MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi Gaming Motherboard (Supports 12th/13th/14th Gen Intel Processors, LGA 1700, DDR5, PCIe 5.0, M.2, 2.5Gbps LAN, USB 3.2 Gen2, HDMI/DP, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, ATX)
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AI Verdict
The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi is a stealthy, feature-packed DDR5 motherboard for Intel 13th and 14th Gen builders who want massive USB connectivity without paying the premium RGB tax.
This board is a powerhouse for 13th and 14th Gen Intel CPUs thanks to its 16+1+1 power delivery and massive 10-port rear USB array. The lack of a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot means it lacks next-gen storage support. The well-documented PCH cracking issue on early batches means you should buy from a retailer with a painless return policy.
If you absolutely need a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot for future storage upgrades, look for upper-tier Z790 boards in the $350+ range.
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Pros
- 16+1+1 Duet Rail Power System easily handles a fully unlocked Core i9-13900K or 14900K without VRM thermal throttling.
- Rear I/O includes 10 USB ports, featuring a blazing fast 20Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port.
- Four M.2 slots all come with pre-installed Shield Frozr heatsinks to prevent Gen4 NVMe throttling.
- Subtle all-black aesthetic with zero onboard RGB fits perfectly into stealth or blackout PC builds.
- Includes Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and Intel 2.5Gbps LAN for top-tier networking out of the box.
Cons
- Early manufacturing batches had a heatsink screw defect that cracked the PCH chipset, causing high DOA rates.
- Zero PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots for next-gen storage—all four M.2 slots are limited to PCIe 4.0 speeds.
- DDR5 RAM slots only have a retention clip on one side, making it frustrating to verify the memory is fully seated.
- Windows 11 installation fails to detect the network adapters, forcing you to use the OOBE\BYPASSNRO command to finish setup.
Dimension Scores
16+1+1 90A power stages easily handle an overclocked i9-14900K without breaking a sweat.
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and ALC4080 audio are great, but the lack of onboard RGB or a diagnostic LED code reader holds it back.
You get four M.2 slots and plenty of SATA ports, but the total absence of PCIe 5.0 M.2 support is a bummer at this price.
MSI's Click BIOS is easy to navigate for XMP profiles, but the included driver USB is a confusing ISO file.
Best For
- Blackout or stealth PC builds using a case with a tinted glass panel.
- Content creators who need massive rear I/O for external drives, audio interfaces, and peripherals.
- Intel Core i7 and i9 users who need robust VRM cooling for sustained multi-core rendering workloads.
Not Recommended For
- Storage enthusiasts planning to buy a 10,000+ MB/s PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD.
- First-time builders who might panic if Windows doesn't automatically detect Wi-Fi during the initial OS installation.
Watch Out For
- Windows 11 setup will halt because it lacks the native Wi-Fi/LAN drivers for this board—you must bypass the network check or have drivers ready on a USB.
- If you buy older stock, you will need to flash the BIOS using the rear button before it will boot with an Intel 14th Gen processor.
- The DDR5 slots only click on the top edge, so you have to push uncomfortably hard on the bottom edge to ensure the RAM actually makes contact.
- The included driver USB is actually an ISO file that you have to mount in Windows, which confuses a lot of buyers expecting a simple executable.
- A factory defect with the chipset heatsink screw caused cracks in the PCH, leading to dead-on-arrival boards in early batches.
Full Specifications
| RAM | DDR5 |
| ASIN | B0BL8K1YH1 |
| Brand | msi |
| Color | Information Not Available |
| Series | MAG |
| Platform | Windows 11 |
| CPU Model | Pentium |
| Processor | pentium |
| CPU Socket | LGA 1700 |
| Model Name | MAG |
| Item Weight | 3.9 pounds |
| Chipset Type | Intel Z790 |
| Manufacturer | MSI |
| Memory Speed | 7200 MHz |
| Wireless Type | Bluetooth |
| Item model number | MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK |
| Compatible Devices | Personal Computer |
| Memory Clock Speed | 7200 MHz |
| Product Dimensions | 12 x 9.6 x 2.5 inches |
| Compatible Processors | Intel Core, Intel Celeron, Intel Pentium Gold |
| RAM Memory Technology | DDR5 |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 12 x 9.6 x 2.5 inches |
| Number of USB 2.0 Ports | 10 |
What Buyers Say
The most glaring takeaway from owner forums is the high rate of DOA boards caused by a factory defect where a heatsink screw cracked the chipset. MSI has since fixed this in production, but the shadow still looms over user reviews. When the board works, buyers are thrilled with the stealthy all-black aesthetic and the beefy VRM heatsinks that keep high-end Intel chips stable. A recurring frustration is the Windows 11 installation process, which completely fails to recognize the network adapters without a command-line bypass. Despite the setup hiccups, owners love the massive rear I/O and consider it one of the best value Z790 boards if you don't care about RGB.
