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Benchmark Results
Our standard benchmarks and power tests are performed using the CPU’s stock frequencies (including any default boost/turbo) with all power-saving features enabled. We set optimized defaults in the BIOS and the memory by enabling the XMP profile. For this baseline testing, the Windows power scheme is set to Balanced (default) so the PC idles appropriately.
Synthetic Benchmarks
Synthetics offer a valuable method for evaluating a board's performance, as identical settings are expected to yield similar results. Turbo boost wattage and advanced memory timings are areas where motherboard manufacturers can still optimize for stability or performance, though, and these settings can impact specific testing scenarios.
Performance with the X870E Edge Ti was excellent across all of our synthetic benchmarks. And while it never led anywhere, it was nearly above average across the board.
Timed Applications
The Edge Ti Wifi also did well in the timed applications. It ran 8.9s, the fastest of our two recorded times, in LAME, and was average in Corona. Handbrake results were also solid, posting one of the quicker times we’ve seen. Again, we find nothing to worry about here.
3D Games and 3DMark
Starting with the launch of Zen 5, we’ve updated our game tests. We’re keeping the EA’s F1 racing game and have upgraded to the most current version, F1 24. We also dropped Far Cry 6 in favor of an even more popular and good-looking game in Cyberpunk 2077. We run both games at 1920x1080 resolution using the Ultra preset (details listed above). Cyberpunk 2077 uses DLSS, while we left F1 24 to native resolution scaling.
The goal with these settings is to determine if there are differences in performance at the most commonly used (and CPU/system bound) resolution with settings most people use or strive for (Ultra). We expect the difference between boards in these tests to be minor, with most falling within the margin of error differences. We’ve also added a minimum FPS value, which can affect your gameplay and immersion experience.
In our 3DMark and game tests, the Edge Ti was average in both 3DMark tests and actual games. Overall, it’s clear that this board performs well across a wide variety of activities.
Overclocking
Over the past few CPU generations, overclocking headroom has been shrinking on both sides of the fence while the out-of-box potential has increased. For overclockers, this means there’s less fun to have. For the average consumer, you’re getting the most out of the processor without manual tweaking. Today’s motherboards are more robust than ever, and they easily support power-hungry flagship-class processors, so we know the hardware can handle them. There are multiple ways to extract even more performance from these processors: enabling a canned PBO setting from the BIOS, manually tweaking the PBO settings, or just going for an all-core overclock. Results will vary and depend on the cooling as well. In other words, your mileage may vary. Considering all the above, we will not be overclocking the CPU. However, we will try out all our different memory kits to ensure they meet the specifications.
For memory testing, we start with our fastest non-clock driver kit: Klevv 32GB (2x16) DDR5-8000. Per usual on this platform, it booted to Windows but wouldn’t pass a stress test. Our Team Group DDR5-7200 kit worked without issue. We have an 8000-series APU on the way to confirm that it was our CPU limiting our success rate.
Those speeds are well past the ‘sweet spot’ for the AMD platform, and with today’s RAM prices, we doubt many people are looking at these higher speeds in the first place.
Power Consumption / VRM Temperatures
We used AIDA64’s System Stability Test with Stress CPU, FPU, Cache, and Memory enabled for power testing, using the peak power consumption value from the processor. The wattage reading is from the wall via a Kill-A-Watt meter to capture the entire PC (minus the monitor). The only variable that changes is the motherboard; all other parts remain the same. Please note that we have transitioned to using only the stock power use/VRM temperature charts, as this section aims to ensure the power delivery can handle flagship-class processors.
Stress testing on the Edge Ti using our DDR5-6000 kit showed a fairly efficient board. At idle, it sat around 86W and peaked at 265W. This averages out to 176W, a middling result and nothing out of the ordinary.
VRM temperatures peaked at just a hair over 50 degrees Celsius on our hottest sensor and 54 degrees on the internal sensor. This is one of the warmer results, but still well within specification. If you plan to push flagship-class processors for extended periods, you should be fine with this board.
Bottom Line
MSI’s MPG X870E Edge stands out as a strong budget contender in the enthusiast X870E space. Its white / silver appearance stands out from typical black motherboards, and its feature list rivals that of some more expensive options. At $299.99, it delivers the full range of chipset capabilities, including USB4, multiple PCIe 5.0 storage slots, 5 GbE, and Wi-Fi 7. Additionally, it offers MSI's user-friendly EZ DIY features and one-click overclocking for those who prefer to avoid manual Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) configuration.
The ~$300 price point sees competition from all the major board partners. The ASRock X870E Nova Wifi is cheaper at $259.99 but has a single PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite Wifi7, priced at $294.99, shares a similar M.2 configuration but uses 2.5 GbE networking. The Asus TUF Gaming X870E-Plus Wi-Fi 7 is slightly more expensive at $304.22 and uses an older-generation audio codec (which may or may not be a concern for most buyers).
Hardware-wise, no single competitor in this segment truly dominates, and although this is a good board, it did not make our Best Motherboards list. The choice often comes down to personal preference and aesthetics, as most people don’t need two PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots or care about flagship-class audio. Ultimately, for those seeking an affordable white X870E motherboard, the X870E Edge Ti Wifi should be on your shortlist.
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