When we talk about top-of-the-range motherboards, it is quite common for manufacturers to opt for sizes that are above the ATX standard, generally using E-ATX or XL-ATX format. However, it seems to MSI that this has gotten out of hand, as their Z690 Godlike is not only the largest consumer segment motherboard ever, but it will also not be compatible with almost any box.
MSI’s new nonsense is called Z690 Godlike
The three main motherboard manufacturers on the market already have their top-of-the-range models presented, and all of them are of E-ATX format But with some differences in terms of size: the ASUS ROG Maxmus Z690 Extreme measures 305 x 277 mm, while the AORUS Z690 Xtreme has similar dimensions, 305 x 285 mm. However, the MSI MEG Z690 Godlike has dimensions that are going to be 305 x 310 mmIn other words, it is a plate that is wider than it is high, something never seen in the consumer sector.
What does this imply? That height maintains the standard 305 mm for the E-ATX format and in this regard you will not have problems to be able to install it in any PC case compatible with this format, but the problem lies in its 31 centimeters wide, something that will make it incompatible with the vast majority of PC cases, and even in which it can be installed, will cover the perforations for cable ducting (making this very difficult or even impossible) or will force users to Dispense with elements of the front of the box, such as racks for hard drives or even canceling the possibility of installing radiators or front fans.
In the image above you can see the scheme of PCB of this motherboard from MSI, where you will surely be struck by its “non-standard” layout, with the CPU socket thrown towards the center and a huge amount of space to the right of the RAM memory sockets. This has caused that, as we have commented before, the dimensions of the plate have been so far out of the norm that they reach the point of making it incompatible with the majority of PC cases on the current market. Did MSI not take this into account before creating such nonsense?
And speaking of nonsense, so is the sale price: MSI has announced that it will go on sale at a price of $ 2,099 Americans, although it is true that it must be taken into account that what they have announced is a kit that includes 32 GB of DDR5 RAMWhich is welcome due to the current scarcity of RAM, but still pushes the price up to a level that puts it out of reach for the vast majority of people. By the way, MSI has also said that it will only make 1,000 units of this board (and it remains to be seen if it sells them all).
It is a top of the range plate, but is it worth it?
With the MEG Z690 Godlike, MSI has wanted to stand out above the competition by putting all the meat on the grill, and what must be recognized is that this plate is loaded with features that differentiate it from the competition, starting with its great number of I / O ports including both 10GbE and 2.5GbE LAN ports, 8 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C and two mini DisplayPorts, and ending with their six M.2 sockets (only one of them PCIe 5.0, yes, the rest are PCIe 4.0 x4) or its 22-phase VRM.
However, more than for its technical characteristics that are undoubtedly outstanding, MSI has wanted to stand out for the inclusion of a 3.5 inch LCD screen that, eye to the data, it is tactile! But… Why do you want a touch screen on the motherboard?
In the end, the fact of incorporating this questionable LCD touch screen on the motherboard itself is what, it seems, has caused the manufacturer to get out of hand with the size, creating a real grotesque that the vast majority of Users will not be able to use it on a PC due to its size, which except for professional overclockers no one is going to make use of it (compared to at least other boards that cost 5 times less), and that only the luckiest pockets will be able to pay.
Thus, and answering the question in the title of this section, the answer is no, not worth it Buy an MSI MEG Z690 Godlike not even close, especially having authentic wonders in ATX format for a quarter of what this board costs and that will ultimately give us the same versatility and performance that we would get for this one.