MSI’s MPG B760I Edge Wi-Fi ($219.99) is a Mini-ITX type issue motherboard from the price range facet of the menu. (“Finances” is relative with ever-pricey Mini-ITX boards, although.) Whereas its dimension restricts what it might probably provide, you continue to get large options for the worth. The B760I Edge does not help PCI Categorical 5.0 (neither a slot nor an M.2 socket), however it does present loads of storage (two M.2 sockets and 4 SATA ports), adequate energy supply for flagship CPUs, rear I/O with loads of USB ports, and extra. Its black-on-silver styling is good-looking and a bit bolder than its opponents. All instructed, the board provides you a complete characteristic set at an affordable value, although it isn’t an untouchable worth.
Board Design
To state the apparent, small-form-factor motherboards just like the Mini-ITX platform do not have a lot actual property to work with in comparison with bigger boards. The B760I Edge makes use of a 10-layer, all-black PCB with 2-ounce thickened copper to assist connectivity. The grey heatsinks present a stark distinction towards the black PCB; they bear MSI branding together with the corporate’s gaming dragon on the left VRM financial institution and its MPG moniker on the highest. The M.2 heatsink on the backside carries the Edge label.
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There aren’t any built-in RGB LEDs, although you may discover two onboard headers the place you’ll be able to join your individual lighting. General, it is a handsome motherboard, particularly for builders seeking to break free from the frequent all-black look.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)
CPU and Reminiscence
The motherboard helps Intel’s twelfth and thirteenth Technology processors. {Hardware}-wise, it has a 10-phase energy design utilizing 90A SPS MOSFETs (eight devoted to Vcore). The overall 720A accessible is not lots, however it did not maintain our Intel Core i9-13900K again in our testing. The VRM heatsinks do an ideal job of preserving the ability bits operating cool. When you cannot overclock the CPU on Mini-ITX boards (besides these with BCLK mills), you’ll be able to overclock the RAM.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)
Reminiscence help is listed as much as DDR5-7200+ (OC), which is about common for this Intel platform. Small boards are inclined to have extra overclocking headroom, however since this is not an fanatic platform, the ceiling is a bit decrease than that of extra pricey Z790 ITX choices. MSI lists reminiscence capability at 96GB, supporting the brand new 48GB sticks and kits. That needs to be sufficient for an awesome majority of customers; in order for you greater than 96GB, you may have to discover a board with 4 slots.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)
As talked about, in case you’re into overclocking your RAM to get the final couple of percentages of efficiency out of your system, you are able to do so. The BIOS affords a great deal of memory-tweaking choices together with voltage, main, secondary, and tertiary timings. We tried our base DDR5-5600 and DDR5-7200 kits, each steady by setting the interior profile (XMP on one package, EXPO on the opposite), so all was properly, even reaching the utmost pace listed for the board.
Format and Inside Connectors
Beginning with the higher left nook, there is a single 8-pin EPS connector to energy the CPU. Above the highest VRM heatsink are a slew of headers, beginning with 3-pin ARGB and 4-pin RGB headers so as to add your individual suitable lighting. Subsequent are three 4-pin fan headers. Every header helps DC and PWM-controlled units. The CPUFAN1 header outputs as much as 2A/24W, the PUMPFAN1 a whopping 3A/36W, and at last the SYS_FAN1 header 1A/12W. That is loads of energy in your pump and even to piggyback a few followers on a header; simply make certain to not overload them. You’ll be able to management any LEDs via the MSI Middle app and Mystic Mild applet whereas the followers modify via the BIOS.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)
Subsequent are the 2 unreinforced DRAM slots with the only locking mechanism on the high. As talked about, MSI specifies help as much as 96GB of DDR5-7200. Alongside the fitting edge you may spy a 24-pin ATX connector to energy the board; 4 vertically mounted 6Gbps SATA3 ports; a front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) Sort-A port, and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Sort-C port.
Subsequent to the USB-A port are 4 EZ Debug LEDs that mild up in the course of the POST course of. If one of many areas (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot) causes a non-boot state of affairs, the LED stays lit, supplying you with a clue the place the issue lies.
Alongside the underside fringe of the board, the left nook holds a Realtek ALC897 audio codec, the front-panel audio header, and a few audio capacitors. Subsequent to the 4-pin speaker header is a USB 2.0 port. The PCIe slot and first M.2 socket are in the midst of the board.
Enlargement, Storage, and Rear I/O
Tiny Mini-ITX motherboards are restricted to a single growth slot. The B760I Edge Wi-Fi’s is a strengthened slot with PCIe 4.0 x16 bandwidth. As with different boards of this class, it does not share lanes or bifurcate with the rest as slots on boards with extra slots, sockets, and ports usually do.
