MSI MAG Z690 TOMAHAWK WIFI upgrade guide

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RAM upgrade

This board takes DDR5 only. There are four desktop DIMM (UDIMM) slots — not laptop SO-DIMMs — running in dual channel, and the manual specifies non-ECC, un-buffered memory. Registered or server memory will not work, and ECC is not a supported configuration on this consumer platform.

Capacity is where the sources disagree, so be careful. MSI's current specification page lists 192 GB as the maximum, reached with 48 GB modules. An older MSI page still says 128 GB. This looks like a specification revision — larger non-binary DDR5 modules were validated later — rather than two different boards, but if you are counting on more than 128 GB, check MSI's current memory list (QVL) for the exact modules you intend to buy before you commit.

Speed: MSI quotes up to 6400 MT/s with XMP enabled in BIOS, and that figure applies to one module per channel, single rank (1DPC 1R). Fill more slots or use dual-rank modules and the achievable speed comes down. MSI's pages also differ on the baseline JEDEC speed (5600 MT/s on one, 4800 MT/s on an older one), and modules often boot at their default SPD speed until you turn on an Intel XMP 3.0 profile in the BIOS.

Populate slot DIMMA2 first, as the manual advises. For dual channel, use matched modules — same type, count and density.

Buying tips: buy a matched DDR5 UDIMM kit that is non-ECC and un-buffered, and check MSI's QVL for it. If you want the headline speed, plan on a two-module kit rather than filling all four slots. Buy from a seller that accepts returns, in case the kit will not train at the speed you want.

Storage upgrade

There are four M.2 slots (Key M) and six SATA 6 Gb/s ports. All four M.2 slots are covered by MSI's SHIELD FROZR heatsinks and use the tool-less EZ M.2 clips, so adding a drive means removing the heatsink over the chosen slot and clipping the drive in place.

Sizes: 2242, 2260 and 2280 drives fit all four slots. Only M2_1 accepts the longer 22110 format.

Interfaces: all four slots take NVMe SSDs. M2_1 runs at PCIe 4.0 x4 from the CPU and is the natural home for a boot drive. M2_2 is PCIe 4.0 x4, M2_4 is PCIe 4.0 x4, and M2_3 is the slowest at PCIe 3.0 x4. M2_3 and M2_4 also accept SATA-type M.2 SSDs — and that is the trap: installing a SATA M.2 drive there can disable some of the six SATA ports. Check the port-sharing table in MSI's manual before you mix SATA and NVMe M.2 drives.

Ignore any listing that advertises a Gen 5 M.2 slot on this board. There isn't one. The only PCIe 5.0 link on the board is the top PCI_E1 x16 graphics slot.

For 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives you have the six SATA ports. There are no drive bays on the motherboard itself — the number of bays and the drive thickness your case accepts are determined by your chassis, not by MSI, so measure before you order a 3.5-inch drive.

MSI publishes no per-slot capacity ceiling. In practice, 2280 NVMe drives in the multi-terabyte range work, and larger 22110 drives can go in M2_1. The hard limit is the connectivity: four M.2 drives plus six SATA drives.

If you plan to use RAID: SATA RAID 0/1/5/10 and M.2 NVMe RAID 0/1/5 are available through Intel RST, and NVMe RAID needs a UEFI-ROM NVMe SSD. Intel Optane Memory/Smart Response is supported on M2_2 to M2_4.

Buying tips: a standard 2280 NVMe SSD fits every slot, so that is the safest purchase. Only buy a 22110 drive if you plan to use M2_1. If you want the fastest sequential speed, use M2_1 or M2_2/M2_4 and leave M2_3 for a slower or older drive.

CPU upgrade

The processor sits in a socketed Intel LGA1700 socket, so a swap is straightforward in principle — with one big caveat about BIOS support.

At launch the board supported 12th Gen Intel Core, Pentium Gold and Celeron processors. MSI's current page lists 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Intel Core processors as supported. Older material only mentions 12th Gen, and 13th/14th Gen parts need a current BIOS before the board will boot with them. That means: update the BIOS with your existing CPU installed before you swap, or use MSI's BIOS Flashback feature if you have no older CPU available. Check MSI's CPU support list for your exact processor and the BIOS version it needs.

Cooling: the socket uses LGA1700 mounting, so make sure your cooler (or its mounting kit) supports LGA1700 before you start. If you are upgrading the CPU, check the cooler's socket support and its clearance in your case at the same time.

Power: MSI does not state a maximum supported CPU TDP in its specification sheet or manual. The board's power design is intended for unlocked 125 W K-series processors and MSI lists i9 as the top CPU class supported, but treat that as guidance rather than a guarantee — the official position is that operation beyond product specifications is at your own risk. If you are pairing this board with a top-end unlocked chip, give the VRMs good case airflow.

Two things that catch people out. First, the rear HDMI and DisplayPort outputs only work if the CPU has integrated graphics; an F-series processor gives no display output from the board. Second, only the top PCI_E1 x16 slot runs at full speed (PCIe 5.0 x16 from the CPU) — the other x16-length slots are electrically PCIe 3.0 x4 and PCIe 3.0 x1. If you fit a large, heavy graphics card, MSI recommends a support bracket to stop the slot from deforming.

