and special features of the motherboard such as Direct 16+1+1 phase power delivery, DDR5 support, Lightning Gen, WiFi 7/Bluetooth 5.4, 2.5GbE LAN, Quadruple M.2 connectors, and screwless M.2 Shield Frozr heatsink design..

The MAG series might be MSI's entry-level designs but the Tomahawk itself is a very high-end board and the MAX takes it to the next level.

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.

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
• European Union Regulatory Notice
• USB Drive (With Drivers/Software)
• WiFi Antenna
• MAG Stickers
• Front Panel Connector
• 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.

The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WIFI is themed in a unique black and green aesthetic. 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.

The board uses the LGA 1700 socket to support Intel Core processors. The socket is compatible with Intel's Next-Gen, 13th & 12th Generation core family. The socket has a protective cover on top of it that points out the exclusivity with Raptor Lake 13th Gen & Alder Lake 12th Gen CPUs, refraining users from running 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. For its MAX series, you don't need to upgrade your BIOS as a prerequisite to installing a Next-Gen CPU as it already comes with the latest one out of the factory.

Next to the socket are four DDR5 DIMM slots that can support up to 192 GB dual-channel memory. These slots are rated to support XMP profiles up to 7800 MT/s (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.

The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WIFI packs a 16+1+1 phase power delivery configuration that makes use of the SPS 90A MOSFETs. The motherboard also makes use of a 6-layer PCB with a 2oz copper design.

As you can see, the VRMs are getting ample cooling from two aluminum-based heatsinks, one of which features an extended fin design. This Tomahawk MAX supports all the overclocking tech & capabilities of a high-end board.

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 Next-Gen, 13th & 12th Gen Unlocked CPUs are very power-hungry with the maximum turbo power rated at 253W for the Core i9-13900K and more if you are planning to overclock these chips.

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.

As for logos, you can find the "MAG" label on the top-most VRM heatsink and the "MAX Tomahawk" logo on the PCH heatsink.

Expansion slots include three PCI Express x16 (one Gen 5 x16 / one Gen 4 x4 / one Gen 3 x1), and 4 M.2 slots.

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.

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.

The topmost M.2 Gen5 slot makes use of a screwless heatsink design which comes in handy when installing or removing the SSD from the motherboard. It is also located above the GPU slot so you can easily access it. The 2nd M.2 slot will be blocked by the GPU so you will have to remove the graphics card to access it.

The Z790 PCH is housed beneath a large heatsink with the Tomahawk MAX logo on top of it. The motherboard doesn't feature any embedded RGB lighting but comes with enough ARGB headers for personalization.

The Tomahawk MAX goes with a stealthy design that is very similar to the Unify series. The green hints are subtle and will look nice in a majority of PC builds.

Storage options include six SATA III ports rated to operate at 6 GB/s. Installing an M.2 device in the third slot will make the first SATA port unavailable since they both share the lanes from the PCH. 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.

MSI is using its Audio Boost 5 HD system for audio which is a combination of hardware, and 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 Power Connector(24-Pin ATX_PWR)
• 2x Power Connector(8-Pin CPU_PWR)
• 1x CPU Fan
• 1x Pump Fan
• 6x System Fan
• 2x Front Panel (JFP)
• 1x Chassis Intrusion (JCI)
• 1x Front Audio (JAUD)
• 1x Tuning Controller connector(JDASH)
• 3x Addressable V2 RGB LED connector (JARGB_V2)
• 1x RGB LED connector(JRGB)
• 1x TPM pin header(Support TPM 2.0)
• 4x USB 2.0 ports
• 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type A ports
• 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type C ports
• 1x USB4 card connector (JTBT_U4_1, supports RTD3)

MSI is using Intel's WiFi 67 802.11 AX210 WiFi Module to power wireless connectivity with up to 5.8 Gbps data transfer rates, up to 320 MHz bandwidth, and Bluetooth 5.4. In terms of Ethernet, there is also a single 2.5G Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports that is powered by Intel's I225V controller chip.

The I/O plate comes with an I/O cover with the same green and black theme. Following is the full list of I/O ports on the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WIFI motherboard:

• Display Port
• USB 3.2 Gen 1 5 Gbps (Type-A)
• USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps (Type-A)
• 2.5G LAN
• Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
• Audio Connectors
• HDMI
• Clear CMOS
• Flash BIOS
• USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps (Type-A)
• USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps (Type-C)
• USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20Gbps (Type-C)

For testing, I used the Intel Core i9-13900K which was sent to us by Intel on a range of Z790 motherboards.