“After a mini heart attack thinking my board was DOA, I realized I just hadn't pushed the bottom of the RAM hard enough into the single-clip slot—now that it's running, this thing is an absolute tank.”
Common Praise
- 16+1+1 power delivery keeps VRM temperatures well under 60°C even during heavy CPU rendering.
- Rear I/O is stacked with 10 USB ports, eliminating the need for external USB hubs.
- All-black, brushed metal heatsinks look incredibly clean in non-RGB stealth builds.
- Four M.2 slots provide plenty of room for storage expansion without needing PCIe add-in cards.
Common Complaints
- Early units arrived completely dead due to a factory defect cracking the PCH chip.
- Windows 11 setup halts because the board's Wi-Fi and LAN drivers aren't recognized natively.
- Single-latch DDR5 slots make it terrifyingly difficult to know if the RAM is fully seated.
- No PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot means you can't use the fastest Gen5 NVMe drives on the market.
Ownership Tips
- The included driver USB is formatted as an ISO file, requiring you to mount it in Windows rather than just double-clicking an .exe.
- You will likely need to tweak the 'Wake by OS' vs 'Wake by BIOS' settings if your older mechanical keyboard isn't recognized during boot.
- Boot times can be slightly long while the board does memory training on high-speed DDR5 kits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this motherboard support Intel 14th Gen CPUs out of the box?
It depends on when the specific box was manufactured. Older stock requires you to use the BIOS Flashback button on the rear I/O to update the firmware before a 14th Gen CPU will post.
Why won't Windows 11 let me connect to Wi-Fi during setup?
Windows 11 doesn't have the Intel Wi-Fi 6E drivers for this board pre-installed. You have to press Shift+F10, type 'OOBE\BYPASSNRO', and install the drivers from a USB drive once you reach the desktop.
Are the DOA (Dead on Arrival) issues still happening?
MSI acknowledged a manufacturing defect in April 2024 where a heatsink screw was cracking the PCH chip. Newly manufactured boards have a revised screw design that fixes this, but old stock might still be circulating.
Does this board have PCIe 5.0?
The top x16 slot for your graphics card is PCIe 5.0, but none of the four M.2 storage slots support PCIe 5.0 speeds.
Do I need to use both 8-pin CPU power connectors?
A single 8-pin is fine for an i5 or i7 gaming build. You only need both 8-pins if you are heavily overclocking an i9-13900K or 14900K.
Buying Guide
When buying a Z790 motherboard, you are paying for connectivity and power delivery. This board gives you massive USB options and enough juice to run Intel's hottest i9 processors without throttling. You don't need to spend $500+ on a flagship board unless you are doing extreme liquid-nitrogen overclocking or absolutely need a PCIe 5.0 slot for a next-gen SSD. Just make sure you have the Wi-Fi drivers downloaded to a flash drive before you start building, or Windows will trap you in the setup screen.
16+1+1 Duet Rail Power System
Think of this as the highway delivering electricity to your CPU. More lanes mean the power flows smoother and cooler, preventing your processor from slowing down during heavy gaming.
PCIe 4.0 M.2 Slots
This is the speed limit for your storage drives. While PCIe 4.0 is incredibly fast (up to 7,500 MB/s), it won't support the bleeding-edge PCIe 5.0 drives that hit 14,000 MB/s.
Wi-Fi 6E
It adds a new 6GHz band to your wireless connection, acting like a VIP lane that bypasses the interference from your neighbors' routers and smart home devices.
Alternatives
If you want PCIe 5.0 M.2 storage support or a built-in POST code LED screen for easier troubleshooting, look for upper-tier Z790 boards in the $350+ range.
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