Review MSI X870E Carbon WIFI Motherboard Review: USB 4.0 has arrived

[Admin]

MSI’s X870E Carbon is a premium motherboard with robust power delivery, several “EZ” features, solid performance, and four USB Type-C ports on the rear IO.

MSI X870E Carbon WIFI Motherboard Review: USB 4.0 has arrived : Read more

 

[DougMcC]

No TB5, in 2024?

 

[zzrailzz]

So I am thinking about getting this MB (Upgrading from a Hero VIII x570) and cant seem to find the answer to the one question holding me back. If I populate all 4 nvme slots and put a card in the x4 slot for another nvme will it cut down my main PCIe to x8 or disable sata ports?

 

[thestryker]

Appreciate the day one review and it seems like the X870E is the way to go for people hopping on the platform even if it isn't enough of an upgrade for those already on X670E. I'm curious if memory topologies have changed at all or if the higher support listed is due to AGESA optimization.

MSI's specifications show the second slot is limited to x4:
3x PCI-E x16 slot
PCI_E1 Gen PCIe 5.0 supports up to x16 (From CPU)
PCI_E2 Gen PCIe 5.0 supports up to x4 (From CPU)
PCI_E3 Gen PCIe 4.0 supports up to x4 (From Chipset)

It would be helpful to note when there are M.2 restrictions as well since populating M.2_2 will cause the primary PCIe slot to run x8:
4x M.2
M.2_1 Source (From CPU) supports up to PCIe 5.0 x4 , supports 2280/2260 devices
M.2_2 Source (From CPU) supports up to PCIe 5.0 x4 , supports 2280/2260 devices
M.2_3 Source (From Chipset) supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4 , supports 22110/2280 devices
M.2_4 Source (From Chipset) supports up to PCIe 4.0 x4 , supports 2280/2260 devices
4x SATA 6G

* PCI_E1 & PCI_E2 & M.2_2 share the bandwidth, and PCIe version support varies depending on the CPU.

 

[Peksha]

So I am thinking about getting this MB (Upgrading from a Hero VIII x570) and cant seem to find the answer to the one question holding me back. If I populate all 4 nvme slots and put a card in the x4 slot for another nvme will it cut down my main PCIe to x8 or disable sata ports?

Yes, all 8-series am5 use it "Intel lga 1700 style":
PCI_E1 & PCI_E2 & M.2_2 share the bandwidth, and PCIe version support varies depending on the CPU. Please refer to the PCIe configuration table in the manual for more details.

Choice 6-series soc instead

 

[awake283]

Seems like a great board but wow are they becoming expensive.

 

[instaSHINOBI]

No TB5, in 2024?

They gotta keep their prices down so the current lineup is basically TB3 equivalent. Sure I say go ahead and offer a TB5 board at premium cost for "creators"

 

[penguinbelly]

Isn't Carbon close to $500? How is it a "mid-range" board?

 

[lunar.holiday]

"USB 4 has arrived"

Where have you been it's been here since X670E lol. The ProArt board already had two full speed USB4 ports and nearly the same specs for the rest, but is still actually better with a 10GbE.

 

[-Fran-]

I got myself the meme board Asus ROG Strix X870E-E because of the 10x 10G USB ports and USB4, plus the plethora of connectivity options. Every other model I looked at did not have this arrangement of USB ports and PCIe splitting configuration. The same board in X670E is configured similarly, but lacking USB4 and had a few 5G USB ports; still cheaper if you don't need the USB ports like me since it is definitely on the pricey side, but considering this Asus board supports ECC and the MSI doesn't, well, there's no doubts for me.

None of the TUF series had a decent enough arrangement of USB and PCIe splitting for me (NVMe and PCIe slots).

Plus, the sound chip in it seems to be better as per HUB's testing (of the Hero version).

Regards.

 

[thestryker]

but considering this Asus board supports ECC and the MSI doesn't, well, there's no doubts for me.

It might be worth making sure it really supports ECC memory correctly if this is an important festure for you. The X870E Hero HUB tested functioned with ECC memory installed, but didn't actually support ECC.

 

[-Fran-]

It might be worth making sure it really supports ECC memory correctly if this is an important festure for you. The X870E Hero HUB tested functioned with ECC memory installed, but didn't actually support ECC.

Yeah, I noticed that. MSI doesn't even boot with ECC though. I guess that was my point.

Also, I'm sure Asus will add better ECC support later on... Or that will be my copium dose.

Regards.

 

[thestryker]

Also, I'm sure Asus will add better ECC support later on... Or that will be my copium dose.

Well no matter what it has a higher chance of happening than with MSI who doesn't list ECC support and doesn't work on the boards either!

I just wish AMD would make it a mandatory part of their specifications to support ECC memory (at least on the top end chipsets). I was frustrated by the seemingly random support on AM4 as well since all of their CPUs support it.

 

[2Be_or_Not2Be]

I wish m/b reviewers would standardize on using the term "USB4" and not the other variations (like USB 4.0, USB 4, etc.). USB4 means you're getting 40Gbps. However, using "USB4" will help to distinguish the specific datarate vs boards with "USB4 2.0", the new(er) standard with 80Gpbs symmetric and options for asymmetric speeds.