EVOLVE Powered By MSI 5H+ gaming system review: a win-win combination

In ourPC of the Monthcolumn, we try to offer rational configurations of gaming systems based on the most relevant and commercially available components. In fact, this is an analysis of the current state of the PC components market. Whenever possible, we try to back up our theoretical considerations with practical experience. Covering all categories and platforms at once in the current environment is an asterisked task, but gradually getting to know the potential of PCs in different price categories brings us closer to the goal. This time we had the opportunity to test the capabilities of the EVOLVE Powered By MSI 5H+ system from TELEMART.UA in a configuration that is very close to that of the “Optimal Gaming PC”. What is this platform capable of? How many fps in different modes? What about power consumption? These and other practical issues will be discussed in the current review of the system.

First of all, we should note that we are talking about a serial model, not a custom-built platform. Of course, the latter option is also possible, but that would be a completely different story.

As you might guess from the somewhat strange name “EVOLVE Powered By MSI 5H+” (EVOP-G5HR750FN407S-D532S1TBKSH), the system was obviously created in partnership with MSI, and therefore a significant part of the components were manufactured by this manufacturer. Let’s first take a look at what components were used to build the PC. In general, the description of the configuration on the manufacturer’s website is quite detailed and allows you to clarify which components are installed in the system before purchasing.

Although desktop system manufacturers have usually moved away from the practice of describing configurations as limited as possible, such as the “two cores, two gigs” meme, detailed information is not always immediately available to a potential PC buyer. So open information that does not require additional clarification is a plus in this case.

Configuration

AMD Ryzen 5 7500F processor. Without exaggeration, it is a recent hit. The basic 6-core model of the Vermeer family has been topping the CPU popularity ratings in the relevant sections of price aggregators and large online trading platforms for several months in a row. There are no special secrets of success here.

It’s just a processor with a very good price/performance ratio, and it’s the most affordable model for the Socket AM5 platform, which means that the demand for this particular chip is appropriate. In terms of price, the Ryzen 5 8400F can already compete with it, but it is significantly inferior to the Ryzen 5 7500F in terms of gaming capabilities.

In general, the chip fits quite organically into the configuration of a mid-range gaming platform. The performance of Ryzen 5 7500F is enough to unleash the potential of mid-top graphics cards, and the 6-core chip with a 3.7/5.0 GHz frequency formula and a base TDP of 65 W does not require an overly expensive cooling system, which is an argument in its favor when choosing a CPU for a system that is not “for all your money.” So in this case, the choice of the platform developers coincides with our vision of what kind of CPU should be equipped with an optimal gaming PC.

DeepCool AG400 ARGB cooler. The DeepCool AG400 ARGB cooler is used to cool the Ryzen 5 7500F processor. This is a relatively inexpensive tower with a cassette of aluminum plates, four heat pipes, and a 120 mm fan (500-2000 rpm) on a hydrodynamic bearing.

Obviously, such a cooler weighing 614 g will be much more efficient than the standard AMD Wraith Stealth CPU cooler, it is also significantly quieter in operation, and the ARGB backlight will add a light mood to the interior of the system. The manufacturer assures that DeepCool AG400 ARGB can handle chips with TDPs up to 220W. We will see how it turns out in practice when testing the system.

MSI B650M GAMING PLUS WIFI motherboard. The MSI B650M GAMING PLUS WIFI motherboard is used as a PC platform. The m-ATX model is not very expensive, but at the same time, it is not the most affordable on the AMD B650 chipset. We usually recommend devices of this category for mid-range gaming PCs. The VRM system of the board has a 13-phase circuit and good cooling of power elements. Two 8-pin connectors are provided to connect additional power to the processor.

The MSI B650M GAMING PLUS WIFI offers two ports for M.2 PCI-E 4.0 drives, both of which have optional heatsinks. The card supports 64GB modules, allowing you to increase the total capacity up to 256GB. With two peer-to-peer modules, it supports modes up to DDR5-7200+, otherwise, the more rational DDR5-6000 mode is available.

There are three slots for connecting expansion cards – the main PCI-E x16 4.0 slot and a pair of PCI-E x1 slots. It should be borne in mind that when using a video card with a three-slot cooler, only one PCI-E x1 will remain available. These are the nuances of the layout of m-ATX models.

Among the features of the model, we also highlight the presence of a module for working with wireless networks that supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Also, the board has a pretty decent interface panel, generously saturated with USB ports, and the “cherry on top” is the support of Flash BIOS technology for offline firmware updates from a USB drive. By the way, the latest version of the microcode on the manufacturer’s website has AGESA ComboPI 1.2.0.0, which means that the BIOS is already guaranteed to support future Ryzen 9000.

