forum threadEragorn | Staff posted Jun 02, 2026 06:40 PM
Item 1 of 5
Item 1 of 5
forum threadEragorn | Staff posted Jun 02, 2026 06:40 PM
MSI MEG Z890 ACE LGA 1851 ATX Motherboard $459.99 + Free Shipping
$460
$660
30% offAmazon
Get Deal at AmazonGood Deal
Bad Deal
Save
Share
Leave a Comment
4 Comments
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Please don't judge me for posting the chatgpt response cause I was unsure... I assumed you were right and you mostly are. It's basically for the 1% of pc gamers.
----------------------
The big cost drivers are:
- It uses LGA 1851 + Z890, meant for Intel Core Ultra 200S CPUs. New high-end chipsets and boards tend to launch expensive, especially early in a platform cycle. (MSI [msi.com])
- The MEG Z890 ACE includes features that add real bill-of-materials cost: Wi-Fi 7, high-speed LAN, Thunderbolt 4, lots of USB, PCIe 5.0, and multiple M.2 slots. MSI markets it around "Ultra Connect" features like Wi-Fi 7, 5G LAN, Thunderbolt, DDR5, PCIe 5.0, and M.2 Gen5. (MSI [msi.com])
- It has 5 M.2 slots, PCIe 5.0 support, multiple PCIe slots, and broad rear/front I/O. That is more than most people use, but it is valuable for workstation-style builds, heavy storage, capture cards, high-speed SSDs, and lots of peripherals. (PC Gamer [pcgamer.com])
- Reviews point to a robust VRM/power setup aimed at overclocking and high-end CPUs, plus large heatsinks and premium board construction. You are paying for stability headroom more than raw FPS. (Tech4Gamers [tech4gamers.com])
- Boards like this often include debug displays/LEDs, BIOS flashback, clear CMOS, quick-release M.2/PCIe mechanisms, better audio hardware, heavier PCB design, and nicer bundled accessories. PC Gamer specifically called out the ACE's build quality, BIOS tools, debug LEDs, and quick-release features. (PC Gamer [pcgamer.com])
- MSI's MEG branding is its enthusiast tier. Part of the price is simply segmentation: this is positioned above mainstream MAG/MPG boards even when a cheaper board performs similarly in games.
The catch: it probably isn't worth it for most gaming builds. PC Gamer described it as a board for people who need expansive connectivity, not budget-conscious gamers, and noted that similarly priced alternatives may perform better in some gaming/content workloads. (PC Gamer [pcgamer.com])So the simple answer: you're paying for premium connectivity, overbuilt power delivery, expansion, convenience, and MSI's enthusiast-tier positioning—not necessarily better gaming performance. For a normal gaming PC, it is overkill unless you specifically need things like 10Gb/5Gb networking, lots of high-speed USB/Thunderbolt, multiple Gen5 drives, or top-end overclocking support.
Leave a Comment