MSI MPG X570 Gaming Plus Review: Affordable Basics
Tom’s Hardware Verdict
If motherboard sufficiency is all you need for your AMD Ryzen 3000 processor, the MPG X570 Gaming Plus gets you that — and a bit more — at an ultra-low price.
Why you can trust Tom’s Hardware
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Today’s best MSI MPG X570 Gaming Plus deals
$199.89
$121.20
View
Reduced Price
$169.99
$146.99
View
Reduced Price
$146. 99
View
Show More Deals
A mere six months have passed since MSI told us that there would be no cheap X570 motherboards. But at just $160, MSI’s MPG X570 Gaming Plus certainly seems cheap. Or perhaps six months of higher prices have changed our perspective? We do remember a time when the cheapest boards to use an enthusiast-class chipset were priced around $120.
Regardless of how we define cheapness, this board still gets you a voltage regulator with eight 46A MOSFETs for the CPU core on a board that undercuts the other “value-priced models” we’ve tested by a wide margin. That voltage regulator should be adequate to run the full range of Ryzen 3000processors at stock settings. Since our test CPU is a middle model, we’ll push it a bit with overclocking.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Socket | AM4 |
| Chipset | AMD X570 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Voltage Regulator | 10 Phases (8+2) |
| Video Ports | HDMI 1. 4 |
| USB Ports | 10Gbps: (1) Type-C, (1) Type A; 5Gb/s: (4) Type A; (2) USB 2.0 |
| Network Jacks | Gigabit Ethernet |
| Audio Jacks | (5) Analog, (1) Digital Out |
| Legacy Ports/Jacks | (1) PS/2 |
| Other Ports/Jack | BIOS Flash |
| PCIe x16 | (2) v4.0 (x16/x4) |
| PCIe x8 | ✗ |
| PCIe x4 | ✗ |
| PCIe x1 | (3) v4.0 (second excludes first) |
| CrossFire/SLI | 2x / ✗ |
| DIMM slots | (4) DDR4 |
| M.2 slots | (1) PCIe 4.0 x4, (2) PCIe 4.0 x4 / SATA |
| U.2 Ports | ✗ |
| SATA Ports | (6) 6Gb/s |
| USB Headers | (2) v3. x Gen1, (2) v2.0, |
| Fan Headers | Fan Headers |
| Legacy Interfaces | Serial COM Port, System (Beep-code) Speaker |
| Other Interfaces | FP-Audio, (2) RGB LED, TPM, (2) ARGB LED, Corsair LED, RGB LED |
| Diagnostics Panel | ✗ |
| Internal Button/Switch | ✗ / ✗ |
| SATA Controllers | ASM1061 PCIe 2.0 x1, Integrated (0/1/10) |
| Ethernet Controllers | RTL8111H PCIe |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | ✗ |
| USB Controllers | ✗ |
| HD Audio Codec | ALC1220 |
| DDL/DTS Connect | ✗ |
| Warranty | 3 Years |
The MPG X570 Gaming Plus has very little going for it outside of the adequate-capacity voltage regulator, though it does a fair job with the basics.
We still get PCIe 4.0 to all the board’s slots, and the audio codec is the same ALC1220 we would expect to find on $200+ models. And that audio codec still feeds five rear-panel audio jacks and a front-panel HD Audio header, because there wouldn’t be much value to crippling it with cheaper connectors.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
- MSI MPG X570 Gaming Plus at Amazon for $146.99
Zooming in, we also find a tiny button for flashing the firmware which, lacking the ASIC that allows certain pricier boards to update firmware without certain hardware, seems only a little out of place on a model this inexpensive. We also see a PS/2 port for legacy keyboards and mice, two USB 2.0 ports that we’ll assume are for contemporary keyboards and mice, four USB3 Gen 1 ports (5Gbps), Type A and Type-C Gen 2 ports (10Gbps), Gigabit Ethernet via a low-cost Realtek controller, and a digital optical audio output.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
With four of the CPU’s PCIe 4.
0 lanes going to an M.2 slot and four more to the X570 PCH as AMD intended, all sixteen remaining lanes go to the top PCIe slot in fixed fashion. You won’t be running SLI on this board, but you might be tempted to use the second x16-length slot to feed a second card in a CrossFire array, though that would be in x4 mode through the chipset.
