MSI MPG Z690 Force Wi-Fi motherboard review

You can also be interested in these:

As soon as the 12th generation Intel Core processors became commercially accessible, Intel board partners including ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, ASRock, and others released their array of Z690 chipset motherboards for enthusiasts who intend to purchase the new Intel CPUs as early adopters.

One of the Z690 chipset motherboards offered by MSI is the MPG Z690 FORCE WiFi, which is designed to bring the strengths of the 12th generation Intel Core processors. With so many options available on the motherboard market, MPG Z690 Force WiFi is a motherboard with some good features and a different color scheme. Consumers frequently struggle with chipset confusion and difficulties determining what to seek in terms of features or design.

About the chipset

Based on the Z690 chipset, which has the most features for Intel’s 12th Gen CPUs, the MSI MPG Z690 Force WiFi is capable of a wide range of wireless connectivity. Z690 is frequently the best option for individuals looking for the most out of their Intel motherboard, despite the fact that other chipsets are also widespread.

Due to the additional features, slots, and capacitors that fill up the PCB, the Z690 boards also tend to be more aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, more advanced cooling techniques enable companies like MSI to expand on their design principles.

The Force WiFi board’s ability to utilize DDR5 memory is its primary and distinguishing feature. The only processors that can currently use DDR5 DIMMs with a maximum speed of 6666MHz are those from Intel. Overclocking is a great choice to achieve maximum performance when combined with XMP 3.0 profiles and MSI’s core boost technology.

The board also has 5 M.2 slots, 4 of which are PCIe 4.0 slots that are designed for quick SSDs like the FireCuda 530. You also have access to the most recent PCI-E 5th generation slots on top of that. These are the best for builds if you want high GPU bandwidth and the option to upgrade to Nvidia’s RTX 4000 series, which is expected to launch later this year.

Design and aesthetics of the MPG Z690 Force WiFi motherboard

The Force WiFi’s design offers an alternate color scheme and style to the typical black or grey contrast found on most motherboards. The Force WiFi’s primary color scheme is a lovely combination of white and grey. The integrated IO shield and heatsinks give a clean appearance that complements projects with white color schemes perfectly. The MPG Z590 Force WiFi features a distinctive look with the contrast between the black PCB and the RGB “Force” Logo near the bottom right of the board.

Integrated WiFi

Including integrated WiFi on a motherboard is something we all adore. Although it’s excellent that this board already has 2.5G ethernet capabilities, some of us regrettably don’t have that option. While purchasing a long cable is awkward if your PC is on the opposite side of your house, using ethernet cables for the internet can be a disappointing experience. The Z690 Force WiFi has built-in antennae and a dongle that connects to them, and its WiFi rates are also quite fast. This board supports 6E WiFi, which may provide up to 2400Mbps of speed, making it ideal for any games that require quick internet.

Rear IO

You have a lot of options for rear IO. MPG Z690 board has every back connection option you could want. There are 10 USB ports, Display Port 1.4 and HDMI 2.1, a complete audio package, and built-in WiFi.

The rear IO shield is incorporated, which means you won’t trip attempting to fit the board into your case. Unfortunately, 2.5G Ethernet should be sufficient despite the lack of support for 10Gb Ethernet, which is unfortunate given the board’s RRP.

MSI MPG Z690 Force Wi-Fi motherboard IO connectivity.

Internal IO

MPG Z690 board offers a “spoilt for choice” selection of connectivity options. There are numerous connectors available on the Z690 Force WiFi for other premium components to match. This board has a lot of possibilities for airflow thanks to its six 4-pin system fans. In terms of USB, you’re also taken care of with 4 x USB headers (2 of them being USB 2.0 and 2 USB 3.1).

USB-C connectivity

It’s encouraging to see manufacturers promote the C-type USB connection standard as it becomes the new standard for USB connections. Although USB-C is capable of delivering extremely fast speeds, its use in peripherals and other devices is beginning to spread.

The “lightning-fast” rear-mounted USB-C port on the Z690 Force WiFi offers rates of up to 20Gb/s. The very interesting thing about this board is that it also supports front-mounted USB-C. Your device has front-mounted USB connectors, which are very practical and suitable for cases that support USB-C due to their great speed.

Post codes LED

It might be challenging to diagnose issues, especially if you are not familiar with component faults. An LED that cycles through the postcodes that a BIOS will show to assess the status of your components are included with the MSI Z690 Force WiFi.

The lack of an LED on many motherboards makes diagnostics exceedingly trial and error-intensive. With this LED, you will be alerted as soon as your motherboard encounters a problem during boot-up. It will provide you with a 2-digit hexadecimal number so you may search for the problem online.

Extra standoff protection

If standoffs are not used correctly when installing a motherboard into a case, they may crack or damage the motherboard’s traces. Alternately, certain standoffs may contain minor flaws as a result of the machining technique used to make them. If shoved in, this can harm your motherboard. The Z690 Force WiFi from MSI features dual ESD protection to reduce the danger of board damage and stop static discharge from harming components.

BIOS

One of the most well-liked and accessible options for motherboard features is the MSI BIOS. Older BIOS releases may have a user interface (UI) features that are difficult to use or frequently unclear. Having a meticulous UI that allows users to change settings with the press of a button is great because this should be a fairly fluid experience for all users when it comes to overclocking, setting boot order, or XMP profiles.

MSI EZ M.2 clip

It can be laborious to install numerous M.2 SSDs, and occasionally you will need to purchase extra screws or even installation tools. With the inclusion of their EZ Clip, MSI eliminates the discomfort of inserting M.2 drives.

In essence, the EZ clip enables you to insert your drive as you normally would. After that, you just have you spin the latch to secure it. This is a fantastic solution in MPG Z690 that eliminates the frustration associated with mounting storage, and it’s so simple.

Conclusion

MSI has a long history in the production of high-performance motherboards. Their R&D team examined hundreds of designs and assessed a wide range of premium components and created products for harsh environments. MPG Z690 FORCE WIFI chipset offered by MSI is the best option if you require to enjoy its features for Intel’s 12th Gen CPUs.