MSI Aegis ZS Gaming PC Evaluation

Introduction, Specs, and Pricing

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Since we reviewed the Maingear MG-1 Silver a number of months again, we now have been scouring the net to search for techniques that will compete on each efficiency and worth. Fortunately, one of many first distributors we contacted was MSI, and by chance sufficient, that they had simply launched their new Aegis ZS techniques. The Aegis ZS extends a number of generations again to the Ryzen 3000 sequence as much as the newly launched 7NUC-607US, the mannequin we now have in-house for overview.

This method begins with MSI’s personal chassis design, much like the Gungir however customized to the Aegis ZS. Moreover, our mannequin has a 650W energy provide that’s Gold rated. Into the {hardware}, we begin with the MSI B650 Professional-VC Wi-Fi as the bottom of the PC. It is a socket AM5 motherboard on the B650 chipset, which supplies solution to the Ryzen 7 7700, an eight-core / sixteen-thread CPU with a max enhance of 5.3GHz. DDR5 reminiscence is a should for AM5, so MSI has put in 16GB in our overview pattern at 4800MHz, with most assist at 192GB and 7200MHz.

The motherboard growth contains 4 PCIe x16 slots, the highest slot pulling from the CPU and the opposite three seize their lanes from the chipset. NVMe storage contains two m.2 slots, each pulling from the CPU, whereas legacy storage is on the market with six SATA ports.

Connectivity features a host of USB 3.2 ports, together with 4 Gen 1, three Gen 2, and one Gen 2×2. We notice 2.5Gbe LAN from Realtek and Wi-Fi 6e additionally from Realtek. Realtek additionally offers rear panel audio with the ALC897 chipset.

Pricing

As configured above, the MSI Aegis ZS pricing is available in at a aggressive $1249. It is also price noting MSI doesn’t immediately promote this mannequin on their web site. We had been solely capable of finding it on Amazon and Newegg.

Packaging, Equipment, and Overview

Packaging and Equipment

Opening up our pattern, we now have the accent pack, which incorporates the facility twine, Wi-Fi antenna, and SATA cables.

This machine did embrace a keyboard and mouse as properly.

System Overview

Unboxing the system, the Aegis ZS provides a singular design, as acknowledged within the intro, barely much like the Gungir chassis. There are air intakes on the high and backside with MSI’s gaming brand on the high.

The rear I/O contains three USB 3.2 Gen 2 in purple and 4 Gen 1 in blue. The only USB-C is backed by Gen 2×2. Additionally, you will discover antenna connections on the backside and a couple of.5Gbe mid-board.

The entrance panel I/O contains each energy and reset together with USB-C and two USB-A. It’s also possible to activate and off the LEDs with the button on the far proper.

The Aegis features a windowed aspect panel.

Flipping the chassis round, MSI has tied up all of the cabling for the system, although a bit sloppy general.

Opening up the chassis reveals a really roomy design, which is simple to work in. Three 120mm followers are included on the entrance, and one exhaust on the again.

Persevering with, we now have eliminated the GPU to raised see the motherboard. Internally, the whole lot is properly routed.

Lighting up the chassis, having 5 followers, all with RGB functionality, definitely does properly for this chassis, with even sufficient mild throughout the complete system.

UEFI and System Software program

UEFI

This BIOS will probably be acquainted to any earlier customers of Click on BIOS 5. The principle menu provides {hardware} info, together with the put in CPU and reminiscence capability. OC is the place customers can tune the machine, together with CPU and reminiscence. Though the Ryzen 7700 doesn’t formally assist overclocking, you should utilize Precision Increase, and this board does assist all the fundamental overclocking options, together with EXPO.

The settings menu offers customers management over the board’s connectivity, together with storage and USB. You’re going to get a number of higher-level CPU choices on this menu, and it’s the place you can find AMD CBS. Additional, this menu will let you safe erase any drives, whereas the monitoring menu permits customers to tune followers and monitor the system’s voltages.

Motherboard Software program

MSI Heart is the software program platform for the Aegis ZS, which incorporates {hardware} monitoring as a default possibility.

