Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Great for each players and no-frills content material creators
- Good providing of I/O, M.2 slots, and loads of USB
- Edgy, however clear design
Cons
- Gamers wanting extra RGB flare might want to look elsewhere
- MSRP of $309 is truthful, however we’d prefer to see this DDR4 model cheaper on account of no DDR5 and extra restricted PCIe Gen 5
Our Verdict
The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 combines an honest set of options with a clear, if understated, design. It will seemingly attraction to players and content material creators who don’t need something too flashy. Overall, it packs a superb quantity of options into a comparatively cheap motherboard, however the lack of DDR5 is bit disappointing.
Price When Reviewed
$309.00
Best Prices Today: MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk Wifi DDR4
$300.93
Intel’s 13th-generation CPUs convey with them stellar efficiency, and a part of their attraction is the various motherboard ecosystem making entry extra reasonably priced. Remember, AMD’s AM5 Ryzen 7000 launch was considerably stymied on account of excessive platform prices, comparable to being DDR5-only.
Enter the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4. Yes, that’s DDR4—a less expensive possibility for Intel followers who’re nonetheless hesitant to drop the massive bucks on DDR5.
With an inexpensive worth level, wholesome providing of options, and an fascinating design, this motherboard desires you to hitch the subsequent era. We’ll take a look at the specs, options, design, and efficiency attributes. Will the Tomahawk make your transition to the subsequent gen a no brainer? Let’s discover out!
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4: The specs
Thiago Trevisan
The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 “tomahawks” in at an MSRP of $309. The DDR5 model can be out there for a cool ‘additional 10 bucks.
Let’s briefly listing the specs, after which we’ll talk about what options are most essential to remember. You’ll be free to put in both Intel’s 12th- or 13th-generation CPUs with this Z790 motherboard. Plus, you’re getting the advantages of the Z790 chipset, comparable to WiFi 6E and a couple of.5GbE LAN.
The unboxing expertise is abnormal. No fancy packaging or quirky equipment right here—just a few SATA cables, Wi-Fi antennas, and a USB drive. You do get some cable stickers, so there’s some pizzaz for you there!
- ATX type issue
- Support for each Intel 12th- and 13th-gen CPUs
- 16+1+1 “Duet Rail Power System”
- DDR4 RAM, twin channel as much as 4 DIMMs 128GB
- PCIe Gen 5.0 16x slot
- 4x onboard M.2 slots, (PCIe Gen 4)
- HDMI and DisplayPort-out
- 10 USB ports on again, together with USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gb/s
- Intel Wi-Fi 6E
- Intel 2.5GbE LAN
- RGB Mystic Light header
- 7 SATA 6Gb/s ports
- 8 PWM fan headers
- BIOS Flashback and Clear CMOS buttons
- Audio: ALC4080 Codec
- MSI M2 Ez Clip
- MSRP $309
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4: Features
Plenty of SATA ports and NVMe slots on the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4.
Thiago Trevisan
The Tomahawk has a balanced function set that has players and content material creators in thoughts. (If you may stay with a couple of compromises for the value.)
First, this model could have DDR4. This makes it cheaper and simpler for extra customers to enter the fray, as DDR5 remains to be costlier. Performance is actually higher on DDR5, however it has diminishing returns for the price. If your specific use case requires sooner DDR5, you may all the time go for the alternate Tomahawk model.
You will get PCIe Gen 5 for the 16x GPU slot, which is greater than adequate as even the Nvidia RTX 40 sequence tops out at Gen 4. You’ll have Gen 4 on the 4 onboard NVMe drives as effectively, as soon as once more greater than adequate for many customers.
You’ll be handled to seven SATA ports—greater than common of many motherboards just lately. This will seemingly solely attraction to some content material creators who make heavy use of storage. Gamers will probably be greater than fulfilled with the 4 NVMe slots, making for quick and cable-free builds! An additional plus is the MSI Ez M.2 system, for simpler set up.
You’ll get an honest number of USB ports, as much as 10 on the again. Speedy USB 3.2 2×2 20Gb/s can be right here, making content material creators blissful. No USB 4 or Thunderbolt—you’ll should go for a costlier motherboard for these sort of choices.
