MSI PRO Z790-S WiFi
MSI PRO Z790-S WiFi Specifications Review
MSI PRO Z790-S WiFi by MSI is a Standard-ATX form factor motherboard based on the high-end Z790-S chipset and LGA 1700 socket, offering the most advanced features and connectivity options. It is designed to support DDR5 memory, with 4 slots, a maximum capacity of 256 GB, and an overclocking speed of up to 6600 MHz.
VRM Quality
The MSI PRO Z790-S WiFi comes with an entry-level VRM setup, delivering 55 A across 12 phases. Works best with CPUs in the ~65–105 W TDP range. Can technically run higher-TDP processors at stock, but will likely experience thermal throttling under sustained heavy loads. Suited for budget gaming, office PCs, and home builds without heavy CPU demands.
See the VRM Appropriate CPU Specification Table at the bottom of this page for recommended CPU options.
Expansion and Storage Overview
The MSI PRO Z790-S WiFi offers a balanced expansion and storage configuration with PCIe 5.0 support, meaning it uses PCI Express 5.0, the newest standard offering extremely high bandwidth for next-generation graphics cards and ultra-fast NVMe storage. It also includes 2 x16 slots , and 3 x1 slots. These PCIe slots are used to connect expansion cards — with the x16 slots typically reserved for graphics cards, while x8, x4, and x1 slots are used for devices like capture cards, sound cards, or network adapters.
For storage, this motherboard provides 2 M.2 slots and 4 SATA ports. M.2 slots are high-speed connectors for modern NVMe SSDs, which are much faster than older storage, while SATA ports are used for traditional hard drives and 2.5-inch SSDs. Together, they allow you to mix fast primary storage with larger, more affordable drives for bulk data.
Connectivity Overview
This motherboard includes basic to moderate connectivity options, such as wireless networking with the wireless Wi-Fi 6E and wired Realtek® RTL8125BG 2.5Gbps LAN ethernet supporting speeds up to 2500 Gbps. Bluetooth 5.3 support is included for common wireless devices. USB ports are adequate for everyday devices, and more details are available in the specs table.
For video output, this motherboard includes HDMI version 1.4 , DisplayPort version 1.4 . These video outputs are intended for integrated graphics and will only function if your CPU includes integrated GPU capabilities.
Audio Quality
The motherboard includes a standard audio chipset (Realtek® ALC897 Codec) that covers basic needs for casual listening. While adequate for everyday use with mainstream headphones or desktop speakers, discerning users may want to add a USB DAC or sound card for improved fidelity, especially for music production or high-end headphones. Additional features include optical S/PDIF output for clean digital audio.
Overall Quality and Value
MSI PRO Z790-S WiFi is a dependable choice with a respectable overall quality score of 58.20. It provides all the essential features and stable performance expected in a mainstream system, covering typical use cases without unnecessary extras.
This motherboard offers an impressive 85.1% performance-to-price ratio, delivering excellent value by combining strong performance with reasonable cost, making it a smart choice for budget-conscious buyers who don’t want to sacrifice quality.
General Information
| Manufacturer | MSI |
|---|---|
| Motherboard Name | MSI PRO Z790-S WiFi |
| Current Price Amazon | $130 |
| Amazon Price Updated | 9 hours, 6 minutes ago. |
| Motherboard Available | True |
| Chipset / Socket | Z790-S / LGA 1700 |
| Form Factor | Standard-ATX |
VRM Configuration
| CPU Power Phases (Amps) | 12 (55 A) |
|---|---|
| Power Design | 12+1+1 |
Memory Information
| Type / Slots | DDR5 / 4 slots |
|---|---|
| Max Capacity / Max OC | 256 GB / 6600 MHz |
PCIe Slot Configuration
| Supported Version | PCIe 5.0 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slot Size | Physical Slots | Gen5 | Gen3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| x16 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| x1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Storage Configuration
