MSI MEG Z890 Unify-X impressions: For the extreme overclocking enthuasists

We finally have a good sense of how Intel’s highly anticipated Intel Core Ultra 200S series fares, after having tested both the flagship Core Ultra 9 285K and the mid-range Core Ultra 5 245K processors. In short, Intel has made significant strides in improving the power and thermal efficiency of the Core Ultra 200S series over the previous 14th Gen Core processors while maintaining—and even exceeding—their performance lead in certain workloads. However, their biggest hurdle is pricing, as AMD’s Ryzen 9000 series offers better value for money and performance.

If you’re looking to upgrade to a Core Ultra 200S chip and take advantage of its superior performance in advanced content creation workloads, you’ll also need a new motherboard—the Z890 series. Previously, we checked out the ROG Maximus Z890 Hero; this time, we have MSI’s high-end Z890 motherboard, the MEG Z890 Unify-X.

Unlike the flagship MEG Z890 Godlike, the Z890 Unify-X is geared towards extreme overclocking enthusiasts, with features such as a robust VRM setup with 110A power phases and MSI’s own Tuning Controller module, designed to support overclocking.

Out of the box, the Z890 Unify-X comes with standard accessories, including SATA III and RGB extension cables. Additionally, it includes thermistor cables and a very useful USB thumb drive containing the motherboard drivers.

Visually, the Z890 Unify-X features a predominantly black aesthetic, with a dragon motif on the cover of the integrated I/O shield. MSI has chosen to go with a muted Mystic Light LED here, rather than the more electrifying RGB lighting (in my opinion) that we’ve seen on the ROG Maximus Z890 Hero.

Although it may not be a flagship board, the Unify-X has a very premium look and feel. It includes a robust metal backplate that not only adds structural stability, reducing the risk of PCB flex, but also enhances its overall durability. Furthermore, MSI has added protective paint around the screw holes, offering a layer of defence against scratches during installation.

As with other high-end X870 (AMD chipset) and Z890 motherboards, this MSI board comes with comprehensive heatsink coverage for optimal cooling across all six M.2 slots. One of these slots is situated next to the DDR5 memory slots, allowing for easy swapping if needed. Speaking of memory, the board features just two DDR5 slots that support up to 128GB of RAM and DDR5 9600+ MT/s—though it should easily exceed this via overclocking.

For connectivity, the Unify-X includes a front panel that supports 60W power delivery over Type-C, allowing for fast charging of mobile devices. However, you’ll need to connect the PSU to the six-pin power connector (located next to the mainboard power connector) to enable this feature. Over at the back I/O panel, the key ports include double Thunderbolt 4 ports, as well as two buttons to flash the BIOS and clear the CMOS settings—essential for overclockers. There’s also a new Smart Button that can be configured for various functions, such as reset, safe boot, or even control of the EZ LED with just one push.

Perhaps the nicest touch here is the inclusion of two retro PS/2 ports for an older keyboard and mouse. I’m not entirely sure how useful they might be by modern standards, but it seems like a good backup to have in case the USB ports become inaccessible—somehow.

I also appreciate MSI’s new EZ PCIe Release. It’s an easy-to-access physical button release mechanism that helps remove any PCIe card with a single tap, making it much easier to upgrade or swap a new GPU. The concept isn’t new, but MSI has nearly perfected it compared to other brands with similar features.

Finally, there's the Tuning Controller. Unique to the Z890 Unify-X, it’s an accessory designed specifically for overclockers. When connected to a header on the motherboard, it simplifies the overclocking process, featuring a POST code LED, buttons to finetune overclocking parameters easily, and functions to perform an OC retry or OC fail-safe quickly.

All in all, the MSI MEG Z890 Unify-X is a unique motherboard that caters to serious overclocking enthusiasts, particularly those who intend to push their Intel Core Ultra 200S processors to their absolute limits. For everyday users, more mainstream MSI Z890 options include the Ace or even the top-of-the-line Godlike—these boards also feature more adventurous RGB lighting, if that’s important to you.

(We are waiting for MSI to update the pricing and availability of the motherboard in Singapore).

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