If you have never heard of MSI, a.k.a Micro-Star International, it’s a Taipei-based tech hardware company focusing on motherboards and gaming PCs.
And that makes the Wi-Fi 6 RadiX AX6600 (model GRAX66) special. Together with the Wi-Fi 6E RadiX AXE6600 — the two were first announced during CES2022 and became available earlier this month — it signals MSI’s return to home networking, which its presumed compatriot rival, Asus, has lately dominated.
And that’s exciting enough for me to take the new router out for a spin. Originally, I thought the Synology WRX560 would be the last Wi-Fi 6 router I’d evaluated.
Here’s the bottom line: As a Tri-band Wi-Fi 6 router, the RadiX AX6600 has nothing new — it’s a mundanely good standalone router with little to qualify as a “gaming router“. But looking beyond that, it represents MSI well as a new, viable, and potentially consumer-friendly home networking vendor. And that’s great news.
If you’re a fan of MSI, the new Radix AX6600 will fit it excellently among your existing gear, making it worth the reasonable $249.99 price tag. For others, it’s safe to consider it, but if you skip it for one of the more established brands in the best lists in the box below, you won’t miss out on much.
Radix AX6600: Representing MSI as a new Wi-Fi alternative
Assuming MSI’s recent investment in Wi-Fi is for the long haul, the RadiX AX6600 has great potential. It represents a unique yet familiar approach to home networking.
Specifically, the RadiX AX6600 (as well as the RadiX AXE6600) uses a Linux-based firmware with a standard local web user interface. And this firmware will likely persist in future MSI routers.
This approach means you will not be required to sign up for a login account to use it. Most importantly, if you’ve worked with a standard home router before, you’ll find an MSI router right at home.
MSI and your privacy
While you can use an MSI router without surrendering personal information by default, activating some of its features, including AI QoS and Parental Control, means you’ll have to share your Internet traffic with GT Booster, which powers the router’s said features.
Here’s the company’s privacy policy.
What you can expect from an MSI router — the good and the bad
After over a week of checking MSI’s router firmware using the RadiX AX6600 (and RadiX AXE6600), I found it quite excellent, considering its new stage.
MSIwrt — if that’s indeed its name — is a robust, responsive operating system similar to Asuswrt though not as in-depth. But things likely will get better in future releases.
For now, below are the highlights reading what you can and cannot expect from MSI, no matter which router you end up getting.
Standard setup process
An MSI router shares the same setup process as any home router with a local web user interface. Specifically, here are the steps:
- Connect the router’s WAN port to your Internet terminal device.
- Connect a computer to its LAN port or the default Wi-Fi network printed on its underside.
- Open a browser and navigate to the router’s default IP, 192.168.10.1, or http://msirouter.login.
- Login with the default administrator account:
- Username: admin
- Password: varies — printed on the router’s underside.
And that’s it. You’ll be greeted with an initial wizard to finish the setup. Afterward, you can repeat step #3 whenever you want to manage the network.
It’s worth noting that the router will work immediately as you plug it in and turn it on using the default Wi-Fi information printed on its underside.
Since the admin and Wi-Fi passwords vary from one hardware unit to another, there’s no security risk if you use it like that. Still, setting it up properly is always recommended.
Simple local-only mobile app
Besides the local web user interface, there’s also the MSI Router mobile app (for iOS and Android) — similar to the Asus router — that enables users to manage the network via a phone.
Currently, the app only works locally and offers less in-depth access to the router’s settings and features than the web user interface.
Excellent Wi-Fi customization
Each MSI router comes with four SSIDs for each Wi-Fi band, including the main (default) one, a Guest network (disabled by default), and two virtual SSIDs in the “Multiple SSD” section (off by default.)
Users can customize the main SSID of each band to the max, including picking the channel, channel width, Wi-Fi standard, etc. They can combine the band into a single SSID (Smart Connect) or use them separately.
QoS-based gaming features
MSI’s gaming features are pre-programmed Quality of Service settings, called AI QoS, similar to the case of Asus’s Adaptive QoS.
Within the web interface, the Game Center section duplicates a portion of the router’s AI QoS section.
MSI, for now, doesn’t offer true gaming features available in Asus gaming routers or those powered by DumaOS, such as ping management or private gaming network.
In short, it’s a bit of a stretch to call MSI hardware “gaming routers”. But you can play games with them, just like the case of most Wi-Fi routers.
Single VPN option
For now, MSI routers’ support for VPN limits to the OpenVPN protocol, which is the most advanced VPN option. The drawback is that you’re out of luck if you want popular VPN servers for which client support is readily available on devices.
Extra: Popular VPN server options
Below is the list of VPN protocols collectively available in-home Wi-Fi routers. Most routers support just one of them, while others might support all.
PPTP
Short for point-to-point tunneling protocol, PPTP is the oldest among the three.
First implemented in Windows 95 and has been part of the Windows operating systems and many other platforms since PPTP is well-supported and the easiest to use.
