ASRock - Z890 Taichi Aqua vs MSI - MPG X870E Carbon WiFi

These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (70.7 vs 69.1). The decision isn't about overall quality — both clear the bar — it's about which specific trade-offs fit your use.

Pick the Z890 Taichi Aqua if you care most about m.2 slots. The biggest gaps in its favor are m.2 slots.

Pick the MPG X870E Carbon WiFi if you care most about max memory. Its strongest claims are max memory.

Both ship with comparable ram slots, pcie slots, wi-fi 7, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.

Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity tells you both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.