MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X (11th Gen) Review

Source: Tech Power Up added 30th Mar 2021

  • msi-mpg-z590-carbon-ek-x-(11th-gen)-review

Introduction

After almost a decade of total market dominance, Intel has spent the past few years on the defensive. AMD’s Ryzen processors continue to show improvement year over year, with the most recent Ryzen 5000 series taking the crown of best gaming processor: Intel’s last bastion of superiority.

Now, with a booming hardware market, Intel is preparing to make up some of that lost ground with the new 11th Gen Intel Core Processors. Intel is claiming these new 11th Gen CPUs offer double-digit IPC improvements despite remaining on a 14 nm process. The top-end 8-core Intel Core i9-11900K may not be able to compete with its Ryzen 9 5900X AMD rival in heavily multi-threaded scenarios, but the higher clock speeds and alleged IPC improvements could be enough to take back the gaming crown. Along with the new CPUs, there is a new chipset to match, the Intel Z590. Last year’s Z490 chipset motherboards are also compatible with the new 11th Gen Intel Core Processors, but Z590 introduces some key advantages.

First, Z590 offers native PCIe 4.0 support from the CPU, which means the PCIe and M.2 slots powered off the CPU will offer PCIe 4.0 connectivity when an 11th Gen CPU is installed. The PCIe and M.2 slots controlled by the Z590 chipset are still PCI 3.0. While many high-end Z490 motherboards advertised this capability, it was not a standard feature for the platform. In addition to PCIe 4.0 support, Z590 offers USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 from the chipset. The USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 standard offers speeds of up to 20 Gb/s. Finally, Z590 boasts native support for 3200 MHz DDR4 memory. With these upgrades, Intel’s Z series platform has feature parity with AMD’s B550. On paper, Intel is catching up to AMD, but only testing will tell if these new Z590 motherboards are up to the challenge.

The MSI Performance Gaming line, or “MPG” for short, from MSI is generally pitched as the middle ground between the no-holds-barred MEG line and more value-oriented MAG line. The MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X is an exception. Developed in partnership with and distributed by EKWB, the MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X features a monoblock for CPU and VRM cooling as well as all the tools you need to integrate it into your custom water-cooling build.

The MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X features a 16-phase Vcore VRM on a 6-layer PCB. There is also 2.5 Gb/s LAN and built-in WiFi 6E, as well as three M.2 slot heatsinks and even a physical RGB LED off switch. EK is including a leak test kit with the MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X, so you can build with confidence.

Let’s take a closer look at what the MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X has to offer.

Specifications

Specifications
CPU Support: Intel 10th Gen or later processors
Power Design: CPU Power: 17-phase

Memory Power: 2-phase
Chipset: Intel Z590
Integrated Graphics: Dependant on installed CPU
Memory: 4x DIMM, supports dual-channel DDR4-5333 (OC) MHz
BIOS: AMI UEFI BIOS
Expansion Slots: 3x PCIe x16 (x16/x0/x4 or x8/x8/x4) slots

2x PCIe 3.0 x1 slots
Storage: 6x SATA 6 Gb/s port

3x M.2 port (SATA3/PCIe x4)
Networking: 1x Intel 1225V 2.5G LAN

1x Intel WiFi 6E AX210 module
Rear Ports: 4x USB 2.0 ports

1x DisplayPort

2x USB 3.2 Gen1 5 Gbps Type-A

1x 2.5G LAN

5x Audio Connectors

1x Flash BIOS Button

1x HDMI port

3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps Type-A

1x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gbps Type-C

2x SMA WiFi connectors

1x Optical S/PDIF Out
Audio: 1x Realtek ALC4080 Codec
Fan Headers: 8x 4-pin
Form Factor: ATX Form Factor: 12.0 x 9.6 in.; 30.5 x 24.4 cm
Exclusive Features:
  • Custom EK monoblock
  • EK leak test kit
  • 2.5 Gb/s LAN
  • Intel WiFi 6E
  • Mystic Light
  • Frozr heatsink design
  • M.2 Shield Frozr
  • PCIe Steel Armor
  • Pre-installed I/O shielding
Read the full article at Tech Power Up

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media: Tech Power Up  
keywords: 5G  ATX  Audio  Core i9  Gaming  LAN  Memory  Review  Ryzen  

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