However, it’s also the least secure. It’s better than no VPN at all, and it does its purpose of making a remote device part of a local network.
That said, if you take security seriously, or have other options, skip it. On the other than, it sure is better than nothing and good enough for most home users.
L2TP/IPsec
Short for Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol is the second most popular VPN protocol — it’s also a built-in application in most modern operating systems — and an interesting one.
It has no encryption by default, so it’s not secure where the IPsec — or IP security — portion comes into play to provide encryption. Therefore, this protocol is rigid in port use and can be blocked by a third party.
The point is L2PT/IPsec is great when it works. And it does in most cases, which ultimately depends on whether the local network of the remote device allows it to pass through.
OpenVPN
As the name suggests, OpenVPN is a flexible VPN protocol that uses open-source technologies, including OpenSSL and SSL.
As a result, it has a high level of customizability and is the most secure. It also can’t be blocked.
In return, OpenVPN requires extra client software, making it less practical. But this protocol is the best if you want to be serious about VPN.
No Dual-WAN or Link Aggregation
MSI’s new routers come with a 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig WAN/LAN port. You can use it as a WAN (default) or turn the router’s first LAN port into that role, making the Multi-Gig port function as a LAN.
And the port flexibility ends there. For now, MSI doesn’t support Dual-WAN or Link Aggregation. And you can’t turn the USB port into a WAN source, either.
No mesh support
MSI routers, for now, are meant to be standalone Wi-Fi machines. They don’t support mesh features like AiMesh of Asus or OneMesh of TP-Link.
Consequently, they will work great for homes that need just one broadcaster or those intending to extend their Wi-Fi network via standard access points or extenders.
If you want to scale up your network in a more seamless way, there’s no option for that from MSI. At least, not yet.
Simple Parental Control
An MSI router has a simplistic Parental Control feature that limits Internet access or blocks connected clients using six pre-determined categories: Adult, Illegal (drugs, firearms), Gamble, Malicious (phishing, attack, virus), Violence, and Game.
It’s unclear what each category entails, and no way to define it further. Consequently, there’s no way to know for sure its effectiveness.
Moreover, you have to block/limit access to one client at a time instead of creating a group to manage multiple users in one place.
It’s important to note that the Parental Control features and the web filtering of MSI’s firewall are based on clients’ MAC addresses — they can be easily circumvented.
Standard network settings
Like most routers with a Linux-based local web user interface, an MSI router comes with a standard set of network settings, including a DHCP server, port-forwarding, MAC filtering, IP reservation, IPv6, a simple Firewall, and so on.
Notably, most of these settings are less refined than other routers. IP reservation, for example, you’ll have to manually enter the MAC address of a device — there’s no option to pick one out of the list of connected clients.
No built-in Dynamic DNS support
The most surprising and disappointing of MSI’s firmware is that it doesn’t have built-in Dynamic DNS client support. Specifically, the router won’t work as the device that binds the WAN IP and a DDNS domain.
This is likely the biggest shortcoming of MSI when compared to other networking vendors. Asus, for example, even provide a free DDNS domain for each router.
An MSI router will still work for those needing DDNS, but a separate DDNS updater, such as a NAS server, is required within the network.
SMB1 is still required for network storage
MSI routers with a USB port can work as a mini NAS server. In this case, you can plug an external hard drive into this port, and the router will work as a DNLA media server or a file server. It even also works as a BitTorrent PC-less downloader.
And all that works. However, if you want to share files, the client must support the dated and insecure SMB1. The issue is most computers don’t use this protocol anymore, and it’s disabled by default.
In short, MSI has a promising approach to home networking, and its router firmware has a lot of potentials.
While for now, the firmware is still thin on features and lacks depth in configurations. Hopefully, it’ll get better as time passes. And the simplicity has its upside, too. There will be fewer bugs, like in the case of Asus routers.
With that, let’s look at the RadiX AX6600 as a Wi-Fi 6 router.
MSI Radix AX6600: Detail photos
Hardware specifications: MSI Radix AX6600 vs Synology RT6600ax
While on the firmware front, the new router reminds me of Asus; spec-wise, it’s identical to the Synology RT6600ax. Specifically, it’s a lopsided Tri-band router with two 5GHz bands of different specs.
