CPUs & Motherboards

MSI MPG Z690 CARBON WiFi Review

vortez
December 2, 2021 8 Min Read
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Are you considering a move to Intel Z690 / 12th Gen.? We examine MSI’s latest mid-range offering, the MPG Z690 CARBON WIFI motherboard.


Product on Review: MPG Z690 CARBON WIFI
Manufacturer: MSI
Street Price: GBP £400 | USD $400 | AUD $699

In the aftermath of the Intel 12th Gen. launch, we’re left with a multitude of Intel Z690 motherboards to examine. Alder Lake requires an Intel Z690 (LGA 1700) motherboard and there are a plethora of models to choose from.

Classified as one of their mid-range solutions. MSI has sent across their Z690 CARBON WIFI, which is decked out with some exciting features which are sure to future-proof any new system build. This model is capable of supporting up to 6666 MHz DDR5, up to 5x PCI Express driven M.2s and dual PCI Express X16 5.0 expansion slots.

On paper CARBON WIFI seems to have a lot to give, should you be considering it for a move to Intel’s 12th Gen.?


About MSI
As a world leading gaming brand, MSI is the most trusted name in gaming and eSports. We’ve dedicated countless hours and numerous resources to the eSports community to support the world’s most aspiring gamers and leverage their gaming expertise to optimize our product design. MSI has integrated all gamers’ coveted functions into its gaming rigs, eliminating the tedious trial and error by themselves and pushing the performance beyond limits. The determination to surpass past achievements has made MSI a ‘True Gaming’ brand throughout the industry!

Technical Specifications


Below are the technical specifications concerning the MPG Z690 CARBON WIFI:

CPU
Intel 12th Generation Core Processors

Chipset
Intel Z690 Chipset

Memory
DDR5 4800-6666 MHz

Dual Channel Memory Architecture
Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)

Graphics
1 x HDMI 2.1
1 x DP 1.4

Expansion Slots
3x PCIe x16 slots

PCI_E1 & PCI_E2 slots (From CPU)
Support PCIe 5.0
Support x16/ x0, x8/ x8
PCI_E3 slot (From Z690 Chipset)
Supports PCIe 3.0 x4

Multi-GPU Support
Supports AMD® CrossFire™ Technology

Storage
4x SATA 6Gb/s ports – SATA5~8* (From Z690 Chipset)1
2 x SATA 6Gb/s ports – SATAA & SATAB (From ASMedia ASM1061)
5x M.2 slots (Key M)
M2_1 slot (From CPU)
Supports PCIe 4.0 x4
Supports 2260/ 2280/ 22110 storage devices
M2_2 slot (From Z690 Chipset)
Supports PCIe 4.0 x4
Supports 2260/ 2280 storage devices
M2_3 slot (From Z690 Chipset)
Supports PCIe 4.0 x4
Supports 2242/ 2260/ 2280/ 22110 storage devices
M2_4 slot (From Z690 Chipset)1
Supports PCIe 3.0 x4
Supports SATA 6Gb/s
Supports 2242/ 2260/ 2280 storage devices
M2_5 slot (From Z690 Chipset)
Supports PCIe 4.0 x4
Supports SATA 6Gb/s
Supports 2260/ 2280 storage devices
M2_2~5 support Intel® Optane™ Memory
Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology for Intel Core™ processors

Ethernet
1x Intel® I225V 2.5Gbps LAN controller

Wireless & Bluetooth
Intel® Wi-Fi 6E AX210

The Wireless module is pre-installed in the M.2 (Key-E) slot
Supports MU-MIMO TX/RX, 2.4GHz/5GHz/6GHz1 (160MHz) up to 2.4Gbps
Supports 802.11 a/ b/ g/ n/ ac/ ax
Supports Bluetooth® 5.22, FIPS, FISMA

USB
Intel® Z690 Chipset

1x USB3.2 Gen2x2 20Gbps Type-C port on the back panel
6x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps ports (5 Type-A ports on the back panel, 1 Type-C available through the internal connector)
2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps ports available through the internal connector
4 USB 2.0 ports on the back panel

USB Hub-GL850G

4x USB 2.0 ports available through internal connectors

Audio
Realtek® ALC4080 Codec

7.1-Channel High Definition Audio
Supports S/PDIF output

Back Panel I/O Ports
4x USB 2.0
1x DisplayPort 1.4
1x HDMI 2.1
5x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps Type-A
1x 2.5G LAN
1x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gbps Type-C
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Antennas
Audio Connectors w/ Optical S/PDIF Out

Accessories
Wi-Fi Antenna
EZ M.2 Clips
USB Drive (Drivers)
User Manual
Quick Install Guide
Cleaning Brush
Screwdrivers
MEG Stickers
Reward Program Flyer
Cable Sticker
Product Catalog
Reg. Card
1 to 2 RGB LED Extension Y-Cable
Corsair RGB LED Extension Cable
Rainbow RGB LED Extension Cable
2x SATA Cables

Operating System
Windows 10/11 64bit

Form Factor
ATX
12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm )

Closer Look Video

For this motherboard review we’ve produced a video which provides you with a highly detailed overview of the board revealing all the features with a verdict. Check out the video review here or watch below:

Test Setup & Methodology

Notes: We’ve revamped our benchmark regime by removing a number of tests which reveal little, to no difference between each motherboard model. Gaming performance is one such area which has been removed due to the inability for each motherboard to offer any advantage over another. Instead, we have focussed on meaningful/tangible analysis which examines the VRM/chipset design, and the storage performance which will be far more informative to the end user.

