MSI MPG X670E Carbon Wifi:
Architecture:
This MSI MPG X670E Carbon Wifi is built around the new X670E chipset. At the moment, we know that AMD has planned to launch several “new” chipsets in the coming weeks.
In addition to this X670E chipset, we will also see X670, B650E and B650 motherboards land, and by the end of October all four of these chipsets should be available to the general public. Here is a table that highlights the differences between these four chipsets. The B650E chipset could also be very interesting to build a configuration with a Ryzen 7000.
Bundle:
A small tour through the bundle of this MSI MPG X670E Carbon Wifi to see if it benefits from “special accessories”. And the least we can say is that MSI has contented itself with the strict minimum here.
Overall, we find a fairly standard bundle with the traditional SATA cables, Wi-Fi antenna, stickers, quick installation manual, a USB stick with drivers and that’s about it.
A new socket, hello socket AM5:
After the Z690 chipset and the LGA-1700 socket, it’s AMD’s turn to make its revolution. Goodbye socket AM4, hello socket AM5. It’s time to forget the PGA socket(Pin Grid Array) in which you used to put your processor in order to welcome the LGA socket(Land Grid Array). This socket will look like those already present for years on Intel motherboards. Why this change? Simply because of the larger number of pins on the Ryzen 7000 (1718).
AMD decided, with the AM5 socket, to keep a back plate already present for the AM4 socket. The 4 external holes that hold the retention system to fix your cooling system are still present. The distance between these 4 holes is identical to the AM4 socket, so you can still use your cooling system.
But AMD goes further and adds 4 more holes. These will be used to hold the AM5 socket in place but also to hold the backplate in place. This one should not be removed anymore like on the previous generation. Finally, the locking mechanism changes. We find the reinforcement frame, the force frame and the latch. Once your Ryzen 7000 is placed in the right position, you just have to close the latch to keep it in place.
Small remark following my tests, where I repeatedly removed and put back these new Ryzen 7000, know that the grip is far from being obvious with the particular shape of the IHS. There is a risk of accidents if you are not careful with the processor which could slip out of your hands and damage the pins of the socket. So be careful!
The different heat sinks :
The dimensions of the board are 305 mm x 244 mm, which corresponds to the ATX format. The dominant colors on the PCB are black with some touches of gray
Let’s start the tour with the radiators which are three in number! First of all, the two radiators located on the top of the motherboard and surrounding the socket. They are responsible for keeping the power supply stage cool and are connected by a heat pipe. The one that covers the external connectors has an RGB backlight with the well-known MSI dragon.
The third heatsink is the one that covers the chipset. It has a fairly large surface area but a low height to allow easy placement of graphics cards. We find the name of the model “MPG Carbon” as well as a part of the specifications of the card.
DDR5 support:
This new X670E chipset also brings DDR5 support. Our MSI MPG X670E Carbon Wifi has four memory slots. The specifications on the MSI website announce a compatibility of up to 6400 MT/s (OC). We should have no problems with our GSKill Trident Z5 NEO 6000 MT/s CL30 kit. It can accommodate a maximum of four DDR5 memory sticks.
AMD, in collaboration with the manufacturers of memory modules, now offers kits with “EXPO” technology. This is an alternative to the XMP profile (A-XMP at AMD). As a reminder, XMP allows, via the BIOS, to automatically activate the characteristics of your memory kit: the frequency, the timings as well as the voltage. The AMD EXPO technology will also allow you to overclock DDR5 in a single click in combination with the Ryzen 7000.
Four M.2 SSD slots and PCIe 5.0:
In order to keep the design of the chipset heatsink together, a plate has been integrated into the chipset. The cut-outs fit perfectly together and are intended to cover the four slots for M2 SSDs.
The first SSD, the one closest to the AM5 socket, has a “clip-on” attachment, so you can remove it without the need for tools. It has the reference “Screwless M.2 Shield Frozr”. It is wired in PCIe 5.0 x4 and supports 2280/2260. The one below it also shares the same characteristics but is held in place by two screws.
The next two, below the first PCIe slot, are wired in PCIe 4.0 x4 and are 22110/2280/2260 compatible for one and 2280/2260 for the other. The motherboard has two PCIe 5.0 16x (x8/x8) ports as well as a PCI Express PCIe 4.0 port operating in x4.
RGB or not RGB?
As is the case for a large part of the MPG range, it has a backlight on the radiator covering the connectors (the MSI dragon). The management of these is set via the MSI house software but it is possible to deactivate them, quite easily, via a switch on the motherboard.
