Maxsun Z890 Mini-ITX Motherboard Drops PCIe Slot for MCIO Cables to Boost Airflow

Maxsun has redesigned the Z890 Mini-ITX motherboard to remove the traditional PCIe x16 slot, a change that matters for builders of compact systems. This shift allows users to mount the graphics card on the opposite side of the case, which improves airflow and saves space in small form factor builds. The board achieves this by routing all PCIe 5.0 x16 bandwidth through external cables rather than a direct slot connection.

Maxsun Z890 Mini-ITX motherboard uses MCIO cables to route PCIe 5.0 x16 bandwidth externally

The motherboard uses two MCIO (Mini Cool Edge I/O) connectors to handle this external connection. MCIO is part of the SFF-TA-1016 standard and uses a 74-pin interface. This setup is equivalent to a standard PCIe 5.0 x8 connection per connector. The board combines two of these connectors to deliver the full PCIe 5.0 x16 bandwidth required by modern graphics cards.

Specifications

• Interface Standard: SFF-TA-1016 (MCIO)
• PCIe Version: PCIe 5.0
• Pin Count: 74 pins
• Theoretical Bandwidth: 512Gbps (bidirectional)
• Equivalent Bandwidth: PCIe 5.0 x8 per connector

This design supports flexible channel splitting for different expansion needs. Users can split the connection into two x8 lanes or configure it as x8 plus two x4 lanes. The GPU end still requires an adapter or bridge to connect the MCIO cable. This hardware demo was shown at Intel Connection 2026 and highlights a new approach to GPU connectivity in small builds.

We have tracked Maxsun's Z890 Mini-ITX efforts closely, including their earlier Maxsun iCraft Z890 ITX Wi-Fi Motherboard with active cooling. The current Z890 Mini-ITX board remains a platform demo with no confirmed retail release date or pricing. Buyers interested in this specific MCIO-based layout will need to wait for official availability details before planning a purchase.