MSI MEG Z790 Ace WiFi DDR5 Intel Z790 14th Gen LGA 1700 E-ATX Motherboard
The motherboard is the foundation of any computer system, and for high-performance systems, the choice of motherboard is crucial. MSI's MEG Z790 Ace WiFi DDR5 Intel Z790 14th Gen LGA 1700 E-ATX Motherboard is designed for users who need maximum performance, top-tier overclocking capabilities, cutting-edge features, and future-proof compatibility. Built to accommodate Intel’s 14th Gen processors, this motherboard is a powerhouse that caters to gamers, content creators, and PC enthusiasts who demand the best.
This extensive review will cover the product overview, description, key features, detailed specifications, performance analysis, warranty information, and the refund/return/exchange policy. With its premium feature set, the MSI MEG Z790 Ace WiFi DDR5 is truly an enthusiast-grade motherboard that supports the latest technologies, including DDR5 memory, PCIe 5.0, Thunderbolt 4, and advanced cooling solutions.
Product Overview
The MSI MEG Z790 Ace WiFi DDR5 is part of MSI's MEG (MSI Enthusiast Gaming) series, which is aimed at high-end gaming and performance users. As a flagship motherboard built around the Intel Z790 chipset, it supports Intel's 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen CPUs on the LGA 1700 socket, making it a future-proof option for those planning on upgrading to the latest Intel processors.
This motherboard is packed with premium features such as DDR5 support, PCIe 5.0 compatibility for faster storage and GPU speeds, WiFi 6E for superior wireless connectivity, and Thunderbolt 4 for high-speed data transfer. The MEG Z790 Ace is designed in the E-ATX form factor, providing extra room for additional components, more extensive power delivery, and superior cooling solutions.
It boasts a 24-phase power design, ensuring stable power delivery even during overclocking scenarios, making it an ideal choice for those pushing their system to the limits. Additionally, the motherboard is equipped with dual 2.5G LAN ports and robust M.2 storage options to cater to users who demand maximum bandwidth for networking and storage.
Whether you're a hardcore gamer, a professional content creator, or a PC enthusiast looking to build a high-performance rig, the MSI MEG Z790 Ace WiFi DDR5 delivers cutting-edge performance with a comprehensive suite of features.
Product Description
The MSI MEG Z790 Ace WiFi DDR5 motherboard is designed with high performance and aesthetics in mind. Featuring a black and gold color scheme, the motherboard has a premium and sleek look that pairs well with high-end gaming setups. The E-ATX form factor offers expanded connectivity and space for additional hardware, allowing users to build robust systems for gaming, overclocking, and workstation use.
One of the standout features of the MEG Z790 Ace is its support for the latest DDR5 memory, offering incredible memory speeds and bandwidth. With four DIMM slots, it supports up to 128GB of DDR5 RAM, making it ideal for resource-intensive applications and multitasking.
The motherboard also features MSI's advanced cooling design, which includes large heatsinks, multiple fan headers, and dedicated water pump connectors, ensuring optimal thermal performance. It also comes with MSI's Frozr AI Cooling technology, which intelligently adjusts fan speeds based on the system's temperature.
For connectivity, the MEG Z790 Ace WiFi includes dual PCIe 5.0 x16 slots for next-gen GPUs, five M.2 slots for ultra-fast NVMe SSDs, and Thunderbolt 4 ports for high-speed peripherals. It also supports WiFi 6E, the latest wireless standard, which delivers faster and more reliable internet speeds.
Overall, the MSI MEG Z790 Ace WiFi DDR5 is a premium motherboard that provides high-end features and support for Intel's latest processors, ensuring that users can build cutting-edge systems that will last for years to come.
Key Features
Intel Z790 Chipset with LGA 1700 Socket
The MEG Z790 Ace is built around the Intel Z790 chipset, supporting Intel’s 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen processors. It offers advanced overclocking features, PCIe 5.0 support, and DDR5 memory compatibility.
DDR5 Memory Support
This motherboard supports DDR5 memory, delivering faster speeds and higher bandwidth than its DDR4 counterpart. With support for up to 128GB of DDR5 RAM and overclocking speeds beyond 7800 MHz, it’s perfect for demanding tasks like gaming, content creation, and multi-tasking.
PCIe 5.0 Ready
The dual PCIe 5.0 x16 slots offer support for the latest GPUs and storage devices, ensuring faster data transfer and future-proof compatibility with next-generation hardware.
Advanced Cooling Solutions
MSI's advanced thermal design includes large extended heatsinks, heat pipes, and a dedicated water pump header for custom liquid cooling setups. The board also features M.2 Shield Frozr, which helps keep M.2 SSDs cool under heavy loads.
