In this article, we’ll review the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WIFI motherboard, a price-to-performance option that can even handle high-end Ryzen 9 processors.
CPU Support
With its 14+2+1 strong power phase VRM design, this motherboard supports all Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 series processors. You’ll be able to run the world’s most powerful gaming CPU, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, as well as the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, which is great for both work and gaming, at full performance. Thanks to the large MOSFET heatsinks covering the power delivery, you’ll get stable performance even under full load.
Memory Support
The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WIFI comes with 4 DDR5 RAM slots. With the latest Ryzen 9000 series CPUs, you can reach speeds of 8400 MHz and beyond.
Graphics Card Support
Modern GPUs now use the PCIe 5.0 interface, so having this standard in your motherboard is important for future-proofing. The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WIFI features a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, reinforced with metal to support heavy graphics cards. Since GPUs are getting larger, MSI has also added a convenient button to easily unlock the slot latch. Additionally, there’s an 8-pin power connector on the motherboard to increase GPU stability. This allows you to supply extra power directly from the PSU instead of the motherboard.
Storage Support
This motherboard offers a wide range of storage options. PCIe Gen 5 M.2 SSDs are becoming more affordable, making this feature especially important for content creators and professionals. The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WIFI includes:
- 2 × PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slots
- 1 × PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slot
- 1 × PCIe 4.0 x2 M.2 slot
All M.2 slots come with heatsinks. For additional storage, there are also 4 × SATA 6 Gb/s ports.
Key Features
- Realtek 8126-CG 5G LAN and Wi-Fi 7 with Bluetooth 5.4, ensuring high-speed wired and wireless network performance. An external Wi-Fi antenna is included in the box.
- 2 × USB4 Type-C ports (40 Gbps) on the rear I/O, perfect for fast data transfer—especially valuable for professionals.
- Debug LED indicators to instantly identify issues if your PC fails to boot.
- Clear CMOS button for easy BIOS reset.
- Flash BIOS Button, allowing BIOS updates without a CPU, RAM, or GPU installed.
- A thick PCB with static electricity protection for durability.
- Plenty of USB ports to meet workstation needs.
- Extensive heatsinks covering all heat-sensitive areas, including a large heatsink on the X870 chipset for improved stability under heavy use.
- Extra features like multiple fan headers, 3 addressable RGB headers, and a front-panel Type-C connector.
Verdict
If you’re looking for a price-to-performance motherboard with the X870 chipset, the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WIFI should be at the top of your list. It often appears with aggressive pricing campaigns, making it even more attractive. Investing in an AM5 socket motherboard is a smart choice, as there are already many CPU options available, and more will come in the future. Even today, we still see new CPUs being released for older AM4 socket motherboards, which is a testament to AMD’s long-term support. Hopefully, Intel will adopt this strategy as well.