Guru3D.com
  • HOME
  • NEWS
    • Channels
    • Archive
  • DOWNLOADS
    • New Downloads
    • Categories
    • Archive
  • GAME REVIEWS
  • ARTICLES
    • Rig of the Month
    • Join ROTM
    • PC Buyers Guide
    • Guru3D VGA Charts
    • Editorials
    • Dated content
  • HARDWARE REVIEWS
    • Videocards
    • Processors
    • Audio
    • Motherboards
    • Memory and Flash
    • SSD Storage
    • Chassis
    • Media Players
    • Power Supply
    • Laptop and Mobile
    • Smartphone
    • Networking
    • Keyboard Mouse
    • Cooling
    • Search articles
    • Knowledgebase
    • More Categories
  • FORUMS
  • NEWSLETTER
  • CONTACT

New Reviews
Radeon Series RX 6700 XT preview & analysis
Corsair MM700 & Corsair Katar Pro XT Review
Guru3D Rig of the Month - February 2021
ASUS GeForce RTX 3060 STRIX Gaming OC review
EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 XC Gaming review
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming X TRIO review
PALIT GeForce RTX 3060 DUAL OC review
ZOTAC GeForce RTX 3060 AMP WHITE review
Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact chassis review
Sabrent Rocket 4 PLUS 2TB NVMe SSD review

New Downloads
ClockTuner for Ryzen (CTR) v2.0 RC4 Download
SiSoft Sandra 20/21 download v31.12
Intel HD graphics Driver Download Version: DCH 27.20.100.9316
AIDA64 Download Version 6.32.5644 beta
FurMark Download v1.25
MSI Afterburner 4.6.3 Final Stable Download
Display Driver Uninstaller Download version 18.0.3.7
Guru3D RTSS Rivatuner Statistics Server Download 7.3.0 Final
Media Player Classic - Home Cinema v1.9.10 Download
GeForce 461.72 WHQL driver download


New Forum Topics
AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition 21.2.3 ClockTuner v2.0 RC4 for Ryzen (CTR) info and download RTSS 6.7.0 beta 1 LIAN LI Shows Four new Prototype products AMD announces Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB at 479 USD, launches on March 18th GeForce 461.72 WHQL drivers: download & discussion AMD confirms that Resident Evil Village will have Ray Tracing support on PC NVIDIA 465.21 DEVELOPER NVidia Anti-Aliasing Guide (updated) Windows 10 20H2 (Build 19042.508)




Guru3D.com » Review » MSI MEG Z490 ACE review » Page 1

MSI MEG Z490 ACE review - Introduction

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 05/20/2020 02:24 PM [ ] 3 comment(s)

Tweet

MSI MEG Z490 ACE review
Not a MEGalodon, but pretty darn impressive.

In this review we look at the MSI Z490 ACE. The new series is aimed to become the more high-end solution priced in a 439 USD ran ge, it comes with AX WIFI, and has that intel 2.5 Gbps ethernet jack. That and some pretty awesome design choices from an aesthetic point of view. MSI motherboards these days are sorted into four categories: the MEG series, MPG series, MAG series, and there's a PRO series as well. The MEG being short for 'MSI Enthusiast Gaming'. This MPG board is positioned in the mainstream to a higher-end region of the DiY PC desktop segment.

That and some pretty fancy design choices from an aesthetic point of view. Ready for 10h Gen processors this board is about performance and aesthetics, the CPU socket has dual 8-pin ATX power connectors. The pin connectors indicate a strong VRM, and this motherboard as such has 16+1 phases backed by 90A power stages (!). MSI applies a super nice dark-colored PCB. It has hidden/cooled M2 slots, three of them. The motherboard has been fitted with the usual suspects and then some, including a 2.5 Gigabit ethernet and then WIFI6 in the form of AX. When it comes to the audio you will run into a Realtek ALC1220 Codec + ESS SABRE9018Q2C combo DAC. 

