MSI MPG Z790I Edge Wifi DDR5 Intel Motherboard

The MSI MPG Z790I Edge WiFi is a Mini-ITX form-factor motherboard built on the Intel Z790 chipset, designed to support 12th and 13th Generation Intel Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors on the LGA 1700 socket. Despite its compact 170 mm x 170 mm footprint, it delivers a full-featured platform for high-performance builds where space is at a premium. Memory support is a highlight of this board. Two DDR5 DIMM slots accommodate up to 64 GB of non-ECC, unbuffered memory, with JEDEC-rated speeds starting at 4800 MHz and overclocked profiles reaching 8000+ MHz (1DPC 1R configuration). Intel XMP 3.0 support is included for straightforward memory profile activation via the BIOS. Expansion and storage options are generous for the form factor. A single PCIe 5.0 x16 slot (from the CPU) handles discrete graphics, while three M.2 slots provide fast NVMe storage: M.2_1 (CPU, PCIe 4.0 x4), M.2_2 (chipset, PCIe 3.0 x4 or SATA), and M.2_3 (chipset, PCIe 4.0 x4). Four SATA 6 Gbps ports are also onboard. All three M.2 slots are covered by MSI’s M.2 Shield Frozr heatsinks to manage thermal throttling. Power delivery uses a direct 10+1+1 phase design, paired with an extended heatsink, a heat-pipe connecting the MOSFET heatsinks, and 7 W/mK thermal pads on both MOSFETs and chokes. A MOSFET baseplate on the rear further assists heat dissipation. Connectivity includes Intel 2.5 Gbps wired LAN and an Intel Wi-Fi 6E module (pre-installed in the Key-E M.2 slot) supporting 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands at up to 2.4 Gbps with MU-MIMO, plus Bluetooth 5.3. Audio is handled by a Realtek ALC4080 codec delivering 7.1-channel USB audio and up to 32-bit/384 kHz playback on the front panel. The rear I/O panel includes HDMI 2.1 (4K 60 Hz with HDR), DisplayPort 1.4 (4K 60 Hz), four USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports, two USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports, one USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C (20 Gbps) port, and a Clear CMOS button. Internal headers add further USB 2.0, USB 3.2 Gen1, and USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C connectivity. A 12-layer PCB, pre-installed I/O shield, ARGB header, TPM 2.0 header, and four EZ Debug LEDs round out the feature set. Windows 10 and Windows 11 (64-bit) are supported. Warranty is 3 years. Verified Specifications: – Form Factor: Mini-ITX, 170 mm x 170 mm – Chipset: Intel Z790 – Socket: LGA 1700 (12th/13th Gen Intel Core, Pentium Gold, Celeron) – Memory: 2x DDR5, max 64 GB, 4800 MHz JEDEC up to 8000+ MHz (OC), XMP 3.0 – PCIe Slot: 1x PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU) – M.2 Slots: 3x (PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe 3.0 x4+SATA / PCIe 4.0 x4) – SATA: 4x SATA 6 Gbps – LAN: Intel 2.5 Gbps – Wi-Fi: Intel Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), up to 2.4 Gbps, BT 5.3 – Audio: Realtek ALC4080, 7.1-ch, 32-bit/384 kHz – Display: HDMI 2.1 (4K 60 Hz), DP 1.4 (4K 60 Hz) – Power Phases: 10+1+1 direct – PCB: 12-layer – OS Support: Windows 10/11 64-bit – Warranty: 3 Years