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| System Name | Old reliable |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel 8700K @ 4.8 GHz |
| Motherboard | MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon AC |
| Cooling | Custom Water |
| Memory | 32 GB Crucial Ballistix 3666 MHz |
| Video Card(s) | MSI RTX 3080 10GB Suprim X |
| Storage | 3x SSDs 2x HDDs |
| Display(s) | ASUS VG27AQL1A x2 2560x1440 8bit IPS |
| Case | Thermaltake Core P3 TG |
| Audio Device(s) | Samson Meteor Mic / Generic 2.1 / KRK KNS 6400 headset |
| Power Supply | Zalman EBT-1000 |
| Mouse | Mionix NAOS 7000 |
| Keyboard | Mionix |
In a recent live stream, MSI gave a sneak peek at their next generation of motherboards. The first one shown was a new red and black themed Gaming Plus model reminiscent of the early days in the MSI Gaming brand. It features a few quality of life improvements one of which is an enlarged PCIe latch making GPU removal a bit easier in cramped environments or when you happen to have a beefy air cooler. Keep out zones were also highlighted on the back of the motherboard giving users a visual cue to make sure other components, standoffs, screws etc do not come into contact with those particular regions. Furthermore, they also included an angled slot in the board's design for easier access to both the SATA ports and USB 3.0.
The next board showcased was the more neutral themed MAG Tomahawk board which will be available for AMD and Intel platforms. That said, the board shown is likely based on the Z390 chipset. It features a fully enclosed I/O area with a fully labeled I/O panel. With the upcoming release of new CPUs, an extra 4-pin EPS connector was added to supplement the normal 8-pin EPS connector in order to improve power delivery for CPU. While more power is appreciated especially when overclocking, MSI did not overlook the VRM heatsinks, instead, they increased their size by 26%, stating in a slide that temperatures are 8-10°C lower. M.2 Shield also makes an appearance here as well, offering cooling for high-performance NVMe drives. They also touch base on DDR4 Boost, making note that back in the days of DDR3 memory, compatibility was a problem for them and with DDR4 Boost they now offer better compatibility than ever before as they now offer some of the largest memory QVL lists of any motherboard manufacturer.
Following that the MPG Gaming Edge AC was revealed also likely based on the Z390 chipset it has many of the same features previously documented on the other boards such as the 8 + 4 pin EPS connectors, improved VRM heatsinks, DDR4 Boost, Core Boost etc. The AC designation in the product name means the board has built-in Wi-Fi as well, which at a glance appears to be Intel's Wireless-AC 9462 which compliments the Intel Gigabit LAN. Overall while not groundbreaking it does feature all the typical bells and whistles including RGB LEDs with MSI's Mystic Light software. An interesting point that is easy to miss in the video one is on the box you will see the actual maximum power delivery of the 8+4 pin EPS design that allows for 45 amps or 540 watts for the CPU alone.
Considering its popularity the MSI's Gaming Pro Carbon lineup is back and features built-in RGB LEDs, labeled I/O, 8+4 pin EPS and more. It also includes multiple RGB headers for the various standards currently being used including JRGB, JRAINBOW, JCORSAIR with Mystic Light SYNC working with all of them. A 2 amp pump header also remains to offer better support for today's popular all-in-one liquid coolers. Fan speed can be fully controlled within the BIOS with custom profiles or with MSI's own software. For the most part, these features were around on the previous generation, however, MSI has continued to improve upon them over time bringing them to these latest platforms.
The MEG lineup steps into the limelight next with the ACE model up first. It features just about everything discussed previously and includes a few new ones, such as Game Boost which is a built-in list of overclocking profiles that can be set by simply turning a dial. Dual-BIOS is also available on this model along with BIOS Flasback+ and a clear CMOS button all of which makes recovering from a failed overclock or a bad BIOS flash relatively simple. In fact, Flashback+ allows you to flash the BIOS back without a CPU installed in the system. As for serious upgrades over the previous boards, the MEG ACE also gets an upgrade to power delivery with dual 8-pin EPS connectors for supplying stable power to overclocked CPUs. In general, the board itself is a culmination of many aspects of the previous designs and is meant for enthusiasts that need to have it all.
Finally the MEG Godlike graces us with its presence, once again likely based on the Z390 chipset, It takes what the ACE offers while playing host to an excessive list of features and extras that will make a few enthusiasts drool all over themselves. First up is the improved power delivery with a grand total of sixteen phases. Next, the excess continues with three built-in M.2 slots with shields along with an M.2 expander card that combined offers a grand total of five M.2 slots. Add in the previously mentioned features like Core Boost, DDR4 Boost, Steel armor for the PCIe slots, the board is literally drowning in features. For wireless connectivity MSI went with the Killer Wi-Fi AC 1550 complimented by two Killer E2500 Gigabit LAN ports. A Streaming Boost card is also featured which promises to make capturing and streaming easier and has the ability to capture other devices, even consoles. Most absurd however is the built-in OLED display which can be used to show if certain features are enabled or disabled, give real-time CPU temperature readings along with fan speeds and voltages. Looking at the list of features, extras and generally craziness of the MEG Godlike, I have to wonder if a single kidney will fetch enough to afford this one?