Thunderbolt 4 Support
With dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, the MEG Z790 Ace allows for data transfer speeds up to 40Gbps, along with support for multiple high-resolution displays and ultra-fast external storage solutions.
WiFi 6E & Dual 2.5G LAN
The board supports WiFi 6E, providing faster wireless speeds and reduced latency. For wired connections, it includes dual 2.5G LAN ports, making it ideal for users requiring high-bandwidth networking.
High-Quality Audio
The integrated Realtek ALC4082 codec and ESS Sabre 9018Q2C DAC offer studio-grade audio quality, making it perfect for audiophiles, streamers, and those who demand premium sound quality in games or multimedia content.
Enhanced Power Design
The MEG Z790 Ace features a 24-phase power design, providing stable power delivery even during extreme overclocking. The board is equipped with dual 8-pin power connectors to ensure that high-end CPUs receive enough power.
5x M.2 Slots with PCIe 4.0
The motherboard includes five M.2 slots, all of which support PCIe 4.0, enabling users to install multiple high-speed NVMe SSDs for fast data access and storage capabilities.
Mystic Light RGB
MSI’s Mystic Light RGB lighting system allows users to customize the look of their build with vibrant lighting effects, syncing with other compatible devices to create an immersive light show.
Specifications
| Chipset
|
INTEL Z790
|
|---|
| CPU
|
Support Intel® Core™ 14th/ 13th/ 12th Gen Processors, Intel® Pentium® Gold and Celeron® Processors
LGA 1700
|
| Memory
|
4x DDR5 UDIMM, Maximum Memory Capacity 256GB
Memory
Support 7800+(OC)/ 7600(OC)/ 7400(OC)/ 7200(OC)/ 7000(OC)/ 6800(OC)/
6600(OC)/ 6400(OC)/ 6200(OC)/ 6000(OC)/ 5800(OC)/ 5600(JEDEC)/
5400(JEDEC)/ 5200(JEDEC)/ 5000(JEDEC)/ 4800(JEDEC) MHz
Max. overclocking frequency:
• 1DPC 1R Max speed up to 7800+ MHz
• 1DPC 2R Max speed up to 6600+ MHz
• 2DPC 1R Max speed up to 6400+ MHz
• 2DPC 2R Max speed up to 5600+ MHz
Supports Intel® XMP3.0 OC
Supports Dual-Controller Dual-Channel mode
Supports non-ECC, un-buffered memory
|
| Onboard Graphics
|
1x Type-C DisplayPort
Supports a maximum resolution of 4K 60Hz
*Available only on processors featuring integrated graphics.
**Graphics specifications may vary depending on the CPU installed.
|
| Slot
|
3x PCI-E x16 slot
PCI_E1 Gen PCIe 5.0 supports up to x16 (From CPU)
PCI_E2 Gen PCIe 5.0 supports up to x8 (From CPU)
PCI_E3 Gen PCIe 4.0 supports up to x4 (From Chipset)
*PCI_E1 slot will run at x8 speed when installing device in the PCI_E2 slot or M2_4 slot.
**M2_4 slot will be unavailable when installing device in the PCI_E2 slot.
|
| Audio
|
Realtek® ALC4082 Codec + ESS ES9280AQ Combo DAC/HPA
7.1-Channel USB High Performance Audio
Supports S/PDIF output
Supports up to 32-Bit/384 kHz playback on front panel
|
| Storage
|
5x M.2
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
*M2_4 slot will be unavailable when installing in the PCI_E2 slot.
**SATA7 will be unavailable when installing M.2 SATA SSD in the M2_5 slot.
|
| Multi-GPU
|
AMD MULTI-GPU Support
|
| RAID
|
Supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 for SATA storage devices
Supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 for M.2 NVMe storage devices
*SATA_A1_A2 do not support RAID function.
|
| Onboard Thunderbolt
|
Thunderbolt chip JHL8540
2x Thunderbolt4 (USB-C) ports Q’ty
Supports up to 40Gbps transfer rate with Thunderbolt devices
Supports up to 20Gbps transfer rate with USB4 devices
Supports up to 10Gbps transfer rate with USB 3.2 devices
Supports up to 5V/3A,15W power charging
Each port can daisy-chain up to three Thunderbolt 4 devices or five Thunderbolt 3 devices
Supports up to 8K display (need to connect the DisplayPort of the
discrete graphics card to the Mini DisplayPort Input port on the back
panel)
|
| USB
|
4x USB 2.0 (Front)
4x USB 2.0 ports (Front)
4x USB 5Gbps Type A (Front)
7x USB 10Gbps Type A (Rear)
1x USB 10Gbps Type C (Rear)
2x USB 20Gbps Type C (Front)
*To achieve 60W PD fast charging for JUSB6, the PD_PWR1 connector needs to be connected to the power supply unit.
