MSI Pro Z790-A Wifi DDR4 Intel Motherboard

The MSI Pro Z790-A WiFi DDR4 is a full-size ATX motherboard built on Intel's Z790 chipset for the LGA 1700 socket. It is compatible with Intel 12th, 13th, and 14th Generation Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors, making it a versatile platform for both current and future-generation builds within that CPU family. Memory support is a standout feature: four DDR4 DIMM slots accommodate up to 128 GB of non-ECC, unbuffered RAM. With single-rank, single-DIMM-per-channel configurations, overclocked speeds can reach 5333+ MHz, while standard JEDEC speeds begin at 2133 MHz. Intel XMP profiles are also supported for straightforward memory tuning. The power delivery system consists of a 16+1+1 digital power stage rated at 80 A per phase, fed by dual 8-pin CPU power connectors. Thermal management is addressed through an extended heatsink design, MOSFET thermal pads rated at 7 W/mK, additional choke thermal pads, and M.2 Shield Frozr covers on the storage slots. Expansion is handled by three PCIe x16-length slots and one PCIe x1 slot. The primary GPU slot (PCI_E1) runs at PCIe 5.0 x16 direct from the CPU, supporting the latest discrete graphics cards. Storage options include four M.2 slots—all supporting PCIe 4.0 x4—plus six SATA 6 Gbps ports. RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 are supported across both SATA and NVMe storage. Connectivity is handled by Intel 2.5 Gbps wired LAN and an Intel Wi-Fi 6E module pre-installed in the M.2 Key-E slot. The wireless solution supports 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands (160 MHz channel width) with MU-MIMO TX/RX and speeds up to 2.4 Gbps, alongside Bluetooth 5.3. The rear I/O panel includes HDMI 2.1 (4K 60 Hz, requires integrated graphics), DisplayPort 1.4 (8K 60 Hz, requires integrated graphics), USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C (20 Gbps), three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10 Gbps), two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (5 Gbps), two USB 2.0 ports, S/PDIF optical output, and a Flash BIOS Button for tool-free firmware updates. Onboard audio is powered by a Realtek ALC4080 codec with 7.1-channel USB high-definition audio and S/PDIF output. RGB enthusiasts will find three addressable ARGB V2 headers and one standard RGB header, alongside four EZ Debug LEDs for rapid fault diagnosis. Verifiable Specifications: - Chipset: Intel Z790 - Socket: LGA 1700 - CPU Compatibility: 12th / 13th / 14th Gen Intel Core, Pentium Gold, Celeron - Memory: 4x DDR4 DIMM, max 128 GB, up to 5333+ MHz (OC), XMP supported - PCIe: 1x PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU), 1x PCIe 4.0 x4 (chipset), 2x PCIe 3.0 x1 (chipset) - Storage: 4x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4, 6x SATA 6 Gbps; RAID 0/1/5/10 - LAN: Intel 2.5 Gbps - Wireless: Intel Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), up to 2.4 Gbps; Bluetooth 5.3 - Audio: Realtek ALC4080, 7.1-channel, S/PDIF out - USB (rear): 1x Gen 2x2 Type-C, 3x Gen 2 Type-A, 2x Gen 1 Type-A, 2x USB 2.0 - Power Delivery: 16+1+1 DRPS, 80 A per phase, dual 8-pin CPU connectors - Form Factor: ATX (243.84 mm x 304.8 mm) - OS Support: Windows 11 64-bit, Windows 10 64-bit