MSI MEG X670E ACE Review 104

MSI MEG X670E ACE Review

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Final Thoughts and Conclusion

  • The MSI MEG X670E ACE is available for US$(700).
  • PCIe Gen 5.0 support
  • 4x M.2 Sockets
  • 3-Slot spacing for graphics card
  • 3rd PCIe Slot Gen 5 x4 Ready
  • Robust VRM Design
  • 22 Vcore Power Stages
  • Post-Code Debugger
  • BIOS EZ-Mode
  • MSI M.2 Xpander Card
  • 7.1 Analog Audio support
  • "Good" Memory support (BIOS 1.25)
  • Memory Context Restore
  • Unlabeled motherboard headers
  • No user manual included
  • USB-C shared with 3rd PCIe slot
  • DRAM voltage limit (1.430 V)
  • Price(?)
We have reached the end of the review, and it is once again time to consolidate everything into a few talking points. As with previous reviews, I will start with what MSI could improve upon the MEG X670E ACE to make this an even better product, before finishing on a positive note.

First, let's discuss something that affects all AMD B650/X670 motherboards currently, and that is memory support. Since AMD Ryzen 7000 series launch, multiple BIOS revisions have occurred, solving some of the early issues and strengthening memory compatibility. There are still a number of system memory restrictions and minor performance bugs that will take many more months or possibly even up until the next CPU cycle to fully resolve. Even though this motherboard is particularly good with different memory kits, it is still suggested to follow the QVL list to avoid compatibility issues that may arise. AMD is going through the teething process. Unfortunately, that means the end users (you) are the early adopters, because DDR5 is the only supported memory type on this AM5 platform. As stated previously, these AMD AGESA updates have drastically improved memory compatibility since the launch of the AM5 platform. For now though, it is recommended to only use two memory DIMMs and with DDR5-6000 memory or lower, for a truly hassle-free experience. Once again, it must be pointed out that this is not strictly a MSI problem, as this has been observed on multiple motherboards and certainly noted in every published review on TechPowerUp.

One thing MSI could improve on is allowing for higher voltage support for DDR5. Currently the voltage is locked to 1.430 V, which is coincidentally the same as memory with a locked PMIC. This hinders some overclock potential, and those who enjoy tweaking the memory for the maximum system performance will be ultimately limited by the voltage that is allowed currently (BIOS 1.25). Future BIOS updates could increase this limit, but at the time of publication, this is the limit and should not be assumed it ever will be increased. The voltage allowed is plenty for a majority of memory kit on the market. For example the Corsair Vengeance DDR5-6000 (EXPO) kit reviewed only operates at 1.4 V, with great timings. However, as mentioned in that review, some additional tweaking to the sub timings was not possible without raising the voltage. Overall, this will affect a small percentage of people, as memory overclocking is already a niche subgroup in the general computer overclocking scene.

Related to system memory on the AMD platform is the long memory boot sequence. This was covered by media outlets prior to the launch of the platform with some ridiculous boot times of over 400 seconds for a four DIMM configuration. Since the AM5 platform launch, BIOS updates have come through, lowering this drastically to about 45 seconds. MSI has also included a function called "Memory Context Restore" which will used previous trained memory timings for the next boot. However this is only a workaround and not an actual fix. It does allow for the boot sequence to drop down to about 15 seconds when it works. As always, caution is advised when using these functions, because not all configurations will work as intended, but it's worth a try if boot times are overly annoying.

The following complaints are minor as well. First up there are that a lot of various headers on the motherboard are generically labeled, without much meaning to the end-user. This is only an inconvenience because you can always cross reference with the manual. That brings up the next problem that there is no manual included and there's no manual on the USB flash drive either. MSI's product page does not list a user manual in the box contents either, suggesting this isn't limited to just the media sample.

Next up is less of a complaint, rather something to point out. Just like every other motherboard on the market, these the additional PCIe slots are not internally wired for x16, but give the illusion in the marketing material that they are. From a technical standpoint, it makes sense why these are not full x16 slots because of the limited amount of PCIe lanes coming from the processor. Having additional PCIe slots is still great and allows for multi-GPU configurations, or additional add-on cards that may not use a full x16 slot bandwidth. While the website specifications page and motherboard manual clears up any lingering confusion one may have, it is still often hidden by an asterisk (*) pinned to the end. This still requires the consumer to look up specifications on the website, to make sure what they need is fully supported. This is a plea to all manufacturers. Please add this information to the motherboard box, if not on the product page for where it's being sold if it all possible. By doing so, the customer will never feel cheated.

