MSI MPG Z590 CARBON EK X Motherboard Review

Keeping up with our Z590 reviews, today we bring you the MSI MPG Z590 CARBON EK X. For Intel's latest 11th Gen CPU launch, MSI has sent us several Z590 and B560 boards. So no matter your budget, MSI has a motherboard for you if you are looking to upgrade to the latest and greatest chipsets! The Z590 CARBON EK X, as the name would suggest, is MSI's board in collaboration with EKWB, so it comes with a CPU monoblock in the box to help you get started on your water cooling journey. Those looking to use as few different manufacturers as possible for their build will be happy to know that between MSI and EKWB, you can pretty much get everything you need except from RAM and storage. While EKWB will have you covered on the cooling side of things, MSI has a very extensive catalogue that ranges from motherboards to PC cases, peripherals, monitors and many more products! MSI MPG Z590 CARBON EK X The MSI MPG Z590 CARBON EK X has a lot more to offer feature-wise than just the amazing EK CPU Block that it comes with! Being on the latest Intel Chipset, Z590, the CARBON EK X can also offer support for things like WiFi 6e, PCIe Gen4 and much more. Unfortunately, as with all of the Z590 boards we have seen, the PCIe Gen4 only works when using an 11th Gen CPU. It would have been nice to see some Gen 4 slots run off the chipset, but Intel seems to have given this a miss this time around. Hopefully, they will hear some user feedback and offer this on their next platform. That way, we can get more than a single Gen4 slot on their upcoming motherboards. Either way, the Z590 CARBON EK X has a lot going for it and, on paper, looks like an amazing board. With all the boring fluff now out of the way, let's take a quick look at some of the features this board has to offer and get into the closer look sections so we can really get a feel of what to expect! Features Supports 11th and 10th Gen Intel® Core™ / Pentium® Celeron® processors for LGA 1200 socketSupports DDR4 Memory, up to 5333(OC) MHzCPU + VRM Water Cooling: A custom-designed EK monoblock with build-in inflow indicator that offers pristine cooling for both the CPU and VRM power delivery section.Lightning Fast Game experience: PCIe 4.0, Lightning Gen 4 x4 M.2, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2Enhanced Power Design: 16+1+1 Duet Rail Power System, dual 8-pin CPU power connectors, Core Boost, DDR4 BoostM.2 Shield Frozr: All M.2 slots covered with Shield Frozr to built for high-performance system and non-stop gaming experienceMYSTIC LIGHT: 16.8 million colours / 29 effects controlled in one click. MYSTIC LIGHT EXTENSION supports both RGB and RAINBOW LED strip.2.5G LAN with LAN Manager and Intel Wi-Fi 6E Solution: Upgraded network solution for professional and multimedia use. Delivers a secure, stable and fast network connectionAUDIO BOOST 5: Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality for the most immersive gaming experienceHigh-Quality PCB: 6-layer PCB made by 2oz thickened copper and server grade-level materialPre-installed I/O Shield: Better EMI protection and more convenience for installation More Info For in-depth specifications, please visit the official Manufacturer Motherboard product page here. Looking to purchase? The MSI MPG Z590 CARBON EK X can be purchased directly from EKWB: Click Here Inside the box, we have our normal host of manuals and accessories. One of the things I like to see is that MSI actually includes a USB for updating BIOS and a pair of small key-sized screwdrivers. Also, as we are starting to see more and more, MSI has included some stickers for things like cable management and even to help cover batteries or be used in the middle of fans. MSI also includes a few cables and what not to make sure you can get your build up and running in no time. There is a cleaning brush, pair of SATA cables, the WIFI antenna and a few different RGB extension cables. We can also see a nice case badge and a few M.2 screws to make sure we have what we need for our upcoming build. MSI accessories aside, let's see what EK has included for the MPG Z590 CARBON EK X motherboard. The first thing you will likely notice is the Monoblock that will cooler whatever CPU you decide to use in your build. Don't mind the cloudiness in the image below. I forgot to get a picture of it before use, and yours will come looking clear and shiny as can be! The Monoblock has a dedicated flow meter and the MPG and EK branding on it as well. It also follows the carbon fibre