The lower band (5GHz-1) doesn’t support the 160MHz channel width and caps at 1200Mbps, whereas the upper band (5GHz-2) is a top-tier with up to 4800Mbps of bandwidth.
 |
 |
|
| Name | MSI RadiX AX6600 Wi-Fi 6 Tri-Band Gaming Router | Synology RT6600ax Tri-band Wi-Fi 6 Router |
| Model | RadiX AX6600, GRAX66 |
RT6600ax |
| Wi-Fi Bandwidth | Tri-band AX6600 | Tri-band AX6600 |
| 1st band (2.4GHz) |
2×2 AX: 574 Mbps (20/40MHz) |
2×2 AX: 574 Mbps (20/40MHz) |
| 2nd Band (5GHz) |
2×2 AX: 1201 Mbps 5GHz-1: Lower channels (20/40/80MHz) |
2×2 AX: 1201 Mbps 5GHz-2: Lower channels (20/40/80MHz) |
| 3rd Band (5GHz) |
4X4 AX: 4804 Mbps 5GHz-2: Upper channels (20/40/80/160MHz) |
4X4 AX: Up to 4804 Mbps 5GHz-1: Upper channels (20/40/80/160MHz) |
| 5.9GHz Support (UNII-4) |
No | Yes (5GHz-1) |
| Backward Compatibility | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| AP Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Mesh-ready | No | Yes (Synology Mesh) |
| Gigabit Port | 3x LAN, 1x LAN/WAN |
3x LAN, 1x WAN (permanent) |
| Multi-Gig Port | 1x 2.5Gbps WAN/LAN | 1x 2.5Gbps WAN/LAN |
| Dual-WAN | No | Yes (WAN + 2.5Gbps or cellular) |
| USB | 1x USB 3.0 | 1x USB 3.0 |
| Firmware Version (at review) |
663648 | SRM 1.3-9193 |
| Mobile App | MSI Router app | Android and iOS: DS Router, VPN Plus, DS cloud, DS file, Android-only: DS Get (Download) |
| QoS | Yes (App- and client-base) |
Yes (client-based only) |
| Parental Control | Yes | Yes |
| Processing Power | Quad-core 1.8GHz CPU, 512MB DDR4 RAM, 256MB Flas |
Quad-core 1.8GHz CPU, 1GB DDR 4 RAM, 256MB Flash |
| Built-in Online Protection | No | Yes (Threat Prevention add-on App) |
| Dimensions (antennas up) |
13.3 x 8.8 x 7.8 in (338 x 224 x 198 mm) |
16.9 x 12.6 x 7.9 in (175 x 320 x 200 mm) |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs (1.09 kg) | 2.65 lbs (1.2 kg) |
| Power Specs | Input: 100-240V 50/60Hz Output: 12V 3.5A |
Input: 100-240V 50/60Hz Output: 12V 3.5A |
| Power Consumption (per 24 hours) |
≈ 245 Wh (as tested) |
≈ 280 Wh (as tested) |
| Release Date | February 17, 2023 | May 11, 2022 |
| Price (at launch) |
$249.99 | $299.99 |
MSI Radix AX6600: Excellent and reliable performance
I tested the MSI GRAX66 for over a week and was happy. The router worked as intended and didn’t have any disconnection during my multiple-day stress test.
Most importantly, it had excellent Wi-Fi performance and coverage. Generally, you’ll get good signals throughout if you live in a home of around 2000 ft2 (186 m2) and place it in the center. But Wi-Fi coverage varies greatly depending on the environment, so your mileage will vary.
In terms of throughs, the router proved formidable in my standard testing, thanks to its 2.5Gbps LAN port. Due to the lopsided 5GHz bands, you’ll get the best performance out of its 5GHz-2, which quadruples the bandwidth of the 5GHz-1.
Since this is the first Wi-Fi 6 router from MSI, I’ll keep using it for a while and will update if I run into any issues during long-term usage.
OK network storage performance (when hosting a portable SSD)
Like the case of the Synology RT6600ax counterpart, the MSI Radix6600 didn’t have much to call mom about its storage performance.
Hosting super-fast portable SSDs, the router’s performance was much lower than the 2.5Gbps wired connection I used for the testing, especially in writing. But it’s read fast enough for light network attached storage needs.
Considering the SMB1 requirement mentioned above, if you’re serious about NAS, my advice is always to get a real server.
Pros
Fast and reliable Wi-Fi performance at an affordable cost
Robust, lightweight web user interface, helpful mobile app
Supports all standard home network settings, deep Wi-Fi customization
Eye-catching, practical design, decent network storage read performance when hosting a portable SSD
Cons
Only one 2.5Gbps port; thin on gaming features
No Dynamic DNS, Link Aggregation, or Dual-WAN; client management could be better
Network storage requires SMB1 with mediocre write speed
Conclusion
The MSI GRAX66 RadiX AX6600 is an excellent standalone Trib-and Wi-Fi 6 router considering its friendly $249.99 price tag.
Still, in many ways, it’s merely another Wi-Fi 6 broadcaster among many excellent options. After all, Wi-Fi 6 has been the mainstay for a long time, and it’s even on the way out, considering Wi-Fi 6E and the upcoming Wi-Fi 7.
You can easily upgrade this router, or any Wi-Fi 6 network, to Wi-Fi 6E via a switch.
However, as a home networking device representing MSI, it’s an exciting product that gives consumers more choices in the future. And competitions are always great. You can get the RadiX AX6600 to check out a new MSI router today or keep the brand in mind for future consideration.