MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk WiFi AM5
Built-in 40Gbps USB 4 and Wi-Fi 7 with 5.8Gbps throughput provide cutting-edge connectivity for Ryzen 9000 series processors. It supports DDR5-8400+ memory overclocking across four DIMMs and features an isolated Audio Boost 5 processor for cleaner in-game sound. This board is best for system builders assembling a high-bandwidth AM5 gaming rig who prioritize fast networking and future-proof I/O.
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Panoramica
The 30-Second Version
The Tomahawk X870E nails the platform fundamentals with a 91st percentile score, DDR5-8400+ support, and Wi-Fi 7. But the efficiency score of 10.6 out of 100 is one of the worst we've seen, landing in the 4th percentile. Buyers rate it 4.7 stars, so it's not a bad board, just a thirsty one.
Pros & Cons
Pro
- 91st percentile platform score, one of the best AM5 foundations we've tracked 91st
- DDR5-8400+ MT/s memory support across 4 DIMMs 90th
- USB 4 at 40Gbps and Wi-Fi 7 with 5.8Gbps max throughput
- 14-phase VRM with 80A power stages handles Ryzen 9 CPUs without breaking a sweat
- 4.7 out of 5 stars from 148 buyers, strong social proof
Contro
- Efficiency score of 10.6 out of 100, 4th percentile, power draw is rough
- Single-thread and multi-thread scores in the 3rd and 4th percentile
- Affordability at 32nd percentile, you're paying a premium for the X870E chipset
- Feature score of 21st percentile, competitors offer more for the money
Le prove
Performance
Let's talk about what this board does well first. The platform score is a standout, 91st percentile in our database. That's driven by the X870E chipset, which gives you PCIe 5.0 x16 for the GPU and M.2 Gen5 slots with Frozr Shield cooling. Memory support goes up to DDR5-8400+ MT/s across 4 DIMMs, which is genuinely impressive for AM5. The 14-phase Duet Rail VRM with 80A SPS power stages means even a Ryzen 9 9950X won't starve for power.
But here's where it gets rough. The multi-thread score is 4th percentile and single-thread is 3rd percentile. That's not the motherboard's fault directly, those scores reflect the CPU it's paired with in our test data. Still, it means this board isn't going to magically lift a mid-range Ryzen into top-tier territory. The efficiency score of 10.6 out of 100 is the real problem. This board pulls more power than it needs to for the performance it delivers, and that's a weak spot you'll feel on your electricity bill.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| Brand | AMD |
| Series | Ryzen 9 |
| Model | 9000 |
| Class | desktop |
Memory
| Memory Type | DDR5 |
| Max Speed | 8400 |
| Channels | 2 |
| Max Memory | 256 |
Platform & Power
| Socket | AM5 |
| PCIe | 5 |
vs Competition
Stacked against the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, the Tomahawk's single-thread and multi-thread scores look rough, but that's an unfair fight since the 9800X3D is a CPU with 3D V-Cache, not a motherboard. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K comparison is similar, different category entirely. The more relevant matchup is against other AM5 boards in this price range. The MICRO CENTER 265KFPRO890WIFI bundle shows up as a competitor, and while we don't have full benchmark data on it, the Tomahawk's 21st percentile feature score suggests other boards are packing more extras for similar money. The G.Skill Trident Z Neo is memory, not a board, so that's a weird comparison, but it does highlight that DDR5-8400+ support is a real selling point here.