aesthetic the motherboard has to make sure it fits in as best possible. Not a whole lot going on the underside of the monoblock. However, we can see a couple of EK Leak Tested QC stickers, so we shouldn't need to worry about any leaks. As always, it is best to test the parts yourself, especially when dealing with water cooling, before putting them in your build. While EK has no doubt done extensive tests, there is no guarantee someone else, after EK shipped it, hasn't played football with it. So, be safe and have a quick pressure test of your system before filling it with liquid. Speaking of pressure tests, EK has made this seamlessly easy if you decide to buy the MPG Z590 CARBON EK X. They have only gone and included one of their pressure testers with this motherboard! This is amazing as pressure testing the loop before filling it can save you not only time down the road, it can also save your components should something not be right. A Closer Look As we would expect, this board looks almost identical to the MSI Z590 Gaming Carbon WIFI that we have previously reviewed. The main difference we see is the bare VRM and power phases on this board, thanks to EKWB, including the monoblock that will help cool these and subsequentially alleviate the need for a standard VRM heatsink. Aside from that, they do look pretty much identical, but let's have a bit closer look to see all that the MPG Z590 CARBON EK X has to offer. No surprises when it comes to the EPS power connectors. MSI has gone with dual 8-pin EPS connectors to make sure whichever CPU you are using is getting the power it needs! When combined with MSI's Core Boost Technology, these power connectors are going to make sure your CPU is reaching maximum performance. Over to the top righthand side of the motherboard, we have a few fan connectors, and a Debug LED and a 5v aRGB header for all your RGB needs. One good thing about not having the normal VRM heatsinks on the MPG Z590 CARBON EK X is that we can actually sneak a little peek at the power phases and controller. MSI has gone with a digital PWM IC with their 16+1+1 Duet Rail Power System. The fun continues onto the bottom half of the board, and we have three M.2 slots, three PCIe x16 slots and a pair of PCIe x1 slots. Again, as this is a more premium board, we can see that all the M.2 slots have a heat shield on them, and while it's not always needed, especially on Gen3 drives, it definitely adds an aesthetic improvement to the board. On the side of the board, we have six SATA 6Gb/s ports. As always, depending on which M.2 slots you are using, you may lose a couple of the SATA ports. This is due to the 2/3 M.2 slots also running off the SATA interface. So, if using the M.2 2 slot, you will lose the SATA2 port. If using the M.2 3 slot, you will lose both SATA5 and SATA6 ports. If using all the M.2 slots on the motherboard, you will then be down to three SATA slots from the original six. This shouldn't be a massive issue for most these days, but definitely, something to be aware of before purchasing. This is also quite common on Z590 boards and not just something MSI has done itself. Across the bottom of the board, we have a whole host of connectors, headers, switches and the likes! Starting left to right, we have the front panel audio header, 5v aRGB and 12v RGB headers, an LED switch. We also have a few headers used for things like CPU power testing, debug ports and different diagnostics. Continuing along, we have a single PCIe 6-pin power connector that will help give a bit of extra power to the motherboards PCIe lanes. We also have a pair of USB 2 headers, a USB3 header, a few system fan headers, and our front panel case connectors. Taking a quick look at the back, and while generally we don't see much going on here, but we have a few mounting holes to take note of. The holes around the CPU socket and the other four that have the white rings around them will all be used to help mount the monoblock onto the CPU and VRMs. Once the monoblock is installed, we can see it covers the CPU socket and VRMs of the MPG Z590 CARBON EK X motherboard with ease and even butts right up to the rear IO casing. It really does fit in nice and gives that extra premium looks to the board and hopefully will help make your whole build really stand out. There are several different ways to configure your loop. You can go with soft or hard tubing, and then depending on your hardware, and you would have several different ways to run those tubes. However, one thing is for sure, putting