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MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£430
  • Avg. price in US: ~$400
  • CPU socket: LGA 1700
  • Chipset: Intel Z690
  • Form factor: ATX

MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

8.4

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the motherboard's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best motherboards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

8.3

Technical Score

10.0%

9.3

User score

Excellent
8.3

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

8.6

Memory

16.0%

9.0

Platform & Features

16.0%

7.5

Storage

15.0%

9.5

Network

13.0%

7.3

Ports & USB

8.0%

5.9

Expansion

8.0%

9.1

Power & Cooling

5.0%

9.7

Audio

Excellent
9.3

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

9.0

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
(379)
amazon
4.5
(114)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.5
(402)
Amazon_logo.png
3.6
(8)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Exceptional
  • 8.8
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    8.5

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    10

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    10

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    5.5

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    10

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

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Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi is a high-performance ATX motherboard featuring a robust 18+1+1 phase power delivery system with 75A smart power stages, making it ideal for overclocking 12th and 13th Gen Intel Core processors. It stands out with exceptional storage options, including five M.2 slots (four supporting PCIe 4.0) and six SATA 6Gb/s ports, alongside support for DDR5 memory speeds up to 6666+ MHz and dual PCIe 5.0 x16 slots. Connectivity is top-tier with integrated Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5G LAN, and a 20Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port, while enthusiasts will appreciate the Realtek ALC4080 audio and subtle Mystic Light RGB. Main pros include its extensive storage capacity, high-speed memory support, and user-friendly BIOS; however, cons include a relatively high price point and the inclusion of four legacy USB 2.0 ports on the rear I/O which may feel outdated for a mid-to-high-range board.

Technical Specifications of MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

8.6

Memory

16.0%

9.0

Platform & Features

16.0%

7.5

Storage

15.0%

9.5

Network

13.0%

7.3

Ports & USB

8.0%

5.9

Expansion

8.0%

9.1

Power & Cooling

5.0%

9.7

Audio

8.3
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has a technical score of 8.33 points, which is higher than that of 87% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

9.0

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
(379)
amazon
4.5
(114)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.5
(402)
Amazon_logo.png
3.6
(8)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

9.3
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has a user score of 9.28 points, which is higher than that of 90.9% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you prefer a motherboard that has already been bought and reviewed by many other users.
10
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has a popularity of 10 points, which is higher than 79.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the motherboard's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a motherboard that offers a strong balance of features, performance, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

8.4

Overall score

40.0%

8.3

Price

8.4
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has a quality-to-price ratio of 8.4 points, which is higher than 82.3% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The brand that makes the motherboard.
When it matters: When you have a brand preference for support, BIOS, or build quality.

Importance: MEDIUM

MSI
CPU socket
What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

Importance: HIGH

LGA 1700
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi uses the LGA 1700 CPU socket, which is more advanced than that of 55% of motherboards and equal to that of 22.7% of motherboards.
CPU platform

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel
Chipset
What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

Importance: HIGH

Intel Z690
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi uses the Intel Z690 chipset, which is more advanced than that of 68.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 3.8% of motherboards.
Form factor
What it is: The physical size standard of the motherboard, such as ATX or Micro-ATX.
When it matters: When you need the board to fit a specific case size.

Importance: HIGH

ATX
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has the ATX form factor, which is more versatile than that of 47.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 52.2% of motherboards.
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DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: DDR5

DDR5
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi uses DDR5 memory, which is newer than that of 64.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 35.3% of motherboards.
Memory slots
What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4

4
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has 4 Memory slots, which is more than 21.5% of motherboards and equal to 72.5% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

192 GB
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi supports up to 192 GB of memory, which is more than 72.6% of motherboards and equal to 10.1% of motherboards.
Memory channels
What it is: The memory channel configuration supported by the motherboard platform.
When it matters: When memory bandwidth matters for your build.

