We have previously told you about the hugely expensive MSI MEG Z690 Godlike and now the time has come for a full review. The hardware includes 22 VRM phases that are each rated at 105A and you get all sorts of goodies such as Thunderbolt 4 and 10 Gigabit Ethernet. On the other hand we have a UK price of £1,850 that takes our breath away in a rather painful manner. We suggest you strap in as the ride promises to be rather rocky.
Key features
- Supports 12th Gen Intel Core/Pentium/Celeron processors for socket LGA 1700
- Supports DDR5 Memory, Dual Channel DDR5-6666+MHz(OC)
- M-Vision Dashboard: Industry's first built-in touchable LCD on the motherboard, not only indicates the status of your gaming rig, but also allows system tuning with touch control.
- Extreme Power Design: Direct 20+2 phases with 105A Smart Power Stage, Titanium Choke III and dual CPU power connectors to unleash the maximum performance.
- Premium Thermal Module: Wavy fin design, Cross Heat-pipe, 7W/mK thermal pads, and Double-Sided M.2 Shield Frozr ensure the extreme performance with low temperature.
- Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports: Thunderbolt USB-C at true 40 Gb/s speeds, 8K display support, Daisy-Chaining and Multi-Port Accessory Architecture provide reliable connectivity and better user experience.
- Sextuple M.2 Connectors: Onboard 6x M.2 connectors for the maximum storage performance with one Lightning Gen 5 solution. Shield Frozr design keeps M.2 SSDs safe while preventing throttling, making them run faster.
- Latest Network Solution: Onboard 10G Super LAN, Intel 2.5G LAN and latest Wi-Fi 6E solution deliver the best online experience without lag.
- Lightning Fast Game experience: PCIe 5.0 slots, Lightning Gen 5 x4 M.2, Dual Front USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gbit
- 8 Layer PCB with 2oz Thickened Copper: Provides higher performance and long-lasting system stability without any compromise.
- Audio Boost 5 HD: Ultimate audio solution with latest premium ALC4082 audio processor combining ESS audio DAC and amplifier deliver the breathtaking experience.
- Full Armour Design: The revolutionary magnetic cover and Chest Plate allow you showing off your PC building without messy cable when installing great amount of devices.
Specification
CPU Support: Supports 12th Gen Intel Core Processors, Pentium Gold and Celeron Processors
CPU Socket: LGA 1700
Chipset: Intel Z690
PCI Express: 2x PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, 1x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot,
Supports Nvidia SLI and AMD CrossFire Technology
Display Interface: 2x Thunderbolt 4 (Type-C) – Input from mini DisplayPort
Memory Support: 4 DIMMs, Dual Channel DDR5-6666+MHz (OC)
Storage:
1x M.2 Gen5 x4 128Gbps slot,
4x M.2 Gen4 x4 64Gbps slots,
1x M.2 Gen3 x4 32Gbps slot,
6x SATA 6Gb/s ports
Thunderbolt 4 2x USB Type-C up to 40Gbit
Charging support up to 5V/3A/15W
2x Mini DisplayPort input ports
USB ports:
2x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gbps (2 Type-C)
8x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps (8 Type-A)
4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps (4 Type-A)
4x USB 2.0
LAN: Aquantia AQC113CS 10Gbit and Intel I225-V 2.5Gbit
WiFi: Intel Wi-Fi 6E module, Bluetooth 5.2
Audio: 8-Channel (7.1) HD Audio with Audio Boost 5 HD
Form Factor: E-ATX