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MSI Pro Z690 A Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£250
  • Avg. price in US: ~$180
  • CPU socket: LGA 1700
  • Chipset: Intel Z690
  • Form factor: ATX

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

7.8

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%

7.6

Technical Score

10.0%

9.1

User score

Very good
7.6

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%

7.5

Memory

16.0%

7.9

Platform & Features

16.0%

8.8

Storage

15.0%

9.4

Network

13.0%

5.5

Ports & USB

8.0%

5.3

Expansion

8.0%

8.4

Power & Cooling

5.0%

6.0

Audio

Very good
9.1

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%

8.7

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.3
(278)
amazon
4.5
(229)
amazon
4.3
(126)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
(295)
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
(242)
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
(123)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Exceptional
  • 9.0
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    7.1

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    10

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    10

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    9.0

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    10

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

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Best rankings

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

Verdict

The MSI PRO Z690-A is a versatile ATX motherboard designed for 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen Intel Core processors on the LGA 1700 socket, featuring a robust 14+1+1 Duet Rail Power System with 55A DrMOS for stable performance. It offers cutting-edge connectivity with a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, four M.2 slots (three Gen4 x4), 2.5G LAN, and a high-speed USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port delivering 20Gbps. While it excels with high-speed memory support—up to 192GB of DDR5-6400+(OC) or 128GB of DDR4-5200+(OC) depending on the specific model—its primary pros include a competitive price-to-performance ratio and extensive storage options. However, notable cons include the use of the entry-level Realtek ALC897 audio codec, a lack of an integrated I/O shield, and reports of occasional BIOS picky-ness regarding USB flash drives.

Technical Specifications of MSI Pro Z690 A

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%

7.5

Memory

16.0%

7.9

Platform & Features

16.0%

8.8

Storage

15.0%

9.4

Network

13.0%

5.5

Ports & USB

8.0%

5.3

Expansion

8.0%

8.4

Power & Cooling

5.0%

6.0

Audio

7.6
MSI Pro Z690 A has a technical score of 7.62 points, which is higher than that of 74.3% 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%

8.7

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.3
(278)
amazon
4.5
(229)
amazon
4.3
(126)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
(295)
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
(242)
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
(123)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

9.1
MSI Pro Z690 A has a user score of 9.07 points, which is higher than that of 83.7% 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 Pro Z690 A 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%

7.8

Overall score

40.0%

9.2

Price

8.2
MSI Pro Z690 A has a quality-to-price ratio of 8.2 points, which is higher than 76.3% 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 Pro Z690 A 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 Pro Z690 A 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 Pro Z690 A 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

?
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 Pro Z690 A 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

128 GB
MSI Pro Z690 A supports up to 128 GB of memory, which is more than 40.4% of motherboards and equal to 32.1% 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 Pro Z690 A 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

?
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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

4
MSI Pro Z690 A has 4 M.2 sockets, which is more than 84% of motherboards and equal to 10.7% 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

2x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0 x4/SATA
MSI Pro Z690 A offers 2x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA for M.2 slot interfaces, which is faster than that of 76.9% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.2% of motherboards.
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 Pro Z690 A 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 Pro Z690 A 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 Pro Z690 A 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

1
MSI Pro Z690 A has 1 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is more than 68.6% of motherboards and equal to 26.6% 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 Pro Z690 A has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is equal to 55.6% of motherboards.
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

2
MSI Pro Z690 A has 2 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 67.4% of motherboards and equal to 15.4% of motherboards.
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

?
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

no
MSI Pro Z690 A does not support PCIe bifurcation. 61% of motherboards support this feature.
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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

8
MSI Pro Z690 A has 8 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 40.3% of motherboards and equal to 30.7% 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

16
MSI Pro Z690 A has 16 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 61.8% of motherboards and equal to 10.2% 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 Pro Z690 A 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 Pro Z690 A has 2 USB-C ports (including headers), which is more than 51.8% of motherboards and equal to 32.8% of motherboards.
includes internal USB-C header.
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 Pro Z690 A 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 Pro Z690 A 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

?
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 Pro Z690 A 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 Pro Z690 A 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 Pro Z690 A 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 ALC897
MSI Pro Z690 A uses the Realtek ALC897 audio codec, which is less advanced than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 29.3% 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 Pro Z690 A 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

95 dB
MSI Pro Z690 A has an audio SNR of 95 dB, which is lower than that of 84.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 10.1% 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

no
MSI Pro Z690 A does not support a headphone amp. 63% of motherboards support this feature.
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 Pro Z690 A 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

14
MSI Pro Z690 A has 14 VRM phases, which is more than 69.3% of motherboards and equal to 1.8% 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 Pro Z690 A has 2 CPU power connectors, which is more than 54.6% of motherboards and equal to 45.3% of motherboards.
Dual 8-pin CPU power.
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 Pro Z690 A 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 Pro Z690 A 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 Pro Z690 A 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 Pro Z690 A vs the average motherboard