Importance: MEDIUM

2
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.5% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
What it is: The highest officially supported memory speed for the motherboard.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=6400 MT/s

4,800 MT/s
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi supports memory speeds up to 4800 MT/s, which is higher than that of 51.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 5% of motherboards.
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N. of M.2 sockets
What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=3

5
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has 5 M.2 sockets, which is more than 94.7% of motherboards and equal to 4.3% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

Importance: HIGH

?
N. of SATA 3 connectors
What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

6
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has 6 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 52.6% of motherboards and equal to 32.1% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
What it is: The RAID modes officially supported by the motherboard storage platform.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple drives in a RAID setup.

Importance: MEDIUM

0/1/5/10
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
NVMe RAID support
What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

Importance: LOW

yes
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi supports NVMe RAID. 40.3% of motherboards support this feature.
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N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

2
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has 2 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is more than 95.2% of motherboards and equal to 4.3% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 4.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for modern expansion cards.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is equal to 55.6% of motherboards.
runs at x4 mode
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 3.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need more full-length expansion slots.

Importance: MEDIUM

1
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 40.6% of motherboards and equal to 26.7% of motherboards.
runs at x4 mode
PCIe slot electrical configuration
What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

Importance: HIGH

x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi uses x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is more flexible than that of 56.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 11.7% of motherboards.
PCIe bifurcation support
What it is: Shows whether the board can split PCIe lanes across multiple devices from one slot or link.
When it matters: When you plan multi-SSD adapters or more advanced expansion setups.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi supports PCIe bifurcation. 39.1% of motherboards support this feature.
x8/x8.
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Total USB ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8

10
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has 10 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 75.6% of motherboards and equal to 15.7% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=14

17
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has 17 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 72.1% of motherboards and equal to 10.8% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=1

1
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has 1 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is more than 35.4% of motherboards and equal to 48.8% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB-C ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C connectivity across the whole build.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=2

2
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has 2 USB-C ports (including headers), which is more than 51.8% of motherboards and equal to 32.8% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

1
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is more than 81.7% of motherboards and equal to 18.1% of motherboards.
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LAN speed
What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.5GbE

2.5 Gbps
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi supports LAN speeds up to 2.5 Gbps, which is higher than that of 49.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 41.5% of motherboards.
LAN controller
What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel I225-V
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi uses the Intel I225-V LAN controller, which is more advanced than that of 86.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 5.7% of motherboards.
N. of RJ45 ports
What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

Importance: LOW

1
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has 1 RJ45 ports, which is equal to 85.6% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes onboard Wi-Fi hardware instead of requiring a separate adapter.
When it matters: When you want wireless networking without adding an extra card.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi supports Wi-Fi connectivity. 50.9% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
What it is: The supported Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
When it matters: When you care about wireless speed and router compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)

Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi supports Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), which is newer than that of 72.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 16.6% of motherboards.
Show more
Audio codec
What it is: The onboard audio codec used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When sound quality from the built-in audio matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek ALC4080
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi uses the Realtek ALC4080 audio codec, which is more advanced than that of 90.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.4% of motherboards.
Audio channels
What it is: The audio channel configuration supported by the onboard sound solution.
When it matters: When you want surround sound from the motherboard audio outputs.

Importance: LOW

Good value: 7.1

7.1
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=120 dB

120 dB
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has an audio SNR of 120 dB, which is higher than that of 55% of motherboards and equal to that of 41.5% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

Importance: LOW

yes
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi supports a headphone amp. 37% of motherboards support this feature.
supports up to 600Ω.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
What it is: The number of rear 3.5mm audio jacks on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more analog audio connection options.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=5

5
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has 5 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 49.8% of motherboards and equal to 36.8% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=12

18+1+1
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has 18+1+1 VRM phases, which is more than 92.5% of motherboards and equal to 0.2% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=2

2
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has 2 CPU power connectors, which is more than 54.6% of motherboards and equal to 45.3% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

8
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has 8 fan headers, which is more than 82.3% of motherboards and equal to 15.2% of motherboards.
Pump header
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a dedicated header designed for a liquid-cooling pump.
When it matters: When you build with an AIO or custom liquid cooling loop.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has a pump header. 23.1% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
What it is: The maximum current the dedicated pump header can supply.
When it matters: When you want to make sure the pump header can power your cooling setup.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2 A

3 A
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi supports up to 3 A on the pump header, which is higher than that of 76.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 23.2% of motherboards.
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MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi vs the average motherboard