| M.2 Slot Count | 2 slots |
|---|---|
| M.2 Supported Lengths | 22110, 2280, 2260, 2242 |
| SATA Ports | 4 |
Onboard Audio Features
| Audio Chipset | Realtek® ALC897 Codec |
|---|---|
| Optical S/PDIF Output | ✔️ Present |
| Spatial/Surround Audio | ✔️ Rear Output Supports Spatial Audio |
Motherboard Display Outputs
| HDMI Output | HDMI - Version 1.4 (Max: 4K 30Hz) |
|---|---|
| DisplayPort Output | DisplayPort - Version 1.4 (Max: 4K 60Hz) |
USB and Thunderbolt Connectivity
Rear USB Ports
| USB 2.0 Type-A (480 Mbps) | 2 |
|---|---|
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (5 Gbps) | 4 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C (20 Gbps) | 1 |
Front USB Ports
| USB 2.0 Type-A (480 Mbps) | 4 |
|---|---|
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (5 Gbps) | 4 |
Internal USB Headers
| USB 2.0 Header (480 Mbps) | 4 |
|---|---|
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 Header (5 Gbps) | 4 |
Networking Information
| Ethernet | Chipset: Realtek® RTL8125BG 2.5Gbps LAN LAN Ports: 1 |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi |
Version: Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6E Bandwidth: 160MHz Frequency Bands: 2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz |
| Bluetooth |
Version: 5.3 |
Quality & Features
Additional Information
| RAM | Supports un-buffered memory and Dual-Controller mode. The maximum overclocking frequency depends on the memory configuration: 1DPC 1R up to 6600+ MHz, 1DPC 2R up to 6400+ MHz, 2DPC 1R up to 6000+ MHz, and 2DPC 2R up to 5600+ MHz. |
|---|---|
| Display | HDMI 1.4 supports HDR. Video outputs are available only on processors featuring integrated graphics. Graphics specifications may vary depending on the CPU installed. |
| Expansion | PCI_E1 Gen PCIe 5.0 supports up to x16 (From CPU) PCI_E2 Gen PCIe 3.0 supports up to x1 (From Chipset) PCI_E3 Gen PCIe 3.0 supports up to x4 (From Chipset) PCI_E4 Gen PCIe 3.0 supports up to x1 (From Chipset) PCI_E5 Gen PCIe 3.0 supports up to x1 (From Chipset) |
| Storage |
M.2 Slot Details:
|
| Audio | 7.1-Channel High Definition Audio |
| Networking | The Wireless module is pre-installed in the M.2_WIFI1 (Key-E) slot. Supports MU-MIMO TX/RX, up to 2.4Gbps. Supports 802.11 a/ b/ g/ n/ ac/ ax. Bluetooth supports FIPS, FISMA. Wi-Fi 6E 6GHz may depend on every country’s regulations and will be ready in Windows 11. Bluetooth 5.3 will be ready in Windows 10 build 21H1 and Windows 11. |
| Dimensions | 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm |
Note: The specifications and descriptions above are extracted by AI to present the official manufacturer data in a clearer and more natural way for easier understanding. However, this AI-processed information may contain inaccuracies. Please verify all details by consulting the official manufacturer's information provided below.
MSI PRO Z790-S WiFi Compared to Motherboards with Similar Performance and Features
Motherboard Quality & Features per Price Table
| Motherboard (Desc) | Price (Desc) | Overall_Q (Desc) | VRM_Q (Desc) | Chipset (Desc) | Exp_Str (Desc) | Connect (Desc) | Audio (Desc) | Q&F/Price (Desc) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$170
|
0.0%
|
65.2%
|
37.0%
|
92.0%
|
93.0%
|
56.0%
|
48.0%
|
72.9%
|
|
|
$308
|
↑
0.8%
|
59.8%
|
32.0%
|
67.0%
|
56.0%
|
59.0%
|
85.0%
|
36.8%
|
|
|
$92❗
|
0.0%
|
59.6%
|
40.0%
|
86.0%
|
83.0%
|
49.0%
|
40.0%
|
122.5%
|
|
|
$130
|
0.0%
|
58.2%
|
34.0%
|
89.0%
|
65.0%
|
60.0%
|
43.0%
|
85.1%
|
|
|
$144❗
|
0.0%
|
57.4%
|
43.0%
|
65.0%
|
69.0%
|
67.0%
|
43.0%
|
76.0%
|
|
|
$443
|
0.0%
|
57.0%
|
43.0%
|
70.0%
|
66.0%
|
63.0%
|
43.0%
|
24.4%
|
|
|
$111❗
|
↓
-14.9%
|
56.6%
|
43.0%
|
65.0%
|
69.0%
|
63.0%
|
43.0%
|
97.3%
|
|
|
$140❗
|
↑
53.1%
|
56.6%
|
24.0%
|
92.0%
|
67.0%
|
54.0%
|
46.0%
|
76.8%
|
|
|
$186
|
↑
0.6%
|
54.8%
|
32.0%
|
67.0%
|
74.0%
