The MSI MEG Z490i Unify is a tiny Mini-ITX motherboard. As you may not know, building a new PC based on a Mini-ITX board comes with some obvious compromises. For example, there is only one 16-lane PCI-E port. Many storage connections and multiple M.2 slots should be avoided. Two memory DIMMs. You get the idea.

Usually you don't need to worry too much about performance. A high-end full ATX motherboard is the best choice for ultimate overclocking. Aside from those extremes, the actual computing experience with a Mini-ITX solution is usually subjectively indistinguishable from a larger board.

With the new MSI MEG Z490i Unify, however, there may be reason to question that assumption. But it is not because we think MSI has failed with the MEG Z490i. Rather, our immediate concern relates to Intel's older 14nm process technology. The latest 10th generation process stretches 10 cores to near the limit.

With this in mind, we have included Intel's latest and greatest CPU for the LGA1200 socket, the Core i9 10900K. 5.3 GHz is claimed for all 10 cores, but the peak frequency is turbo boost for some cores and is not configured to run standard across all 10 cores. The peak frequency is turbo boost on some cores and is not configured to run at standard on all 10 cores.

At any rate, before we get into the performance analysis, let's first briefly summarize the key statistics of the MSI MEG Z490i Unify. My first impression is that it is literally solid. This is a really tough and dense feeling little board, with a serious chunk of aluminum cooling the VRMs and an even more massive item acting as a rear I/O heat shroud, the latter connected to the former by heatpipes.

MSI has also designed a novel and equally robust heat sink for the sole M.2 slot. Excellent, and there is more good news in the form of a 9-phase power supply. In terms of features, the back panel is quite comprehensive, including USB-C, HDMI, and DisplayPort. These interfaces make a lot of sense on a board designed for small form factor cases.

It is also nice to see a USB-C header on the motherboard to take full advantage of cases with USB-C ports. This includes Thunderbolt 3 via the Intel JHL7540 chip. Excellent. There is no debug display and only four SATA ports. However, Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5Gb Ethernet are included, as are three fan headers and support for DDR4 memory up to 5,000MHz. From a purely ergonomic standpoint, the M.2 slots can be accessed even with a graphics card installed, which is a nice touch.

One limitation is the power supply for the CPU. The auxiliary power connector for the processor is only 8-pin, not 8+4-pin; we have seen the Core i9 10900K consume over 300 watts when overclocked, and power is a sensitive issue for 10th generation Intel chips. However, we like the choice MSI has made within the extreme constraints of the Mini-ITX form factor. Some things must inevitably be conceded, but this board is cleverly constructed to minimize the pain.

It also offers decent performance. In most cases, it is virtually nothing compared to a full ATX board like the NZXT N7 Z490 at stock clocks. For example, it is almost a dead heat under multi-threaded rendering loads like Cinebench, and its 3D Mark CPU scores are about the same.

The obvious exceptions are games: in Metro: Exodus, in Far Cry, in New Dawn, in Civilisation VI: MSI MEG Z490i Unify, Civilisation VI, it has slowed down just a bit. Is it enough to actually feel the game? Probably not. But it may suggest the limits of the power supply when using both powerful CPUs and GPUs at high loads.

As for overclocking, the MEG Z490i started up and ran Cinebench R20 at 5.3 GHz once or twice, eventually showing some instability. Finally, all cores maxed out at 5.2 GHz, which is within 100 MHz of what one would normally expect from a 10900K CPU on a full-size ATX board, and not at all inferior.

In short, this is a small motherboard that handles the inherent limitations of Mini-ITX well. If you want something that supports dozens of HDDs, this is not your weapon of choice. But as the foundation for a tiny but very powerful PC, the MSI MEG Z490i Unify should be your candidate.