MSI unveils MAX & EVO X870E motherboards
MSI is rolling out a fresh batch of AM5 “MAX” motherboards built around larger 64 MB BIOS chips and aimed at upcoming Ryzen CPUs. The lineup includes the MAG B850M Mortar Max WiFi, MAG X870E Tomahawk Max WiFi, MPG X870E Edge Ti Max WiFi, and MPG X870E Carbon Max WiFi. All four are based on AMD’s newer B850 and X870E chipsets and keep full support for Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 desktop processors.
MSI also markets these boards as “next-level CPU” ready, which lines up neatly with AMD’s next 3D V-Cache part. Ryzen 7 9850X3D has already appeared in leaks with 8 Zen 5 cores, 96 MB of L3 cache, and boost clocks up to 5.6 GHz, and is expected to be announced in January around CES. The expanded 64 MB BIOS gives MSI more room for current microcode plus future Ryzen families, including Zen 6, while keeping a full graphical interface and extra pre-boot features.
Source: MSI
During its own stream MSI explained that previous AM5 boards shipped with 32 MB BIOS chips, while all new MAX and EVO models step up to 64 MB. It was clearly suggested that this BIOS is not just for one generation.
EVO boards stop there, but MAX adds a second chip called OC Engine, an external clock generator that lets the board set CPU base clock independently from the SoC clock. MSI says this is meant to keep AM5 compatible with more CPU generations over time without having to cut features from the firmware.
Source: MSI
MSI is also tying OC Engine to new “PBO Base Clock Booster” presets in BIOS. On supported boards, users will be able to pick profiles that automatically raise CPU base clock to about 103 or 105 MHz while keeping the SoC side at default, avoiding the stability issues that come from overclocking everything at once.
Source: MSI
MAG B850M Mortar Max WiF i sits at the entry end of this group. It is a micro-ATX B850 board with a single PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, four DDR5 slots rated up to DDR5-8200 (OC), and a storage layout that now includes two PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slots plus two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots. Network connectivity covers Realtek 5 GbE and Wi-Fi 7, and MSI adds quality-of-life touches such as EZ M.2 latches and an OC Engine clock generator for easier BCLK tuning. That mix should pair well with an 8-core gaming chip like a future Ryzen 7 9850X3D in a compact build that still wants fast storage and high memory clocks.
MAG X870E Tomahawk Max WiFi moves to a full-size ATX layout and the higher-end X870E chipset. Compared to the Mortar, it leans more toward multi-GPU or add-in card setups, with multiple full-length PCIe slots, PCIe 5.0 for graphics, and a stack of Gen4 and Gen5 M.2 slots for SSDs. MSI keeps the same 64 MB BIOS concept, OC Engine support, and EZ-DIY features, targeting users who want a straightforward gaming or work rig that can grow into Zen 6 later without worrying about firmware space.
Source: MSI
MPG X870E Edge Ti Max WiFi and MPG X870E Carbon Max WiFi share the same core platform but push different angles. Edge Ti Max leans toward light or white-themed builds, with X870E, PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 7, and 40 Gbps USB Type-C on the rear I/O. Carbon Max steps up as the more premium option, with stronger power delivery, triple PCIe 5.0 slots, dual Gen5 M.2, and more high-speed USB ports, again backed by a 64 MB BIOS for Ryzen 9000X3D and Zen 6 support.
MSI clearly paints these MAX and EVO boards as future ready, supporting not only upcoming Ryzen 9000X3D but also Zen6-based series whatever their name is. You can watch the video from MSI Insider for more details.
Source: MSI