RAM 32 GB (2×16 GB) DDR5-6000, Kingston FURY Beast. The system unit is equipped with 32 GB of RAM, which is a rational capacity for systems of this class. In this case, a dual-channel 2×16 GB Kingston FURY Beast DDR5-6000 (KF560C40BBK2-32) is used. This is the optimal mode for the Socket AM5 platform.

The modules are equipped with fairly compact radiator blocks, although in the current configuration it does not matter. The timing formula for DDR5-6000 mode is 40-40-40-40-80 at a supply voltage of 1.35V.

Video card MSI GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER VENTUS 2X OC. The main element that mostly determines the capabilities of a gaming system is the video card. In the basic version, for optimal configurations, we focus on the GeForce RTX 4070 12 GB. But in the case of EVOLVE Powered By MSI 5H+, the system is equipped with an updated and more powerful version of the GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER 12 GB. The model used is the MSI GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER VENTUS 2X OC.

It is a compact modification with a two-fan cooling system and factory-installed GPU overclocking. We’ve already had a chance to take a closer look at the capabilities of this model, so we’re referring you to the corresponding review of the video card for more details.

Compared to classic versions of GeForce RTX 4070, the SUPER modification received a GPU with an increased number of cores (7168 vs. 5888) and related functional units. The configuration of the memory subsystem remained unchanged – the total capacity is 12 GB, the bus is 192 bits. The actual performance gain is usually 10-15%, which is even more than one would expect. Considering the difference in price with the base RTX 4070, we can say that GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER have at least as good a price/performance ratio. Therefore, there can be no objections to using the updated GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER as part of optimal gaming configurations. It’s a little more expensive, but it’s also just as fast, and extra fps has never been superfluous.

Kingston NV2 1 TB (SNV2S/1000G) drive. The PC is equipped with a 1TB drive. In general, this is the minimum sufficient capacity for a gaming platform. The system is equipped with a Kingston NV2 SSD as standard. These are basic inexpensive M.2 PCI-E 4.0 NVMe models without additional caching.

The drive offers maximum transfers of 3,500 MB/s for reading and up to 2,100 MB/s for writing. The performance is moderate, but for a gaming platform, SSD performance is not so important, as the overall capacity is much more important.

MSI MAG A750GL PCIE5 power supply unit. The system is equipped with a modern 750W MSI MAG A750GL PCIE5 power supply that is ATX 3.0 compatible. It is ready to work with PCI-E 5.0 and does not require an additional 12VHPWR adapter. In terms of efficiency, the unit meets 80 PLUS Gold certification with an efficiency of up to 90%.

MSI MAG A750GL PCIE5 is quite compact and has a fully modular design for connecting power cables. A 120mm fan with a hydrodynamic bearing is used for cooling. One of the interesting options is the two-color design of the 16-pin PCI-E connector. The connectors are bright yellow. If the yellow part is visually visible when assembling the system and plugging in the corresponding connector, the plug is not inserted to the final position.

MSI MAG FORGE M100R case. The PC is assembled in a fairly compact (388×200×423 mm) m-ATX case – MSI MAG FORGE M100R. It’s an inexpensive but rather neat model with a separate zoning for the power supply, a transparent tempered glass side panel, and four 120mm fans with ARGB backlighting as standard.

The overall design is quite restrained. Three fans are clearly visible through the metal mesh on the front wall, which is used to pump air. The controls are located on the top panel.

In addition to the pre-installed fans, the case also has an additional controller for synchronizing their illumination, as well as a separate button on the panel for selecting the illumination mode.

Build

In 2024, it’s hard to surprise anyone with a neat PC build. Manufacturers of systems of this class usually try to do this work as accurately as possible, using the existing power and interface cable management system, and tidying up the inside of the system unit.

Of course, in this case, the degree of neatness is hardly comparable to what systems with Back-connect motherboards like the MSI Project Zero can offer. If you want, you can still see the power cables and a bunch of signal wires near the bottom of the board. However, let’s be honest, in the absence of a panoramic view of the interior, this is not so important unless you are the most demanding techno-esthete.

It should be noted that the MSI MAG FORGE M100R case is quite compact even by the standards of m-ATX models. Therefore, despite the fact that the platform is equipped with a small-sized CPU cooler and probably one of the smallest GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER (MSI GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER VENTUS 2X OC is only 242 mm long!), the system does not look half-empty. Everything is organically held together. Perhaps a couple of additional fans on the top wall would complement the overall visual picture.