The three x1 slots are even more limited: Not only do they compete with everything else on the chipset for bandwidth, but the top x1 slot gets disabled whenever a card is detected in the second x1 slot. And that automatic selection explains why we see only one PCIe pathway diverting switch on the entire board, behind the first PCIe x1 slot.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Users have told us (via Newegg reviews) that SATA ports 1 and 2 are to be avoided, as these are the two that are fed by the board’s PCIe 2.0 x1-to-SATA adapter. Ouch. While that part is listed in both the web specs and user manual, neither of those official sources would even tell us that much.
Builders hoping to use the money saved here to splurge on a case might want to hold back a little, as the MPG X570 Gaming Plus has no Gen2 front-panel USB header. On the other hand, those retaining an old high-end case might appreciate that this board has two USB3 Gen1 front-panel headers.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The MPG X570 Gaming Plus’s bottom edge is lined with headers for front-panel audio, one (of two) RGB cables, TPM, four (of six) PWM fan headers, serial COM port, two dual-port USB 2.0, one (of two) dual-port USB 3.0, and an Intel-spec front-panel LED/button group. Above those are a factory (reserved) header, chassis intrusion, PC speaker/buzzer, and one (of two) ARGB headers. The other RGB and ARGB headers are located near the board’s upper-front corner.
Capable of supporting either PCIe/NVMe or SATA interfaced drives, the second M.2 header is to the left of the PCH fan.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The MPS X570 Gaming Plus includes a printed manual in the box, along with a snap-in I/O shield, driver/application disc, two SATA cables, a case badge, an M.
2 heat spreader, quick installation guide, and several other pieces of documentation.
MORE: Best Motherboards
MORE: How To Choose A Motherboard
MORE: All Motherboard Content
- 1
Current page:
Features and Specifications
Next Page Software, Firmware and Overclocking
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom’s Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
MSI MPG X570 Gaming Plus Reviews, Specs & Prices
The MPG X570 Gaming Plus is one of MSI’s entry-level motherboards based on the AMD X570 chipset (the other one being the nearly identical X570-A Pro). An entry-level designation is somewhat misleading, however, as the X570 is a high-end platform in itself. Like all boards based on this chipset and launched in 2019, the Gaming Plus introduces the PCI Express (PCIe) 4.
0 interface on the consumer market. PCIe 4.0 doubles theoretical transfer rates over PCIe 3.0, leading to improved performance for (primarily) SSDs that can utilize the added bandwidth.
MSI MPG X570 Gaming Plus: Key Features
As a rule, motherboards based on the X570 chipset are actively cooled using a fan mounted directly on the PCB, and the MPG X570 Gaming Plus is no exception. The VRM components are also cooled by heatsinks. Due to the board’s entry-level positioning, MSI does not disclose what type of VRM is used but it seems to offer 8 CPU phases. It should nevertheless be capable of housing any Ryzen 3000-series CPU, but may not overclock as easily as more expensive options like the MEG ACE or Aorus Ultra. It comes with 8-pin and 4-pin 12V ATX connectors.
As with all X570 motherboards launched in 2019, the PCIe 4.0 interface is a key feature since it’s only available to consumers via this platform initially. The MSI MPG X570 Gaming Plus is equipped with one PCIe 4.
0-compatible M.2 slot for similarly capable SSDs, plus one PCIe 3.0 M.2 slot. One MSI-branding Lightning Gen 4 M.2 heatsink is included. Other hard drives and SSDs can be connected via the board’s six SATA ports. It also has two full-length, x16-sized PCIe 4.0 slots for graphics cards, plus three x1 PCIe 4 slots. Multi-GPU setups using AMD cards is possible (CrossfireX), but Nvidia SLI is not supported.
Another feature it shares with all X570-based boards at launch is the RAM arrangement: the MPG Gaming Plus has four DDR4 memory slots (dual channel) and will hold up to 128 GB of RAM in total (four 32 GB modules). These will run in up to 4400 MHz in OC mode.
