MSI MPG X870E Edge Ti Wifi Review: Silver-white aesthetic meets budget X870E

The latest motherboard to land on our test bench is the inexpensive-for-the-platform MSI MPG X870E Edge Ti Wifi. Currently (at the time of this writing) priced at $299.99 on Newegg, it’s one of the least expensive ATX-size X870E boards available. But don’t let the low price fool you, as it comes with everything you’d expect from the enthusiast platform, but at a reasonable price. On top of the lower price point, the silver-white color scheme and RGB dragon on the VRM heatsinks are sure to turn heads as well.

Hardware-wise, the board comes loaded with features, including 40 Gbps USB4 ports, 5 GbE and Wi-Fi 7, ample storage options featuring dual PCIe 5.0 M.2 sockets, a quality mid-range audio solution, and plenty of EZ DIY and EZ OC features to assist with building, upgrades, and overclocking. Performance on the X870E Edge Ti Wi-Fi was solid throughout testing and often ranked near the top of our performance charts. Memory speeds are listed to DDR4-8400, so there is plenty of headroom on paper for fast RAM if you choose (though our Klevv DDR5-8000 kit, unsurprisingly, didn’t work). No matter if you’re gaming, a creative, or just need a lot out of your motherboard, the Edge Ti should have what you are looking for.

Below, we’ll examine the board's details and determine whether it deserves a spot on our list of the best motherboards. But before we share test results and discuss details, here are the specifications from MSI’s website.

Specifications of the MSI X870E Edge Ti Wifi

Inside the Box

The X870E Edge Ti Wifi includes a few accessories to get you started. You get your typical collection of cables, clips, and screws. Nothing extraordinary. We’ve listed everything MSI includes below.

• EZ Dashboard
• EZ Wi-Fi Antenna
• Cable Stickers/Installation Guide
• 1 to 2 EZ Conn-cable (v1)
• SATA cable
• EZ Front Panel Cable
• EZ M.2 Clip II remover
• (3) EZ M.2 Clip II
• M.2 screw

Design of the Edge Ti Wifi

Image 1 of 5

The X870E Edge Ti Wi-Fi sports a silver-white color scheme that’s a break from the all-too-common motherboards we're used to seeing. MSI’s Frozr design heatsinks cover the VRM, while the left bank sports an RGB feature (MSI Dragon) that stands out. The bottom half of the board uses plate-style heatsinks, and the EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II button is across all M.2 sockets and the chipset, with branding on each. We like the look of the Edge Ti Wifi. The white-silver aesthetic offers a distinctive contrast to the predominantly black motherboards available.

The silver-white MSI board, while budget-friendly, is complemented by an effective cooling design. The large VRM heatsinks, featuring the company's Frozr design, are linked by a heatpipe to distribute the thermal load, and their ribbed structure maximizes the cooling surface area. This robust cooling system is well-equipped to handle a wide range of power requirements. A single RGB element is present on the left side. It's a striking MSI dragon that is illuminated from below, with the MPG branding subtly stenciled onto the top VRM heatsink.

Past the socket, the next thing we run into are four black DRAM slots with a locking mechanism on both sides. Although the contrast against the 8-layer PCB looks fine, matching slots would arguably look better. MSI lists support for fast DDR5-8400 and a typical 4-DIMM capacity of 256GB.

Above the RAM slots are the first three fan headers (of nine, including the multi-function JAF header). Each 4-pin header supports PWM- and DC-controlled devices via the BIOS or MSI Center software. Power output varies by header: the system fans are at 1A/12W, the pump fan at 3A/36W, and the CPU fan at 2A/24W. That's plenty of available power for your fans and AIO, or even for custom liquid cooling.

Along the right edge is another system fan header, followed by the first (of five, including that JAF header again) ARGB/RGB headers. Control over any attached lighting is also handled through MSI Center. Continuing along the edge, we run into the EZ Digi-Debug LED, which displays codes during the POST process. Below that are the 24-pin ATX power connector and the multi-function JAF header that combines ARGB, Fan, and a USB 2.0 header, all in a much smaller footprint than using the standard headers.