The last entry is the suggested price point. A very controversial and unpopular opinion is that the price is acceptable for what you're getting in return. Many would disagree with this statement and counter with that all these motherboards are overpriced and offer features that are useless. It is easy to look at the ACE name; compare prices from X570 to X670 and deem that it is overpriced based on the name alone. In reality, these products are only the same in name. The amount of features that are packed in here warrants that higher price tag. MSI should have dropped the name in favor of something new or just changed it slightly with Max or Extreme, for example, to differentiate it from the previous generations and avoid this comparison altogether.

The AM5 platform is expensive all-around, from the CPUs to the motherboards. Some of that cost is going to be the "early adopter tax," but mainly because AMD has chosen to implement PCIe Gen 5, M.2 Gen 5 and DDR5, and those additional costs are passed along to the consumer. All motherboards using the Extreme (E) chipset will have PCIe Gen 5 support. These will always have higher prices compared to their non-E counterparts for each product tier. AMD is betting that this high bandwidth technology will be used in the not so distant future, and that is the biggest compelling reason to go the higher price route. It also may be two or three years before we see any advantage that Gen 5 will provide the end user, but having the option to do so ultimately gives you (the consumer) the advantage, without needing to buy another motherboard for the entire life cycle of this AMD AM5 socket. The MEG ACE product line is premium, and it's always been that way. As new technologies are included and change in costs related to the global pandemic, it is understandable the price has risen. Those who have some extra disposable income will be pleased with the feature set the MEG X670E ACE has offer. That being said, MSI has a number of other motherboards that are far cheaper. It just depends on the features you personally need and what you're willing to pay.

At this point, some readers may have strong opinions regarding the price point. Strictly speaking about the feature set that this MSI MEG X670E ACE has, the most important thing here is to acknowledge this is the X670E version. What that means in the big picture, counter to the pricing concerns, the Extreme (E) variation of the B650 and X670 chipsets support PCIe 5.0, and M.2 Gen 5. These are the fundamental backbones to the Extreme chipset. Contrary to the earlier complaints, MSI Still offers decent memory support and it's only motherboard so far to work with DDR5-6400 without needing to deal with various BIOS settings for it to work. It just boots using auto settings after enabling XMP/EXPO. That alone shouldn't be enough to sway people in favor of MSI, but it is a start. For those who are serious about maximizing storage capacity, the MSI MEG X670E ACE has a ton of options. First being the four M.2 Sockets on the motherboard and an additional two with the MSI Xpander card. This brings the total to six M.2 Sockets, three of which support Gen 5 x4. In conjunction with NVMe SSDs are six 6 Gb/s SATA ports. Maybe additional storage is on the home network? Well, MSI has a 10 Gb LAN port and also a 20 Gbps USB-C port for an external enclosure.

There's also that additional PCIe slot at the bottom, which is Gen 5 certified as well, this can be used for a host of current add-on cards that are only Gen 4 compliant. This x4 Gen 5 PCIe slot is equivalent to a x8 Gen 4 to put it in perspective. That is a lot of bandwidth, which is where the X670E chipset shines the brightest!

Finally to wrap this up, let's not forget about the robust 22+2+1 VRM power delivery system that is also somewhat over engineered to say the least. It's safe to say no Ryzen processor for the AM5 socket will ever have a issue in terms of the motherboards ability to provide great power management for every type of scenario. The MEG X670E ACE already has great built-in system troubleshooting support, with a postcode debugger and Post LEDs for those unexpected issues that may arise. It makes hunting down problems painless with the help of those post numbers and lights quickly identifying the error.

We're in the final stretch here, hold on! Echoing the same viewpoint in each and every AMD review so far, AMD is betting that PCIe Gen 5 devices will become an integral part of computers in the next few years. The B650E and X670E motherboards fundamentally have this advantage with built in support today, designed to stay relevant for the entire life cycle of the AM5 platform. That is the final debate question. If the consumer believes these features and high bandwidth devices will be utilized in this motherboard lifetime, the entry price is justified because it has an exceptionally rich feature set that only gets better from here on. Those who do not see the advantage of high bandwidth PCIe slots and M.2 sockets will be overpaying not just for this product, but any B650E / X670E based motherboard. AMD did recently cut the price of its Ryzen 7000 processors, but that still might not be enough to win over everyone. As long as AMD follows through with the companies keynote promises to support the AM5 socket through to 2025 with new processors, this initial investment is not looking so bad from a longevity standpoint. The MSI MEG X670E ACE does not have to be the only premium AMD X670E motherboard on the market, but it certainly up there with the best for those who are looking towards the future.
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Dec 25th, 2024 07:21 EST change timezone

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