MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI Motherboard

The MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI is an ATX form-factor motherboard built around the Intel Z690 chipset and LGA1700 socket, designed to support 12th Generation Intel Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors. It pairs that platform with four DDR5 memory slots capable of holding up to 128 GB of non-ECC unbuffered RAM, with JEDEC base speeds starting at 4800 MHz and XMP 3.0 profiles enabling overclocked operation at up to 6400+ MHz in a 1DPC 1R configuration. Connectivity is a clear strength of this board. The primary PCIe x16 slot, fed directly from the CPU, operates at PCIe 5.0 x16, ensuring full-bandwidth compatibility with current and near-future discrete graphics cards. Three additional PCIe slots from the Z690 chipset cover expansion needs for capture cards, add-in NICs, and other peripherals. For storage, four M.2 Key-M slots are on board — the first CPU-direct slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4 and accepts drives up to 110 mm in length, while the remaining three chipset-attached slots add further PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 3.0 NVMe options alongside SATA compatibility. Six SATA 6 Gb/s ports complete the storage array, with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support for SATA devices. Networking is handled by a dual-stack solution: a wired Intel I225V 2.5 Gbps LAN controller and an Intel Wi-Fi 6E module pre-installed in the onboard M.2 Key-E slot. The wireless module covers 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands with MU-MIMO TX/RX and speeds up to 2.4 Gbps, and includes Bluetooth 5.2. The rear I/O panel provides a comprehensive USB lineup: one USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port at 20 Gbps, multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Gen 1 Type-A ports, and USB 2.0 ports. Video output options include HDMI 2.1 (4K 60 Hz with HDR) and DisplayPort 1.4 with HBR3 (4K 60 Hz), available when using a processor with integrated graphics. Audio is managed by a Realtek ALC4080 codec delivering 7.1-channel HD audio with S/PDIF optical output. RGB enthusiasts will find one 4-pin RGB header and three 3-pin ARGB headers alongside EZ Debug LEDs for straightforward troubleshooting. Verified Specifications: - Form Factor: ATX (305 mm × 244 mm) - Socket: LGA1700 - Chipset: Intel Z690 - CPU Support: 12th Gen Intel Core / Pentium Gold / Celeron - Memory: 4× DDR5, up to 128 GB, XMP 3.0, up to 6400+ MHz (OC) - PCIe: 1× PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU), chipset PCIe 3.0 slots - Storage: 4× M.2 (PCIe 4.0/3.0), 6× SATA 6 Gb/s; RAID 0/1/5/10 - LAN: Intel I225V 2.5 Gbps - Wireless: Intel Wi-Fi 6E (2.4/5/6 GHz, up to 2.4 Gbps) + Bluetooth 5.2 - USB: USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20 Gbps Type-C, Gen 2 10 Gbps, Gen 1 5 Gbps, USB 2.0 - Audio: Realtek ALC4080, 7.1-CH HD, S/PDIF out - Display: HDMI 2.1 (4K 60 Hz), DisplayPort 1.4 (4K 60 Hz) - Multi-GPU: AMD CrossFire - Warranty: 3 Years