msiPRO Z890-S WiFi PZ Motherboard, Back-Connect ATX - Supports Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2), LGA 1851 - DDR5 Memory Boost (8600+ MT/s OC), PCIe 5.0 x16, M.2 Gen5, Wi-Fi 7, 2.5G LAN

Why did you pick this product vs others?:I chose it to pair with an all-white panoramic view chassis. Its PCB and even the BIOS interface are white, showcasing a strong sense of design consistency. The silver-white armor that covers the entire motherboard is also perfect for creating a modern minimalist style—I love everything about it.As for performance, there’s not much to say—it’s absolutely top-tier. MSI’s BIOS is stable and reliable, and the Wi-Fi module uses Intel solution rather than a cheaper MTK option. I’m currently running DDR5-8000 memory fully stable, and I’m very satisfied.

Board is incredible! The ease of access with the connections being in the back, all the fan slots available. Tons of storage space, and it looks great too. For the price with the ease of installing, the board is hard to beat.

Why did you pick this product vs others?:My gf wanted something to game on and wanted a sleek looking motherboard. i was interested in the back connect motherboards so i showed her it as an option. It was worth the price. She is very happy with it and i had to install her Ultra 9 and it gave me no problems. U can stick 256 gb of ram!! i told her she can basically do a lot on her pc. The frozr guard on the board makes it look nice

Z890-S Motherboard Review: A High-Performance Platform with Essential Pre-Setup RequirementsThe Z890-S motherboard lives up to its performance claims, offering a reliable and powerful foundation for modern computing. Whether you're building a high-end gaming rig, a workstation for content creation, or a versatile home PC, this board delivers the speed and compatibility you’d expect from a premium product.BIOS Update Required Before Windows 11 InstallationOne critical note for new users: before installing Windows 11, the motherboard's BIOS must be updated. Without the latest BIOS version, the system may fail to boot into the Windows setup process. Thankfully, MSI provides an easy solution. You can download the latest BIOS file from MSI’s official website and apply the update using the M-Flash utility. This process requires only a USB drive and a few minutes of time, and MSI includes step-by-step instructions to guide you through the update.Memory and Expansion CapabilitiesThe Z890-S supports up to 256 GB of DDR5 RAM, giving users the flexibility to run memory-intensive applications, virtual machines, and multitasking environments with ease. Whether you're rendering 4K video or working with large data sets, the board’s memory capacity ensures smooth performance.In terms of expansion, the motherboard features 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, offering blazing-fast bandwidth for the latest graphics cards and high-speed NVMe storage adapters. This makes the Z890-S well-suited for gaming, 3D modeling, AI workloads, and other demanding tasks where speed matters.Performance and UsabilityOnce the BIOS is updated and Windows 11 is installed, the Z890-S operates flawlessly. Boot times are fast, system stability is solid, and overall responsiveness is excellent. The motherboard also includes a range of modern connectivity options (such as USB-C, Wi-Fi support, and multiple M.2 slots), making it a forward-thinking choice for future upgrades.Final ThoughtsThe Z890-S is a strong contender in the high-performance motherboard category. It offers exceptional speed, advanced memory support, and rock-solid reliability. Just be aware that a BIOS update is essential before beginning the Windows installation. After that, it’s smooth sailing—this board delivers where it counts.

Excited for the project board series. This is my second MSI Project Zero board. 1st one is the Z790. Went with the Z890 for the i9 Ultra. Overall, great looking board and solid build MINUS for the back USB C port. Upon mounting the motherboard, I noticed the USB C was loose - bad soldering IMO. I plugged in the case USB C panel cable and it broke off the board. Expected higher quality from MSI. Disappointed.Waiting for replacement board and will update the review.

Good mobo, MSI has come along way & they improved their bios. Still basic but worry free. I have 3 NVME with the first one being gen5, reading speeds above 12k & writing above 13k. I had to update the bios cause win11 won't detect some hardware on the mobo.mobile. Was fun building with it.

Worked excellently in my CPU cabinet that accommodated its "reverse motherboard connector" scheme. This is where the power and other cables usually attached to the topside of the motherboard are instead connected to the reverse, hiding them from view in certain specialized enclosures. It's an overall easier scheme for cabling up a motherboard and having less hassle getting GPU and other components (like CPU coolers) situated. The performance of the motherboard has been top notch, and I have configured and using it with all M.4 SSDs populated, set into a RAID10 configuration. Once set up and bootable, the BIOS accommodates a special accelerated MSI boot speed enhancement which reduces startup time to a minimum. The system has accommodated all port connections I wanted, from HDD to SSD and SATA to GPU and the various high speed USB connection systems. I have no want for more capabilities here. The system has undergone a number of changes and upgrades to RAM, GPU, SATA devices and so forth, and has proven to have great stability for all these operations.

Spec wise- it got the job done for a fair price. NVME and PCI 5.0.Back connections make for a pretty case build. I hope the back connection motherboard becomes the standard.No disappointment here.