| Spec | MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk WiFi | AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D | Intel Core Ultra 9 285K | SMC EPYC 9555P | HP Xeon 6526Y | CG CHIPS GATE EPYC 6GK7443-1EX30-0XE0 1PC New 6GK7443-1EX30-0XE0 Communications Processor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | - | 8 | 24 | 64 | 16 | 24 |
| Threads | - | 16 | 24 | 128 | 32 | 48 |
| Boost Clock Mhz | - | 5200 | 5700 | 4400 | 3900 | 4000 |
| L3 Cache Mb | - | 96 | 36 | 256 | 37 | 128 |
| Tdp W | - | 120 | 125 | 360 | 195 | 200 |
| Socket | AM5 | AM5 | LGA 1851 | AMD Socket SP5 | LGA 4677 | AMD Socket SP3 |
| Integrated Graphics | - | AMD Radeon | Intel Graphics | - | No | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Prodotto | AI | Feature | Platform | Efficiency | Multi Thread | Riscontro degli utenti | Affordability | Single Thread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk WiFi | 3.2 | 20.7 | 91 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 90.3 | 31.7 | 3 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Compare | 91.7 | 98.5 | 95.2 | 88.9 | 89.2 | 99.5 | 23.5 | 95.1 |
| Intel Core Ultra 9 285K Compare | 96.2 | 99.9 | 96 | 97.2 | 96.4 | 90.3 | 18.3 | 99.9 |
| SMC EPYC 9555P Compare | 99.3 | 77.5 | 96.8 | 89.7 | 99.4 | 0 | 0.4 | 85.9 |
| HP Xeon 6526Y Compare | 92.1 | 77.5 | 90.7 | 79.3 | 90 | 0 | 2.7 | 80.6 |
| CG CHIPS GATE EPYC 6GK7443-1EX30-0XE0 1PC New 6GK7443-1EX30-0XE0 Communications Processor Compare | 94.8 | 77.5 | 84.4 | 85.2 | 93.9 | 36.3 | 5.3 | 80.5 |
Prezzo
Value & Pricing
At USD 257 to 280 in the US, this board isn't cheap. The affordability score sits at the 32nd percentile, which means most motherboards in our database cost less. You're paying for the X870E chipset, PCIe 5.0, and Wi-Fi 7, but the feature score of 21st percentile suggests you're not getting as much back as you'd expect. The EUR 385 to 399 range in Europe is even steeper. If you're building a budget AM5 system, this board will eat a chunk of your budget that could go toward a better GPU or more storage.
Approfondisci
Overview
The MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk WiFi sits at a weird crossroads. On one hand, it's got a 91st percentile platform score and a 90th percentile social proof rating, which means people who buy it tend to love it. On the other hand, its efficiency score is 10.6 out of 100, landing it in the 4th percentile. That's not a typo. This board drinks power like it's trying to heat a small apartment.
For the money, you're getting a solid AM5 foundation with DDR5-8400+ support, PCIe 5.0, USB 4 at 40Gbps, and Wi-Fi 7. The 14-phase VRM with 80A power stages is serious hardware. But the overall score of 16.3 out of 100 tells you this board has some real baggage. We'll dig into what's dragging it down.
Common Questions
Q: Does this board support Ryzen 9000 series CPUs out of the box?
Yes. The X870E Tomahawk WiFi supports AMD Ryzen 9000, 8000, and 7000 series processors on Socket AM5. The 14-phase VRM with 80A power stages is built to handle the power demands of Ryzen 9 chips without throttling.
Q: How many M.2 slots does this board have and are they PCIe 5.0?
The board includes M.2 Gen5 slots with Frozr Shield cooling on at least one slot. The X870E chipset provides PCIe 5.0 lanes for both the primary GPU slot and M.2 storage, so you can run a Gen5 SSD at full speed.
Q: Is the Wi-Fi 7 actually worth it over Wi-Fi 6E?
Wi-Fi 7 on this board supports 320MHz channels with a max throughput of 5.8Gbps, which is 2.4 times faster than Wi-Fi 6/6E. If you have a Wi-Fi 7 router, you'll see real gains. If you're still on Wi-Fi 6, it'll work fine but you won't tap the full speed.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this board if you care about power efficiency. The 10.6 out of 100 efficiency score is a real letdown, and it's not something a BIOS update will fix. Budget builders should also look elsewhere, the 32nd percentile affordability score means you're paying X870E prices for a feature set that scores in the 21st percentile. If you're running a Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 and don't need PCIe 5.0 or Wi-Fi 7, a B650 board will save you money and deliver nearly the same real-world performance.
Verdict
The MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk WiFi is a well-built board with a 91st percentile platform score and buyers who genuinely like it, 4.7 stars from 148 reviews. But the efficiency problem is hard to ignore. A 10.6 out of 100 efficiency score means this board is working against you every time you turn it on. If you're building a high-end AM5 system and don't care about power draw, it's a solid pick. If you're watching your electricity bill or building a more modest rig, there are better options in our database.
