Published: March 5, 2024 | Source: MSI | Author: Tom Logan

MSI Z790 Project Zero Review

Project Zero Board Tour

Remember that Simpsons episode where Homer uses bulldog clips to keep his loose skin tied up? The MSI Z790 Project Zero is very much the motherboard equivalent. Lovely around the front, all the untidy cables around the back. Curiously when you see your headers like this it shows how much they line the edge of a motherboard PCB. Normally all of these are squeezed amongst heatsinks. Here, they are just free roaming. You might also spot a bent pin on the number one system fan header. Easy to bend back, but indicative of the care you need to take when muscle memory picks up the Project Zero where you usually hold a motherboard.

All the fans are tucked in the right corner. Plenty of cooling potential. It’s nice to be able to read the labels so clearly.

Front panel USB in both flavours. Remember that this is actually the right hand edge, or front, of the Z790 Project Zero. Even if it’s on the left here.

SATA ports are vertically mounted. This is usually where we get all cross. However, because of the design choices that have to be made vertical is the only way that would work.

Front panel connectors and USB 2.0 front panel are all present and correct. You also get another pair of SATA headers here.

Moving towards the audio section – yes we feel like we’re in a mirror world too – we find the USB Type-A front panel, a Thunderbolt 4 header and more of the plentiful fan headers. MSI also include their Mystic Light ecosystem ARGB headers here too.

Around the back we find all the elements common to a Z790 motherboard. It’s almost nice to be looking at it in a manner we’re used to. Superspeed USB as well as dedicated BIOS flashing controls make the Project Zero very user friendly.