What's Better for MSI X299 Motherboards?

Regarding the new Intel Core-X i9 10000 series processors, the most High-End Desktop series, it is evident to have improved some parts. First of all, the performance is definitely better, with the CPU frequency pushing up to 4.8 GHz, compared to 4.5 GHz of previous generation. This puts pressure on the whole system when it comes to long-term operation, which are already common cases for content creation workloads. CPU lanes also increase from 44 to 48 lanes so that there are more spaces to arrange the placement for better efficiency. With upgrade to 256GB of memory, the new Intel Core-X i9 10000 series processors can support single stick RAM from 16GB to 32GB. Based on these advancements, the new MSI X299 motherboards offer a bunch of exclusive design and features made for creators.



DIRECT POWER PHASES DESIGN

To unleash and sustain the maximum performance with latest Intel Core-X i9 10000 series processors, MSI Creator X299 features flagship VRM built with a total of 12 digital CPU power phases. The direct VRM design allows for faster and undistorted current delivery to the CPU at pin-point precision, combining triple power connectors and exclusive core boost technology, Creator X299 motherboard not only supporting multi-core processors, but also creating the perfect conditions for the extreme overclocking even ready for the world records.

Best Thermal Design





Prime95 Small FFTs Mode Test



Most of time, creators need to do lots of high-loading operating processes such as animation, video editing or even programming. For such longtime workloads, it is important to keep to system in lower temperature to avoid throttling and shutdown. To maintain the stability, MSI all aluminum design is the best solution. With larger heatsinks that contain more surface for heat dissipation, the temperature is evidently lower while running high-loading processing. Compared to MEG X299 CREATION, the new Creator X299 increases the heatsink size with all aluminum integrated I/O cover and heatsinks to avoid thermal issues.

Based on the Prime95 Small FFTs Mode Test, the temperature of Creator X299 is lower than MEG X299 CREATION by more than 25%. It is an impressing improvement for creators to keep a better working quality. The arrangement of fan connectors is also optimized for creators. MSI Creator X299 provides 1x Water Flow Meter Header that allows water-cooling users to directly monitor the temperature using Hardware Monitor in Creator Center software.





Creator X299 Fan Arrangement

More Efficiency for M.2 Devices

Due to the increasing CPU lanes from 44 to 48 lanes, MSI new X299 motherboards are optimized to utilize more M.2 slots direct to CPU. It is evident that M.2 direct to CPU rather than Chipset can have better transfer speed and efficiency because M.2 devices would not be restricted by DMI 3.0 bandwidth limitations. The Creator X299 motherboard supports two M.2 slots direct to CPU among total three M.2 slots.



Besides, Creator X299 also has the best read/write ability for storage devices. According to lometer benchmark, Creator X299 provides maximum 17.2GB/s with 6x Intel 760p NVMe M.2 SSD and VROC RAID 0 setting.





lometer benchmark

Doubled DDR4 Memory Capacity

For the new MSI X299 motherboards, the memory capacity doubled from 128GB to 256GB so that it is supportable for single stick 32GB DDR4 memory. Combining the larger memory capacity and MSI exclusive DDR4 Boost technology, it is a big step for both performance and working efficiency, with additional improvement for memory compatibility.



When it comes to memory capacity, it is usually recommended for creators to maximize the memory capacity to gain better performance for content creation workloads. Especially for those who really emphasizing on performance, the memory capacity is proportional to memory frequency. In other words, with larger memory capacity, it’d better to use as higher memory frequency as possible. Below is the Photoshop benchmark with different memory capacity and frequency. It shows that performance of DDR4-3000 8GB x8 memory is better than DDR4-2666 8GB x8 memory. Creators can choose what they need and also what they can afford.



The Latest Connectivity: USB 3.2 Gen 2x2

USB is definitely one of the most important port for creators since there are various devices that need to connect to your system via USB ports. Saving more time is an essential factor concerned by creators. MSI new X299 motherboards feature the latest USB standard – USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, which gives creators the fastest 20GB/s USB speeds. In comparison with previous USB 3.2 Gen 2, the speed of USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 improves twice as much and even compared to the most commonly used USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 yields a fourfold increase in the transfer speed.



Dual LAN

With the increasing popularity of high-speed network connection and demands in larger files transfer, dual LAN benefits a lot and all of MSI new X299 motherboards are equipped with dual LAN onboard. Better yet, Creator X299 features 10G Super LAN, and X299 PRO 10G / X299 PRO feature 2.5G LAN, which ensures high-speed data transmission for large files. What’s more, 10G Super LAN card, an accessory card, is also included in X299 PRO 10G. By using dual LAN, creators can also do teaming or link aggregation (LAG) to have lower latency and raise work efficiency.



What's Difference among Creator X299, X299 PRO 10G and X299 PRO?

For various creators, the table shows the main difference among three new MSI X299 motherboards, as below;



Model Creator X299 X299 PRO 10G X299 PRO Power Phases 12 +1 +1 8 +1 +1 8 +1 +1 Graphics 3x 8PIN 2x 8PIN 2x 8PIN DDR4 Boost 4266 (OC) 4200 (OC) 4200 (OC) PCIe 4x PCI-E 3.0 x16 4x PCI-E 3.0 x16 4x PCI-E 3.0 x16 SLI / CF 4-Way / 4-Way 3-Way / 3-Way 3-Way / 3-Way LAN 10G + 1G LAN 2.5G + 1G LAN

(+10G Super LAN Card) 2.5G + 1G LAN Wi-Fi 6 Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 - - USB 19 total

1x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2

1x USB 3.2 Gen 2

11x USB 3.2 Gen 1

6x USB 2.0 18 total

1x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2

1x USB 3.2 Gen 2

8x USB 3.2 Gen 1

8x USB 2.0 18 total

1x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2

1x USB 3.2 Gen 2

8x USB 3.2 Gen 1

8x USB 2.0 M.2 3x

(+4x with M.2 XPANDER AERO) 2x

(+2x with M.2 XPANDER-Z) 2 Thunderbolt ThunderboltM3 - - Fan Connectors 9 6 6

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Appropriate Motherboard?

If creators mainly do heavy-loading operation for workloads, Creator X299 is a perfect choice. Which type of creators are suitable for Creator X299? For cinematographers doing 4K video editing, music producers arranging music or animators for 3D animations, these types of creators usually spend lots of time transferring large size files and use various devices via USB ports. Creator X299 can satisfy all the conditions with excellent specification and features not only for the connectivity but also for the storage expansion. Fulfilling 4x graphics cards to support both 4-Way SLI and CrossFire technology to maintain performance and efficiency, it is a best combination to get the most high-end Intel Core X-series processor and MSI Creator X299 motherboard for studios.



To build a small workstation, X299 PRO 10G can be taken into consideration. With ultra-speed 10G Super LAN Card, it guarantees faster internal file transfer speed with other storage devices. What's more, the additional add-on card M.2 XPANDER-Z expands extra 2x M.2 devices for larger storage. Concerning graphic design, coding, other basic operation or those who are with limited budgets and accept having a wait, X299 PRO is what they are looking for.



X299 Motherboards