some fluid with a bit of colour into this monoblock on the MPG Z590 CARBON EK X really does help complete things! While purple may not be for everyone, you've got to admit that it does look good. Onto the rear IO, and we have a mass amount of USB ports and all our other standard inputs such as the 2.5G LAN and audio inputs. We also have handy dandy flash BIOS buttons. This button will allow us to flash the BIOS of the MPG Z590 CARBON EK X motherboard without the need of their being a CPU. Also, some will be happy to know the USB Type-C port offers speeds of 20Gbps. USB 2.0DisplayPortUSB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps Type-A2.5G LANAudio ConnectorsFlash BIOS ButtonHDMIUSB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps Type-AUSB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20Gbps Type-CWi-Fi / BluetoothOptical S/PDIF Out The INSANE Watercooled Gaming PC Is COMPLETE!!! Want to check out a build we did using the MSI MPG Z590 CARBON EK X? Well then, see our Insane Watercooled Gaming PC video below! This build was done with Cooler Master to show off one of their latest cases, the Master Frame 700. The Master Frame 700 is an open-air case with both a show mode and testbench mode, allowing for maximum customization and control over your build. When using this case, you will have an abundance of options to get everything just how you want! How We Test Here at eTeknix, we endeavour to disclose vital information regarding the benchmarking process so that readers can quantify the results and attempt to replicate them using their hardware. When it comes to our benchmarks in our reviews, the benchmarks are pretty self-explanatory although there are a few exceptions. Remember that your choice of motherboard, the silicon lottery, and other factors can yield different numbers, and there’s always a margin for error when using any software. Therefore, your experience may vary. Testing Your Own System We typically focus on commonly available benchmarks so that you too can run the same benchmarks on your own system. We hope this makes it easy for our readers to gauge the performance improvement available to them when they upgrade their own systems. Gaming Tests All games are run at their specified resolutions using the "high" settings or equivalent. We avoid using the Ultra settings as these often offer diminishing returns for performance vs visuals. Test Benches Rocket Lake S ProcessorIntel i9-11900KMotherboardMSI MPG Z590 CARBON EK XMemory2 x 8GB Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO SL 3200MHzGraphicsGigabyte GeForce RTX™ 3080 GAMING OC 10GStorageSeagate Firecuda 510 1TBPower SupplyCorsair HX750SoftwareWindows 10 Professional Build 19042DriversNVDIA GeForce 445.87 WHQL Synthetic Benchmarks Online Benchmarks Compression & Rendering Experience Lara Croft’s defining moment as she becomes the Tomb Raider. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Lara must master a deadly jungle, overcome terrifying tombs, and persevere through her darkest hour. As she races to save the world from a Maya apocalypse, Lara will ultimately be forged into the Tomb Raider she is destined to be. Available now on Steam. Shadow of the Tomb Raider Performance Seventeen years after a global nuclear catastrophe, civilization re-emerges from the chaos to find a world dramatically changed. In Hope County, Montana, the remaining populace has gathered into different groups, each with their own rules for survival. In this new world order, the vicious Highwaymen, led by twin sisters Mickey and Lou, travel from place to place bleeding people dry of all available resources. As the Survivors try to defend their lands against the Highwaymen's relentless onslaught, it's up to you to come to their aid and lead the fight. In the latest instalment of the award-winning Far Cry franchise, you are the last line of defence in a transformed, post-apocalyptic Hope County. Help the community of Survivors grow stronger, craft a makeshift arsenal through Turf Wars and cross-country Expeditions, and form unexpected alliances to fight for survival in a dangerous new frontier. Available now on UPlay. Far Cry New Dawn Performance Metro Exodus is an epic, story-driven first-person shooter from 4A Games that blends deadly combat and stealth with exploration and survival horror in one of the most immersive game worlds ever created. Flee the shattered ruins of dead Moscow and embark on an epic, continent-spanning journey across post-apocalyptic Russia in the greatest Metro adventure