MSI MEG X870E Godlike X Review: Ultimate AM5 Motherboard
▼ Summary
– The MSI MEG X870E Godlike X Edition is a high-end, limited-edition AMD X870E motherboard designed as a flagship “halo product” to showcase the brand’s capabilities.
– It supports the latest AMD Ryzen 7000 and 9000 series CPUs on the AM5 socket and features advanced connectivity, including Wi-Fi 7 and dual high-speed Ethernet ports.
– The board offers extensive expansion with multiple PCIe Gen 5 slots and numerous high-speed M.2 and SATA storage options.
– It is a limited production item, with only 1,000 samples made, making it a rare and exclusive product not intended for mass-market sales.
– Many innovative features on such flagship motherboards often trickle down over time to become standard on more mainstream models.
The MSI MEG X870E Godlike X Edition represents the absolute pinnacle of AM5 motherboard engineering, a no-compromise platform designed for enthusiasts who demand the very best. This limited-edition flagship celebrates a decade of the Godlike series, blending extreme power delivery with an exhaustive suite of cutting-edge connectivity and unique convenience features. While its premium price and limited production run place it firmly in the realm of halo products, it serves as a powerful showcase of what’s technologically possible, often previewing innovations that will eventually filter down to more mainstream models.
Built around the robust AMD X870E chipset, the board offers comprehensive support for Ryzen 7000 and 9000 series processors. Its power design is formidable, centered on a 24-phase CPU power delivery system complemented by separate 2-phase and 1-phase arrays for the SOC and miscellaneous rails. This ensures unwavering stability and headroom for pushing the latest CPUs to their limits. Memory support is equally impressive, with four DIMM slots capable of handling up to 256GB of DDR5, with official overclocking support reaching speeds of DDR5-9000 for single-rank modules.
Expansion and storage options are designed to future-proof the most demanding builds. The primary PCIe Gen 5 x16 slot offers flexible lane configurations, supported by a secondary Gen5 x16 slot (electrically x8) and a Gen4 x4 slot. For storage, the board is a speed demon, providing two dedicated M.2 slots with PCIe Gen5 x4 support, alongside two Gen4 x4 slots and one Gen4 x2 slot, plus four SATA 6 Gb/s ports for legacy drives.
Networking is a standout feature, leaving no bandwidth need unmet. The rear I/O houses both a Realtek 5 Gbps Ethernet port and a Marvell 10 Gbps Ethernet port, providing immense wired flexibility. Wireless connectivity is handled by a MediaTek Wi-Fi 7 module, ensuring you’re ready for the next generation of high-speed, low-latency wireless networks. The audio solution is driven by a premium Realtek ALC4081 codec, promising high-fidelity sound.
The rear panel is a connectivity powerhouse, reflecting the board’s flagship status. It includes a USB4 Type-C port for maximum versatility, alongside five USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C and eight Type-A ports, all offering 10 Gbps speeds. Dedicated buttons for BIOS Flashback and clearing the CMOS add convenience for tweakers, while an optical S/PDIF out caters to audiophiles.
MSI has packed this board with exclusive features that enhance both aesthetics and usability. The Dynamic Dashboard II provides a customizable OLED display for system monitoring or personalization. The innovative M.2 Xpander-Z Slider Gen 5 is a tool-free adapter that simplifies installing ultra-fast Gen5 SSDs. Other thoughtful touches include the EZ PCIe release button for effortless graphics card removal, the EZ-M.2 Clip II for securing drives without screws, and an integrated EZ Antenna for cleaner Wi-Fi and Bluetooth setup.
Ultimately, the MEG X870E Godlike X is a technological masterpiece. It’s not a motherboard for everyone, given its cost and exclusivity, but it perfectly fulfills its role as a brand-defining statement piece. It delivers unparalleled performance, exhaustive connectivity, and innovative features that make building and using a high-end PC a more seamless experience. For the select few who can acquire one, it offers the definitive AM5 foundation, packed with every premium feature an enthusiast could desire.
(Source: TechPowerUp)
