MSI’s Tomahawk motherboards often price extremely. They have an inclination to concentrate on a core function set relatively than the premium tier options frequent to way 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 powerful competitors from the opposite distributors in its value vary although.
Right here for overview I’ve the DDR5 model. There’s additionally a DDR4 model ought to you might have set of DDR4 reminiscence readily available, although if you could purchase reminiscence too, the DDR5 model is unquestionably the way in which to go. DDR4 may 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 metallic heatsinks. It lacks onboard RGB, although you get 4 headers, three of that are addressable. Personally, I desire this type of subtler design to ones that current you with overt RGB ads each time you peer into your case.
MSI Z790 Tomahawk specs
Socket: Intel LGA1700
CPU compatibility: Intel twelfth & thirteenth Gen desktop processors
Type issue: ATX
Reminiscence help: DDR5-7200+(OC), As much as 128GB
Storage: 4x M.2, 7x SATA
USB: As much as 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2, 6x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 6x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 6x USB 2.0
Show: 1x DP 1.4. 1x HDMI 2.1
Networking: Intel 2.5G LAN, Intel Wi-Fi 6E
Audio: Realtek ALC4080
Value: $319 (opens in new tab)/ £337 (opens in new tab) / AU$569 (opens in new tab)
The Tomahawk contains help for 4 M.2 drives, although PCIe 5.0 SSD help is lacking. Wouldn’t it 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, that means it isn’t one thing that is important to have at this cut-off date. A very good high quality PCIe 4.0 drive can be greater than ample for years to come back, very like PCIe 3.0 drive nonetheless stays related immediately.
In contrast to some PCIe 5.0 SSD supporting boards, such because the costlier Gigabyte Aorus Z790 Grasp (opens in new tab) with its large M.2 heatsink, the Tomahawk doesn’t want one, sticking with a low profile design that doesn’t require numerous 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 section resolution with 90A phases is definitely able to pushing an overclocked Core i9 13900K. Nevertheless, you’ll must be sure you have energetic 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.
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 Sort-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 eventually 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 is just not anticipated. They’re the sorts of options that makers use to justify boards costing twice as a lot.
MSI’s BIOS has modified little over time, and truthfully, it does not must. For those who’re accustomed to MSI boards since their first UEFI iterations, you will be proper at dwelling. Although everybody could 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 could possibly 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 eventually a ‘Water Cooling’ choice which removes all limits. Not that you’re going to ever want it, however this permits a hypothetical 4096W!
System Efficiency
Gaming Efficiency
Check rig
CPU: Intel Core i9 13900K
Graphics: Zotac GeForce RTX 3080 Ti AMP Holo
RAM: 2x 16GB G.Ability Trident Z5 DDR5-6000 C36
Storage: 2TB Seagate FireCuda 530
Cooling: Cooler Grasp PL360 Flux 360mm AIO
PSU: Corsair AX1000
I used to be lucky to get my fingers on each the DDR4 and DDR5 variations of the Z790 Tomahawk. That provides us a terrific alternative to take a look at like-for-like methods with each sorts 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, that means the DDR4 outcomes are close to sufficient to pretty much as good because it will get until you’ve got acquired some actually prime shelf B-Die reminiscence at 4000MHz+.
The Handbrake video encoding take a look at advantages enormously, the file compression take a look at much more so, whereas in different instances the variations are inside a margin of error.
With regards 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. After all, 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 typically inside a margin of error. You will get sooner multithreading outcomes if you happen to go away your CPU’s energy limits unlocked, although energy consumption will improve and you will want excellent cooling.
Nowadays, 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 if you happen to overclock, you’ll hit cooling limitations earlier than VRMs are overly pressured. Remember 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 little bit 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.
Due to inflation, provide chain points and a little bit (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. For those who 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 value of motherboards costing double the cash of the Z790 Tomahawk.
The guidelines is full for many customers. Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5G LAN, a robust VRM able to dealing with 13900K, numerous USB ports together with 3.2 Gen 2×2, a stable BIOS, and a discrete design able to mix in with nearly any construct theme. Ask your self if you happen to want extra? For those who do, be ready to take a step up in value.
Maybe its lack of PCIe 5.0 M.2 help counts towards and it requires good airflow if you happen to topic it to heavy hundreds, however the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk remains to be a stable, feature-rich board that delivers a core function set that can swimsuit 95% or extra of customers. Do you could spend extra? I might say you in all probability do not.