TEST SETUP

CPU Intel Core i9-12900K
Cooling CORSAIR H150i ELITE LCD
Motherboard MSI Z690 CARBON WIFI
Memory 64GB CORSAIR Dominator Platinum RGB 5200MHz DDR5
Graphics ZOTAC RTX 3070 Ti HOLO Extreme
Storage CORSAIR Force LX 512GB SSD
PSU Corsair RM 1000 80 Plus Gold Certified PSU
Monitor AOC U2879VF

BENCHMARKS

PCMark 10 – Overall Extended Score
SiSoftware SANDRA – SATA/PCIe Storage Tests
SiSoftware SANDRA – Processor Image Processing


OTHER SOFTWARE

Temperature Analysis: HWMonitor
Stress Testing Software: AIDA64 Stability Test
CPU Specification Monitoring: CPU-Z

Benchmarks: Power Consumption

In this first test we analyse the power efficiency from the wall for each motherboard (Minus the GPU). While each model uses the same chipset/platform, energy results can fluctuate between manufacturers due to the features and specifications that are integrated. First of all, for the idle tests the system is cold booted into Windows and no additional applications are executed – wattage is noted on the external energy monitor we use and then we open Aida64 stability test and execute a stress test, noting the highest reading on the monitor. Below are the results of this energy test.

Benchmarks: VRM & Chipset Cooling

Each motherboard manufacturer designs their board with a unique set of heatsinks to cover key areas like the VRM/mosfets and the chipset itself. In these test we use HWMonitor to identify the minimum values for VRM and chipset and then we load up Aida64 stability test again and perform a 20 minute run, recording the maximum value for both attributes.

Benchmarks: PCMark 10

PCMark 10 features a comprehensive set of tests that cover the wide variety of tasks performed in the modern workplace. With a range of performance tests, custom run options, and the new Battery Life Profile, PCMark 10 is the complete PC benchmark for the modern office.

Benchmarks: SATA Performance

In order to ascertain the SATA performance for our motherboards we use SiSoftware SANDRA and the File System Bandwidth performance test. This allows us to obtain the sequential read/write transfer rates for the drive being tested – Crucial MX300 SSD.

Benchmarks: PCIe M.2 Performance

In order to ascertain the PCIe M.2 performance for our motherboards we use SiSoftware SANDRA and the File System Bandwidth performance test. This allows us to obtain the sequential read/write transfer rates for the drive being tested – Kingston KC2500.

Benchmarks: CPU Image Processing

In our last test we observe the Image Processing performance from the CPU attached to the motherboard. For this we use SiSoftware SANDRA and the benchmark specifically designed for measuring the common algorithms associated with processing imagery.



Overclocking



For the overclocking phase, we already know that our CPU (Intel Core i9-12900K) is able to reach the lofty heights of 5.2GHz across all cores, and this is the object with each board we test – to pursue a 5.2GHz all-core OC.

Carbon managed to climb up to an all-core 5.1GHz overclock with the 12900K and required 1.39v – slightly more voltage compared to a few other models we’ve tested, which, as a result sends those temperatures into the high 90s and 100C.

Conclusion


We’ve been mightily impressed by what Intel has brought to market with their Alder Lake CPUs and a move over this 12th Gen. platform requires a motherboard upgrade – there are lots to choose from, should you consider the MSI Z690 CARBON WIFI?

In one word – yes. While this motherboard doesn’t come cheap at GBP £400 | USD $400 | AUD $699, but you do get a huge selection of features which are undoubtedly going to future-proof a new system configuration.

There is support for up to 6666 MHz which is astounding. Most boards do not reach this value, and while you may want to keep costs down by opting for a slower kit, the capabilities are there. Unlike other Z690 motherboards, CARBON WIFI also touts a whopping 5x PCI Express M.2 slots. 4x are PCI Express Gen4, while just one is PCI Express Gen3. On offer are two PCI Express 5 X16 slots – again, paving the way for possibilities later on down the track when this technology is fully adopted.


So, CARBON WIFI is feature-rich and will not disappoint in this regard, but how about performance? Well we found that MSI’s mid-range board did an excellent job throughout the range of tests we ran and provided us with decent temperatures for the VRM and chipset. It was also able to take our 12900K to a 5.1 GHz all-core OC, not too shabby at all.

Feature-rich and laden with options for the future, the Z690 CARBON WIFI is an excellent choice if you plan to move to Alder Lake.



Pros
+ 18 phase design
+ Support for up to 6666MHz DDR5
+ Offers solid performance
+ Plenty of USB connectivity
+ Comes with 5 PCI Express M.2 slots
+ Twin PCI Express 5 X16 slots
+ Up to 8 fan headers
+ Plenty of accessories included in bundle

Cons
– Still being supplied with USB 2.0 ports
– Expensive for mid-range

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