Intel Z790 Motherboards Test Platform:

Processors	Intel Core i9-13900K
Motherboard	Maxsun iCraft B760M Cross Gigabyte Z790 AORUS PRO X (F5) Biostar Z790A-Silver (Z79BCC13.BST) ASRock Z790 Phantom Gaming NOVA (2.01) Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Master X (Launch) MSI MEG Z790 ACE MAX (Launch) MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WIFI (7E25vA0) ASRock Z790 Taichi LITE (1.06) MSI MEG Z790 ACE (7D86v164) ASRock Z790 Taichi Carrara (7.04) ASRock Z790 Steel Legend (8.05) Gigabyte Z790 AERO G (F5) ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 HERO (0904)
Power Supply	MSI MEG Ai1300P 1300W PSU
Solid State Drive	T-Force A440 Pro 2 TB (Gen4x4)
Memory	G.SKILL Trident Z5 32 GB (2 x 16GB) CL34 7200 Mbps
Video Cards	MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM X
Cooling Solutions	Corsair H150i (With LGA 1700 Mounting Kit)
OS	Windows 11 64-bit

Our test rig includes the T-Force A440 Pro 2 TB Gen4x4 SSD that boots up our main OS. In addition to these, we are running an MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM X graphics card and an MSI MEG Ai1300P 1300W PSU. For this specific review, we used G.Skill's latest Trident Z5 DDR5-7200 memory kit running at CL34 timings.

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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 back up 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.

V-Ray Render Benchmark

V-Ray  Benchmark is a free standalone application to test how fast your system renders. Three custom-built test scenes are also included to put each V-Ray 5 render engine through its paces.

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 features 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, 4096x4096 shadow textures) at 1440P in DirectX 12.

The Intel Raptor Lake CPUs feature the brand new hybrid architecture approach composed of Raptor Cove and Gracemont cores. The chip also relies on a brand new 10nm Enhanced SuperFin process node which delivers up to 6.0 GHz clock speeds on the flagship Core i9-13900KS.

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.

In terms of packaging, Intel's Raptor Lake 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 H150i AIO liquid cooler:

MSI MEG Z790 ACE MAX - Enthusiastically Refined

The MSI MEG Z790 ACE MAX expands upon the original ACE in every aspect. It's elegant & mature black theme looks great and the whole heatsink design makes this motherboard a real enthusiast offering. I am glad that once again, RGB is optional and you can totally go with a complete non-RGB aesthetic which looks stunning. But if you are a fan of RGB, then you have three lightning zones to configure which include the Dragon logo on the I/O plate, the MAX logo on the PCH plate, and the ACE logo on the magnetic SSD slot.

The MSI MEG Z790 ACE MAX retains its powerful 24+1+2 phase VRM design & support for up to 7800 MT/s DDR5 memory. The fastest kits I have are rated at DDR5-8000 and running them on MSI's ACE MAX was no issue at all. On the BIOS front, you are getting all the solid MSI features including a few new ones that will be rolling out soon, plus don't forget that this motherboard is factory-ready for Next-Gen CPUs which means you don't need to update with a new BIOS if you plan on getting a Raptor Lake Refresh chip.

In terms of I/O, the MSI MEG Z790 ACE comes with double the Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB Type-C) thanks to an onboard JHL8540 chipset. These provide up to 40 Gbps transfer rates and up to 15W charging. The standard USB interfaces feature 10 USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (including 2 Gen 2x2), 4 3.2 Gen 1, and 4 USB 2.0 ports. There's also a 60W Power Delivery option through the front panel USB headers that can be enabled by plugging in the 6-pin power connector on the motherboard.

Expansion slots include triple PCIe x16 slots (two Gen 5 and 1 Gen 4). Now the motherboard does not have any additional PLX chip so the slots will be sharing lanes with each other. Since there are only 16 Gen 5 lanes on the Raptor Lake CPUs, you will be restricted to x8/x8 when running two Gen 5 devices. There is also a single Gen 5 M.2 slot which will also share x4 lanes from the CPU so you'll end up with just x12 Gen 5 lanes. All M.2 slots come with a beefy cooling heatsink with dual-sided thermal pads which MSI has been offering for a while now. There's also a new magnetic M.2 slot in the MAX which is a great touch.

I have been running the original MSI MEG Z790 ACE motherboard on my PC since it was released and my experience has been very positive. There are a range of tuning options and great I/O that I'll gladly pay around $500 US for since it matches my build aesthetics and my requirements. With features such as WIFI 7, expanded IO, and a refinement to the ACE design, the ACE MAX is a solid motherboard. The motherboard does set you back for $699 US, a $100 US+ price increase over the Non-MAX. but if you really want the extra features that the MAX has onboard, then it's definitely a motherboard that you can't complain much about. MSI really knows how to handle the ACE design well and they have really outdone them once again with the ACE MAX!

MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WIFI - Solid $300-Range Option

Now let's head over to the MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WIFI which is another refinement to the MAG Tomahawk WIFI, rocking that all-black & stealthy look that we usually see on the higher-end Unify series. All the essential features are on this motherboard and at its mainstream $329 US pricing, it is one of the stronger offerings in the MSI Z790 MAX lineup.

The motherboard has all the essentials that make it a high-end product, 18 Phase (90A) VRM, solid heatsinks, quad M.2 slots, and support for PCIe Gen 5.0 M.2/PCIe interfaces. The primary M.2 slot comes with a screwless M.2 slot which is a nice addition.

The motherboard is complimented with a nice set of IO with internal and external USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports and a 2.5GbE LAN port along with WiFi7 connectivity. The motherboard delivered fantastic performance out of the box at stock and overclocked specs. 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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