MSI is accompanying the launch of Intel Core i-12000 Alder Lake (report) with a total of twelve very different Z690 motherboards for DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The manufacturer’s broad portfolio ranges from the spartan A series to the Unify-X with only two DIMM slots specially designed for overclockers.
MAG, MEG, MPG and PRO for Core i-12000
Twelve mainboards in the four series MAG, MEG, MPG and PRO flank the presentation of the hybrid CPUs from the 12th generation of the Core i alias Alder Lake-S in the desktop. The editors present the highlights of the series here.
- MAG Series
- MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4
MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4 (Image: MSI)
- MEG Series
- MSI MEG Z690 Ace
- MSI MEG Z690 Unify
- MSI MEG Z690 Unify-X
MSI MEG Z690 Ace (Image: MSI) 
MSI MEG Z690 Unify (Image: MSI) 
MSI MEG Z690 Unify-X (Image: MSI)
- MPG Series
- MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WIFI
- MSI MPG Z690 Carbon MK X
- MSI MPG Z690 Edge WIFI DDR4
- MSI MPG Z690 Force WIFI
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WIFI (Image: MSI) 
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon MK X (Image: MSI) 
MSI MPG Z690 Edge WIFI DDR4 (Image: MSI) 
MSI MPG Z690 Force WIFI (Image: MSI)
- PRO Series
- MSI PRO Z690-P DDR4
- MSI PRO Z690-A WIFI DDR4
- MSI PRO Z690-A DDR4
- MSI PRO Z690-A WIFI
MSI PRO Z690-P DDR4 (Image: MSI) 
MSI PRO Z690-A WIFI (Image: MSI) 
MSI PRO Z690-A WIFI DDR4 (Image: MSI) 
MSI PRO Z690-A DDR4 (Image: MSI)
In addition to seven mainboards officially specified up to the JEDEC standard with DDR5-4800, MSI offers five mainboards that work with the “old” standard and up to DDR4-3200 and enable users to make a “soft” switch to Intel’s new hybrid CPUs.
- DDR to DDR5: Five generations of RAM in direct comparison
- DDR5: JEDEC adopts final specifications
The following are the highlights from MSI’s Z690 portfolio for the LGA 1700 socket, which brings many connections to the desktop with the new PCH generation.
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon MK X
Perhaps the most eye-catching mainboard in the new product range is the water-cooled MSI MPG Z690 Carbon MK X, in which both the processor and the voltage converter as well as the first M.2 slot are kept at temperature with a monoblock from EKWB. With four DIMM slots, up to 128 GB DDR5-4800 and with overclocking up to DDR5-6666 + are officially supported.
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon MK X (Image: MSI)
In addition to 2 × PCIe 5.0 x16 and 1 × PCIe 3.0x, the MPG Z690 Carbon MK X has 4 × M.2 Gen4 x4 with 64 Gbps and 1 × M.2 Gen3 x4 with 32 Gbps as well as 6 × SATA with 6 Gbps .
USB connections are also plentiful and represented with 1 × USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 × 2 (20 Gbps), 6 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) and 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps). HDMI 2.1 with 4K support and 60 Hz and a DisplayPort 1.4 optionally take care of the image output of the integrated graphics units.
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X (Image: MSI) 
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X (Image: MSI)
An Intel I225-V for fast LAN with 2.5 Gbit / s and Intel Wi-Fi 6E as well as Bluetooth 5.2 and 8-channel HD audio with Audio Boost 5 round off the extensive equipment of the mainboard.
MSI MEG Z690 Unify and Unify-X
As with the previous generation with the Z590 chipset, MSI is again launching two models under the name Unify and Unify X, which are particularly suitable for overclocking and differ mainly in the number of DIMM slots. With the special topology and only two slots, the Unify-X is particularly suitable for a high memory rate.