**JUSB6 doesn’t support USB 2.0 device.
|
| LAN
|
2x Intel® 2.5Gbps LAN
|
| Internal IO
|
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)
V-check point
4x USB 2.0 ports
2x USB 5Gbps Type A ports
2x USB 20Gbps Type C ports
|
| WIRELESS LAN & BLUETOOTH
|
Intel® Wi-Fi 6E
The Wireless module is pre-installed in the M.2 (Key-E) slot
Supports MU-MIMO TX/RX, 2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz* (160MHz) up to 2.4Gbps
Supports 802.11 a/ b/ g/ n/ ac/ ax
Supports Bluetooth® 5.3, FIPS, FISMA
* Wi-Fi 6E 6GHz may depend on every country’s regulations and will be ready in Windows 11.
** Bluetooth 5.3 will be ready in Windows 10 build 21H1 and Windows 11.
|
| LED FEATURE
|
1x EZ LED Control switch
4x EZ Debug LED
1x 2-Digit Debug Code LED |
Performance Review
Overclocking Performance
The MSI MEG Z790 Ace is built with overclocking in mind. With its robust 24-phase power design and high-quality components, it can easily handle overclocking high-end Intel processors. The inclusion of dual 8-pin CPU power connectors ensures stable power delivery during extreme overclocking sessions. For those pushing their system to the max, MSI’s BIOS provides extensive overclocking tools and settings, making it easy for both beginners and advanced users to tweak their systems.
When paired with an Intel 14th Gen processor, the MEG Z790 Ace allows for impressive CPU overclocking potential. Users have reported stable overclocks at high frequencies, allowing for excellent performance in gaming, rendering, and other CPU-intensive tasks.
Gaming Performance
The MSI MEG Z790 Ace WiFi is a perfect choice for gamers seeking top-tier performance. With support for the latest Intel CPUs, PCIe 5.0 GPUs, and DDR5 memory, it delivers excellent frame rates and gaming performance, especially in modern AAA titles that demand high system resources.
The fast memory speeds offered by DDR5, coupled with PCIe 5.0 support, ensure that users experience minimal latency and load times, providing a smooth and immersive gaming experience. The motherboard's excellent connectivity options, including Thunderbolt 4 and WiFi 6E, further enhance the gaming experience by allowing for low-latency online gaming and seamless connection to high-speed storage devices for faster game load times.
Connectivity and Storage
With five M.2 slots, users can install multiple NVMe SSDs, creating an extensive and ultra-fast storage solution. Whether for gaming, video editing, or content creation, the fast PCIe 4.0 SSD support ensures rapid data access and short load times. The motherboard's dual Thunderbolt 4 ports make it easy to connect to high-speed external drives, multiple 4K monitors, or other Thunderbolt-compatible devices.
The dual 2.5G LAN ports and WiFi 6E provide ample networking options, ensuring that whether users prefer wired or wireless connections, they will experience the fastest internet speeds available.
Warranty Details
The MSI MEG Z790 Ace WiFi DDR5 motherboard comes with a standard 2-year warranty, covering defects in materials and workmanship. During this period, MSI will repair or replace faulty components at no additional charge, ensuring users can have peace of mind with their purchase.
To avail of the warranty service, customers must contact MSI’s support and provide proof of purchase. It’s also recommended to register the product on MSI's website to facilitate a smooth warranty claim process.
07-Days Refund/Return/Exchange Policy
In addition to the 2-year warranty, many retailers offer a 07-day refund/return/exchange policy. This policy allows customers to return or exchange the product if they encounter any issues within the first week of purchase, provided the product is in its original condition and packaging.
Ensure to check the terms and conditions with the retailer from whom the motherboard was purchased, as return policies may vary.
Conclusion
The MSI MEG Z790 Ace WiFi DDR5 Intel Z790 14th Gen LGA 1700 E-ATX Motherboard is a premium, high-end solution for users seeking top performance and future-proofing in their PC builds. It offers robust overclocking capabilities, advanced cooling solutions, and next-generation connectivity options like PCIe 5.0, DDR5 memory, Thunderbolt 4, and WiFi 6E.
Whether you're a hardcore gamer looking for the ultimate gaming experience or a content creator needing extreme processing power and fast storage, the MSI MEG Z790 Ace delivers on all fronts. With its sleek design, extensive connectivity options, and support for Intel’s latest processors, it stands out as a flagship motherboard that will elevate any build.
With a 2-year warranty and a 7-day refund/return/exchange policy, customers can be confident in their investment in this motherboard, knowing it is backed by strong support and high-quality engineering.