Custom PC - UK (2020-03)

SPEC

ChipsetAMDTRX40

CPUsocketAMDSocketTR4X

(3rd-genThreadripper/Zen2)

Memorysupport8 slots:max

256GBDDR4(upto4666MHz)

ExpansionslotsFour16xPCI-E 4

Sound8-channelRealtekALC1220

Networking1 x IntelGigabitLAN,1 x

Aquantia 10 GigabitLAN,802.11axWi-Fi

OverclockingBaseclock80-200MHz,

CPUmultiplier10-63x;max

voltages:CPU2.1V,RAM2.1V

Ports6 x SATA6Gbps,7 x M.2PCI-E4,

5 x USB3.1Type-A,1 x USB3.1Type-C,

4 x USB3,3 x surroundaudioout

Dimensions(mm) 305 x 277

VERDICT

Aninnovative,feature-packedpremium

TRX40boardwithsolidperformance.

CREATE

+ Huge PCI-E

storage potential

+Innovative

cooling system

+Plenty of USB ports

and fan headers

DESTROY

• VRMs and M.2 ports
  could be cooler


• Average overclocking
  and testing tools


• Dated appearance

PERFORMANCE

33 / 35

FEATURES

31 / 35

VALUE

20 / 30

OVERALLSCORE

84 %

Bes
SATApo ashavingnine
fanhead s, threethermalprobeheaders
andcrammingallitson-board features into
an E-ATX form factor, which is more flexible in
terms of case compatibility than the XL-ATX
Gigabyte TRX40 Aorus Extreme.
As you’d expect, there are plenty of
overclocking and testing tools, with on-board
power and reset buttons, and an LED POST
code display. Move round the integrated I/O
shield, and you’ll also find a clear-CMOS button
and USB BIOS Flashback button too. These
features are fairly standard, though, and other
boards now include lavish OLED displays and
voltage readout points – the MSI needs a bit
more here to justify its price.

TherearI/Opanelalso offers nine Type-A

USBports,fiveofwhichsupport USB 3.1. Plus,

likeallotherboardsontest, you get 802.11ax

Wi-Fi too. MSI has included two LAN ports

as well, with one familiar Intel I211AT Gigabit

controller, but also an Aquantia 10 Gigabit

controller for a bit of futureproofing.

Meanwhile, on-board RGB lighting is fairly

low-key, with just a snazzy acrylic angular

panel sitting on top of the I/O shield. There are

three RGB headers to expand your lighting

system further, though, as well as a Corsair LED

connector that enables you to hook up one of

Corsair’s RGB lighting hubs.

Performance

With the second fastest RealBench system

score result on test, the Creator TRX40 clearly

didn’t have any issues at stock speed, and it

managed the highest multi-tasking score too.

It sits in line with the rest of the field in terms of

power consumption, with idle and load draws

of 147W and 440W respectively.

There were no anomalies in the M.2 speed

tests either, with our Corsair MP600 SSD hitting

a read speed of 4,983MB/sec and a 4,262MB/

sec write speed. The audio results were superb

too, with a dynamic range of 114dBA and noise

level of -113dBA – if you want the best possible

on-board audio, this is the TRX40 board for you.

As usual, MSI’s EFI offers a pleasantly clear

layout and plenty of tools, although Gigabyte

has a slightly better fan control section.

Overclocking was easy too, reaching our test

CPU’s maximum 4.35GHz all-core frequency

with the usual 1.325V without requiring any

extra tweaking.

This overclock didn’t see much benefit in the

RealBench tests, but the Cinebench score

increased from 13,748 to 14,684. However,

overclocking also resulted in a huge spike in

power consumption, which rocketed to 622W –

100W higher than some other boards.

Conclusion

We love MSI’s unique take on a super-

premium TRX40 board, and all tests (except

for abnormally high load power consumption

when overclocked) saw it perform well and

provide a solid, capable and expandable

home for a 3rd-gen Threadripper PC. We

love its innovative cooling system and there’s

clearly huge scope for creating a massive

PCI-E storage array.

The layout is solid too, plus the EFI is

excellent. It’s a little lacking when it comes

to overclocking and testing tools, though.

The design appears a little dated too, looking

similar to its X299 and X399 Creator boards

• the Asus ROG Zenith II Extreme has a little
  more pizzazz for around the same amount
  of cash, but it also doesn’t have as many M.2
  ports. Otherwise, this is a superb, feature-rich
  motherboard if you want to go all out on your
  3rd-gen Threadripper system.

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