MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk Wifi DDR5 Intel Motherboard

The MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi DDR5 is a full-size ATX motherboard built on the Intel Z690 chipset, designed for 12th Generation Intel Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors using the LGA1700 socket. It is a compelling platform for system builders who demand modern connectivity, robust power delivery, and future-ready storage expansion in a single package. At the heart of its power subsystem sits a 16+1+1 phase digital VRM fed by dual 8-pin ATX 12V connectors, providing stable and precise current delivery to the CPU under demanding workloads and overclocking scenarios. The extended heatsink design and M.2 Shield Frozr thermal covers work together to keep critical components within safe operating temperatures during sustained loads. Memory support is handled by four DDR5 DIMM slots capable of accommodating up to 128 GB of non-ECC unbuffered RAM. At stock JEDEC settings, these slots support 4800 MHz (1R), while Intel XMP 3.0 profiles can push a single-rank, single-DIMM-per-channel configuration up to 6400+ MHz. Dual-channel operation is fully supported. Storage flexibility is a highlight: four M.2 Key-M slots are complemented by six SATA 6 Gb/s ports. The primary M.2 slot (from the CPU) runs at up to PCIe 4.0 x4, two additional chipset-connected slots also reach PCIe 4.0 x4, and a fourth slot supports PCIe 3.0 x4 or SATA. RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 are supported for SATA arrays; RAID 0, 1, and 5 for NVMe arrays. The primary PCIe x16 slot (CPU-direct) operates at PCIe 5.0, delivering up to 192 GB/s of bandwidth for discrete graphics. Two additional x16-keyed slots from the Z690 chipset operate at PCIe 3.0 speeds. AMD CrossFire multi-GPU configurations are supported. Networking is handled by an Intel I225V 2.5 Gbps wired LAN controller and an Intel Wi-Fi 6E module pre-installed in the onboard Key-E slot, supporting 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands at up to 2.4 Gbps, MU-MIMO TX/RX, 802.11ax, and Bluetooth 5.2. The rear I/O panel features HDMI 2.1 (4K 60Hz), DisplayPort 1.4 (4K 60Hz), a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port at 20 Gbps, multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Gen 1 Type-A ports, optical S/PDIF output, and a Flash BIOS button for easy firmware recovery. Audio is powered by a Realtek ALC4080 codec delivering 7.1-channel HD audio with S/PDIF output. The board is Windows 11 certified and carries a 3-year manufacturer warranty. VERIFIED SPECIFICATIONS - Form Factor: ATX — 12 in. x 9.6 in. (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm) - Socket: LGA1700 | Chipset: Intel Z690 - CPU Support: 12th Gen Intel Core, Pentium Gold, Celeron - Memory: 4x DDR5 DIMM, max 128 GB, up to 6400+ MHz (XMP 3.0 OC), Dual-channel - PCIe: 1x PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU), 2x PCIe 3.0 x16-keyed (chipset), 1x PCIe 3.0 x1 - M.2 Slots: 4x Key-M (PCIe 4.0/3.0 x4 and SATA) - SATA: 6x SATA 6 Gb/s - USB (rear): 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20 Gbps Type-C, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 2x USB 2.0 Type-A - LAN: Intel I225V 2.5 Gbps - Wi-Fi: Intel Wi-Fi 6E (2.4/5/6 GHz, up to 2.4 Gbps), Bluetooth 5.2 - Audio: Realtek ALC4080, 7.1-channel HD, S/PDIF out - Video Out: HDMI 2.1 (4K 60Hz), DisplayPort 1.4 (4K 60Hz) — requires iGPU - Multi-GPU: AMD CrossFire - Warranty: 3 Years