With the new Comet Lake-S you can expect a handful of K model processors predominantly become popular in demand for the PC gamer, as each and every one of the processors will offer proper gaming performance if your graphics card is fast enough. Intel is able to boost the Turbo frequencies towards that 5.3 GHz domain for the flagship processor, the Core i9 10900K. Intel is releasing these series processors initially with a spread of CPU core choices:

  • Core i5-10500K (4 Core / 8 Threads)
  • Core i5-10600K (6 Core / 12 Threads)
    • Core i7-10700K (8 Core / 16 Threads)
    • Core i9-10900K (10 Core / 20 Threads)
    For this review, we'll check out this Z490 motherboard with a ten-core / twenty threads Core i9 10900K and take it through our benchmark paces. You'll be able to tweak this proc towards at least 5.2 GHz on all ten cores with this motherboard.
    The board tested as stated is positioned in an enthusiast region, it not only is the hardware just that, it looks premium as well with a very unique style, stuff we like of course. Also, the new board has some interesting new features. Have a peek, and then let's head onwards into the review my man. 
     
    Form factor ATX
    Chipset Intel Z490
    VRM 17 virtual phases (16+1), PWM-Controller: ISL69269 (max. 8 phases)
    MOSFETs CPU 16x 90A
    MOSFETs SoC 1x 90A
    RAM 4x DDR4 DIMM, dual PC4-38400U/DDR4-4800 (OC), max. 128GB (UDIMM)
    Extension slots 3x PCIe 3.0 x16 (1x x16, 1x x8, 1x x4), 2x PCIe 3.0 x1, 1x M.2/M-Key (PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA, 22110/2280/2260/2242), 1x M.2/M-Key (PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA, 2280/2260/2242), 1x M.2/M-Key (PCIe 3.0 x4, 2280/2260/2242)
    External connectors 1x USB-C 3.2 (ASM3241), 3x USB-A 3.1 (Z490), 2x USB-A 3.0, 2x USB-A 2.0, 1x 2.5GBase-T (Realtek RTL8125B-CG), 1x Gb LAN (Intel I219-V), 5x jack, 1x toslink, 1x PS/2 Combo
    Internal connectors 1x USB-C 3.1 Key-A Header (Z490), 1x USB 3.0 Header (2x USB 3.0), 2x USB 2.0 header (4x USB 2.0), 6x SATA 6Gb/s (Z490), 1x TPM-Header, 1x Thunderbolt-Header 5-Pin, 1x RTD3-Header
    Header Cooling 1x CPU fan 4-Pin, 6x fan 4-Pin, 1x pump 4-Pin
    Header Lighting 1x RGB-Header 4-Pin (5050), 2x RGB-Header 3-Pin (WS2812B), 1x Corsair-RGB-Header
    Buttons/Switches Power-Button (internal), Reset-Button (internal), clear-CMOS-Button (external), USB BIOS Flashback (external), LED switch (internal)
    Audio 7.1 (Realtek ALC1220), DAC (ESS 9018Q2C Sabre)
    RAID level 0/1/5/10 (Z490)
    Multi-GPU NVIDIA 2-Way SLI (x8/x8), AMD 3-Way-CrossFireX (x8/x8, x8/x8/x4)
    Power connections 1x 24-Pin ATX, 2x 8-Pin EPS12V
    Graphics not available
    Lighting RGB, 2 zones (chipset cooler, I/O cover)
    Special features audio+solid capacitors, Diagnostic LED (segment indication), Diagnostic LED (LED indicators), I/O-shield integrated, Backplate, 3x M.2-passive cooler, voltage measurement points, Bluetooth 5.1 + WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2x2, Intel AX201)
    Warranty three years



    26 pages 1 2 3 4 next »



    Related Articles
    MSI MEG X570 Unify review
    In this review, we look at the MSI MEG X570 Unify. Priced at $280 MSI delivers an all dark X570 motherboard that has been loaded with features like 2.5 Gbit LAN and AX WIFI, and looks that make thi...

    MSI MEG Z490 Godlike review
    In this review, we look at the MSI MEG Z490 Godlike. Priced at $749 MSI delivers where most premium Z490 motherboard that has been loaded with features and then some. Animated OLED screen, 10 Gbit L...

    MSI MEG Z490 UNIFY review
    In this review, we look at the MSI Z490 UNIFY. The new series targeted in a high-end solution. Interesting to see that this is an RGB-less all-black design. Priced at 299 USD, it comes with AX WIFI a...

    MSI MEG Z490 ACE review
    In this review we look at the MSI Z490 ACE. The new series is aimed to become the more high-end solution priced in a 439 USD ran ge, it comes with AX WIFI, and has that intel 2.5 Gbps ethernet jack. ...

    © 2021