It was once the case that Intel’s B-series motherboards had been very primary certainly. Going again just a few generations, they could not even overclock reminiscence. However, they’ve come a great distance, and lately they’re usually completely viable choices, even with a high-end Ok-series processor. Nicely, a lot of them anyway… low cost continues to be low cost.
The MSI B760I Edge WiFi is positioned as an inexpensive board with an honest mainstream characteristic set. It is a Mini-ITX motherboard, so it ought to be a very good possibility for these seeking to put some extra money in the direction of a greater graphics card or CPU for a compact, but extremely succesful small kind issue system.
At $205 / £199 / AU$349 the B760I Edge WiFi shouldn’t be an excessively expensive possibility, although the competitors is hard on this value vary, with Mini-ITX choices from ASRock, Gigabyte, and Asus all priced equally. Being a Mini-ITX board, you will should take care of a sacrifice or two in comparison with ATX choices, however that is par for the course.
I would say the B760I Edge is a lovely board. It is comparable in look to its AMD-toting MPG B650I Edge sibling, although fortunately it lacks that board’s chipset fan. Its silver-on-black theme would look good with the best matching parts—in the event you can see it in any respect in a tiny case, that’s. It lacks onboard RGB too, although it does have RGB and ARGB headers. I can think about it wanting nice in a white case.
MSI MPG B760I Edge WiFi specs
Socket: Intel LGA 1700
CPU compatibility: Intel twelfth, thirteenth and 14th Gen processors
Kind issue: Mini-ITX
Reminiscence help: DDR5-7200+(OC), as much as 128GB
Storage: 2x M.2, 4x SATA
USB: As much as 3x USB 10Gbps, 6x USB 5Gbps, 4x USB 2.0
Show: 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DP 1.4
Networking: Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5G LAN, Intel WiFi 6E
Audio: Realtek ALC897
Worth: $205 / £199 / AU$349
At this value, MSI fairly expectedly did not go all out relating to a mega VRM and ultra-fast reminiscence help. It’s going to fortunately run DDR5-7200 reminiscence, with as much as 128GB supported. That is sufficient for any gaming system.
It has an 8+2+1-phase VRM with 90a phases. That is not excessive, however it’s satisfactory sufficient to deal with an i9 processor at full tilt. The heatsinks do a superbly satisfactory job of conserving issues cool, so long as you’ve respectable airflow in your case. It is value remembering some ITX circumstances aren’t stellar in that regard due to their compact nature.
The first PCIe slot helps Gen 5, whereas storage clever, you get a pair of M.2 slots, each of which help Gen 4 SSDs. The one on the entrance is linked to the CPU, whereas the one on the rear of the board is linked to the chipset. They’re joined by 4 SATA ports. That is about pretty much as good because it will get for a B760 Mini-ITX board.
The rear I/O has some highlights, nevertheless it additionally has one notable omission. It is disappointing to not see a BIOS flashback characteristic. So, whereas twelfth and thirteenth Gen processors are supported out of the field, it is seemingly you will have to flash it with an older CPU to get help for a 14th Gen mannequin—relying on how lengthy your explicit pattern has been ready so that you can take it dwelling.
The USB complement consists of eight ports made up of USB Kind A and C 10Gbps ports, 4 5Gbps ports, and two USB 2.0 ports. A 20Gbps port can be good, however eight USB ports is a strong quantity for any Mini-ITX board. The USB ports are joined by DisplayPort and HDMI 2.1 ports, with three 3.5mm analogue jacks linked to an ageing ALC897 codec. A Realtek RTL8125BG offers 2.5Gbps Ethernet and there are two Wi-Fi antenna connections for the onboard WiFi 6E.
System Efficiency
Gaming Efficiency
Take a look at rig
CPU: Intel Core i9 14900K
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Version
RAM: 2x 16GB G.Ability Trident Z5 DDR5-6000 C36
Storage: 2TB Kingston KC3000
Cooling: Cooler Grasp PL360 Flux 360mm AIO
PSU: Corsair HX1000i
We caught with a trusty Intel Core i9 13900K for this overview. Aside from the much more demanding i9 14900K, the truth that the B760I Edge WiFi can deal with this chip with out its VRM getting actually sizzling is an effective indicator the board will deal with any reasonable workload you care to throw at it. Ideally although, you’d need a good excessive airflow case in the event you go down that path.
The little MSI did not throw up any surprises within the benchmark assessments. Nor ought to it or any LGA 1700 motherboard in 2024 because the underlying microcode and bugs have lengthy since been ironed out.
Purchase if…
✅You need a white themed construct: The Edge is a cultured wanting providing that may mix in properly in a white case with the best matching parts.
Do not buy if…
❌ You need 20Gbps USB help: 20Gbps shouldn’t be ubiquitous on this value vary, however its does exist. Not less than the MSI has eight rear USB ports, whereas some rivals provide solely six.
❌ You are shopping for a 14th Gen CPU on the similar time: The Edge will help 14th Gen processors, however solely after seemingly needing a BIOS flash. You may want an older gen CPU to do this because of the lack of a BIOS flashback operate.
The MSI MPG B760I Edge proved itself to be a succesful little board. I’ve at all times preferred the structure of MSI’s UEFI design and it is bought an affordable VRM for a B-series Mini-ITX board. Its heatsinks are higher than cheap, its networking and storage complement is about pretty much as good as something on this value vary, and you will have to go ATX if you’d like extra storage functionality.
Maybe the most important subject the Edge faces, although, is its robust competitors. The newly launched ASRock B760I Lightning helps 14th Gen chips out of the field, and its VRM and reminiscence help are superior, too. The kicker is it is no less than $20 cheaper.
However the MSI B760I Edge is much from being a foul board. It is going to fortunately reside on the coronary heart of a compact gaming system. It is mature, and it seems to be good. It simply lacks one thing that will elevate it forward of the competitors. If MSI had been to drop the value a bit, or it comes up on sale, by all means seize one. However, now that LGA 1700 is on the twilight of its profession, there are extra compelling Mini-ITX choices to select from.