Being one of the more affordable motherboards with this chipset, there’s only a bare minimum of LEDs and no onboard RGB. MSI’s Mystic Light, which consists of a red LED, can however be complemented with RGB fans or strips via a header on the Gaming Plus.
MSI MPG X570 Gaming Plus Vs. X570-A PRO
| Product | MSI X570 Gaming Plus | MSI X570-A PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | ATX | ATX |
| CPU Support | 2nd- and 3rd-gen AMD Ryzen | 2nd- and 3rd-gen AMD Ryzen |
| Power Delivery | 8-phase(?) | 8-phase(?) |
| RAM Support (up to) | 4400+ MHz (OC) | 4400+ MHz (OC) |
| Memory Slots (Channels) | 2 (4) | 2 (4) |
Max. RAM |
128 GB | 128 GB |
| PCIe 4.0 X16 Slots | 2 | 2 |
| PCIe 4.0 X1 Slots | 3 | 3 |
| SATA III Ports | 6 | 6 |
| PCIe 4.0 M.2 Slots | 2 | 2 |
| RAID Support | 0/1/10 | 0/1/10 |
| Network Adapters | Realtek 8111H Gigabit LAN | Realtek 8111H Gigabit LAN |
| USB Ports incl. header | 8x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 6x USB 2.0 |
8x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 6x USB 2.0 |
| SLI/Crossfire | N/Y | N/Y |
When comparing the specs and layouts of the Gaming Plus and X570-A Pro it’s obvious that the two are mostly identical. There are some design differences and the MPG Gaming Plus comes with larger heatsinks over the power delivery parts. The MPG board also comes with an included M.
2 heatsink, which the X570-A lacks.
9Expert Score
Meta-review (based on user reviews): Out of 169 user reviews examined, a vast majority are positive. Users are satisfied with the VRM, a fan that mostly stays silent and the attractive price. Some are less happy about inconveniently placed chipset heatsinks an I/O shield that is difficult to get in place.
PROS
- Great value
- Solid VRM
- Mostly silent
CONS
- Inconvenient layout
- Few extras included
MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS motherboard review: more features, more features
Top
04/02/2020
Author: CHIP
1 star2 stars3 stars4 stars5 stars
MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS Motherboard Review: More features, more features
4
5
1
2
1
Everything is perfect in this model: from the number of interfaces to cooling.
At the same time, the cost is relatively democratic.
Many users still think that when building a computer, the motherboard is not as important as the processor and video card. We do not agree with this opinion, because the condition of other components depends on the quality and capabilities of the motherboard. At first glance, it seems that even if you install top-end hardware in a budget mother, everything will work flawlessly. However, the potential of other components may not be revealed.
Want to install some fast SSDs? Cheap motherboards will offer you a maximum of one M.2 table. Do you heavily load the processor in heavy games and programs? Be prepared that the power circuits on the budget «boards» will not cope with the heat. Would you like to install a premium graphics card? The graphics adapter slot will certainly not withstand the weight of the heavy backplate that all flagship models are equipped with. And so on. And we are not talking about overclocking capabilities, which together can give a significant performance boost.
In general, we believe that «a big ship — a big anchor.» So you shouldn’t neglect the motherboard. An instance of the MPG-X570-GAMING-PLUS from MSI fell into our hands. It is designed for the top processors of the Ryzen 9 family. Let’s see what it is.
Specifications
- SOCKET — AM 4.
- SUPPORTED CPUs — Ryzen 9.
- CHIPSET — AMD® X570 Chipset
- DDR4 MEMORY — 1866/ 2133/ 2400/ 2667/ 2800/2933 /3000 /3066 /3200 /3466 /3600 /3733 /3866 /4000 /4133 /4266 /4400 + Mhz by JEDEC and A-XMP OC MODE.
- MEMORY CHANNELS — Dual.
- DIMM SLOTS — 4.
- MAXIMUM MEMORY (GB) — 128 GB.
- PCI-EX16 — 2.
- PCI-EX1 — 3.
- SATA III — 6.
- M.2 PORT — 2.
- RAID — 0/1/10.
- LAN — 1x Realtek® 8111H Gigabit LAN Controller
- SERIAL PORTS (FRONT) — 1.
