If the AMD X670E chipset has a candy spot, MSI’s X670E Tomahawk motherboard is useless middle. Priced at $329.99 MSRP (and at the moment much less on MSI’s on-line retailer and a few on-line retailers), this ATX board provides ample storage together with 4 M.2 sockets (one with PCI Categorical 5.0 x4 assist); 4 SATA ports; quick Wi-Fi 6E and a pair of.5GbE networking; succesful energy supply; a last-gen audio codec; and hanging navy styling in black with white accents. That is lots to love for the worth, and it earns our Editors’ Alternative award for its class: midrange AM5 X-series boards that do not go to extra.
Board Design, CPU, and Reminiscence
The Tomahawk’s ATX body makes use of a matte black eight-layer PCB with matching heatsinks, sporting a military-themed design and brushed-aluminum end. MSI applies some white stenciling to every heatsink for some eye-catching distinction. Should you’re anticipating a light-weight present out of the field, you will be dissatisfied to study the board doesn’t have built-in RGBs, although it has loads of headers for attaching your individual RGB gear. General, it is a fundamental design with a good quantity of PCB displaying however nonetheless a handsome centerpiece on your AM5 construct.
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The board helps AMD’s AM5 (Ryzen 7000 sequence) processors and is configured with 17-phase energy supply utilizing strong 80A MOSFETs. With 14 phases devoted to Vcore, the 1,120A accessible to the CPU can deal with the flagship Ryzen 9 7950X we examined with, even when overclocked, so you will have a free hand when choosing a processor.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)
On the reminiscence entrance, AMD’s newest X670 and B650 platforms assist solely DDR5, so you’ll be able to’t pinch pennies as you’ll be able to with Intel platforms which will have the choice for DDR4 as a substitute. MSI specifies RAM assist as much as DDR5-6600+ (OC), itemizing the Corsair and Oloy manufacturers. Nonetheless, your mileage might fluctuate as reaching that pace depends upon the reminiscence package and the standard of your CPU’s built-in reminiscence controller (IMC). At the very least DDR5 costs have been falling over the past couple of months, so its premium over DDR4 is shrinking.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)
As with most of our motherboard testing, we discovered our DDR5-5600 and DDR5-6000 kits proved secure by setting the XMP profile. All is effectively, not less than round these (the present candy spot) speeds. Should you’re into reminiscence overclocking to squeeze out an additional % or two of efficiency, the Tomahawk provides loads of timings and sub-timings to tweak.
Format and Inside Connectors
Beginning on the high left of the motherboard, we first spy the twin 8-pin EPS connectors that energy the processor. You may get by with utilizing just one, however I recommend utilizing each with high-end CPUs or overclocking because of the extra energy draw. Surrounding them and the socket are two heatsinks designed to chill the facility supply beneath. They did a advantageous job holding the VRMs working effectively inside specs on our take a look at rig.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)
To the appropriate of the socket space are 4 unreinforced DRAM slots with locking mechanisms on each side. Above them you will discover two (of eight) 4-pin fan/pump headers. All headers assist PWM and DC-controlled units and output a whopping 3A/36W every, versus the same old mixture of 1A and 2A headers. You will not have any issues working a number of followers and a water pump with such ample output.
In the appropriate nook are two (of 4) RGB headers, one 3-pin ARGB and one 4-pin RGB. You will discover the others alongside the underside fringe of the board, together with a Mystic Gentle extension header that controls extra RGB peripherals without having a separate controller. Management over hooked up units could be present in MSI’s Management Middle and Mystic Gentle apps.
Shifting down the appropriate edge, we run into the EZ Debug LED, two extra 4-pin fan headers, the 24-pin ATX energy connector, and eventually a front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Sort-C header.
At decrease left is the audio part, starring the final era’s midrange Realtek ALC1200 codec and some audio capacitors. You will not discover built-in DACs/amplifiers or a Faraday cage to mitigate EMI at this worth level, however most customers ought to discover the MAG X670E Tomahawk’s answer greater than ample.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)
In the course of the board are three full-length PCIe slots and a single x1 slot. Two can be utilized for graphics playing cards, whereas the others are for growth. Among the many PCIe slots are 4 M.2 sockets, three of which have heatsinks to chill solid-state drives.
Lastly, a number of headers throughout the underside of the board embody front-panel audio; extra RGB and ARGB headers (one apiece); two extra 4-pin system fan headers; one other USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) header; and two USB 2.0 headers. Final is the front-panel header to attach energy and reset buttons—typical fare.
Enlargement, Storage, and Rear I/O
As talked about, the X670E Tomahawk has 4 PCIe growth slots. The topmost, main graphics slot (PCIE1, bolstered) connects via the CPU, delivering full PCIe 5.0 x16 bandwidth. The PCIE3 slot additionally connects via the CPU however passes PCIe 4.0 x4 lanes. The total-length backside slot (PCIE4) and the x1 slot (PCIE2) supply their lanes via the chipset and run at PCIe 4.0 x4 and three.0 x1 respectively. That is loads of bandwidth to go round.
