Introduction
Our review is evaluating a refresh of the X870E GAMING PLUS WiFi motherboard, and also its introduction to the MSI Arsenal Gaming (MAG) tier of products. This year, MSI has moved the Gaming Plus entry-level enthusiast motherboards into their more recognized and popular MAG segment. The MSI MAG X870E GAMING PLUS MAX WiFi is the second such motherboard we have reviewed recently. There have been some subtle changes to the board, thus the “MAX” moniker.
MSI has come to use the “MAX” to indicate that the motherboard is an upgraded version with all the latest additions. The table below details the changes and differences between the two boards. The X870E boards are quite feature-packed and this board is no exception, partly due to the extra X870 chipset found on all X870E boards. If you are a little rusty on AMD AM5 chipsets, here’s a nice table. MSI has placed particular emphasis here on: a new aesthetic, bolstered heatsinks, maximum connectivity, easy installation, AI overclocking and an entry-level price point. We intend to look into the details to see if these claims are on point. MSI has a price tag of $289 on the MSI.store website with a three-year warranty.
Packaging and Contents
The motherboard package was received directly from MSI. This is a full retail version. The box is what we have come to see in all our recent reviews. Once the lid is lifted, we have the motherboard in a thick anti-static bag and the accessories underneath. The WiFi antenna is in a separate box on top of the board. The board was well protected. There is a reasonable amount of extras included inside: two SATA cables (one right angled), a front panel EZ connector, an EZ Conn-RGB/fan connector, two EZ M.2 clips, the EZ Clip remover tool, booklets, stickers and the WiFi antenna.
