How Much Does It Cost?
So it’s been a while since our last motherboard review, and they generally come in waves when a new product and new chipset launches, and it’s always an exciting time to see what has changed, and what has been improved and I think that’s what we need to focus on. What MSI have done, as I said throughout, benchmarks are kind of a moot point. They don’t really show much, but if we didn’t show them, there would be uproar, so we’re trying to cover all bases.
Let’s talk about value. Before even looking at pricing, which I typically do after we’ve tested and looked at a product, so that I can paint a better picture in my head, I knew it was going to be expensive and at $699 in the US and £850 in the UK, firstly I want to say that us tea sipping brits are getting the raw end of the deal, and secondly, I can see why it’s so expensive. I mean, this board is nuts.
Overview
From its design and just the feeling of it, it’s premium, there’s no doubt about it, and I like that the ACE is a bit different from the norm. It’s not gamery, and trying to be cool. If anything, it’s more professional looking, and it looks like it means business from a design point of view, and the features match too.
With all X670E-based boards, they are more expensive than the last generation. They use higher quality components, thicker PCBs, bigger heatsinks and that all comes at an added cost, and someone has to pay for it. Especially given the huge support for PCI-Express 5.0 compatibility, which for the expansion slots and M.2 slots, requires stronger components and more traces of copper, which all costs more money. Couple that in with the price of everything skyrocketing and it starts to paint a better picture in your head, and this board has a lot to offer in terms of those features, compared to the competition.
The fact that it has six M.2 slots, of which three are ready for the next generation of drives, and the intricate design choices on the M.2 covers that have come a long way since the previous generations, it all just adds up and I’ll happily admit it. This board is not for the average user. For those wanting the very best, it’s made for you and that’s why it forms part of the MEG lineup. The best of the best, and it shows.
Performance
One area where you could argue that it doesn’t show, comes down to the performance. I know I said it’s a bit of a redundant thing to talk about, because all boards perform basically the same, but even in that, it was on the lower-end of that scale, and for the money, I just expected a bit more. Luckily, I’ve been doing this so long now that you can tell why things act a certain way, and I don’t think it’s a limiting factor of the hardware, but instead could be as simple as updating the BIOS to eeek every last ounce of performance out, and sometimes that can even be as straight-forward as adjusting the load-line calibration to prevent less drops in the voltage under load. Whatever it is, hopefully MSI take on my figures and critique and improve on it, because if they can get that right, with a small boost in performance, I think we could very well have the best X670E board on the market, but as I mentioned. Be prepared to pay for it.
BIOS Improvements
Speaking of the BIOS, MSI hasn’t done huge amounts to it, and I like that. Adding in small improvements generation to generation, instead of completely overhauling things is the best way to do it and I like the fact that for a novice user, you can perform all the major tasks that you need to do from the easy menu which is going to be a big hit with novice users. Though I do wonder how many novice users are going to be spending this much money on a motherboard.
While I know the price will put a lot of people off, I want to make it clear that PCI-Express 5 in both graphics and NVME storage is a feature for tomorrow, and not today, so I think when looking at the ACE, you need to consider if you’re buying a motherboard for longevity, and if so, then I think that makes the price a much easier pill to swallow.
Added Value
Pricing aside, which is a hard one to push to one side, this is an amazing motherboard that’s feature-packed to the brim, and for those wanting the very best in terms of design, quality and features, I think you’ll be hard-pressed to find something better on the market, without spending even more money.
What do you think? Is it a bit too rich for your blood or do you see the value that I see based on the sheer amount of features and functionality? I get that it’s not for everyone, but that’s fine because not everyone needs a board that’s this high-end in the first place.
Should I Buy One?
It’s a great motherboard, and while I think it’s worthy of the Editor’s Choice, I do think that price is a bit steep. However, if you really need or want six M.2 slots of which three are PCIe 5, then you’re going to be expected to pay a premium. I suspect the boards performance will benefit from a few BIOS updates too, but overall, it’s expensive, but crammed with features.
