MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk WiFi AM5 ATX DDR5 Motherboard

The board uses AMD's Socket AM5, the platform for current Ryzen desktop processors. It is paired with the X870E chipset, the top tier of AMD's 800-series lineup. If you are building a new AMD system or moving up from an older AM4 platform, this combination gives you a modern base with the connectivity and expansion that high-end builds need. Check MSI's CPU support list to confirm compatibility with your chosen processor.

Four DDR5-SDRAM slots let you start with two modules and add more later, or fill all four from day one for a larger memory pool. DDR5 is the memory standard used on the AM5 platform, so you will need DDR5 modules rather than older DDR4 sticks. This layout suits everything from a lean gaming setup to a workstation that runs virtual machines, large projects or heavy multitasking.

Storage is a strong point of this board, which offers four M.2 slots. You can run a dedicated drive for your operating system, another for games and more for projects or media libraries, all without SATA data or power cables cluttering the case. This keeps the build tidy and helps airflow, while giving you plenty of room to expand capacity as your storage needs grow.

Three full-length PCI Express x16 slots give you room for a graphics card plus additional expansion cards, such as capture cards, network adapters or storage controllers. This flexibility matters for streamers, creators and anyone who wants to add hardware over the life of the system. The slot configuration and lane allocation are detailed in MSI's documentation, so check them when planning multi-card setups.

Wireless networking is built in, so you can get online without an add-in card, while the RJ45 port provides a wired connection for stable, low-latency gaming and large downloads. The rear panel includes four USB 2.0 ports for peripherals, two USB 3.2 ports and three USB-C ports for faster drives and modern devices. Audio input and output jacks cover headsets, speakers and microphones.

The board follows the ATX standard, so it fits the vast majority of mid-tower and full-tower cases. The full-size layout leaves space for the three PCIe slots, four memory slots and four M.2 slots without crowding, which makes installation and cable management easier and gives larger CPU coolers and graphics cards room to breathe.

This motherboard suits gamers and enthusiasts building a new AM5 system who want plenty of storage and expansion without sacrificing wireless connectivity. Creators will appreciate the four M.2 slots and the extra PCIe slots for capture or I/O cards, while upgraders get a platform with room to grow in memory and storage.