MSI Z890 MEG ACE Motherboard Review

How Much Does it Cost?

The MSI Intel MEG Z890 ACE DDR5 PCIe 5.0 ATX Motherboard is available from Scan.co.uk for £649.99, making it more than double the price of the motherboard I’d most likely buy for my home computer, the MSI TOMAHAWK. So why would you pay another £350 on top of the TOMAHAWK price for the MEG ACE? Well, quite simply, you get a lot, lot, LOT more features here. There’s a massively upgraded VRM, bigger heatsinks, greatly increased connectivity on the motherboard, a more I/O-rich rear panel, and even upgraded audio hardware with Audio Boost 5 HD. The TOMAHAWK is well equipped for £300, but at £650 and given the level of features, I don’t think the ACE is overpriced, you get what you pay for here.

Conclusion

The MSI Z890 MEG ACE is a motherboard designed to push the limits of Intel’s Core Ultra processors. It supports the latest LGA 1851 socket and DDR5 memory, capable of reaching speeds over 9200 MT/s when overclocked. But what truly sets it apart is the “Ultra Performance” design, featuring a 24+2+1+1 Duet Rail Power System with a staggering 110A Smart Power Stage (SPS). This VRM is built to deliver an immense amount of clean and stable power to the CPU, ensuring maximum performance even with demanding overclocks. The inclusion of an OC Engine further enhances stability and precision for those looking to push their hardware to the extreme. This foundation is supported by an 8-layer PCB made with 2oz thickened copper and server-grade materials, guaranteeing reliability and signal integrity. I a “leave it to the boost clocks” kinda guy myself, but if you do love your tinkering and overclocking, this motherboard really fits the bill.

Cooling

MSI prioritizes cooling with its “Frozr Guard” thermal design. This includes a wavy fin heatsink design for maximum surface area, a direct touch cross heat pipe for efficient heat transfer, and a MOSFET baseplate to further dissipate heat. 9W/mK thermal pads ensure optimal contact and cooling for critical components. Double-sided M.2 Shield Frozr protects your high-speed storage drives, while the Frozr AI software intelligently manages fan speeds for optimal cooling performance. If you’re pushing your PC to its limits for extended periods, all this extra cooling is going to pay off big time, and there’s little to no risk of thermal throttling when gaming or rendering all day and night long.

Keep it EZ

Building and upgrading is a breeze thanks to “EZ DIY” features like the EZ PCIe Release, EZ Magnetic M.2 Shield Frozr II, and EZ M.2 Clip II. It keeps everything tool-free, quick and easy to do, and very user-friendly and I love that attention to detail.

Connectivity

Connectivity is also top-notch, with dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 10G LAN port, and the latest full-speed Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 solution for blazing-fast wired and wireless connections. Of course, all that stuff does not come cheap and will play a large factor in the retail price. However, if you’re going to use it all, it’s worth the investment. You get the upgraded Audio Boost 5 HD too, giving you some premium components such as the ESS audio DAC and ALC4082 audio processor.

Should I Buy One?

The EZ features make this motherboard quick and simple to deploy, and a range of AI-friendly features in the BIOS make getting the best performance out of the CPU, storage, and other connected hardware easier than ever. For gaming, the extreme hardware support is going to ensure you get the absolute best from your hardware, but largely, the extra connectivity comes at great expense on this motherboard, but if you use your PC for intensive workloads such as content creation and rendering, you’ll appreciate the jacks of all trades approach to its design.