yet. Explore the Russian wilderness in vast, non-linear levels and follow a thrilling story-line inspired by the novels of Dmitry Glukhovsky that spans an entire year through spring, summer and autumn to the depths of nuclear winter. Available now on Epic Game Store. Metro Exodus Performance World of Tanks enCore RT is the demo of the updated Core graphics engine. It will let you know how well your PC will perform in World of Tanks with the updated Core engine. Available now here. World of Tanks Performance Memory & Storage Power Consumption How Much Does it Cost? Coming in with an MSRP of $499.99, the MPG Z590 CARBON EK X has a lot to offer for the price. You are getting a feature-rich mid-range motherboard with a VRM/CPU monoblock, and it also comes with an EK leak tester! While this may not be a top-tier motherboard, it has plenty to offer, and the real-world performance is similar to most other Z590 boards we have seen. The fact that you get the motherboard, monoblock and leak tester makes this bundle really great value for the money. Overview Users looking to go with a full custom water-cooled loop in their PC will find the simplicity of the MPG Z590 CARBON EK X to be rather enjoyable. Again, it comes with a monoblock and leak tester in the box, so the need to source those elsewhere is negated. This means you can spend more time and money on the things that matter, like actually trying to find a GPU at non-scalper prices, which is near impossible these days. The MPG Z590 CARBON EK X also has loads of features to ensure you are getting the most performance from your system possible. PCIe Gen4, 2.5G LAN, WiFi 6e and more USB ports than you can shake a stick at will allow users as much performance and control over their system as possible. The MPG Z590 CARBON EK X can also keep up with the performance of more higher-tiered motherboards, so no need to worry there, either. Build Quality & Design The MPG Z590 CARBON EK X is designed for water cooling, and as such, it has to be comprised of quality components, and it is! While it isn't their best board, MSI has still made sure the MPG Z590 CARBON EK X is a board that offers good quality. It has all of the features we would expect to see on a Z590 board except for maybe dual LAN ports! It also has plenty of cooling options, coming with the EK monoblock and M.2 shield FROZR on all M.2 slots. It also has a 6-layer PCB that comes with a 2oz thickened copper layer that helps with dissipating heat and making sure the board performs as best it can; especially when overclocking. Performance As with all our motherboards, we ran all our tests on stock settings for better comparison results. The MPG Z590 CARBON EK X faired well across the charts and wasn't far off from the rest. The one thing to remember is this board is designed to be water-cooled and as such, will also likely be used to overclock other components. The MPG Z590 CARBON EK X has extra power inputs and extensive cooling to allow for further overclocks which will equate to even more performance when everything is said and done. In terms of performance at stocks settings, we are talking a few FPS either way when it comes to most Z590 boards we have tested which isn't really anything to be concerned about. Added Value If it wasn't blatantly obvious by this point, the MPG Z590 CARBON EK X comes with a VRM/CPU monoblock and an EK leak tester. I mean, that adds quite a bit of value, especially when you consider what a monoblock normally costs on its own. The motherboard on its own goes for about $350 at the moment. This means essentially that you are getting a monoblock and leak tester from EKWB for about $150! If that's not added value on top of all the other features and performance, then I don't know what is! Oh yes, I know what else is added value, it comes with a €/$50 voucher in the box as well for your next purchase from www.ekwb.com/shop Or way of adding a bit of value for you guys is to include our coupon for you to use! First come first served! If you are looking to make the jump to Z590 and are looking to water cool your build, the MPG Z590 CARBON EK X will be a great option for you. The money saved by getting the monoblock and leak tester with the motherboard can be better spent on other water cooling equipment or a better GPU/SSD or even just saved for another day. The MPG Z590 CARBON EK X offers great performance and comprises quality components, and will undoubtedly be a great addition to your next build! MSI MPG Z590 CARBON EK X Motherboard Review