- USB 2.0 PORTS (FRONT) — 4.
- USB 3.
2 PORTS (FRONT) — 4(Gen1, Type A). - USB 2.0 PORTS (REAR) — 2.
- USB 3.2 PORTS (REAR) — 4(Gen1, Type A), 1(Gen2, Type A), 1(Gen2, Type C).
- AUDIO PORTS (REAR) — 5+ Optical S/PDIF (Realtek® ALC1220 Codec)
- HDMI — 1.
- DIRECTX — 12.
- FORM FACTOR — ATX
- CROSSFIRE SUPPORT — Yes.
- OPERATING SYSTEM — Support for Windows® 10 64-bit.
-
Operation
How can I find out what motherboard I have? We suggest 8 ways
Interfaces
One of the main differences between a good motherboard and a bad one is the number of interfaces. This model is equipped with a large number of connectors that will satisfy the needs of even the most demanding customer. First of all, two connectors are striking PCI-EX16 designed to install a video card.
The first slot is reinforced with a metal shell, which protects it from breaking. The second is deprived of such privileges, but for most users this will not be required. As befits premium solutions, CrossFireX technology is supported here, which allows you to combine the power of several GPUs. The motherboard is also equipped with 3 PCI-EX1 format slots.
As for the possibilities of connecting drives, here it is in full order. There are six type 9 slots0094 SATA III , which are located parallel to the textolite. So the connectors will not rest against the video card. A special cutout has been made under them, which will facilitate the pulling of cables.
Provides for the connection of two drives at once in the M.2 slots. One is between the CPU socket and the first PCI-EX16 connector. The second one is slightly lower — between the second connector PCI-EX16 and connectors for connecting case fans located at the very bottom of the motherboard.
Speaking of case fans. On the one hand, they are compactly grouped in one place and the connected cables will not interfere with the rest of the hardware. But on the other hand, they are quite far from the top of the motherboard, where coolers are installed to blow out cold air. Accordingly, sometimes the length of the wire may not be enough.
Among the video outputs, there is only one HDMI connector. Several USB ports are successfully located next to it. Two are version 2.0 for connecting legacy devices. Four are versions 3.2 for modern peripherals. There is also one Type-C connector. And immediately 5 connectors compatible with audio devices. Format — Optical S/PDIF. This is unlikely to be found in budget motherboards. It is also possible to restore the BIOS using the corresponding button. Now you can not resort to using the CMOS jumper every time the system does not start due to incorrectly set parameters.
Bandwidth and cooling system
Power is supplied to the board via 8 pin and 4 pin connectors (works with one 8 pin connector).
PCIe bandwidth and M.2 connection type depends on the processor used. With a 3rd Gen CPU, you’ll get 31.5GT/s throughput, which is equivalent to 4.0 at 16 lanes. When using the second generation CPU, the maximum throughput will be 16.8 GT/s, which corresponds to the 3.0 standard with 16 lines. The motherboard is also compatible with two generations of Ryzen with integrated graphics.
As for the M.2 connectors, the situation is similar for them. When using a third generation processor and one drive, PCIe 4.0 x4 is enabled. As soon as you add a second drive, throughput drops to PCIe 3.0 x4. The same applies to the use of second-generation processors (both with integrated graphics and without) — the maximum throughput will correspond to the capabilities of PCIe 3.0 x4.
VRM is made according to the 10 + 2 scheme (dual phases with synchronous control). Above the power system are massive heatsinks that do an excellent job of heating up during a heavy load.
The chipset hasn’t gone unnoticed either, and is cooled by a small 5cm fan that turns on only in extreme cases. Its mode of operation can be changed in the BIOS.
There are four slots for connecting RAM. And although the motherboard supports a maximum of two-channel mode, nothing prevents you from plugging four RAM bars at once. True, this will increase the load on the controller. A rather old, but well-proven IoR 35201 is installed here.
-
Computers
5 Best DDR4 RAM Models in the Budget Segment
Test bench and test results
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2600;
- Motherboard: MSI MPG-X570-GAMING-PLUS;
- RAM: HyperX FURY DDR4 RGB 3333 Mhz 32gb;
- CPU Cooler: PCCooler GI-D56V HALO RGB;
- Video card: GeForce RTX 2080;
- SSD: Patriot Spark 128 GB;
- Power Supply: Corsair RM750x, 750 Watts;
- Body: Cougar MX330-F;
- Operating system: Windows 10 64-bit.
