MSI MEG Z890 UNIFY-X LGA 1851 ATX Motherboard - Black

The MSI MEG Z890 UNIFY-X is a high-end ATX motherboard designed for enthusiasts and overclockers who demand maximum performance, stability, and cutting-edge connectivity. Based on the Intel Z890 chipset, it supports the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors using the LGA 1851 socket.

One of the board’s standout features is its dual DDR5 DIMM slots, which support up to 128GB of RAM and offer overclocking speeds of DDR5-9600+ MT/s. MSI has implemented enhanced memory features including SMT welding, Memory Force UI, and Memory Extension Mode for improved signal integrity, precision tuning, and performance monitoring.

Expansion capabilities are generous. The board includes two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, ideal for GPUs or high-speed add-in cards, as well as an additional PCIe 4.0 x16 and PCIe 4.0 x1 slot. The reinforced Steel Armor design on key slots ensures durability under heavy usage or large component installations.

Storage support is extensive, offering six M.2 slots: two support PCIe 5.0 x4, while four support PCIe 4.0 x4, with one of them also compatible with SATA-based M.2 SSDs. It also includes six SATA 6Gb/s ports. MSI integrates Double-sided M.2 Shield Frozr heatsinks and EZ M.2 Clip II, making it easy to install and cool high-performance NVMe drives.

For networking, the board offers an Intel 5GbE LAN port and the latest Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7, providing multi-gigabit wired and wireless connectivity along with Bluetooth 5.4 support. A specially designed EZ Antenna system features a magnetic base and pivoting arms for optimal placement and signal.

On the audio front, MSI equips the board with the Realtek ALC4080 codec, delivering 7.1-channel HD audio with support for high-definition 32-bit/384kHz playback and optical S/PDIF output.

USB and external connectivity are top-tier. The rear I/O panel includes two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports capable of 40Gbps transfer, along with eight USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports. Internally, the board supports front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C with up to 60W power delivery, suitable for high-speed charging or external storage use.

The board also supports video output via USB-C ports with DisplayPort 2.1 Alt Mode, enabling support for up to 4K at 120Hz or 8K at 60Hz, depending on CPU graphics capabilities.

MSI has focused heavily on power and thermal design. The VRM section features a 20-phase direct power delivery system using 110A Smart Power Stages. Cooling components include an aluminum MOSFET heatsink, 9W/mK thermal pads, a direct-touch heat pipe, and a metal backplate for additional structural and thermal benefits.

For overclockers, the included external tuning controller allows real-time BCLK and CPU ratio adjustments. It also offers hardware-level controls such as CMOS reset, safe boot, and retry buttons, making system recovery and tuning straightforward. The Memory Force interface provides live memory overclocking feedback and customization.

The board is rounded out with quality-of-life features including EZ PCIe release levers, EZ M.2 clips, configurable Smart Buttons, and detailed debug LEDs. It is optimized for Windows 11 64-bit and built to support future performance workloads, AI computing, and heavy-duty content creation.