|
55.0%
|
46.0%
|
56.0%
|
Motherboard Comparison and Detail Specifications Table
| Specification | Perf Chart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price |
$170
|
0.0%
|
$308
|
↑
0.8%
|
$92❗
|
0.0%
|
$130
|
0.0%
|
$144❗
|
0.0%
|
$443
|
0.0%
|
$111❗
|
↓
-14.9%
|
$140❗
|
↑
53.1%
|
$186
|
↑
0.6%
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | GIGABYTE | ASUS | MSI COMPUTER | MSI | MSI | ZXKLXYY | MSI | GIGABYTE | ASUS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chip/Socket | Z790 / LGA 1700 | B760I / LGA 1700 | Z690-A / LGA 1700 | Z790-S / LGA 1700 | B760 / LGA 1700 | B760M / LGA 1700 | B760M / LGA 1700 | Z790 / LGA 1700 | B760 / LGA 1700 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form | Standard-ATX | Mini-ITX | Standard-ATX | Standard-ATX | Standard-ATX | Micro-ATX | Micro-ATX | Standard-ATX | Standard-ATX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CPU Phases | 12 (60 A) | 8 (80 A) | 14 (55 A) | 12 (55 A) | 12 (75 A) | 12 (75 A) | 12 (75 A) | 8 (60 A) | 12 (50 A) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PWR Design | 12+1+1 | 8+1+2 | 14+1+1 | 12+1+1 | 12+1+1 | 12+1+1 | 12+1+1 | 8+1+1 | 12(50A)+1(60A)+1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mem Slots | 4 / DDR5 | 2 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR4 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Max Mem | 256 GB / 7600 MHz | 96 GB / 7600 MHz | 128 GB / 5333 MHz | 256 GB / 6600 MHz | 256 GB / 7000 MHz | 256 GB / 7800 MHz | 256 GB / 7800 MHz | 256 GB / 7600 MHz | 192 GB / 7200 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PCIe | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PCIe Slots | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen4 | 1x16 Gen3 | 2x1 Gen3 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen5 | 2x16 Gen3 | 1x1 Gen3 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen3 | 3x1 Gen3 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen3 | 1x1 Gen4 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x4 Gen3 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen4 | 1x1 Gen3 | 1x16 Gen4 | 2x16 Gen3 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen3 | 2x1 Gen3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M.2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SATA | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Audio | Realtek® ALC892/ALC897 | ROG SupremeFX S1220A | Realtek® ALC897 Codec | Realtek® ALC897 Codec | Realtek® ALC897 Codec | Realtek® ALC897 Codec | Realtek® ALC897 Codec | Realtek® Audio CODEC | Realtek 7.1 Surround Sound Hi… | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S/PDIF | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HDMI | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DP | ✔️ (1.2) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (1.2) | ✔️ (1.4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LAN | Realtek® 2.5GbE LAN chip… (1 ports) | Intel® 2.5Gb Ethernet (1 ports) | 1x Intel® I225-V 2.5Gbps… (1 ports) | Realtek® RTL8125BG 2.5Gb… (1 ports) | Realtek® 2.5Gbps LAN (1 ports) | Realtek® 2.5Gbps LAN (1 ports) | Realtek® 2.5Gbps LAN (1 ports) | Realtek® 2.5GbE LAN chip… (1 ports) | 1 x Realtek 2.5Gb Ethern… (1 ports) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E | ❌ | Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BT | v5.3 | v5.3 | ❌ | v5.3 | v5.3 | v5.3 | v5.3 | v5.3 | v5.2 | Rear USB |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| USB Headers |
|
|
|
|
❌ |
❌ |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Front USB |
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VRM Appropriate CPU Specification Table
| CPU | Price | App_Performance | Game_Performance | TDP/Max | C/SC/T | L2/L3 Cache | Base/Boost | Code Name | GPU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$188
|
↓
-4.1%
|
36.1%
|
64.8%
|
65 W / 148 W | 10 / 4 / 16 | 1280.0 kB / 20.0 MB | 2.50 GHz / 4.70 GHz | Raptor Lake-R | None | |
|
$234
|
0.0%
|
35.0%
|
64.0%
