Conclusion
My experiences with the MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE, despite being a new platform were all generally positive. We did have some issues with boost clocks which got its own article. However, this is more on AMD than MSI. The out of box experience was virtually flawless. I had no trouble getting the OS installed.
Many times, new platforms need tuning and BIOS updates or specific RAM settings to make them work right. I didn’t have to deal with any of that. This system behaved properly for me, and I never experienced issues playing games or running benchmarks. Any specific issues came down to AGESA code and figuring out the specifics of the Ryzen CPU itself regarding voltage readings, boost clock behavior and so on.
Features Galore
Some people build systems to be showpieces. In addition to the massive amount of functionality, features, and power this motherboard brings to the table, you also get something that’s a showpiece pretty much on its own whether it goes in an air or custom water-cooled system. Even though it’s expensive, you also get a lot with it.
It supports many overclocking features, water coolant temperature monitoring, an outstanding layout, good aesthetics, and exceptional build quality. You get four networking solutions, 1GbE, 2.5GbE, 10GbE, and 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax dual-band wireless. You have the ability to run 5x M.2 devices out of the box, two of which can have active cooling on them. The audio solution is nicer than anything I’ve tested in terms of onboard audio in recent years. I think I’d have to go back to the Z170 era to find a solution comparable.
So Much Hardware
With all that’s included, a system based on the MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE would make a powerful content creation system. At present, the cost is similar if not greater than any socket TR4 motherboard. However, the processors are a bargain comparatively. There is some overlap between the Ryzen 9 3900X and the Threadripper 2920X, however, in many if not most cases the Ryzen 9 3900X is actually faster.
The Threadripper system brings greater connectivity options into play, but its also on an outgoing and dated platform. As a content creation system, this motherboard’s ability to run so many M.2 drives and the included 10GbE and 2.5GbE controllers are a nice bonus.
On the extreme system front, the motherboard offers a ton of visual customization options with multiple RGB headers and the built-in LCD screen. The onboard RGB is also ubiquitous allowing you to complete whatever look you might be going for. The board also comes with a very nice bundle of extra hardware which includes two expansion cards. The M.2 Xpander-Z is a very nice piece of hardware and it would be my preferred method for using M.2 drives with this motherboard.
The included 10GbE Super LAN controller worked very well in my tests. That said, I could easily see this motherboard priced significantly lower without these two options. I found the Aquantia AQtion 10G LAN card available at Amazon for $79.99. That’s nearly $100 off the price right there. Obviously, that’s not quite how it really works. MSI doesn’t pay $80 for those, but you get the idea. Cutting down the bundle would make this closer to $500 than $700, which might be easier to swallow. At the very least, they could make these things optional.
Summary
The MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE is an absolute monster of a motherboard with a price tag to match. This motherboard isn’t really for everyone and MSI knows that. In short, I’m giving this motherboard our gold award. I know I’m going to take flak for that over its price. And while the price is certainly a huge turn-off, I think there is a market for extreme hardware such as this. It’s like knocking a Ferrari because the average Joe can’t afford one. I’ll never be able to afford one either, much less ever get behind the wheel of one, but I can still appreciate them. I don’t begrudge anyone who can afford one even though I can’t.
Final Points
Finally, I really like this motherboard. I like the way it looks. I like its over the top nature. Obviously, its price/performance ratio is horrendous. That alone will take it out of the running for most people reading this review. However, if your looking for a showpiece or money isn’t a real concern, I don’t know if you can do better than MSI’s MEG X570 GODLIKE. I don’t know that it’s worth extending your upgrade or build budget by the $400 over a quality X470 or medium-end X570 motherboard, but if you’ve ever survived on Ramen noodles for a week or more to buy computer hardware, you may have just found your next motherboard. It’s the kind of awesome that has nothing to do with practicality.