In order to increase the load on the motherboard controller, we have installed high-frequency RAM with XMP profile support. The frequency was 3333 MHz. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 processor was also overclocked. Its frequency with an increased multiplier was 4100 MHz. It is worth noting that on other motherboards (for example, on the Asrock Fatality AB350 Gaming K4), it was not possible to achieve such results even with many hours of dancing with a tambourine. And here everything worked stably.
In this mode, the VRM zone did not heat up above 70 degrees. Approximately the same results were shown by the chipset. In our opinion, these are excellent indicators. During the tests, the system consumed about 280 watts.
Conclusion
The MSI MPG-X570-GAMING-PLUS is a premium motherboard that is ideal for owners of high frequency memory with great overclocking potential. We also recommend this model to those who have a multi-core processor, the heat of which can only be handled by a high-quality power system and a powerful controller.
All this just has this motherboard.
A large number of interfaces will allow you to connect a lot of drives and a couple of video cards. RGB lighting will add color to your gaming PC. Four slots for RAM — a good start for the future. And the ability to reset the BIOS will allow you to experiment with settings and achieve good results during overclocking.
Read also
Tags
msi
motherboards
Author
Denis Mikhailov
Was the article interesting?
Share link
By clicking on the «Subscribe» button,
you consent to the processing of personal data
Recommended
Advertising on CHIP
Contacts
MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS price, specifications, video review, reviews
- Manufacturer AMD
*
| Number of slots | 4 | |||||||
| Quad channel | No | |||||||
Max. capacity |
128 GB | |||||||
| Buffered (RDIMM) memory support | No | |||||||
| Tri-channel | ||||||||
| Controller IDE | No | |||||||
| Controller SATA | Yes | |||||||
| SATA 6GB/S | 6 |
| Type Wi-Fi | No |
| Bluetooth | ETHERNET | 90 MBIT/s 90 Mbit/s *
* Check with the seller for exact specifications. Reviews of MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS For a long time I was choosing a budget board with more or less sane reviews and decided to take this one. I didn’t perceive information about the “weak power supply” on which lovers of folding phases and insulting the blue boyars on the forums, since the third series is not particularly chasing. Unfortunately, I can’t write about the pros, I didn’t have time to evaluate the work. Is that an interesting solution to the geometry of the printed circuit board, but let’s get to the point. The result is such a configuration, perhaps someone will be interested: Boot to desktop 25 sec, who has 32 to bios, nothing to put Windows in MBR I had to suffer after installing the SSD M2. It was not defined in the bios. At the moment, in the boot priority in the first place, I have an old SSD, fully formatted. The BIOS defines it as a system one on which Windows is installed =) If you put it in second place, Windows will not boot, just like if you put the M2 SSD in first place, on which Windows is actually installed =) I don’t know, maybe it should be, but I am facing this for the first time. (Yes, and I have such pieces of iron for the first time) Collected, launched — the disk with the system is not detected (three physical disks were connected). Nothing helped, I had to reinstall Windows after fixing the second problem. I decided to immediately apply the xmp memory profile — after that I got a black screen. Only the BIOS update helped, which can be carried out on this board not only without a monitor, but also without a processor. In general, now the computer works well. For a long time I did not dance with a tambourine and did not rebuild the computer in a dream))) In principle, I am more than satisfied with my money I bought it on 08/15/19 for 13050, returned it after 5 days. |
The power supply was also changed to a backup one in order to eliminate the possibility of squandered power. There will be no output. I share my experience. I don’t see any point in soldering the chip and using the programmer, since two weeks have not passed since the purchase. I will carry to exchange/return the money. If the stars converge, then I will describe my further experience with another instance of this board, but in general there is a suspicion that it is worth forking out for a couple of thousand and taking tuf. 
One of the significant problems is the long loading of the operating system (about 30 seconds). I don’t know how to overcome it, it seems to me that the Windows installed on HDD disks are loaded so much. 