In general MSI's latest live stream showcased what could be considered a rather diverse set of motherboards for the next launch cycle, as such, users may want to stay tuned for upcoming reviews to see which of these boards fits there needs. For more information and a closer look at the individual motherboards check the source below.
View at TechPowerUp Main Site
The next board showcased was the more neutral themed MAG Tomahawk board which will be available for AMD and Intel platforms. That said, the board shown is likely based on the Z390 chipset. It features a fully enclosed I/O area with a fully labeled I/O panel. With the upcoming release of new CPUs, an extra 4-pin EPS connector was added to supplement the normal 8-pin EPS connector in order to improve power delivery for CPU. While more power is appreciated especially when overclocking, MSI did not overlook the VRM heatsinks, instead, they increased their size by 26%, stating in a slide that temperatures are 8-10°C lower. M.2 Shield also makes an appearance here as well, offering cooling for high-performance NVMe drives. They also touch base on DDR4 Boost, making note that back in the days of DDR3 memory, compatibility was a problem for them and with DDR4 Boost they now offer better compatibility than ever before as they now offer some of the largest memory QVL lists of any motherboard manufacturer.
Following that the MPG Gaming Edge AC was revealed also likely based on the Z390 chipset it has many of the same features previously documented on the other boards such as the 8 + 4 pin EPS connectors, improved VRM heatsinks, DDR4 Boost, Core Boost etc. The AC designation in the product name means the board has built-in Wi-Fi as well, which at a glance appears to be Intel's Wireless-AC 9462 which compliments the Intel Gigabit LAN. Overall while not groundbreaking it does feature all the typical bells and whistles including RGB LEDs with MSI's Mystic Light software. An interesting point that is easy to miss in the video one is on the box you will see the actual maximum power delivery of the 8+4 pin EPS design that allows for 45 amps or 540 watts for the CPU alone.
Considering its popularity the MSI's Gaming Pro Carbon lineup is back and features built-in RGB LEDs, labeled I/O, 8+4 pin EPS and more. It also includes multiple RGB headers for the various standards currently being used including JRGB, JRAINBOW, JCORSAIR with Mystic Light SYNC working with all of them. A 2 amp pump header also remains to offer better support for today's popular all-in-one liquid coolers. Fan speed can be fully controlled within the BIOS with custom profiles or with MSI's own software. For the most part, these features were around on the previous generation, however, MSI has continued to improve upon them over time bringing them to these latest platforms.
The MEG lineup steps into the limelight next with the ACE model up first. It features just about everything discussed previously and includes a few new ones, such as Game Boost which is a built-in list of overclocking profiles that can be set by simply turning a dial. Dual-BIOS is also available on this model along with BIOS Flasback+ and a clear CMOS button all of which makes recovering from a failed overclock or a bad BIOS flash relatively simple. In fact, Flashback+ allows you to flash the BIOS back without a CPU installed in the system. As for serious upgrades over the previous boards, the MEG ACE also gets an upgrade to power delivery with dual 8-pin EPS connectors for supplying stable power to overclocked CPUs. In general, the board itself is a culmination of many aspects of the previous designs and is meant for enthusiasts that need to have it all.
Finally the MEG Godlike graces us with its presence, once again likely based on the Z390 chipset, It takes what the ACE offers while playing host to an excessive list of features and extras that will make a few enthusiasts drool all over themselves. First up is the improved power delivery with a grand total of sixteen phases. Next, the excess continues with three built-in M.2 slots with shields along with an M.2 expander card that combined offers a grand total of five M.2 slots. Add in the previously mentioned features like Core Boost, DDR4 Boost, Steel armor for the PCIe slots, the board is literally drowning in features. For wireless connectivity MSI went with the Killer Wi-Fi AC 1550 complimented by two Killer E2500 Gigabit LAN ports. A Streaming Boost card is also featured which promises to make capturing and streaming easier and has the ability to capture other devices, even consoles. Most absurd however is the built-in OLED display which can be used to show if certain features are enabled or disabled, give real-time CPU temperature readings along with fan speeds and voltages. Looking at the list of features, extras and generally craziness of the MEG Godlike, I have to wonder if a single kidney will fetch enough to afford this one?
In general MSI's latest live stream showcased what could be considered a rather diverse set of motherboards for the next launch cycle, as such, users may want to stay tuned for upcoming reviews to see which of these boards fits there needs. For more information and a closer look at the individual motherboards check the source below.
View at TechPowerUp Main Site