Buying tips: buy only from MSI's CPU support list for this board, and plan the BIOS update before the CPU arrives. A CPU with integrated graphics keeps your display working even if your graphics card fails or is being upgraded. Factor in a cooler that supports LGA1700 and, for unlocked chips, a case with decent airflow.

So rüstest du auf

Bevor du startest

• Back up anything important. Memory, storage and CPU changes can all end in a rebuild, and a backup costs you nothing.
• Power off at the wall and unplug the mains cable, then press the case power button once to discharge what is left in the board.
• Ground yourself: use an anti-static wrist strap, or regularly touch bare metal on the case before handling parts. Hold modules and SSDs by their edges.
• Open the case using your system or case owner's manual — the exact screws, panels and routing vary by chassis, and the board manual is not a disassembly guide for your PC.
• Install the part (see the category sections above for what fits where — for example DIMMA2 first for memory, and removing the M.2 heatsink before clipping a drive in). If you are adding a 13th or 14th Gen processor, update the BIOS first or use BIOS Flashback.
• Close the case, reconnect the mains and any display cables, then power on.
• Enter the BIOS/UEFI and confirm the new part is detected — memory total and slot population, the drive in the storage list, the CPU model. Enable the XMP profile if you bought faster RAM. Then install any updates and let the system boot into your operating system before you start moving data.

Schritte

1. Back up
   Save anything you cannot afford to lose before you touch the hardware.
2. Power off and unplug
   Shut down, switch off at the wall, unplug the mains cable and press the power button once to drain the board.
3. Ground yourself
   Wear an anti-static strap or keep one hand on bare metal on the case. Handle memory and SSDs by their edges.
4. Open the case
   Follow your case or system owner's manual for panel removal and cable routing.
5. Install
   Fit the part: DIMMA2 first for memory, an even pressure on both ends of the module; for storage, remove the M.2 heatsink over your chosen slot and clip the drive in; for a CPU, update the BIOS first if it is a 13th or 14th Gen part, and match pin 1 on the socket to the marker on the processor before closing the load lever. Refit the M.2 heatsink afterwards.
6. Close up
   Reconnect everything you disconnected, refit the panels and check that cables are clear of fans.
7. Check the BIOS
   Power on and open the BIOS/UEFI to confirm the part is detected, enable XMP for faster RAM, and only then boot into your operating system.

Gut zu wissen

• MSI's pages disagree on maximum memory (192 GB vs 128 GB) and on baseline DDR5 speeds. Use the current QVL on msi.com for the kit you buy.
• Maximum CPU TDP is not published by MSI. Board builders commonly pair this VRM with unlocked 125 W K-series parts, but that is not a manufacturer guarantee.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

How much RAM can the MSI MAG Z690 TOMAHAWK WIFI take?

MSI's current specification page says 192 GB, using four 48 GB DDR5 modules. An older MSI page still says 128 GB, so the documents disagree; the higher figure appears to be a later specification revision. If you need more than 128 GB, check MSI's current memory list for the exact modules before buying.

Can I use DDR4 RAM in this board?

No. This board is DDR5 only. There is a nearly identical board called the MAG Z690 TOMAHAWK WIFI DDR4 that takes DDR4 memory (four slots, 128 GB maximum, up to 5200 MT/s with one module per channel, single rank). The two boards' memory is not interchangeable, so verify the model string before ordering.

Does the MAG Z690 TOMAHAWK WIFI have a PCIe Gen 5 M.2 slot?

No. Some marketing material mentions Gen 5, but all four M.2 slots are Gen 4 or Gen 3 (M2_3 is PCIe 3.0 x4). The only PCIe 5.0 connection on the board is the top PCI_E1 x16 graphics slot.

How many SSDs can I install?

Up to ten drives: four M.2 SSDs plus six SATA drives. One catch — M2_3 and M2_4 also accept SATA-type M.2 SSDs, which can disable some of the SATA ports, so check the sharing table in MSI's manual before mixing the two.

Does it support 13th and 14th Gen Intel CPUs?

Yes, with a current BIOS. The board launched with 12th Gen Core/Pentium Gold/Celeron support, and MSI now lists 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors. Update the BIOS while your old CPU is still installed, or use BIOS Flashback if you have no bootable CPU. MSI's CPU support list names the BIOS version each processor needs.

Can I use the HDMI or DisplayPort on the back without a graphics card?

Only if your CPU has integrated graphics. The rear video outputs are driven by the processor's graphics, so an F-series CPU with no integrated graphics gives you no display from the motherboard.

Offizielle Dokumente und Referenzen

• MSI MAG Z690 TOMAHAWK WIFI — official specifications (DDR5 variant, current figures)
  Source of the 192 GB memory figure (48 GB modules) and the 6400 MT/s 1DPC 1R XMP figure.
• MSI MAG Z690 TOMAHAWK WIFI — specifications (DDR5 variant, older figures)
  Older MSI page: 128 GB maximum memory and a lower JEDEC baseline. Listed here because its figures differ from the current page.