Among the many PCIe slots are 4 M.2 sockets. The highest socket (M.21) receives its lanes via the CPU and runs as much as PCIe 5.0 x4 (128Gbps), supporting modules as much as 110mm lengthy. I am uncertain how effectively its tiny heatsink will do with PCIe 5.0 drives, however life is an journey. You will in all probability wish to depend on the SSD vendor’s personal energetic or passive cooling answer right here if you happen to set up a 5.0 drive.
The opposite three M.2 sockets procure their lanes from the chipset, working as much as PCIe 4.0 x4 (64Gbps) and supporting as much as 80mm units. There’s some shared bandwidth price mentioning: If there is a card put in within the PCIE4 backside slot, the fourth M.2 socket runs at 4.0 x2 (32Gbps). You possibly can run all 4 SATA3 6Gbps ports and all 4 M.2 sockets on the identical time.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)
The rear I/O includes a preinstalled backplate with a black background, grey labels for every port, and MSI MAG branding. From the left, you will see a BIOS Flashback button and HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 ports for utilizing built-in graphics. There are eight USB ports: two Sort-C (one 20Gbps, one 10Gbps), 4 blue Sort-A USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps), and two pink Sort-A 5Gbps. Simply above one of many USB ports are the Realtek 2.5Gbps Ethernet port and the built-in Wi-Fi 6E antenna connections. A full-service audio stack together with 5 analog ports and one digital/SPDIF port is on the appropriate.
UEFI BIOS and Utilities
Like on most motherboards, MSI’s BIOS begins in Straightforward Mode. It is each informative, with system particulars listed throughout the highest, and useful, with the power to alter just a few choices together with boot precedence, XMP reminiscence profiles, and Recreation Increase.
(Credit score: MSI)
Not like many rivals’, the BIOS’s superior mode places the foremost headings off to the perimeters as a substitute of throughout the highest, with particulars within the center. The system abstract stays seen up high.
(Credit score: MSI)
Within the Settings part, you will discover particulars on system, boot, and safety performance and alter issues like peripherals, USB, and graphics.
(Credit score: MSI)
The OC web page holds every thing it’s worthwhile to tweak the processor and RAM. Customers can manually overclock the CPU or alter PBO settings for a canned (and really useful) expertise. Like most motherboards on this class, the reminiscence overclocking part provides you extra timings than you’ll be able to shake a stick at.
(Credit score: MSI)
The {Hardware} Monitor part shows related system data starting from CPU and motherboard temps to fan speeds and voltages. Inside this part, you’ll be able to alter the fan speeds of the onboard 4-pin fan headers and arrange customized profiles for all objects hooked up to the headers.
(Credit score: MSI)
General, MSI’s BIOS proved as wealthy in choices and as simple to navigate as its opponents’. The X670 platform permits full management, so there are many alternatives for hardcore tweakers. The system was eminently secure throughout our temporary testing interval.
As for software program, MSI Middle is a central app from which you’ll be able to obtain and launch different functions together with MSI Companion, Gaming Mode, Tremendous Charger, and Mystic Gentle (for RGB management). It additionally provides {hardware} monitoring, although it lacks overclocking options.
(Credit score: MSI)
The app’s {hardware} monitoring is detailed, displaying CPU use, frequency, and temperature. It additionally lists a number of system temperatures, together with DRAM, CPU, MOSFETs, and chipset, in addition to essential voltages, nevertheless it does not allow you to tweak or alter something from right here.
(Credit score: MSI)
As I mentioned, whereas the motherboard does not have built-in RGB lighting, it has 4 direct-connect headers and an built-in management header so as to add your individual RGB bling for management by way of MSI’s Mystic Gentle utility. You possibly can set profiles, sync RGBs, and alter every part individually.
Verdict: An Admirable AMD Worth
MSI’s Tomahawk sequence motherboards have turn out to be family names for providing well-equipped, handsome platforms at affordable costs. For simply over three C’s, the X670E board continues this custom, filling the spec sheet with options you’d count on together with a full complement of PCIe 5.0 objects (an x16 slot for graphics playing cards and an x4 M.2 socket); quick networking and competent audio; enough energy supply for AMD’s flagship CPUs; and a glance that matches with most construct themes. Efficiency-wise, it blended in effectively with comparable boards in productiveness and gaming checks utilizing a Ryzen 9 7950X processor.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)
Should you do not thoughts supplying your individual RGB decorations, the X670E Tomahawk simply earns a four-star evaluation ranking and our Editors’ Alternative nod for its class. It holds up effectively towards the main competitors: Asus’ TUF Gaming X670E-Plus Wi-Fi is a close to match for $10 extra, although not less than on paper its audio answer is a bit higher. ASRock’s X670E Metal Legend additionally boasts a greater audio codec however lacks Wi-Fi. The least costly of the bunch at $279.99, the Gigabyte X670E Aorus Elite AX provides arguably the perfect seems to be however falls quick on specs with solely two M.2 sockets and no PCIe 5.0 connectivity. The MSI is a well-rounded motherboard that does not demand consideration with glam and glitz however lets its {hardware} and worth do the speaking.
The Backside Line
The MSI X670E Tomahawk is a well-equipped midrange motherboard possibility, providing every thing the AMD X670 platform helps apart from RGB bling. Its wise $309.99 worth ought to put it in your quick record.
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