MSI MPG Z790 Carbon Wifi DDR5 Intel Motherboard

The MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi is a full-size ATX motherboard built around Intel's Z790 chipset, designed to support 12th and 13th Generation Intel Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors via the LGA 1700 socket. Its forward-looking platform centres on DDR5 memory with four DIMM slots capable of holding up to 128 GB total, and native JEDEC speeds beginning at 4800 MHz scaling through 5600 MHz, while XMP 3.0 overclocking profiles push frequencies to 7600+ MHz in single-rank, single-DIMM-per-channel configurations. Storage options are extensive. Five M.2 slots are distributed across the board: one CPU-fed slot supports PCIe 5.0 x4, enabling next-generation NVMe drives at their peak bandwidth, while the remaining four slots run at PCIe 4.0 x4 speeds. One of those chipset slots additionally accepts SATA-mode M.2 devices. Six SATA 6 Gbps ports round out storage connectivity, and RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays are supported across both SATA and M.2 NVMe devices. The primary PCIe x16 slot (PCI_E1) operates at PCIe 5.0, routed directly from the CPU for maximum GPU bandwidth, while a secondary x16-keyed slot runs at PCIe 4.0 x4 from the chipset and a third PCIe 3.0 x1 slot handles lower-bandwidth expansion cards. Networking is handled by an Intel 2.5 Gbps wired LAN controller alongside an Intel Wi-Fi 6E module pre-installed in the onboard Key-E slot. The wireless solution covers 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands at up to 160 MHz channel width, reaching theoretical wireless speeds of up to 2.4 Gbps, with MU-MIMO transmit and receive support. Bluetooth 5.3 is included on the same module. Audio is delivered by a Realtek ALC4080 codec supporting 7.1-channel USB HD audio with up to 32-bit/384 kHz front-panel playback. Rear-panel connectivity includes HDMI 2.1 (4K 60 Hz, processor integrated graphics required), optical S/PDIF output, multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, and a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20 Gbps Type-C port. Internal headers supply additional USB 2.0, USB 3.2 Gen1, and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C connectivity for front-panel cases. The power delivery system uses a direct 19+1+1 phase design with MOSFET thermal pads rated at 7 W/mK, supplemented by an extended heatsink with a direct-touch heat pipe connecting the two MOS heatsink blocks. Double-sided M.2 Shield Frozr thermal covers protect all M.2 drives. The 8-layer server-grade PCB measures 243.84 mm × 304.8 mm (ATX form factor). RGB lighting headers include two Addressable V2 (JARGB_V2) connectors and one standard RGB (JRGB) connector, with a dedicated EZ LED Control switch on the rear panel. A 2-digit debug code LED and four EZ Debug LEDs assist with boot troubleshooting. Key Verified Specifications: - Chipset: Intel Z790 - Socket: LGA 1700 - CPU Compatibility: 12th and 13th Gen Intel Core, Pentium Gold, Celeron - Memory: 4x DDR5, up to 128 GB, 4800 MHz JEDEC to 7600+ MHz (XMP 3.0 OC) - PCIe: 1x PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU), 1x PCIe 4.0 x4 (Chipset), 1x PCIe 3.0 x1 (Chipset) - M.2 Slots: 5x (1x PCIe 5.0 x4 CPU, 4x PCIe 4.0 x4 Chipset/CPU) - SATA: 6x SATA 6 Gbps - LAN: Intel 2.5 Gbps - Wireless: Intel Wi-Fi 6E (2.4/5/6 GHz, up to 2.4 Gbps), Bluetooth 5.3 - Audio: Realtek ALC4080, 7.1-channel, 32-bit/384 kHz - USB (Rear): 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, 6x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C - Display: 1x HDMI 2.1 (4K 60 Hz, iGPU required) - Form Factor: ATX, 243.84 mm × 304.8 mm - PCB: 8-layer, server-grade material