The Intel Z590 Motherboard Overview: 50+ Motherboards Detailed
by Gavin Bonshor on January 19, 2021 10:15 AM ESTMSI MEG Z590I Unify
One of MSI's premium ranges is the Unify, with subtle and classic all-black aesthetics that omit integrated RGB lighting. The smallest of its trio of Unify boards is the MSI MEG Z590I Unify with its mini-ITX form factor, with plenty of premium features, including a 10-layer PCB. It uses all-black heatsinks, with a black dragon embossed onto the rear panel cover, and has a combination M.2 and chipset heatsink.
Due to its mini-ITX form factor, the board has a single full-length PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, but it is also equipped with two M.2 slots, one operating at PCIe 4.0 x4 and another with support for PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA drives. Along the right-hand side is four straight-angled SATA ports, which sit next to two memory slots with support for up to DDR4-5600 memory and up to 64 GB of capacity. MSI is advertising a direct 8+1 phase power delivery, with premium 90 A power stages throughout, with a single 8-pin 12 V ATX CPU power input delivering power to the CPU.
On the rear panel, the MSI MEG Z590I Unify includes two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports with two mini-DisplayPort video inputs, two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. Powering the networking side is an Intel I225-V 2.5 GbE controller and Intel AX210 Wi-Fi 6E CNVi, while the three 3.5 mm audio jacks are driven by a Realtek ALC1220P HD audio codec. Finishing off the rear panel is a clear CMOS button and a pair of video outputs, including one HDMI 2.0b and one DisplayPort 1.4. output.
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WaltC - Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - link
If my x570 Aorus Master fan is "active", it has sure fooled me...;) It is not audible.Makaveli - Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - link
I'm on a Asus Prime X570-Pro for just over a year now and I've not heard the chipset fan once totally overblown issue. Drama queens!Samus - Thursday, January 21, 2021 - link
I think it's impressive Intel kept a PCIe4.0 chipset down to 6w TDP. Definitely doesn't need active cooling.Slash3 - Sunday, January 24, 2021 - link
The chipset isn't Gen4.Spunjji - Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - link
Not surprised if they're expecting users to overclock chips that will exceed 200W at stock settings. 😬YB1064 - Thursday, January 21, 2021 - link
Is it just me or are the MSRPs listed utterly insane? Intel has been relegated to a poor man's AMD, yet these crazy prices? As they say, a fool and his money are soon parted.Samus - Saturday, January 23, 2021 - link
I don't think it's actually the chipset costs that are inflating the price of the boards, but the ridiculous power circuit and components required to deliver over 200w of power to the CPU's in order for these board makers to take advantage of PL2.fundead - Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - link
I thought the active fan is for the 10 gig networking chip. It is facing that heatsink which is right next to the vrm heatsink.damianrobertjones - Tuesday, January 19, 2021 - link
Looking at the prices, I'm really, REALLY glad that I bought an AORUS Z490 Elite (£154, new) from eBay. I just don't understand the prices.aidan - Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - link
I've just done exactly the same, no regrets whatsoever