Let’s pay attention to the additional extension adapters for the main power cables. The length of the existing ones in the PSU is generally enough to connect to the corresponding connectors on the board, but the additional ones have a nice fabric braid, and the additional length of the conductor allows you to arrange the wiring more rationally.

Removing the right side panel, we get access to the management system of all system cables. The cables are bundled quite neatly and securely fixed with plastic ties. From this perspective the idea to use additional power adapters becomes clearer. The compact power supply leaves a lot of free space to hide the clutter of wires.

A small controller board is clearly visible in the central part, which allows you to synchronize the backlights of connected devices. There are six 3-pin ARGB connectors on the PCB, four of which are occupied by standard case fans.

The rear side of the PC is quite typical, without any technological highlights. Please note that two bays for additional expansion cards remain free. Given the dual-slot layout of the MSI GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER VENTUS 2X OC graphics card, it is possible to use both PCI-E x1 slots on the board.

The interface panel allows you to use up to eight USB devices without additional splitters. One of the USB Type-C ports has a bandwidth of up to 10 GB/s. A motherboard with a built-in Wi-Fi module allows you to immediately connect to a wireless network if an Ethernet connection was not originally planned.

Returning to the controls and external ports of the case, we note that the panel lacks a USB Type-C port. Especially considering that the model of the case is quite modern, but we should make a certain discount for the price category. At the same time, the presence of an additional button to change the backlight mode generally determines the priorities of developers.

When you turn on the PC, you get a system with a fairly intense backlighting of the interior. Four 120mm case fans and a CPU cooler fan with ARGB illumination set the general background. The additional lighting is of course clearly visible through the glass side panel as well as the metal mesh on the front wall.

Attention is also drawn to the large illuminated “EVOLVE” logo on the panel of the power supply compartment. Obviously, this is a partner customization specifically for the EVOLVE Powered by MSI desktop line, because the basic version of the MSI MAG FORGE M100R case does not have such an element.

The number of intensely illuminated fans might make you think that the system unit is quite noisy during operation. However, this impression is misleading, taking into account the low-speed fans of the case/cooler, as well as the hybrid mode of the video card cooler. However, we will return to such nuances of the system’s functioning.

In operation

Despite the fact that we are dealing with a gaming system, before checking EVOLVE Powered By MSI 5H+ for “professional suitability”, we will conduct several system-wide tests to get a more comprehensive assessment of the PC’s capabilities.

Processor. The Ryzen 5 7500F six-core chip offers a fairly predictable level of performance. During a multi-threaded load in the Cinebench R23 rendering test, the chip accelerated to ~4950 MHz.

At the same time, the power consumption of the processor was about 90 watts. In such conditions, the efficiency of the DeepCool AG400 ARGB cooler was enough to keep the CPU temperature at 70-75C.

It should be noted right away that the motherboard’s power subsystem coped with this load without any problems. According to the monitoring data, the temperature of the VRM elements rose only to 45C, and the chipset chip heated up to 43C.

If we talk about conditions with a high, but not maximum load on the processor, for example, the game Cyberpunk 2077, then the CPU already accelerated to 5050 MHz, heated up to 60C and consumed up to 65 watts of power.

Video card. We have already investigated the capabilities of the GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER in some detail, and for this we used the MSI GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER VENTUS 2X OC.

So there are no surprises here either. However, a significant difference in the current testing was that it was conducted in the most severe temperature conditions – during the summer heat with 28-29C indoors.

However, this did not prevent the GPU from accelerating to 2820 MHz, although the GPU warmed up to 79C under load, and the fan speed increased to 2500 rpm. As we noted during the review of the video card, subjectively, the noise level is lower than one would expect based on absolute values. Here we can only repeat this thesis, which has not lost its relevance.

RAM. We also evaluated the efficiency of the memory subsystem in express mode using the built-in AIDA64 test.

The recorded read/copy bandwidth is about 60 GB/s, while transfers for write operations reach almost 80 GB/s. This is a well-known feature of Ryzen chips with a single CCD computing chip, which, however, has little effect on practical results in real-world tasks.

Drive. Superficial testing of the drive’s capabilities confirms the thesis that Kingson NV2 belongs to the entry-level solutions in the M.2 PCI-E 4.0 class. However, the drive is able to deliver quite decent transfers, even slightly exceeding the declared performance.

All in all, we can only emphasize once again that high performance is not essential for an SSD as part of a gaming system. When installing or launching projects, the drive is not a limiting factor that affects the speed of these processes. But what should be noted separately is the modest heating of the Kingson NV2 under load – after passing the test stages, the temperature rose only to 44-46C. An additional radiator unit and partial airflow by the case fans help here.

