MSI's X870E Carbon WIFI Motherboard Review: Arrival of USB 4.0 Technology
The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk motherboard, paired with an AMD Ryzen 9 9900X CPU, Asus TUF RTX 4080 16G graphics card, and high-speed DDR5 RAM, has been impressing tech enthusiasts with its impressive performance in both synthetic benchmarks and real-world gaming tests.
Built on the premium AMD X870 chipset, the MSI X870 motherboard offers robust power delivery with a 14 Duet Rail Power System. This feature helps maintain stable and clean power for high-end CPUs like the 9900X, ensuring optimal performance.
In multi-core CPU benchmarks, the X870 platform, including the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk, has been found to match or slightly outperform other high-end AM5 boards such as the Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero when using the Ryzen 9 9900X. Cinebench R23 multi-core tests with a similar high-end CPU setup have reached near 40,000 points, indicating excellent multi-threaded performance with stable thermals.
The motherboard includes advanced cooling features, extended heatsinks, and maintains low VRM temperatures during heavy CPU loads, supporting sustained high frequencies.
The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk supports DDR5 memory, including high-speed kits like Kingston Fury Beast DDR5-6000. This maximises memory bandwidth and reduces latency for tasks and gaming. The Asus TUF RTX 4080 16G pairs well with this platform, leveraging the PCIe 5.0 capability and providing excellent frame rates and power efficiency in demanding games and synthetic GPU benchmarks.
In gaming scenarios, setups based on similar configurations have achieved high frame rates, with the RTX 4080 likely performing even better. The MSI board’s comprehensive connectivity (USB4, Wi-Fi 7, 5G LAN) and fast storage options (quadruple M.2 slots) further enhance the gaming experience with fast load times and responsive peripherals.
MSI has updated its BIOS for X870 and renamed it "Click X". The new BIOS layout has headings on the left side, details in the middle, and system status information on the right side. MSI's Click X BIOS includes an informational EZ Mode with limited functionality such as Game Boost, PBO, and more.
The test system, which runs on Windows 11 64-bit OS, also includes updated RAM kits, cooling, storage, and video card. The storage for the test system is Crucial 2TB T705 M.2 PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD. The cooling solution for the test system is Arctic Liquid Freezer II 420.
In conclusion, the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk paired with AMD Ryzen 9 9900X, Asus TUF RTX 4080 16G, and high-speed DDR5 RAM demonstrates excellent performance in both synthetic benchmarks and real-world gaming tests. This platform offers a strong power delivery system, robust cooling, ample connectivity, and support for high-speed DDR5, making it a top-tier choice for high-end gaming and productivity systems.
This high-end gaming setup, including the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk motherboard, AMD Ryzen 9 9900X CPU, Asus TUF RTX 4080 16G graphics card, and high-speed DDR5 RAM, showcases the integration of cutting-edge technology, ensuring seamless operation of advanced gadgets. The robust power delivery system, along with the advanced cooling features, ensures optimal performance in demanding games and synthetic benchmarks.
