MSI is preparing new and refreshed AM5 motherboards with future hardware support in mind. These target anyone on the lookout for AMD’s upcoming Zen 6 processors, equipped with plenty of new features to get a head start. This time, the brand is making newcomers’ lives easier thanks to an automatic driver installation.
On the menu, we have the MAG B850M Mortar Max WiFi, MAG X870E Tomahawk Max WiFi, MPG X870E Edge Ti Max WiFi, MPG X870E Carbon Max WiFi, MAG X870E Gaming Plus Max WiFi, and MEG X870E Ace Max. Phew. Each boasts PCIe Gen 5 for graphics, multiple Gen 5 M.2 slots for storage, and 5GbE LAN. Most notably, MSI is bundling a larger 64MB BIOS ROM with all these Max variants, instead of the 32MB chips found on some previous boards.
This will allow MSI to add compatibility for new AM5 CPUs and DDR5 kits without removing support for older chips. While the company didn’t specifically name Zen 6 or Ryzen 10000 in its documents, it clearly linked the 64MB BIOS to “next-level” CPU upgrades. To be clear, this isn’t a unique feature of MSI’s motherboards; Gigabyte and others are also bundling similar chips with their existing and upcoming boards, MSI is mainly linking it to future CPUs.
In addition to next-gen CPU support, these 64MB BIOS-ready motherboards have another neat feature that makes new OS installations hassle-free. Instead of leaving this extra memory space empty, MSI will use it to store Wi-Fi and wired network driver files, allowing the system to go online immediately after Windows installation without having to manually download anything. Also great for those wanting a fully offline machine that can access a NAS from the get-go.
That said, MSI didn’t indicate if all these motherboards will get this driver treatment, and if any lower-range models can hope to see it. Logically, at some point, all boards will offer the same feature, as brands try to distinguish their lower-tier products from the competition.
Spec-wise, all ATX models offer multiple full-size PCIe slots, with at least one wired for Gen 5 x16 speed. The Ace Max is unique in this aspect, going for full Gen 5 link on its three slots, though limited to x8 and x4 for the secondary and tertiary slots, respectively. Aside from the Mortar Max, which is powered by a lower-tier chipset, the rest house two USB 4 40Gb/s plus plenty of Type-C and Type-A USB 3.2 ports. Understandably, the higher up the ladder you go, the greater the port selection becomes.
You can expect these to reach store shelves later this year or early next year, at a slightly inflated price compared to their predecessors. I guess at £200 to 250 for the MAG X870E Gaming Plus Max WiFi, £230 to £260 for the MAG B850M Mortar Max WiFi, £330 to £350 for the MAG X870E Tomahawk Max WiFi, £350 to £380 for the MPG X870E Edge Ti Max WiFi, £440 to £500 for the MPG X870E Carbon Max WiFi, and £500 to £600 for the MEG X870E Ace Max.