|
65 W / 148 W | 10 / 4 / 16 | 1280.0 kB / 20.0 MB | 2.50 GHz / 4.60 GHz | Raptor Lake-S | None | |
|
$268
|
0.0%
|
33.9%
|
63.7%
|
65 W / 117 W | 6 / 0 / 12 | 1280.0 kB / 18.0 MB | 3.30 GHz / 4.80 GHz | Alder Lake-S | UHD Graphics 770 | |
|
$210
|
0.0%
|
32.3%
|
62.5%
|
65 W / 117 W | 6 / 0 / 12 | 1280.0 kB / 18.0 MB | 3.00 GHz / 4.60 GHz | Alder Lake-S | UHD Graphics 770 | |
|
$165
|
↓
-0.3%
|
29.8%
|
62.1%
|
65 W / 117 W | 6 / 0 / 12 | 1280.0 kB / 18.0 MB | 2.50 GHz / 4.40 GHz | Alder Lake-S | None | |
|
$248
|
↑
0.2%
|
29.8%
|
62.1%
|
65 W / 117 W | 6 / 0 / 12 | 1280.0 kB / 18.0 MB | 2.50 GHz / 4.40 GHz | Alder Lake-S | UHD Graphics 730 | |
|
$250
|
↑
38.9%
|
22.9%
|
57.1%
|
60 W / 110 W | 4 / 0 / 8 | 1280.0 kB / 12.0 MB | 3.50 GHz / 4.70 GHz | Raptor Lake-R | UHD Graphics 730 | |
|
$115❗
|
0.0%
|
22.9%
|
57.1%
|
58 W / 110 W | 4 / 0 / 8 | 1280.0 kB / 12.0 MB | 3.50 GHz / 4.70 GHz | Raptor Lake-R | None | |
|
$94
|
↓
-27.8%
|
22.2%
|
56.7%
|
58 W / 89 W | 4 / 0 / 8 | 1280.0 kB / 12.0 MB | 3.40 GHz / 4.50 GHz | Raptor Lake-S | None | |
|
$94
|
↓
-27.8%
|
22.2%
|
56.7%
|
60 W / 89 W | 4 / 0 / 8 | 1280.0 kB / 12.0 MB | 3.40 GHz / 4.50 GHz | Raptor Lake-S | UHD Graphics 730 | |
|
$135
|
0.0%
|
21.3%
|
53.0%
|
58 W / 89 W | 4 / 0 / 8 | 1280.0 kB / 12.0 MB | 3.30 GHz / 4.30 GHz | Alder Lake-S | None | |
|
$275
|
↑
63.6%
|
21.3%
|
53.0%
|
60 W / 89 W | 4 / 0 / 8 | 1280.0 kB / 12.0 MB | 3.30 GHz / 4.30 GHz | Alder Lake-S | UHD Graphics 730 |
Official Manufacturer Data
Memory:
Memory Support DDR5 6600+(OC)/ 6400(OC)/ 6200(OC)/ 6000(OC)/ 5800(OC)/ 5600(JEDEC)/ 5400(JEDEC)/ 5200(JEDEC)/ 5000(JEDEC)/ 4800(JEDEC) MHz
Max. overclocking frequency:
• 1DPC 1R Max speed up to 6600+ MHz
• 1DPC 2R Max speed up to 6400+ MHz
• 2DPC 1R Max speed up to 6000+ MHz
• 2DPC 2R Max speed up to 5600+ MHz
Supports Intel® XMP 3.0 OC
Supports Dual-Controller Dual-Channel mode
Supports non-ECC, un-buffered memory
Graphics:
Support HDMI™ 1.4 with HDR, maximum resolution of 4K 30Hz*
1x DisplayPort
Support DP 1.4, maximum resolution of 4K 60Hz*
*Available only on processors featuring integrated graphics. Graphics specifications may vary depending on the CPU installed.
Storage:
M.2_1 Source (From CPU) supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4 , supports 22110/2280/2260/2242 devices
M.2_2 Source (From Chipset) supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4 / SATA mode, supports 2280/2260/2242 devices
4x SATA 6G * SATA8 will be unavailable when installing M.2 SATA SSD in the M2_2 slot.
Expansion Slots:
3x PCI-E x1 slot
PCI_E1 Gen PCIe 5.0 supports up to x16 (From CPU)
PCI_E2 Gen PCIe 3.0 supports up to x1 (From Chipset)
PCI_E3 Gen PCIe 3.0 supports up to x4 (From Chipset)
PCI_E4 Gen PCIe 3.0 supports up to x1 (From Chipset)
PCI_E5 Gen PCIe 3.0 supports up to x1 (From Chipset)
USB:
4x USB 2.0 (Front)
4x USB 5Gbps Type A (Rear)
4x USB 5Gbps Type A (Front)
1x USB 20Gbps Type C (Rear)
Internal I/O:
2x Power Connector(CPU_PWR)
1x CPU Fan
1x Pump Fan
4x System Fan
2x Front Panel (JFP)
1x Chassis Intrusion (JCI)
1x Front Audio (JAUD)
1x RGB LED connector(JRGB)
1x TPM pin header(Support TPM 2.0)
4x USB 2.0 ports
4x USB 5Gbps Type A ports
Back Panel I/O:
HDMI™
USB 2.0
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20Gbps (Type-C)
2.5G LAN
Audio Connectors
USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps (Type-A)
USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps (Type-A)
S/PDIF-OUT
WiFi:
The Wireless module is pre-installed in the M.2_WIFI1 (Key-E) slot
Supports MU-MIMO TX/RX, 2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz* (160MHz) up to 2.4Gbps
Supports 802.11 a/ b/ g/ n/ ac/ ax
Supports Bluetooth® 5.3, FIPS, FISMA
* Wi-Fi 6E 6GHz may depend on every country’s regulations and will be ready in Windows 11.
** Bluetooth 5.3 will be ready in Windows 10 build 21H1 and Windows 11.
Audio:
7.1-Channel High Definition Audio
Supports S/PDIF output
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