Review: MSI Z170A Tomahawk

by Tarinder Sandhu on 13 January 2016, 16:31

Tags: MSI

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Conclusion

We've come away from a week-long inspection quietly impressed with just how much goodness is available to users looking to build a quality gaming PC.

With the Z170A Tomahawk MSI has created a well-rounded board at an excellent price point.

Eschewing some of the unnecessary features found on enthusiast boards, the Z170A Tomahawk still has goodies such as USB 3.1, multi-GPU support, dual M.2, solid LAN and a layout that is close to perfect.

Backed by what we believe to be the best UEFI firmware on the market, MSI has fitted in an enviable amount to a board costing less than £100. We'd like DisplayPort as an output option and Nvidia's SLI compatibility would be nice. Yet you can't have everything for a relatively modest budget.

We've come away from a week-long inspection quietly impressed with just how much goodness is available to users looking to build a quality gaming PC. Got such a build in your thoughts? Put the MSI Z170A Tomahawk on a shortlist, at the very least. Recommended.

The Good
  
The Bad
Great price
Attractive board
Overclocks well
Excellent BIOS
  
Lacks SLI support



MSI Z170A Tomahawk

HEXUS.where2buy*

The MSI Z170A Tomahawk motherboard is available to purchase from Scan Computers.

HEXUS.right2reply

At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.



*UK-based HEXUS community members are eligible for free delivery and priority customer service through the SCAN.care@HEXUS forum.


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HEXUS Forums :: 4 Comments

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Posted by staffsMike - Wed 13 Jan 2016 17:34
They only thing that could be better here from my perspective is that they have a version of this board with integrated WiFi which does not seem to have appeared over here.

While I know many find the combination of WiFi and desktops strange especially with the flexibility offered in in terms of home networking but I know many who still want it and with a small increase in price this board would be perfect for them.
Posted by Wozza63 - Thu 14 Jan 2016 19:39
MSI you aren't going to sell many boards when you are using bright red on them. I want a neutral board to go with my build that is purple and black. Yet there are so few (good ones) out there. Maybe it's just me though.
Posted by Nezbert - Fri 15 Jan 2016 03:36
I think it is just you, Wozza365: I wouldn't normally comment on how “good looking” a motherboard is because I'd like to think myself as above such fickle comments. I have to say, though, that they've excelled in delivering clean lines and a clean, well contrasted layout here and would even stretch to say that this is a “sexy” job!
Posted by whatif - Fri 15 Jan 2016 03:55
Good to see more boards now coming out without that stupid sata express interface, what was the point of that anyway - no sata express drives yet they just kept putting it on.
Looks like a good value for money, higher end MB.
I may have missed it (sometimes get selective blindness - can't see things in front of my face Ha Ha), but can you turn off or dim the LED's?