Customers may have a number of preset choices for efficiency. We examined beneath the intense efficiency profile.

Cinebench R23, CrossMark and AIDA64

Cinebench R23

Cinebench is a long-standing render benchmark that has been closely relied upon by each Intel and AMD to spotlight their latest platforms throughout unveils. The benchmark has two checks: a single-core workload using one thread or 1T. There may be additionally a multi-threaded check that makes use of all threads or nT of a examined CPU.

R23 was our first bench and a strong begin for the Aegis, pulling in 1917 single-core and 19306 multi-cores, which beat out the R16 and MG-1.

CrossMark

CrossMark confirmed a 2099 rating for the Aegis, as soon as once more besting the MG-1 and R16.

Trying on the workload breakdown, the Aegis ZS did very properly with creativity and productiveness.

AIDA64 Reminiscence

AIDA was lately up to date to model 6.6, which improved efficiency in each AES and SHA3 workloads for Alder Lake CPUs. You’ll discover this efficiency leap within the charts under in comparison with earlier Intel Z690 evaluations.

Reminiscence efficiency was respectable, with 57K learn, 58K write, and 55K copy. Latency was a tad excessive at 75.4ns.

PCMark and 3DMark

PCMark

The ZS scored an general of 11014 for PCMark.

Workload breakdown confirmed Gaming and Digital Content material providing strong efficiency with the Aegis.

3DMark

CPU Profile for one and two threads gave us 1056 and 2005, respectively, nonetheless sufficient to beat the MG-1 Silver.

4, eight, and sixteen threads, MSI holds sturdy with an 8888 rating at sixteen threads.

Time Spy was our first gaming workload. This gave the Aegis an general rating of 10776, about 200 factors increased than the MG-1.

Velocity Method was attention-grabbing, with the Aegis scoring one level increased than the MG-1.

3DMark Storage was not the most effective on the Aegis ZS. We scored simply 2410 with bandwidth at 415 MB/s.

Gaming, Worth, and Remaining Ideas

Gaming

Our gaming workload continues to be Cyberpunk 2077. The Aegis did decide up 99 FPS at 1080p, 64 FPS at 1440p, and 34 FPS at 4K.

Worth

Worth combines CrossMark and 3DMark Time Spy scores to offer an general concept of the system’s efficiency. The Aegis ZS, as configured, lands third in our charts at 99.6%.

Remaining Ideas

The MSI Aegis ZS was among the best worth techniques we examined this previous 12 months. Powered by the Ryzen 7 7700 and RTX 4060, we anticipated it to be fairly good. The chassis is strong and provides what has develop into the usual design during the last decade, with a windowed aspect panel and roomy inside. RGB is a a lot, with the included followers lighting up the chassis fairly properly, and the 650W energy provide included with the system is a lot for the included {hardware}.

On the flip, our solely gripe with this method is the shortage of VRM cooling on the motherboard. Whereas we do not assume it might be an issue with the Ryzen 7 7700 itself, if a shopper had been to improve at any level to an X sequence CPU, warmth might construct shortly, resulting in a loss in efficiency.

As for efficiency, the Aegis ZS on this new SKU carried out fairly properly, constantly beating out each the MG-1 and Aurora R16 in CPU-heavy workloads, the MG-1 being extra a direct comparability having the 13400F and RTX 4060. That stated, the Aegis ZS did surrender fairly a little bit of efficiency when testing CyberPunk 2077, 25 FPS at 1080p and 20 FPS at 1440p when in comparison with the MG-1 Silver – barely disappointing contemplating this can be a system designed as a gaming machine.

As for pricing, MSI has set this method up fairly properly in comparison with the MG-1. The Ryzen 7 7700 provides a strong enhance in CPU workloads in comparison with the 13400F discovered within the MG-1, and the RTX 4060 is a good entry-level GPU, confirmed and utilized by many distributors. Total, the chassis is sturdier on the Aegis ZS than the customized unit within the MG-1, although MSI doesn’t supply customizable entrance panels just like the MG-1. As for {hardware}, each models are equal, with the one concern being the VRM cooling for the MSI system.