MSI MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi Review

The MSI MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi is a top-end white motherboard offering a range of excellent features aimed at those building an enthusiast-level system. This board is a great pairing for the Core Ultra 7 and 9 CPUs due to its high VRM power phase count, substantial bandwidth to support Gen5 GPUs and graphics cards, and a bountiful set of rear IO aimed at those with plenty of peripherals. We’ve put the MSI MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi through the wringer to see how it performs and compares to its Z790 counterpart.

While Core Ultra hasn’t necessarily been received well, the LGA1851 platform marks a significant step for Intel. The Core Ultra CPUs have been rebuilt from the ground up, utilising a tile architecture instead of a monolithic one. At the same time, the Z890 motherboards have been designed to provide more bandwidth versus the previous generation and overclocking capabilities like we’ve never seen.

In this motherboard review, we’ve examined the MSI MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi in depth, including its specs, accessories, design, connectivity, expansion options, and internal headers.

Buy the MSI MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi on:

Specification

At a glance, the MSI MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi and Z790 EDGE Ti MAX WiFi are pretty similar. RAM overclocking has seen some improvement up to 9200MT/s on the Z890 variant, while the Z790 version offers up to 7800MT/s speeds. Both boards have the same amount and type of expansion slots, including one Gen5 GPU and SSD slot and four additional Gen4 M.2 slots for plenty of high-speed drives. The Z890 version of this board has gained one additional VRM power phase compared to the Z790 EDGE Ti WiFi MAX, but this won’t massively affect overclocking performance.

The front IO houses two USB 2.0 headers, one USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A header and a single USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C header rated up to 20Gbps. Again, the internal set of USBs is similar to what’s on offer on the Z790 EDGE Ti MAX WiFi, bar the inclusion of a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 port instead of USB 3.2 Gen2. The rear IO comprises four USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports, four USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports, a single USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C and USB 2.0 ports.

There’s not much difference between the rear IO selection on the Z890 and Z790 variants. This is pretty disappointing, as it doesn’t pose any unique qualities to make a jump to the new platform. However, to play devil’s advocate, we know that the Z790 EDGE Ti MAX WiFi is a solid board, so based on how similar they are, the same should apply to the Z890 version. But the minimal amount of changes between generations won’t suit everyone’s preferences.

The final part to highlight is the networking and audio options. On the rear, you have 5 Gigabit LAN and WiFi 7, which are blazing-fast. Audio is somewhat limited, with the Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi offering two basic 3.5mm in and out jacks and optical S/PDIF. It’s nice to see optical S/PDIF, but we would have preferred a greater selection of jacks for those with dedicated speaker setups.

What’s in the Box?

Before looking at the MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi design, it’s worth delving into the box accessories to see what gadgets MSI has included alongside the board. As this is a high-end motherboard, it’s reasonable to assume that plenty of goodies will be included.

The first thing you’ll notice is the WiFi antenna. We’ve looked at the WiFi 7 antennas in our other Z890 reviews, and one of the significant changes is that they use snap-in connectors. So you don’t need to screw it into the back of the rear IO, saving time and hassle. Additionally, this is a white motherboard, so MSI has included a white antenna, which is a nice touch.

There are a range of extra M.2 accessories, such as these clips, which allow installing M.2 drives without any tools. There’s also a screw and standoff set and a remover, which will enable you to install and take out the M.2 clips.

MSI includes a blank USB drive, which can be handy for installing drivers. Alternatively, it could be used as a Windows USB, which is incredibly useful if you don’t already have one prepared.

The final few accessories include some extra cables that can streamline a PC build. There are two SATA cables, a JAF1 cable that combines PWM power and RGB, and a front panel cable designed to simplify plugging in JFP1 power.

MSI MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi Design

The MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi is one of MSI’s better-looking motherboards. As we’ve highlighted, white components can be relatively few and far between. There are plenty of white cases, coolers, and RAM, but generally, there are fewer white motherboards and graphics cards. The MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi is particularly standout in its aesthetic because the entire board is white (bar the RAM DIMMs), even down to the PCB.

Some manufacturers looking to offer lighter-themed parts often compromise halfway and offer a board with white heatsinks but a black PCB. However, MSI has not held back, and the board looks gorgeous.

The white heatsinks contrast nicely with the silver accents and text that pop out at you on the white backing. The rear IO heatsink is also entirely white and has a dragon in the centre that lights up with RGB. This can be customised and synced with other RGB components using MSI Centre or an application like SignalRGB.

It’s great to see that all of the heatsinks are tool-less. They’re held in with a simple latch mechanism, revealing the M.2 slots underneath, which are also tool-less. Overall, the MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi feels premium. It’s excellent that there’s a white option in a sea of MSI’s other black motherboards, and the more minimalist approach to the RGB makes this board stand out uniquely!

Connectivity Options

Graphics Card Slots

Moving onto connectivity, the MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi offers two PCI-E x16 slots. The top slot offers Gen5 bandwidth and is where you’ll install a graphics card. This isn’t different from the Z790 EDGE Ti MAX WiFi, but it’s good to see that Gen5 is still supported here. The bottom slot only uses four PCI-E lanes, which is better positioned to house a capture card or alternative expansion card for USB ports or additional M.2 drives.