Standard options comparable to Wi-Fi 6E, Intel 2.5GbE LAN, and the ALC4080 audio codec are all right here. (Ample audio connections are a pleasant addition.) These options are sometimes discovered on costlier motherboards as effectively, so that you’re getting a superb baseline for the value right here.
Of course, Clear CMOS and Flash BIOS are current, and are a blessing for anybody who installs and/or tinkers with {hardware}. The motherboard options debug LEDs, though we do miss the easier-to-read digital-code shows out there on some higher-end motherboards.
There’s no “Start” button on the motherboard itself, however loads of PWM fan and RGB headers. You’ll have greater than sufficient choices for CPU followers, and even CPU AIO coolers.
Overall, it presents a wholesome function set for players, in addition to many content material creators. Only very demanding customers will want extra options on higher-priced boards. (Such as 10GbE LAN, USB 4, and extra PCIe Gen 5.)
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4: Design
Sleek, however understated design on the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4.
Thiago Trevisan
The $309 MSRP MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 comes with a really simple, monochromatic design. Its total darkish aesthetic options nuanced design parts inside the I/O shroud and as “armor” all through.
The VRM heatsink appears substantial, and packs some severe angles. Continuing to the PCIe space, the M.2 “Shield Frozn” coverings are each practical and enticing. Materials used all through are good high quality, with a pointy design you may think about within the palms.
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4’s run-of-the-mill backplate.
Thiago Trevisan
The backplate space is run-of-the-mill as anticipated for a motherboard of this class. You’ll want costlier choices if you would like a heavy-duty backplate.
The I/O shroud space is properly designed on all sides—and comes with an built-in I/O defend as well! The remainder of the motherboard is typical, and it’s an understated design. The blacked-out look is most popular right here over the mirror finishes or RGB of flashier motherboards. It suits the Tomahawk branding properly!
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4: Performance, software program, and BIOS
With the VRMs clocking in with a 16+1+1 “Duet Rail” design, it has the chops to deal with the most recent Intel CPUs. While it should do high-quality with the i9-13900Okay, many customers could discover a higher “bang for the buck” by pairing a 13600Okay, and even 13700Okay with this class of motherboard. That could prevent some cash if you happen to’re not going after prime efficiency, alongside the DDR4 financial savings. DDR5 would in idea be sooner, however you’re buying and selling price for very minor efficiency positive aspects usually.
Performance on different areas will match most high-end motherboards in real-world use. Sure, you don’t get as many PCIe Gen 5 lanes, however Gen 4 is greater than sufficient. Four onboard NVMe drives will scream—and Gen 5 drives will not be even available but. It’s beginning to appear to be all you’ll want for these $309 bucks!
If you need to “get to know” your motherboard higher, the most effective place is within the BIOS. MSI has finished an ideal job making its BIOS simpler to navigate and extra intuitive in current iterations. You’ll discover every part from reminiscence profiles and CPU overclocking, to BIOS updates and energy settings.
From MSI’s Z790 Tomahawk motherboard web page: Driver Utility Installer.
Thiago Trevisan
Other objects will also be accessed in MSI’s software program suite. Its “MSI Center” has all kinds of utility, from adjusting fan profiles, to setting the Mystic Light RGB choices. If you’d favor to keep away from checking MSI’s web site for drivers, you should utilize MSI’s Driver Utility Installer to search out driver updates on the contact of a button. Overall, it’s a pleasant “extra” that may save a while from digging into the BIOS for fast changes.
Should you purchase the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4?
The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 combines a reliable function set with a smooth understated design. This will attraction to players, and content material creators who don’t want all of the bells and whistles.
With an MSRP of $309, it’s removed from a finances providing—however alongside DDR4 it retains platform prices extra cheap whereas nonetheless granting entry to next-gen energy. That’s one benefit the Z790 chipset has over the brand new AMD AM5 platform, which has the next total price of entry.
The Tomahawk presents many of the options, and some good extras, that you simply’d count on from pricier fashions. Great I/O, many USB ports, and minimal pointless costly choices. This saves price, whereas nonetheless together with many of the goodies.