MSI Pro Z890-S WiFi

Manufacturer: MSI

The MSI Pro Z890-S WiFi is an ATX form factor motherboard built around Intel's LGA 1851 socket and Z890 chipset. It comes with Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) and Bluetooth 5.4 integrated, making it a capable option for systems that benefit from wireless connectivity. The board also includes RGB lighting and supports easy overclocking, with a three-year warranty backing the hardware.

On the memory side, the board provides four DDR5 slots across two channels, supporting up to 256 GB at stock speeds up to 4800 MHz and overclocked speeds reaching 8600 MHz. Expansion options include one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, and three M.2 sockets, alongside four SATA 3 connectors with full RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support. Rear connectivity includes six USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, one USB 4 40 Gbps port, one Thunderbolt 4 port, HDMI 2.1, and a DisplayPort output.

Pros

Supports Wi-Fi 7 along with four previous Wi-Fi generations, covering a wide range of wireless connectivity needs
Overclocked RAM speeds can reach up to 8600 MHz with DDR5, offering significant headroom beyond the base 4800 MHz
A PCIe 5.0 x16 slot is available alongside two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, providing flexible expansion options
Three M.2 sockets combined with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support give considerable storage configuration flexibility
Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 40 Gbps ports are both present on the rear I/O for high-bandwidth device connectivity
A three-year warranty is included with the board

Cons

No dual BIOS is available, which removes a common safety net when flashing firmware updates
The board does not support an easy CMOS reset, making BIOS recovery potentially more involved
ECC memory is not supported, limiting use in error-sensitive workloads
No S/PDIF Out port is present, restricting digital audio output options
There are no USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A or Type-C ports on the rear I/O, leaving that speed tier only accessible via the Gen 2x2 Type-C connector

Who is this for?

This board is a solid fit for enthusiasts and builders who want to take full advantage of Intel's latest platform, particularly those planning to push DDR5 memory with overclocked speeds up to 8600 MHz. The combination of Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 4, and a USB 4 40 Gbps port makes it well-suited for users who rely on fast wireless networking and high-bandwidth peripherals in a modern desktop setup. Those who need flexible storage expansion will also appreciate the three M.2 sockets and broad RAID support, making it a practical choice for content creators or workstation users managing large volumes of data.

Who is this NOT for?

Users who require ECC memory support for error-critical workloads — such as those in scientific computing or server-adjacent tasks — will find this board unsuitable, as ECC is not supported. The absence of a dual BIOS and an easy CMOS reset option also makes it a less forgiving choice for beginners or those who frequently experiment with BIOS updates. Additionally, the lack of S/PDIF output and aptX Bluetooth means it falls short for users with specific high-fidelity audio setups that depend on digital optical output or higher-quality wireless audio codecs.

General info:

CPU socket	LGA 1851
chipset	Z890
form factor	ATX
supports Wi-Fi	✓
Wi-Fi version	Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Has Bluetooth	✓
Bluetooth version	5.4
HDMI version	HDMI 2.1
Easy to overclock	✓
has RGB lighting	✓
Easy to reset BIOS	✕
Has dual BIOS	✕
has aptX	✕
CPU sockets	1
Has integrated graphics	✕
warranty period	3 years
height	243.8 mm
width	304.8 mm
Has integrated CPU	✕

The MSI Pro Z890-S WiFi uses an LGA 1851 CPU socket paired with the Z890 chipset and follows the standard ATX form factor, measuring 304.8 mm wide and 243.8 mm tall. It supports a single CPU and has no integrated CPU or integrated graphics. The board includes Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) along with backward-compatible wireless standards down to Wi-Fi 4, as well as Bluetooth 5.4, though aptX is not supported. Video output is handled through an HDMI 2.1 connector, and the board features RGB lighting and supports easy overclocking. On the other hand, it does not include a dual BIOS or an easy CMOS reset option. A three-year warranty is provided with the board.

Memory:

maximum memory amount	256GB
RAM speed (max)	4800 MHz
overclocked RAM speed	8600 MHz
memory slots	4
DDR memory version	5
memory channels	2
Supports ECC memory	✕

This board accommodates DDR5 memory across four slots arranged in a dual-channel configuration, with a maximum capacity of 256 GB. Standard RAM speeds top out at 4800 MHz, while overclocking can push that figure up to 8600 MHz. ECC memory is not supported on this board.

Ports:

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A)	0
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A)	6
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-C)	0
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-C)	0
USB 2.0 ports	0
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports	1
USB 4 40Gbps ports	1
USB 4 20Gbps ports	0
Thunderbolt 4 ports	1
Thunderbolt 3 ports	0
has an HDMI output	✓
DisplayPort outputs	1
RJ45 ports	1
Has USB Type-C	✓
eSATA ports	0
DVI outputs	0
has a VGA connector	✕
PS/2 ports	0

The rear I/O panel offers six USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports for standard high-speed connectivity, alongside one USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port and one USB 4 40 Gbps port. There is also one Thunderbolt 4 port, while Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, USB 2.0, and USB 4 20 Gbps ports are absent. Video output is covered by one HDMI output and one DisplayPort, with no DVI or VGA connectors present. Networking is handled through a single RJ45 port, and there are no eSATA or PS/2 ports on this board.

Connectors:

USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (through expansion)	2
USB 2.0 ports (through expansion)	4
SATA 3 connectors	4
fan headers	6
USB 3.0 ports (through expansion)	2
M.2 sockets	3
Has TPM connector	✓
U.2 sockets	0
Has mSATA connector	✕
SATA 2 connectors	0

For internal storage, the board provides three M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors, while SATA 2 and U.2 sockets are not included, and there is no mSATA connector. USB expansion headers consist of two USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectors and two additional USB 3.0 connectors for front-panel or accessory use, along with four USB 2.0 expansion ports. Cooling is well-supported with six fan headers spread across the board, and a TPM connector is present for security module use.

Expansion slots:

PCIe 4.0 x16 slots	2
PCIe 5.0 x16 slots	1
PCIe 3.0 x16 slots	0
PCIe x1 slots	1
PCI slots	0
PCIe 2.0 x16 slots	0
PCIe x4 slots	0
PCIe x8 slots	0

The board includes one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots for expansion cards, along with one PCIe x1 slot for smaller add-in cards. There are no PCIe 3.0 x16, PCIe 2.0 x16, PCIe x4, PCIe x8, or legacy PCI slots present on this board.

Audio:

audio channels	7.1
Has S/PDIF Out port	✕
audio connectors	3

The onboard audio supports 7.1-channel output and is accessible through three audio connectors. There is no S/PDIF Out port on this board.

Storage:

Supports RAID 1	✓
Supports RAID 10 (1+0)	✓
Supports RAID 5	✓
Supports RAID 0	✓
Supports RAID 0+1	✕

The board supports RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 (1+0) configurations, covering a range of performance and redundancy needs. RAID 0+1 is not supported.

Final Verdict

The MSI Pro Z890-S WiFi is a well-specified ATX motherboard that covers the essentials of Intel's current LGA 1851 platform while offering a notably modern connectivity suite. Its Wi-Fi 7 support, Thunderbolt 4, and DDR5 overclocking headroom up to 8600 MHz position it as a capable board for enthusiasts and content-focused builders who prioritize fast wireless and high-bandwidth peripheral use. Some trade-offs — namely the absence of ECC support, dual BIOS, and an easy CMOS reset — mean it is better suited to experienced builders than to newcomers or those running error-sensitive workloads. Taken as a whole, it delivers a feature set that covers the needs of a mainstream high-performance desktop build without unnecessary excess.