Above the PCIe slot below the heatsink is the primary of two M.2 sockets. The socket on the entrance of the board connects via the CPU, supporting as much as 80mm solid-state drives at as much as PCIe 4.0 x4 (64Gbps) speeds. The second socket, on the again of the board, connects via the chipset and helps as much as 80mm modules with both PCIe or SATA interfaces. The 4 vertically mounted SATA ports are able to RAID 0, 1, 15, and 10 modes.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)
The rear I/O of the tiny board contains a preinstalled plate with a silver background and black port labels. There are are a complete of eight USB ports, together with one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) port; one USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) port; 4 USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) ports, and two USB 2.0 (480Mbps) connectors. The processor’s built-in graphics are supported by DisplayPort and HDMI 2.1 ports. The audio stack consists of three 3.5mm analog jacks. Final are the Realtek 2.5Gbps Ethernet port and two Wi-Fi antenna connections.
UEFI BIOS and Utilities
This MSI’s BIOS, like almost all motherboards’, begins in Simple Mode. This mode is informative with system particulars listed throughout the highest, and purposeful with the flexibility to vary a couple of choices together with boot precedence, XMP profiles for the reminiscence, Sport Enhance, and so forth. General, it offers loads of information and sufficient versatility to be useful.
(Credit score: MSI)
The superior model of the BIOS seems totally different than most: As a substitute of arranging the key headings throughout the highest, you may discover them off to the edges with the small print and all the information the BIOS affords within the center. The system abstract stays seen up high.
(Credit score: MSI)
Within the Settings part, you may discover particulars on the system, boot, and safety performance and choices to regulate issues like peripherals, USB, graphics, and extra.
(Credit score: MSI)
The overclocking web page holds every little thing you want to tweak the processor and RAM. Customers can manually overclock the processor or modify PBO settings for a extra prefabricated (and really useful) expertise. Should you’re into overclocking reminiscence, there are extra timings than you’ll be able to wrap your head round (as is the norm with most of those boards). Briefly, the BIOS will not maintain your overclocking again.
(Credit score: MSI)
The {Hardware} Monitor part shows related system data starting from CPU and motherboard temperatures to fan speeds and voltages. Inside this part, you’ll be able to modify the fan speeds of the onboard 4-pin fan headers and arrange customized profiles for all gadgets connected to them.
(Credit score: MSI)
MSI’s BIOS is as simple to navigate and affords simply as many choices as opponents’. The X670 platform permits full management, so there are many alternatives to tweak. Our system remained steady throughout our temporary testing interval, with no issues, glitches, or hiccups.
On the software program facet, MSI affords an up to date MSI Middle, a single app from which you’ll obtain and use different utilities together with MSI Companion, Gaming Mode, Tremendous Charger, and Mystic Mild (RGB management). It additionally affords {hardware} monitoring, although it lacks overclocking options.
(Credit score: MSI)
MSI Middle’s {hardware} monitoring is detailed, displaying CPU utilization, frequency, and temperature. It additionally lists a number of system temperatures together with DRAM, CPU, MOSFETs, chipset, and significant voltages. It is informative, however once more lists nothing you’ll be able to tweak or modify.
(Credit score: MSI)
I discussed MSI Middle’s Mystic Mild app. Whereas the board does not have built-in RGB lighting of its personal, it affords 4 headers and an built-in management header so as to add extra RGB bling. You’ll be able to set profiles, change brightness, sync RGBs, and modify every half individually.
(Credit score: MSI)
Verdict: Nicely-Outfitted ITX at an Attractive Value
In the end, the MSI B760I Edge Wi-Fi is a stable alternative for budget-conscious Mini-ITX Intel builders. Whereas the platform does not have all of the bells and whistles of Z790-based motherboards, many individuals do not want or do not wish to spend the extra cash for them.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)
The B760I Edge is a well-equipped instance of the platform, together with two M.2 sockets (one supporting SATA-based modules), a quartet of SATA ports, ample energy supply, and a stylishly contrasting black and silver look that is certain to deliver consideration to your chassis. Our take a look at platform carried out properly, particularly in gaming the place our Core i9-13900K strutted its stuff.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)
The primary factor preserving this MSI board to a 3.5-star score and shy of an Editors’ Alternative award is Asus’ ROG Strix B760-I Gaming Wi-Fi, which affords a 20Gbps port and a superior albeit previous-gen audio resolution for a similar $219.99 value, although it lacks the pliability of a SATA-based M.2 socket. It can save you a little bit cash by choosing Gigabyte’s B760I Aorus Professional DDR4 or ASRock’s B760M-ITX Wi-Fi, however these boards do not help DDR5 and have just one M.2 socket apiece.
The Backside Line
MSI’s MPG B760I Edge Wi-Fi is a full-featured, handsome, and good-performing Mini-ITX motherboard with energy supply that helps flagship-class processors. It is a whole lot at $219.99, although rival Asus does have a better-equipped choice on the identical value.
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