A Tiny Board With Seriously Big Specs
If you are dreaming about a super compact gaming or creator PC but do not want to give up high end features, the MSI X870I Edge Ti Evo Wifi is probably already on your radar. This is a Mini ITX motherboard built for the latest Ryzen processors, and it tries very hard to cram full size desktop power into a very small footprint.
The headline feature is simple but huge. This is the only Mini ITX board of this generation that gives you three M.2 slots for fast NVMe SSDs. For small form factor fans who hate dealing with bulky 2.5 inch drives, that detail alone makes the X870I Edge stand out.
Of course, MSI is not positioning this as a budget option. With a price tag of 449 dollars, this board sits firmly in premium territory. The big question is whether its features, performance, and build quality justify the cost for your specific build.
Let us break down what this board offers and who it actually makes sense for.
Key Features Packed Into Mini ITX
Mini ITX motherboards are all about tradeoffs. You only get one full length PCIe slot, fewer ports, and usually just a couple of M.2 sockets. The MSI X870I Edge Ti Evo Wifi tries to soften those tradeoffs with a lot of high end touches.
Here are some of the main highlights:
- Three M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs, which is extremely rare on Mini ITX. This lets you run a fast boot drive, a large game library drive, and maybe a scratch or project drive for creative work, all without extra cables.
- Support for the latest Ryzen CPUs via the X870 chipset, so you can pair it with top tier processors for gaming and productivity.
- Premium power delivery and robust VRM design to keep high core count CPUs stable, even under heavy loads like streaming, compiling, or long gaming sessions.
- Integrated WiFi for fast wireless networking right out of the box, plus modern wired connectivity on the rear I O.
- High quality audio and build materials that fit the premium positioning of the board.
The overall idea is simple. You can build a tiny rig that feels like a full tower system in actual use, especially if you combine this board with a strong GPU and a fast Ryzen chip.
The three M.2 slots are the real star. In a small case, cable management can be a serious pain. Fully loading your storage on the motherboard means fewer SATA cables and cleaner airflow. For people with big Steam or Game Pass libraries, or those who juggle multiple large projects, this is a huge practical benefit.
Who Is This Motherboard Really For
At 449 dollars, the X870I Edge Ti Evo Wifi is clearly not aimed at casual builders or budget PCs. You are paying a significant premium to get this set of features inside the Mini ITX form factor.
This board makes the most sense if you fit into one of these groups:
- Small form factor enthusiasts who are building in compact cases and want maximum storage and performance without stepping up to a bigger board.
- High end gamers who plan to pair a strong Ryzen CPU with a powerful GPU and do not want the motherboard to be the bottleneck.
- Creators and power users who need fast scratch disks and project drives and benefit from having multiple high speed M.2 SSDs installed at once.
- Minimalists who want a clean, no clutter build with almost everything mounted on the board itself.
If your setup is more modest, you might not tap into what you are paying for here. A mid range B series Mini ITX board with one or two M.2 slots will handle everyday gaming and streaming just fine, at a much lower price.
But if you want to squeeze a high end workstation or gaming monster into a tiny chassis, this board is much more compelling.
Is The Price Worth It
There is no way around it, 449 dollars is a tough pill to swallow for a Mini ITX motherboard. You can buy an entire mainstream ATX board and a budget CPU for that money. So the real test is whether the unique combination of features is worth it to you personally.
Reasons it can be worth the price:
- You specifically want three onboard M.2 slots in a small build and do not want to rely on external or SATA storage.
- You are investing in a long term Ryzen platform where you plan to upgrade parts over time without swapping the board.
- You are already committed to a premium small form factor case, quality PSU, and high end GPU so the motherboard cost fits into an overall flagship style build.
Reasons to think twice:
- You are trying to keep your total build cost under control and could use that extra budget on a better GPU or larger SSD instead.
- You do not actually need three NVMe drives and would be fine with one or two.
- You are okay with an ATX or micro ATX case where cheaper boards with similar performance are widely available.
In the end, the MSI X870I Edge Ti Evo Wifi is a very focused product. It is not trying to be the most affordable way to build a Ryzen system. It is trying to be the most capable Mini ITX option for people who want serious storage flexibility and high end performance in the smallest footprint.
If that describes your next build, this board deserves a spot on your shortlist. If not, you can almost certainly save a lot of money with a more conventional motherboard and still have a great gaming or creator PC.
Original article and image: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/motherboards/msi-mpg-x870i-edge-ti-evo-wifi-review
