MSI X870 MAG Tomahawk WiFi impressions: A good-value motherboard for a no-frills Ryzen PC build
A good option for gamers or enthusiasts looking to build a no-frills AMD Ryzen 5 9600X or Ryzen 7 9700X PC.
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The X870 MAG Tomahawk WiFi is built to power the upcoming next-gen graphics cards from NVIDIA and AMD. Image: HWZ
For MSI users, the company’s MAG Tomahawk series has always been the de facto choice for those looking for a reliable no-frills motherboard that just “works”, and without all of the extreme features. With the latest X870 MAG Tomahawk WiFi, MSI has swapped the top-end X670E chipset for AMD’s newer X870 platform – but without the “E” variant this time. At a glance, this looks like a step down in terms of prestige, but the new MAG Tomahawk has a lot of good value and features going for it.
One of the biggest highlights here is the addition of dual USB 4.0 ports at the rear I/O. These ports each support 40Gbps speeds and DisplayPort Alt Mode, and effectively double the bandwidth of the single 20Gbps USB 4.0 port that came with the X670E version. USB 4.0 might not be everywhere yet but having these faster connections available future proofs the X870 MAG Tomahawk (learn more about why USB 4.0 is important here). At the same time, MSI has added four USB 2.0 ports at the same location. They’re not exactly cutting-edge, but they work well enough for things like keyboards and mice.
It's not Thunderbolt 5 but USB 4.0 should more than suffice for most of us. Image: HWZ
It may lack the "E" moniker but there are still a lot of upgrades that the X870 has over the older X670E chipset. Image: HWZ
Going with the X870 chipset also brings a bunch of connectivity upgrades, including 5Gbps LAN, Bluetooth 5.4, and Wi-Fi 7. That’s great news if you’ve invested in the latest router and networking setup. Of course, these are still backward compatible with your older networking hardware but having the option to use the faster (and more secure) connection down the line is a great thing.
For storage, the MSI board comes with two PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slots and an additional two M.2 slots that run on PCIe 4.0. With the PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, one operates at x4 speed, while the other is limited to x2. It’s unlikely we’ll notice the difference in standard productivity workloads or even gaming, but it’s still something to note for those planning to load up all four storage slots. Speaking of PCIe, while there are three PCIe x16 lanes, which is the same as the X670E board, the single PCIe x1 slot has been removed. Unless you are using expansion cards, this may not be missed at all.
The new PCIe release button makes removing your graphics card a lot less fiddly. Image: HWZ
The M.2 Shield Frozr II heatsinks use a latch mechanism to easily remove them. Image: HWZ
Perhaps what really stands out about this board is how easy it is to work with, especially for DIY beginners. These are not unique to MSI motherboards, as brands like ASUS and even Gigabyte also have similar features. The PCIe release button, for example, makes removing your graphics card a lot less fiddly – especially useful with the latest GeForce RTX 40 series (and the upcoming RTX 50 series, no doubt) graphics cards that are not only getting larger but also heavier. MSI has also reinforced the primary PCIe slot with its Steel Armour design, so it’s better equipped to handle the weight of these hefty cards.
Installing M.2 drives has been simplified too, with MSI now adopting a “screwless” design. The new M.2 Shield Frozr II heatsinks use a latch mechanism, requiring just a light push to lift the cover. The EZ M.2 Clip II system is another nice addition as it eliminates the need for tiny screws, so you can just pull and release to secure your SSDs. These are the kinds of changes that don’t sound groundbreaking on paper, but they really add up when you’re building or upgrading a system.
The primary PCIe slot is reinforced MSI's Steel Armour design. Image: HWZ
MSI has added a JAF_2 header, which works with third-party coolers and fans. Image: HWZ
Another feature of the X870 MAG Tomahawk worth highlighting is the PCIe Supplemental Power connector. This eight-pin connector provides extra stability for power-hungry GPUs like the RTX 4090. MSI has also added a JAF_2 header, which works with supported MSI coolers and fans. If you’re using solutions from other brands, MSI has also included an adaptor that works as a 3-in-1 for ARGB, fans and USB power connections.
Performance-wise, the X870 chipset allows for higher RAM speeds, with support now reaching over 8,400MT/s. That’s a decent bump from the previous X670E’s 7,800MT/s ceiling. The board also gets a subtle visual update with a darker colour scheme and some green accents. I’m personally not a fan of green (though I still love HardwareZone), but you might feel differently about it.
While seemingly basic, this Tomahawk WiFi is pretty good value. Image: HWZ
At $624 (via Techyard), the MSI X870 MAG Tomahawk WiFi feels like a pretty good value motherboard. While it may not be visually striking, nor does it come with some of the extreme bells and whistles that higher-end motherboards have,
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