  • 2 more M.2 sockets
    MSI Pro Z690 A has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (4 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 Pro Z690 A has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.4 vs 2
  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    MSI Pro Z690 A has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 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 Pro Z690 A has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.1 vs 0
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports
    MSI Pro Z690 A 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 Pro Z690 A 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
  • Newer CPU socket
    MSI Pro Z690 A 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 Pro Z690 A 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
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    MSI Pro Z690 A has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
    Dual 8-pin CPU power.
    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

    MSI Pro Z690 A has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.2 vs 1
  • 3 more fan headers
    MSI Pro Z690 A has more fan headers than the average motherboard (8 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
    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

    MSI Pro Z690 A has more fan headers than the average motherboard (8 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.8 vs 5
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    MSI Pro Z690 A supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support 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

    MSI Pro Z690 A supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    MSI Pro Z690 A has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.
    two internal headers
    What it is: The number of internal USB 3.2 Gen1 headers for front-panel Type-A ports.
    When it matters: When your case has front USB-A ports to connect.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=1

    MSI Pro Z690 A has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.2 vs 1
  • Newer CPU socket
    MSI Pro Z690 A has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • 2 more M.2 sockets
    MSI Pro Z690 A has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • 2 more SATA 3 connectors
    MSI Pro Z690 A has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    MSI Pro Z690 A has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports
    MSI Pro Z690 A 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 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    MSI Pro Z690 A has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.
  • 1 more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers
    MSI Pro Z690 A 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 Pro Z690 A 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 total USB-C connections
    MSI Pro Z690 A has more total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 1 more total USB connections
    MSI Pro Z690 A has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (16 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 2 more USB 2.0 ports
    MSI Pro Z690 A 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 Pro Z690 A supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    MSI Pro Z690 A 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 Pro Z690 A has more fan headers than the average motherboard (8 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • More VRM phases
    MSI Pro Z690 A has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (14 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 1 A higher pump header current limit
    MSI Pro Z690 A 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
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    MSI Pro Z690 A has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z690 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    MSI Pro Z690 A has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (2x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    MSI Pro Z690 A does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • 2 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    MSI Pro Z690 A has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
  • Older Bluetooth version
    MSI Pro Z690 A has older Bluetooth version than the average motherboard (5.2 vs 5.4). The average motherboard supports Bluetooth 5.4.
  • 20 dB lower audio SNR
    MSI Pro Z690 A has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (95 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • No headphone amp support
    MSI Pro Z690 A does not support a headphone amp, while the average motherboard does. 63% of motherboards support a headphone amp.
  • More basic audio codec
    MSI Pro Z690 A has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC897 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
  • No optical S/PDIF out
    MSI Pro Z690 A does not have optical S/PDIF out, while the average motherboard does. 55.7% of motherboards include optical S/PDIF out.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    MSI Pro Z690 A does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    MSI Pro Z690 A does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
    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

    MSI Pro Z690 A does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    MSI Pro Z690 A 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 Pro Z690 A 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
  • 20 dB lower audio SNR
    MSI Pro Z690 A has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (95 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
    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

    MSI Pro Z690 A has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (95 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.95 dB vs 115 dB
  • 2 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    MSI Pro Z690 A has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (2 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 Pro Z690 A has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.2 vs 4
  • No headphone amp support
    MSI Pro Z690 A does not support a headphone amp, while the average motherboard does. 63% of motherboards support a headphone amp.
    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

    MSI Pro Z690 A does not support a headphone amp, while the average motherboard does. 63% of motherboards support a headphone amp.
  • More basic audio codec
    MSI Pro Z690 A has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC897 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 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

    MSI Pro Z690 A has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC897 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.Realtek ALC897 vs Realtek ALC898
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    MSI Pro Z690 A does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard itself includes built-in RGB lighting elements.
    When it matters: When you want lighting effects without adding extra strips first.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI Pro Z690 A does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    MSI Pro Z690 A has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (2x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
    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

    MSI Pro Z690 A has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (2x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.2x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

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278 Reviews
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229 Reviews
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126 Reviews
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4.3
295 Reviews
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4.4
242 Reviews
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4.4
123 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about MSI Pro Z690 A?

  • Excellent value-for-money, often cited as one of the best budget Z690 boards
  • Strong performance and reliable overclocking capabilities for 12th/13th Gen Intel CPUs
  • Generous storage options featuring four M.2 slots for NVMe drives
  • User-friendly BIOS that is easy to navigate for adjusting settings and XMP
  • Solid connectivity including a 2.5G LAN port and multiple USB ports
  • Easy installation process suitable for both DIY enthusiasts and first-time builders

What customers dislike about MSI Pro Z690 A?

  • Lacks an integrated I/O shield, which is common in higher-end models
  • Requires manual installation of LAN or WiFi drivers from another device during setup
  • Basic aesthetic design with no built-in RGB lighting
  • Occasional reports of buggy BIOS versions and sleep/wake issues
  • Limited VRM passive cooling compared to more expensive enthusiast-grade boards
  • Included instructions are sometimes described as inadequate or confusing

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