Image comparison: MSI MEG Z690 Unify (Image: MSI) ⇔ MSI MEG Z690 Unify-X (Image: MSI)
Like the MPG Z690 Carbon MK X, the MEG Z690 Unify and Unify-X also offer up to DDR5-6666 (OC) and an optimized topology on a high-quality 8-layer PCB. MSI is promoting the two mainboards with a particularly strong voltage supply with 19 + 2 phases, high quality MOSFET and new Smart Power Stages for up to 105 amps.
MSI MEG Z690 Unify (Image: MSI) 
MSI MEG Z690 Unify-X (Image: MSI)
In terms of connectivity, there are 4 × M.2 Gen4 x4 with 64 Gbps, 1 × M.2 Gen3 x4 with 32 Gbps and 6 × SATA with 6 Gb / s, which are supported by 2 × USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 × 2 (20 Gbps), 7 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) and 4 × USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps).
Two Intel I225-V provide two 2.5 Gbit LAN and Wi-Fi 6E as well as Bluetooth 5.2 for the wireless connection of the PC with routers and access points. Here, too, 8-channel audio is offered with Audio Boost 5.
MSI PRO Z690-A WIFI DDR4
With the PRO Z690-A WIFI DDR4, the manufacturer also offers a somewhat simpler motherboard for the LGA 1700 socket, which also relies on the old DDR4 memory standard and a simpler cooling solution.
MSI PRO Z690-A WIFI DDR4 (Image: MSI)
In addition to four DIMM slots for up to 128 GB DDR4-5200 (OC), only 1 × PCIe 5.0 and 1 × PCIe 3.0 as well as 6 × SATA are offered and 1 × USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 × 2 with 20 Gbps, 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 with 10 Gbps and 6 × USB 3.2 Gen 1 with 5 Gbps added.
For fast mass storage via PCIe SSDs, 3 × M.2 Gen4 x4 with 64 Gbps and 1 × M.2 Gen3 x4 with 32 Gbps are also available.
MSI PRO Z690-A WIFI DDR4 (Image: MSI) 
MSI PRO Z690-A WIFI DDR4 (Image: MSI)
With the Intel I225-V, MSI also offers a LAN connection with up to 2.5 Gbit / s and Intel Wi-Fi 6 with 2 × 2 in the lower range of the portfolio MU-MIMO and Bluetooth 5.2. The audio playback is again via an 8-channel audio solution (7.1) with MSI Audio Boost 5. The feature set is rounded off by 1 × HDMI 2.1 and 1 × DisplayPort 1.4.
MSI MEG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4
With the MEG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4, the “Tomahawk” series, which is particularly popular among gamers, is also getting a new offshoot that also relies on DDR4. The Tomahawk is based heavily on the A series, but offers a somewhat more complex cooling system and a more “playful” product design.
MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4 (Image: MSI)
The MEG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4 officially supports DDR4-3200 and via overclocking DDR4-5200 (OC) via four DIMM slots that can accommodate up to 128 GB of RAM.
There are also 1 × PCIe 5.0 x4, 1 × PCIe 3.0 x4 and certification for AMD CrossFire, which is more of a theoretical nature. PCIe SSDs are integrated via 3 × M.2 Gen4 x4 (64 Gbps) and 1 × M.2 Gen3 x4 (32 Gbps), classic SATA SSDs via SATA with 6 Gbps. MSI also points out the certification for Intel Optane.
In terms of external connections, the MAG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4 with 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 × 2 (20 Gbps), 4 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) and 4 × USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) also offers plenty of connectivity. 1 × HDMI 2.1 and 1 × DisplayPort 1.4 take care of the image output.
MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4 (Image: MSI) 
MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4 (Image: MSI)
The MAG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4 also offers an Intel I225-V with 2.5 Gbit / s and Intel Wi-Fi 6 for a fast network connection. Bluetooth 5.2 and an 8-channel audio chip are also represented.
Data sheets for all models
MSI has not yet given any further information such as prices and availability for its Z690 portfolio. However, the manufacturer published all data sheets for the models presented.
MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4 (Image: MSI)
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ComputerBase received information about this article from MSI under NDA. The only requirement was the earliest possible publication time.
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