MSI MEG Z890 Godlike Motherboard Review

The I/O panel is always an interesting part of the motherboard as it dictates what connectivity options will be available.  The MSI MEG Z890 Godlike has quite the I/O layout that is not quite like anything I have seen before.

Red USB sockets are all USB 10Gbps including the USB Type-C connections.  There is a single 10G Marvell AQC113CS Ethernet connection along with a single Killer 5G Ethernet.  Wi-Fi 7 is supported with antenna ports from the Intel Killer BE1750x module.

At the center you will find three buttons.  Two are rather self-explanatory supporting the CMOS flash and clear features.  The Smart Button is a diagnostic option that can be programmed for a variety of different things such as rebooting the PC or even changing the Mystic LED light pattern.

The Type-C connections with the white border are USB4 Thunderbolt connections with a 40Gbps transfer rate and support for an 8k display.

One of the major disappointments with motherboard design is the lack of decent (aka familiar) audio connections.  What was once a multiport array is now been reduced to a single optical connection and two gold plated jacks. 

The Realtek ALC4082 Coded + ESS9219Q Combo DAC/HPA audio controllers will deliver up to 7.1 channel sound with a 32-bit 384k playback.  Sadly, these are USB audio controllers making them on par with that USB headset you are already using.

One of the benefits to upgrading to a specialized motherboard is that you get a pretty awesome motherboard and some pretty nice accessories in the box.  The Z890 Godlike comes with a number of nice accessories including what you see below.

What you won’t find is a full printed manual.  This has been an ongoing problem with motherboard makers looking to cut costs and while a user manual is rarely used and often lost shortly after assembling your build, it is a nice accessory to have when you are looking for information on a certain connector or want to know which memory sockets to use.  You can download one from the MSI MEG Z890 Godlike product page along with firmware updates and drivers so, at least there is that.

I do like that you’ll get a USB key with software and drivers pre-loaded instead of having to rely on the embedded apps to download those for you.  The other key you will get is rather unique and helps you set the location of the M.2 clips.  So, while the installation and operation is toolless you will get the tool to support your storage addiction.

Btw, if you don’t see the USB key right away look in the bottom of the box under the included expansion cards, there you will find the hidden compartment with the extras.

While not entirely storage the MSI Thunderbolt M5 expansion card gives the user four more Thunderbolt connections with over 160Gbps of bandwidth, two Display Ports with 8k video resolutions and two 27w fast charging USB Type-C ports