MSI has released its first all-AMD gaming desktop. The new MSI MAG Meta 5 SE combines the red team charms of an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X processor and Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics card. These work alongside the best processors and the best graphics cards available today. Additionally, buyers can specify up to 64GB of RAM, choose from various storage options, and choose air or liquid cooling. MSI claims that this all-AMD tower will be an “economic choice”.
One of the appealing aspects of choosing an “all AMD” system is that it will enable AMD Smart Access Memory technology. According to AMD’s own tests, this enhanced CPU-GPU communication feature can improve gaming performance by up to 15%. However, in the real world, its effect varies. We wrote about this technology in depth in the fall of 2020. Since then, the competition, namely Nvidia and Intel, have figured out how to implement analog Resizable BAR technology support, so AMD SAM is not an exclusive attraction.
On the subject of performance-enhancing technologies, MSI’s press release on the MAG Meta 5 SE gaming desktop includes a segment on AMD Fidelity FX Super Resolution (FSR). Using an AMD-provided slide espousing the benefits of FSR, MSI points out that modern AAA games with raytracing can run about 20% faster at 4K, with virtually no discernible difference in quality (FSR Ultra Quality). However, this is not really an AMD attraction, as FSR is GPU independent, and it just needs to be supported in the game engine.
| MAG Meta 5 SE |
specification |
|---|---|
|
CPU |
Up to AMD Ryzen 7 5800 on B550 |
|
GPUs |
Up to MSI Radeon RX 6700 XT |
|
RAM |
2 U-DIMM DDR4 2933 MHz, up to 64 GB |
|
Storage |
1 M.2 2280 SSD (SATA/ PCIe Gen4 x4 Combo), 2 x 2.5-inch drive bays, 2 x 3.5-inch drive bays |
|
Network |
Intel Dual Band Wireless – Wi-Fi 5 AC3168, 1G (Realtek RTL8111H) LAN, BT v4.2 |
|
I/O |
Front: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type C, 2 x USB 2.0 Type A, 1 x microphone input, 1 x headphone output Rear: 2 x USB 2.0 Type A, 2 x PS/2 Port, 1 x VGA (DVI-D out), 1 x HDMI out, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A, 1 x RJ45 (1G LAN), 3 x Audio jacks |
|
power supply |
500W 80 Plus Bronze or 750W 80 Plus Gold PSU |
|
Dimensions |
195 x 514.8 x 466 mm (7.68 x 20.27 x 18.35 in) (40 liters) |
Above are the full tech specs according to MSI, but they seem to miss all the standard storage configuration choices, nor do they mention specific cooling options. At the time of writing, the MAG Meta 5 SE AMD 5000 Series product pages are not published, so we cannot research this detail. No other technical specifications seem out of the ordinary or deserve special comment.
A view from the outside
The internal tech specs are undoubtedly capable and nice if the price is right, and as a sizable desktop tower with a standard motherboard and supporting components, it should be as easy to upgrade as a PC from DIY. However, some will find the design a bit dated or ugly.
MSI describes the MAG Meta 5 SE as offering “minimalist styling”, but the red badge on the front, alongside two glowing cracks backed by mystical RGB LED light, and the chrome-headed bolt-on windows on the left are all quite difficult design features. Plus, the top-down view isn’t minimalist by any stretch of the imagination, with its multiple angular undulations and ventilation patterns behind the front/top I/O section.
As mentioned above, MSI doesn’t have the product pages ready at this time, and we don’t have the pricing handy to judge if the “economic choice” claim is valid.
