With the Unify, we are a premium mannequin with assist for DDR5 reminiscence, however it would not function any RGB LED lighting. The MSI MEG Z690 Unify represents MSI’s Fanatic Gaming collection, which mixes parts of an enthusiast-level motherboard, however with all of the options designed for customers to take advantage of the newest controller units and twelfth gen options. A few of the options embody 5 M.2 slots, assist for DDR5-6666 reminiscence, twin 2.5 GbE and Wi-Fi 6E networking, in addition to an marketed 21-phase energy supply.
Intel Z690 Chipset: Fast Recap
Along with the launch of Intel’s twelfth technology processors we overviewed and analyzed 80+ Z690 fashions throughout two articles – one for DDR5 motherboards and one for DDR4 motherboards. Designed across the LGA1700 socket, the Z690 chipset brings a number of advantages in comparison with the earlier technology, corresponding to DDR5. DDR5 which presents higher efficiency than DDR4, however Intel additionally consists of assist for DDR4 reminiscence. This splits Z690 into two completely different segments so no Z690 board can assist DDR5 and DDR4 reminiscence concurrently; it is both one or the opposite.
The entire assist for PCIe 5.0 (16 x PCIe 5.0 and 4 x PCIe 4.0 lanes) comes instantly from the Intel twelfth gen processors, with the Z690 chipset providing 12 x PCIe 4.0 and 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes. There’s additionally a PCIe 4.0 x8 uplink between the chipset and the processor. Intel features a Wi-Fi 6E PHY, native USB 3.2 G2x2 connectivity, in addition to overclocking assist, as we sometimes discover on its flagship collection of Z fashions.
Under is an inventory of our Intel twelfth gen critiques and the related motherboard overviews:
MSI MEG Z690 Unify Overview
It seems like an eon in the past since MSI initially unveiled its X99A Godlike Gaming at Computex 2015, which coincidently, because it claimed, was the world’s first RGB-enabled motherboard. Throughout that point, RGB has been a driving consider gross sales, giving customers some type of customization to have a look at. Regardless of what folks may assume, RGB would not make your {hardware} run any sooner than the pace stripes you see on vehicles.
Meet world’s first RGB LED motherboard, the #MSI X99A GODLIKE GAMING. Make this really ONE BOARD TO RULE ALL! pic.twitter.com/xBRZ3wZhwE
— MSI Gaming (@msigaming) June 9, 2015
I bear in mind the times after I would set up single-color chilly cathode tubes in my PC case so as to add a little bit of sparkle when laptop elements corresponding to motherboards and graphics playing cards had been generic in aesthetic, with ugly inexperienced or brown PCBs, even motherboards with purple, black, generally orange finishes on the heatsinks to make them stand out from the remaining. Now we’re within the age of RGB, the place if each part in your system is not flashing with rainbow-inspired unicorn vomit, you are not thought of cool.
MSI tailored itself into the tradition of every part will need to have RGB LEDs, however it unveiled a collection marketed as being RGB free, prefer it was an precise function to not have a function (should you can think about that). There are the ‘Carbon’ variants of a few of MSI’s motherboards, however this was codified underneath the Unity line.
The most recent RGB-free iteration from the MSI Unify collection relies on the Z690 chipset, the MSI MEG Z690 Unify. The Unify collection prides itself on not conforming itself to the RGB crowd, focusing extra on options over flashy aesthetics. The MSI MEG Z690 Unify has a smooth all-black aesthetic, with metallic black heatsinks, a sizeable rear panel cowl, however do not mistake its elegant design as a weak point. Underneath the hood, the Z690 Unify is packing a powerful function set. A few of the most notable embody a big 21-phase energy supply for overclockers and lovers, with a stable twin Intel 2.5 GbE controller pairing and Wi-Fi 6E networking configuration providing customers a different collection of connectivity. There are additionally two full-length PCIe 5.0 slots, one other new addition to Alder Lake and Z690, with assist for x16 and x8/x8, though there’s additionally a half-length PCIe x4 slot current too.
There’s loads of storage assist out there, too, with 5 M.2 slots in complete, 4 of those supporting PCIe 4.0 x4 drives and one with assist for PCIe 3.0 x4 varieties. MSI consists of six SATA ports for SATA gadgets and storage, 4 of which come from the chipset with assist for Intel RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. Because the MSI MEG Z690 Unify is a premium choice, it helps the newest DDR5 reminiscence, together with speeds of as much as DDR5-6666, with a mixed capability of 128 GB supported throughout its 4 slots. MSI additionally consists of two USB 3.2 G2x2 Kind-C ports, one on the rear panel and one out there via a entrance panel header. Different USB assist consists of 9 Kind-A ports; seven of those conform to USB 3.2 G2 and two to USB 2.0.
Briefly referring to efficiency, the MSI MEG Z690 Unify did effectively in all three units of testing – system, compute, and gaming. It’s aggressive in contrast with different Z690 fashions we have examined to date, with its most vital win coming in DPC latency.
The MSI MEG Z690 Unify present process our VRM thermal testing
When it got here to overclocking, the Unify confirmed that though it’d appear like a sleeper, it has some stable potential for pushing unlocked Alder Lake processors. Regardless of the most important limitations of this coming via cooling, our most secure overclock was at 5.3 GHz on the P-cores and 1.400 V on the CPU VCore, which hit 100°C and 448 W when it comes to energy draw on the wall. We did expertise over beneficiant quantities of VDroop when evaluating the CPU VCore values we set within the BIOS to what we reported at full-load. Whereas the reporting software program might maybe be slightly unreliable, the rise in energy draw we famous did appear in step with our outcomes.
The MSI MEG Z690 Unify stands agency with an MSRP of $490, and searching on the $450 to $500 value level on Z690; there are a number of choices out there. This consists of the ASRock Z690 PG Velocita ($470), the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming WIFI ($470), and the GIGABYTE Z690 Aorus Grasp ($470). Other than the GIGABYTE, which we will probably be reviewing quickly with 10 GbE, every part else is on an identical stage when it comes to options and specs. In fact, there are the aesthetic variations to contemplate as effectively, with the Unify the one one from this bunch that prides itself on being RGBless, with a sublime but premium-looking design. The opposite key issue additionally comes right down to efficiency, which we’re about to discover all through this evaluate. It is time to see whether or not or not the Unify has the sting over the competitors and if it is the sub $500 Z690 mannequin customers needs to be .
Learn on for our prolonged evaluation.