As for the overall performance of the EVOLVE Powered By MSI 5H+ cooling system, the PC leaves a pleasant impression – even under load, the noise level is quite moderate.

In the default case, the system fans rotate at a speed of about 800 rpm in idle mode. The fan on the CPU cooler is 1000 rpm. In this case, the video card is generally silent due to the stop of the “propellers”.

During a prolonged gaming session, the system fans increased their speed to only 870 rpm. The processor cooler – up to 1560 rpm. The video card fans were spun up to ~2500 rpm. As you can see, under such conditions, the CPU temperature remained at a very comfortable 63C, and the motherboard’s power elements also warmed up very moderately – up to 50C. The chipset – 54C. It should be noted that high-speed DDR5-6000 RAM modules also have additional radiator blocks for a reason. The temperature of the bars rose to 45-47C, while at rest it was 35-38C.

You can adjust the operation of the EVOLVE Powered By MSI 5H+ cooling system yourself if you want/need to. But even in the default mode in the heat of the day, the CO system copes with the task with a fairly moderate overall noise level.

Performance in games

Despite the interest in the general system capabilities of the PC, the greatest interest lies in the plane of gaming power. So we set the picture quality settings to the maximum, with the exception of ray tracing, and take the corresponding measurements in Full HD mode.

The results were certainly pleasing. The combination of Ryzen 5 7500F and GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER 12 GB works almost flawlessly in such conditions. We have 130-180 fps in most fairly heavy projects, with the exception of Starfield, which is extremely demanding at maximum settings. The obtained indicators give a very high degree of gaming comfort, which will be felt on screens with an increased refresh rate.

We change the mode to 1440p and repeat the experiment. In most cases, we have 100+ fps, with the exception of the already mentioned Starfield, as well as Cyberpunk 2077 and RDR II, where the system provides 70-90 fps on average. These are very decent figures, so the optimal configurations are probably good enough for games with a resolution of 2560×1440, and the PC’s power is usually enough for maximum settings even without the dynamic scaling technology.

What about 4K? Well, it’s not that bad. In half of the test projects, even with the maximum quality settings, the system pulls 60-80 fps. In another part, we get an average of 48-60 fps. Only in Cyberpunk 2077, which significantly “sags” when switching to 4K, we have 37 fps. In general, GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is not positioned as a solution for 4K gaming. Rather, it is a rational start with the more powerful GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16 GB, which also has a larger memory capacity.

However, if you want to get comfortable 4K performance on GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER 12 GB, you can also experiment with the settings and refuse to use the ultra quality mode. With the increased texture resolution, switching to “high” is usually hardly noticeable visually, but it significantly affects the number of fps. And that’s not even taking into account DLSS support and especially the DLSS 3 variation with frame generation, which increases fps and reduces the requirements for video card memory capacity.

Energy consumption

A separate stage of the study was the assessment of the system’s energy efficiency, which has been of utmost relevance lately.

In idle mode, the system consumed a total of about 70 watts of power. At maximum CPU load using the Cinebench R23 multi-threaded test, the platform required 154 watts. But of course, the highest performance should be expected in games where the video card is actively involved.

As you can see, in this case, the system’s power consumption ranged from 245 to 350 watts, depending on the project being run. These are very reasonable values considering the gaming performance. These indicators can be taken into account when calculating the potential battery life from a charging station of the available capacity.

Obviously, the 750W power supply in this case offers a considerable power reserve that can be used during subsequent upgrades to even more powerful components. And let’s not rule this out, given that according to recent reports, AMD is going to support the Socket AM5 platform until at least 2027.

On the other hand, at half of the maximum load, the unit delivers maximum efficiency (up to 90% for the 80 PLUS Gold), so a 750W PSU is also in place here.

Price

In the configuration under consideration, the EVOLVE Powered By MSI 5H+ (EVOP-G5HR750FN407S-D532S1TBKSH) system unit is offered at the price of 64,299 UAH (~$1560) at the time of writing. The system has a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty and comes with a deactivated test version of Windows 11 Home.

Among the temporary features, the platform meets the conditions of the NVIDIA promotion for the purchase of PCs with GeForce RTX 4070+ graphics cards. New owners can get a code for Black Myth: Wukong, which will be presented on August 20 and is already available for pre-order on Steam (1699 UAH).

Other configurations of systems based on MSI components are also available on the telemart.ua website, which are united in the Powered By MSI series.