MSI
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi lands as a entry-level motherboard, built around Z790.
51/100
Z790LGA 17007200 MT/s16+1+1ATXDDR5
£185best price at Amazon
In stock at 2 retailers
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Why we rate it
- XMP / EXPO support
- VRM heatsink
- Optical S/PDIF
- Above-average ram slots
- Below-average max memory speed (oc)
Score profile
Scored against the motherboards classWhere the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi wins and loses
Full specification
Grouped · supported features marked in blueSpecifications
Platform
SocketLGA 1700
ChipsetZ790
Form factorATX
Supported CPU generationsIntel Core 14th Gen, 13th Gen, 12th Gen
Memory
RAM typeDDR5
RAM slots5
Max RAM256 GB
Max memory speed (OC)7200 MT/s
XMP / EXPO supportYes
Power delivery
VRM phases16
VRM amperage per phase90
CPU power connectors2
VRM heatsinkYes
Expansion slots
PCIe 5.0 x16 slots1
PCIe 4.0 x16 slots1
PCIe x1 slots1
M.2 slots (total)4
M.2 PCIe 5.0 slots0
M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots4
M.2 heatsinks1
SATA ports6
Rear I/O
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gb/s)1
USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gb/s)5
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gb/s)4
Rear USB-C1
HDMI1
HDMI version2.1
DisplayPort1
Optical S/PDIFYes
Networking
Ethernet2.5
Ethernet ports1
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth5.2
Audio
Audio codecRealtek ALC4080
Audio channels7.1
Features
BIOS flashbackYes
Debug LED / postcode displayYes
RGB / ARGB headers1
Fan headers7
More specs
M2 slots4
USB a ports8
USB c ports2
PCIE 5 count1
Ethernet gbps2.5
Head to head
Highlighted cell = better in that rowMSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi vs MSI MSI PRO Z790-A WiFi II
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFiMSI PRO Z790-A WiFi II
| MSIMSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFiThis page | MSIMSI PRO Z790-A WiFi II | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 51 /100Better | 50 /100 |
| Chipset | Z790 | Z790 |
| Socket | LGA 1700 | LGA 1700 |
| Form factor | ATX | ATX |
| Max RAM speed | 7200 MT/s | 7800 MT/sBetter |
| RAM slots | 5 | 5 |
| M2 slots total | 4 | 4 |
Who it's for
Is the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi right for you?
Buy it if
Buyers on a budget
Anyone who needs a dependable motherboard for the essentials without overspending.
Skip it if
Skip it if
You need flagship-tier performance, in which case a higher-tier motherboard is the better call.
Performance builder
Chasing frames and headroom in a high-end rig.
okay
Mainstream builder
Wants strong value in a balanced build.
good
Budget builder
Stretching every pound in an entry rig.
good
Common questions
Before you buy
Is the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi worth it?
It depends on what you need. It scores 51/100 against other motherboards, a entry-level result where the class average is around 51.
What stands out on the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi?
Its xmp / expo support stands out, a genuinely useful feature if your setup calls for it.
How does it compare to the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi?
The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi scores 53/100 versus this one at 51/100, so it is the step up on the spec sheet.
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