Power delivery on the X870E Edge Ti Wifi consists of 17 total phases, with 14 dedicated to Vcore. Power heads from the 8-pin EPS connector(s) in the top-left corner, then to a Monolithic Power Systems MPS2419 controller. From there, it moves to the rest of the VRMs, including the MPS2513 80A SPS MOSFETs. While not the most powerful solution we've encountered, it is still sufficient to manage any flagship processor, including the Ryzen 9 9950X or the seemingly inevitable Ryzen 9 9950X3D2, the latter of which has been the subject of persistent rumors for several months.

On the bottom half of the board, we’ll start with the audio section on the left. Hidden under a shroud, you’ll find the Realtek ALC4080 codec, a mid-range solution, along with a couple of dedicated audio capacitors. This setup is fine for most people and what we would expect given the board's pricing.

In the middle are three full-length slots, flanked on most sides by M.2 sockets. Starting with the PCIe slots, the top slot (PCI_E1), primary for graphics, connects to the CPU and runs at PCIe 5.0 x16 speeds. MSI uses a button to lock and unlock the GPU, which is convenient and generally better than the simple lever we’re used to. The other two slots connect through the chipset, with the middle (PCI_E2) running PCIe 3.0 x4 and the bottom (PCI_E3) running PCIe 4.0 x4.

Next are four M.2 sockets. The top slot (M2_1) and the second slot (M2_2) are your CPU-connected PCIe 5.0 x4 (128 Gbps) sockets supporting up to 110mm and 80mm devices, respectively. The bottom two slots connect through the chipset and run up to PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps), supporting up to 80mm devices. Each M.2 socket uses MSI’s EZ DIY feature; with a single push of the metal latch on the left, these plate heatsinks can be removed/installed easily.

There is some lane sharing among the PCIe 5.0 sockets, however. M2_2 shares bandwidth with the USB4 ports. By default, both slots run at PCIe 5.0 x2 (or PCIe 4.0 x4) when a device is installed on M2_2. You can force the sockets to x4, but that disables the 40 Gbps Type-C ports. You’ll need to choose your poison when using the second M.2 socket.

Moving past the chipset area to the right edge, the first thing we encounter is the front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) Type-C port. Below that are four SATA ports and two 19-pin front panel USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) headers.

We've also included many images of the active IC's for the board. MSI and X870E Edge Ti Wifi uses a wide range of brands including Monolithic Power systems (VRMs), Realtek (audio, USB, PWM controller), and more.

Image 1 of 5

Along the bottom are several headers, ranging from the front panel to fans and supplemental PCIe power. From left to right, we’ve listed them below. One worth mentioning is the supplemental PCIe power connector for additional board power, so the board can actually output everything it’s rated for.

• Front panel audio
• 4-pin RGB
• 3-pin ARGB
• 4-pin System fan
• PCIe supplemental power
• (2) USB 2.0 headers
• (3) System fan headers
• LED on/off switch
• 3-pin ARGB
• Front panel
• 2-pin battery header(CMOS reset)

The rear IO on the X870E Edge Ti Wifi has plenty of what you need, including 12 USB ports. Starting on the left, there are two small buttons: BIOS Flash and Clear CMOS. Next to that is an HDMI (v2.1) video output for integrated graphics. Next, there are 12 USB ports. You get three Type-C ports (2x 40 Gbps, 1x 10 Gbps), five USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps, red) ports, and four USB 2.0 (480 Mbps, black). Next is the Realtek 5 GbE port. Finally, on the right is the quick-connect Wi-Fi 7 connection and the audio stack (two 3.5mm jacks and SPDIF out).

MORE: Best Motherboards

MORE: How To Choose A Motherboard

MORE: All Motherboard Content