MSI Z790 Gaming Pro Wifi DDR5 Intel Motherboard

The MSI Z790 Gaming Pro WiFi is an ATX form-factor motherboard built on the Intel Z790 chipset, designed to support Intel Core 12th, 13th, and 14th generation processors as well as Intel Pentium Gold and Celeron processors via the LGA 1700 socket. It is a capable platform for enthusiast gaming and content-creation builds that demand fast memory, high-bandwidth storage, and reliable connectivity. Memory and overclocking headroom are among the board's strengths. Four DDR5 DIMM slots accommodate up to 192 GB of non-ECC unbuffered memory and support frequencies from 4800 MHz (JEDEC) up to 7200+ MHz under XMP 3.0 overclocking. The dual-controller dual-channel memory architecture maximises available bandwidth for CPU-bound workloads. Power delivery centres on a 14+1+1 Duet Rail Power System using DrMOS components, fed by dual 8-pin CPU power connectors. The VRM heatsink, 7 W/mK MOSFET thermal pads, and additional choke thermal pads work together with the extended heatsink to manage temperatures during sustained high-load scenarios. For storage, the board provides three M.2 slots—all supporting PCIe 4.0 x4—alongside four SATA 6 Gbps ports. M.2 Shield Frozr thermal covers are fitted to help manage SSD temperatures. RAID 0/1/5/10 is supported for SATA devices, and RAID 0/1/5 for M.2 NVMe devices. The primary PCIe x16 slot runs at Gen 4 from the CPU, with additional Gen 4 and Gen 3 slots from the chipset. Connectivity is comprehensive. Wired networking is handled by a Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5 Gbps controller alongside a Realtek RTL8111H 1 Gbps controller. Wireless is provided by an Intel Wi-Fi 6E module (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) supporting 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands up to 2.4 Gbps with MU-MIMO, paired with Bluetooth 5.3. The rear panel includes a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port (20 Gbps), multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Gen 1 Type-A ports, HDMI 1.4 (4K 30 Hz), optical S/PDIF output, and a dedicated Flash BIOS Button. Audio is managed by a Realtek ALC897 codec delivering 7.1-channel HD audio with S/PDIF output. For system builders, the board offers two ARGB V2 headers, one RGB header, a dedicated pump-fan header, five system fan headers, TPM 2.0 support, and four EZ Debug LEDs for simplified troubleshooting. The 6-layer PCB uses 2 oz thickened copper traces. A 3-year manufacturer warranty covers the board. Verified Specifications: - Chipset: Intel Z790 - Socket: LGA 1700 - CPU Support: Intel Core 12th / 13th / 14th Gen, Pentium Gold, Celeron - Memory: 4x DDR5 DIMM, max 192 GB, 4800–7200+ MHz (XMP 3.0) - Storage: 3x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 + 4x SATA 6 Gbps - Expansion: 3x PCIe x16 (primary Gen 4 x16 from CPU), 2x PCIe x1 - Wireless: Intel Wi-Fi 6E (6 GHz / 160 MHz), Bluetooth 5.3 - LAN: 2.5 Gbps + 1 Gbps (Realtek) - USB (Rear): 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A - Audio: Realtek ALC897, 7.1-CH HD, S/PDIF - Display: HDMI 1.4 (4K 30 Hz) - Form Factor: ATX — 243.84 mm × 304.8 mm - OS Support: Windows 11 / Windows 10 (64-bit) - Warranty: 3 Years