  • 3 more M.2 sockets
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (5 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=3

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (5 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.5 vs 2
  • 2 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=1

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.2 vs 0
  • Newer DDR memory generation
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
    When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: DDR5

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR5 vs DDR4
  • 4 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (5 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster USB-A ports for storage or accessories.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=2

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (5 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.5 vs 1
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=1

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C port/s.1 vs 0
  • 2 more rear USB ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (10 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=8

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (10 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.10 vs 8
  • Newer CPU socket
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
    What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
    When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.LGA 1700 vs LGA 1151
  • More VRM phases
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (18+1+1 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
    What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
    When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=12

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (18+1+1 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.18+1+1 vs 10
  • Newer CPU socket
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • Integrated I/O shield
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46.1% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
  • Includes POST code display
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Newer DDR memory generation
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 50% more maximum memory capacity
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (192 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
  • 3 more M.2 sockets
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (5 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • 2 more SATA 3 connectors
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • 2 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
  • 4 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (5 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C port/s.
  • 2 more rear USB ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (10 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
  • 2 more total USB connections
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (17 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB4 or Thunderbolt header/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 header/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 headers
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 header/s.
  • 1 more total USB-C connections
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 2 more USB 2.0 ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • Better audio codec
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has better audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC4,080 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
  • 5 dB higher audio SNR
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has a higher audio SNR than the average motherboard (120 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • More VRM phases
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (18+1+1 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
  • 3 more fan headers
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more fan headers than the average motherboard (8 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • 1 A higher pump header current limit
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has a higher pump header current than the average motherboard (3 A vs 2 A). The average motherboard provides pump header current of 2 A.

Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z690 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • 1 fewer PCIe x1 slots
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 4 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.
  • Older Bluetooth version
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has older Bluetooth version than the average motherboard (5.2 vs 5.4). The average motherboard supports Bluetooth 5.4.
  • 4 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want more standard USB ports with faster transfer speeds.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=4

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.0 vs 4
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z690 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
    When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z690 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.Intel Z690 vs Intel B860
  • 2.69x more expensive
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi is more expensive than the average motherboard (£430 vs £160).
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi is more expensive than the average motherboard (£430 vs £160).£430 vs £160
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.
    What it is: The number of PS/2 ports on the motherboard rear I/O.
    When it matters: When you want support for older keyboards or mice.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.0 vs 1
  • 1 fewer PCIe x1 slots
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe x1 slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want space for smaller add-in cards.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=2

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.0 vs 1
  • Older Bluetooth version
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has older Bluetooth version than the average motherboard (5.2 vs 5.4). The average motherboard supports Bluetooth 5.4.
    What it is: The supported Bluetooth version provided by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you care about compatibility with newer Bluetooth devices.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: >=5.2

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi has older Bluetooth version than the average motherboard (5.2 vs 5.4). The average motherboard supports Bluetooth 5.4.5.2 vs 5.4
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
379 Reviews
amazon
4.5
114 Reviews
United States
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4.5
402 Reviews
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3.6
8 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi?

  • Ample storage options with 5x M.2 slots (4x Gen4, 1x Gen3) and 6x SATA ports
  • Comprehensive connectivity including WiFi 6E, 2.5G LAN, and a 20Gbps USB-C port
  • User-friendly BIOS with a functional 'Easy Mode' and extensive overclocking settings
  • Premium build quality with a sleek carbon-themed design and subtle RGB lighting
  • Excellent value for an enthusiast-tier board compared to high-end flagship models
  • Includes useful accessories like a 16GB USB drive for drivers and small tools

What customers dislike about MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi?

  • High price point for a mid-range board, which some users find hard to justify
  • VRM temperatures can run high during extreme, all-core overclocking stress tests
  • Includes four older USB 2.0 ports on the rear I/O which limits high-speed peripheral options
  • Early issues with DDR5 XMP profile stability reported by some users
  • Lacks 5Gb or 10Gb Ethernet ports which are available on some similarly priced competitors
  • Aesthetics such as the 'Carbon' logo can be obscured by large modern graphics cards

Video reviews

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