With AMD highlighting the performance of its Ryzen 9000 series processors, which will be released on July 31st, it isn’t surprising that the partners are also gearing up to release components that support the next-generation CPUs. MSI is all set to ride the wave alongside AMD with its X870 motherboards, which feature the AM5 socket and are designed to support the full capabilities of the Ryzen 9000 series CPUs.
This is excellent news for anyone wanting to shift to the AM5 platform because more partner products mean more support, and since AMD confirmed that it will support the AM5 platform until 2027, it makes it even better. We got a closer look at these new MSI boards at Computex and we can talk you through some of the features that MSI advertises with them.
MSI X870 motherboards, captured by PCWer
MSI X870 motherboards, captured by PCWer
MSI X870 motherboards, captured by PCWer
MSI X870 motherboards, captured by PCWer
MSI X870 motherboards, captured by PCWer
MSI X870 motherboards, captured by PCWer
MSI X870 motherboards, captured by PCWer
Specs listed for MSI’s new X870 motherboards
Two new motherboards were shown off to us – the MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi and PRO X870-P WiFi.
| PRO X870-P WiFi | MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi |
|---|---|
| Supports AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series desktop processors | Supports AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series desktop processors |
| Supports DDR5 memory | Supports DDR5 memory |
| 14+2+1 DRPS / 60A SPS / dual 8-pin CPU power connectors | 12+2+1 DRPS / 80A SPS / dual 8-pin CPU power connectors |
| Extended heatsink / MOSFET thermal pads rated for 7W/mK / choke thermal pads / M.2 Shield Frozr | Extended heatsink / MOSFET thermal pads rated for 7W/mK / choke thermal pads / M.2 Shield Frozr |
| PCIe 5.0 slot / Lightning Gen 5 x4 M.2 / USB 40Gbps Type-C | PCIe 5.0 slot / Lightning Gen 5 x4 M.2 / USB 40G Type-C |
| 5G LAN / Wi-Fi 7 | 5G LAN / Wi-Fi 7 |
| EZ M.2 Clip II, Screwless M.2 Shield Frozr | EZ PCIe Release, EZ M.2 Clip II, Screwless M.2 Shield Frozr |
What’s new for these X870 motherboards?
The X870 is an entirely new chipset. MSI included several accessibility features in the new MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi and PRO X870-P WiFi motherboards, making the lives of PC builders and technology enthusiasts much easier. For starters, you should be able to slap these new processors effortlessly on MSI’s X870 motherboard. According to MSI, these chips can integrate easily with a simple BIOS update, which is available on their website.
As for the accessibility features, we’ve listed them below.
EZ PCIe Release
MSI included the EZ PCIe Release to streamline the installation and removal process of a GPU. This mechanism moved away from the tiny latch that gets covered by modern massive GPUs and replaced it with a well-placed button that releases the GPU on the PCIe Gen 5.0 slot. This means no more scraping your fingers on various components, looking for the release latch, or listening carefully for the “click” to ensure the GPU is secured in place.
EZ PCIe Clip II
The EZ PCIe Clip II features a better hooking mechanism that works with the EZ PCIe Release to ensure smooth installation and removal of the GPU without any issues. On top of this functionality, MSI also improved the build quality of the PCIe slots to cater to the increasing size and weight of GPUs. MSI claims the new slots are 121% more robust than the previous Steel Armor slot. So, if you were planning on getting your hands on one of the upcoming RTX 5080 or 5090 cards, the latter of which is expected to be released in Q4 of 2024, you’d be pleased with this motherboard’s reinforced design.
EZ M.2 Clip II
GPUs weren’t the only thing on MSI’s mind; with the EZ M. 2 Clip II, they also smoothed the M.2 installation and removal process. They removed the screws which you had to tighten to hold the M.2 drive in place and replaced it with a screwless design. So, if you were to install an M.2 drive on the X870 motherboard, you’d need to squeeze the latch, place the drive, and push it to lock it in place.
Connectivity options
When it came to connectivity options, MSI didn’t leave anything on the table and included a USB4 connector capable of supporting speeds of up to 40 GB/s, support for 5G LAN, WiFi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4, and a design change to the WiFi antenna that now features a quick-release option that simplifies and streamlines the installation.
So, whether you want a wired or wireless connection for gaming or professional tasks, the X870 motherboards combined with AMD’s Ryzen 9000 series CPUs should deliver unparalleled results.