This board also features the supplemental PCI-E power connector at the bottom of the motherboard. This connector supports high-power incursions with graphics cards and is geared towards those pushing their systems with challenging workloads.

M.2 Slots

Underneath both of the heatsinks are five M.2 slots. The top heatsink covers a single Gen5 SSD slot and four additional Gen4 M.2 slots are beneath the larger heatsink. All of the M.2 storage on this board uses tool-less mechanisms to secure drives, which is great to see

Again, the amount and type of storage on this board are the same as those available on the Z790 EDGE Ti MAX WiFi. Ultimately, I’d prefer an additional Gen5 slot, but based on the board’s price, we can understand why there’s only one Gen5 slot.

RAM DIMMs

RAM is one area that’s seen some improvement on the MSI MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi compared to its Z790 counterpart. There’s space for four sticks of RAM, with a max capacity of 256GB. RAM speeds can be clocked up to 9200MT/s versus the 7800MT/s on the Z790 board.

Rear IO

The rear IO has twelve ports: five USB 3.2 Gen2 ports (four Type-A and one Type-C), four USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports, one USB 2.0 port, and two Thunderbolt4 Type-C ports. The USB port selection is pretty bountiful, but as discussed in the specs section, the options here are similar to those on the Z790 EDGE Ti MAX WiFi.

The MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi doesn’t offer a dual LAN configuration, but there are two networking options: 5 Gigabit LAN or WiFi 7. It’s excellent that builders have a decent set of networking options, as this caters to those with home server setups. Audio is relatively limited, and this is a recurring theme with most Z890 motherboards.

Internal Headers

CPU and Motherboard Power

The internal headers on this motherboard don’t reveal anything unusual about the power configuration on the Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi. Two 8-pin EPS CPU headers sit above the RAM DIMMs. We recommend plugging in both headers to spread the power delivery.

There’s a 24-pin connector on the right side of the board for motherboard power. Again, this is pretty standard for a motherboard of this calibre. There isn’t an additional PCI-E connector underneath the motherboard power header for fast charging or overclocking.

Front USB Headers

Most MSI Z890 motherboards tend to be similar in terms of front USB. This EDGE Ti variant has four USB 2.0 headers, one USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A header, and one USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C header. I’d prefer an additional USB 2.0 header or an extra USB 3.0 header, as this caters to those with top-end cases that house plenty of ports and builders with numerous fans and coolers.

USB 3.0 and USB-C sit beside each other, directly below motherboard power. The two USB 2.0 headers sit just below the bottom PCI-E slot. Neither has any protective covering around the outside, so we advise caution when plugging them in.

Pump and Fan Headers

Surprisingly, the MSI MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi has a solid amount of fan headers to connect up a variety of cooling configurations. At the top of the PCB near CPU power are three PWM headers: ‘CPU_Fan’, a Pump/SYS fan combo, and ‘SYS_FAN1’.

SYS_Fan three through six are located at the bottom of the motherboard. Two are to the left of the supplemental PCI-E power connector, and two are to the right. With seven headers, this should be more than ample for most builders.

RGB Headers

Lastly, there are four headers for RGB components: three addressable and one non-addressable. These are at the bottom of the PCB, spaced apart by similar distances. For those with supporting MSI coolers and fans, you’ll want to use the JAF1 header just above the USB 3.0 header.

Building with the MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi

Like in our other Z890 reviews, the MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi is a breeze to build. Thanks to the number of tool-less slots and handy troubleshooting features, putting a system together with this board is incredibly straightforward. There’s no reason to use a screwdriver with this board, as the heatsinks that cover the SSDs use latches, and the SSD slots allow drives to click into place.

The 8-layer PCB feels sturdy and rigid, and the heatsinks amplify this. The VRMs have plenty of cooling, allowing builders to sustain a solid overclock without worrying about parts overheating. The integrated rear IO shield will enable you to slide this board into a case without adding a flimsy metal IO cover.

Features We Like

Simple Component Installation

Thanks to the range of tool-less features and sold design qualities, the MSI MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi makes building a PC hassle-free. The GPU features a button that locks or unlocks the PCI-E latch. SSDs can be slotted into place without the need for a screwdriver. The RAM DIMMs also use one push tab, providing extra stability for each stick.

Easy Diagnosis & Troubleshooting

Not all PC builds are simple, and once you’ve put all the panels back on and plugged in power, you might find that your PC isn’t booting correctly. This is where the EDGE Ti WiFi thrives. It features a Q-Code LED, which shows post codes during the boot process. Reading through the manual will provide information about what each code represents, offering builders a cause and potentially a solution for the problem.

Features We Don’t Like

Black RAM DIMMs

I’m unsure why MSI used black RAM DIMM slots, but they look odd. For the most part, the Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi is a white motherboard, but the black RAM slots take away from the overall style, providing a contrast that I’m not a fan of.

Restrictive Audio Options

The MSI MPG Z890 EDGE Ti WiFi offers a pretty limited selection of audio ports. There are two basic 3.5mm in-and-out jacks and optical S/PDIF. I’d love to see additional jacks, as this would make the EDGE stand out compared to other boards at a similar price point.

Conclusion