MSI has introduced its new X870 and X870E series motherboards, designed for gamers and professionals needing enhanced power delivery for AI computing and GPU-intensive tasks. These boards feature a supplemental PCIe power system with an integrated 8-pin PCIe connector, providing additional power to GPUs that require higher wattage. This ensures consistent performance and stability, especially during heavy workloads. The supplemental PCIe power feature complements the ATX 3.1 power standard, which supports up to a 2.5x power excursion. This combination enhances reliability, delivering sustained performance under intense conditions. Whether running complex applications or resource-heavy games, users benefit from stable and efficient power management.

The supplemental PCIe power acts as additional support for the motherboard, beyond the system's typical 12V power supplied by the 24-pin connector. While the 24-pin connector handles PCIe, fans, and RGB extensions, the supplemental power ensures smooth operation during peak loads, such as intensive gaming or high-performance computing tasks. This additional power allows users to push their systems harder without concerns about power shortages or instability. The MSI X870 and X870E motherboards, supporting the latest ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards, provide a reliable foundation for demanding tasks and future computing advancements.

Power Management in Action

The MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WIFI motherboard exemplifies MSI’s power management capabilities. When paired with high-performance components like the AMD Ryzen 9950X processor and the GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM X 24G GPU, the system’s power demands can exceed typical motherboard capacities. The standard 24-pin connector delivers up to 168W, which is insufficient for peak performance, particularly when powering additional components like fans and lighting. MSI’s solution is the 8-pin Supplemental PCIe Power Connector, which adds up to 252W of power. Combined with the 24-pin connector, the total power supply reaches 420W, ensuring the system can handle heavy loads without performance degradation or instability. For users, this means that MSI’s X870 and X870E motherboards provide the consistent power required for high-end GPU performance and optimized cooling. Whether overclocking a powerful GPU or using a secondary GPU for AI computing, these boards are designed to support the power demands of modern hardware.

Compatibility and Availability

MSI’s ATX 3.1 / 3.0 compatible PCIe 5 power supply units (PSUs) fully support the additional power demands, offering efficient power distribution across connected devices. The MEG, MPG, and MAG product lines ensure stable power delivery for all peripherals, contributing to overall system performance. The MSI X870 and X870E series motherboards, equipped with Supplemental PCIe Power, will be available starting September 26th.