MSI X870E Godlike X Motherboard Review: 10th anniversary edition brings more exclusivity, numbered placard, and a Lucky plushy

Happy 10th Birthday, Godlike series!

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MSI X870E Godlike X
(Image: © Future)

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Firmware

With X870, MSI has updated its BIOS, renaming it “Click X,” and improved the aesthetic and functionality in the process. The company changed the format to left-aligned headings, middle-aligned details, and right-aligned system status information, and it’s all logically laid out. Like most other board partners, it features an informational EZ Mode that provides limited functionality, with access to including Game Boost, PBO, and more.

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MSI X870E Godlike X - BIOS
(Image credit: Future)

Software

MSI Center is a single utility that offers a wide range of functionality. From hardware monitoring to RGB control with Mystic Light, the software has many applets and is a one-stop shop for downloading other utilities, including overclocking and fan control. Those looking to use the Gamebar feature, Super Charger, or any other utilities MSI offers will find them all in MSI Center.

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MSI X870E Godlike X - MSI Center
(Image credit: Future)

Test System / Comparison Products

We’ve updated our test system to Windows 11 (23H2) 64-bit OS with all updates applied as of late September 2024 (this includes the Branch Prediction Optimizations for AMD). Hardware-wise, we’ve updated the RAM kits (matching our Intel test system), cooling, storage, and video card. Unless otherwise noted, we use the latest publicly available non-beta motherboard BIOS. The hardware we used is as follows:

TEST SYSTEM COMPONENTS

MSI X870E Godlike X - Testbench

(Image credit: Future)
Swipe to scroll horizontally

Sound

Integrated HD audio

Network

Integrated Networking (GbE to 10 GbE)

Graphics Driver

GeForce 561.09

Benchmark Settings

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Synthetic Benchmarks and Settings

Procyon

Version 2.8.1352 64

Office 365, Video Editing (Premiere Pro 24.6.1), Photo Editing (Photoshop 25.1.2, Lightroom Classic 13.5.1)

3DMark

Version 2.29.8294.0 64

Speed Way and Steel Nomad (Default)

Cinebench R24

Version 2024.1.0
Open GL Rendering Benchmark - Single and Multi-threaded

Blender

Version 4.2.0
Full benchmark (all 3 tests)

Application Tests and Settings

LAME MP3

Version SSE2_2019

Mixed 271MB WAV to mp3: Command: -b 160 --nores (160Kb/s)

HandBrake CLI

Version: 1.8.2

Sintel Open Movie Project: 4.19GB 4K mkv to x264 (light AVX) and x265 (heavy AVX)

Corona 1.4

Version 1.4

Custom benchmark

7-Zip

Version 24.08

Integrated benchmark (Command Line)

Game Tests and Settings

Cyberpunk 2077

Ultra RT: - 1920 x 1080, DLSS - Balanced.

F1 2024

Ultra High Preset - 1920 x 1080, 16xAF/TAA, Great Britain (Clear/Dry), FPS Counter ON

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TOPICS
Joe Shields
Joe Shields
Staff Writer, Components

Joe Shields is a staff writer at Tom’s Hardware. He reviews motherboards and PC components.

9 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Li Ken-un
    Giving it a name like “Godlike” is such a tease. With a name like that, one would expect a feature set unsurpassed by others of its class. 😞
    No USB4 v2.0 (80 Gbps)
    No ECC RAM supportTo correct this review’s mistake (“Network Jacks (1) 2.5 GbE (1) 5 GbE”) on the bottom table of page 1: this board supports 10 Gbps Ethernet and 5 Gbps Ethernet. The rear panel section of the specifications page confirms it.
    https://storage-asset.msi.com/global/picture/image/feature/mb/X870EGODLIKE/images/MEG%20X870EGODLIKE-io.png
    USB 10Gbps (Type-A)
    Flash BIOS Button
    Clear CMOS Button
    Smart Button
    10G LAN
    5G LAN
    Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
    HD Audio Connectors
    USB 40Gbps (Type-C)
    USB 10Gbps (Type-C)
    USB 10Gbps (Type-A)
    Optical S/PDIF-Out
    Reply
  • 8086
    Li Ken-un said:
    Giving it a name like “Godlike” is such a tease. With a name like that, one would expect a feature set unsurpassed by others of its class. 😞
    No USB4 v2.0 (80 Gbps)
    No ECC RAM supportTo correct this review’s mistake (“Network Jacks (1) 2.5 GbE (1) 5 GbE”) on the bottom table of page 1: this board supports 10 Gbps Ethernet and 5 Gbps Ethernet. The rear panel section of the specifications page confirms it.
    I tend to agree but a lot of this limitation is not on MSI but on AMD and the severe limitations they placed on what they call "ENTHUSIEST" chipsets that I find to be lacking in many areas, especially PCI-express lanes.

    Just a number of years ago their X570 Godlike sold for a mere $600 and had more features (relative to it's time) than the current lineup.
    Reply
  • TechieTwo
    It should be called: "Golden Profit for the mobo maker". While it's nice to have exclusivity and all the whistles and bells, being exploited is simply foolish IMNHO, no matter how much money you had before you purchased this board. ;)
    Reply
  • LordVile
    I thought the godlike was the Halo SKU not flagship. A flagship product is typically the best selling.
    Reply
  • Notton
    ECC support is like the only thing Asus and Asrock have going for their AM5 mobos.
    C'mon MSI
    Reply
  • thestryker
    With regards to a client platform the only thing really missing from this is ECC support. This is something MSI has never enabled on any of their AM5 boards and I don't know that they've ever addressed it. If one was to have it though this would be the one. I think Wendell from Level1Techs hit the nail on the head though: if you're spending that much on just the motherboard why aren't you buying Threadripper.

    Consumer level boards tend to have some very good options at reasonable prices, but also force you to pay a lot more for specific features than should be the case. Two CPU attached PCIe slots is a big upsell as is a 1DPC memory configuration (unless you want a low end board).
    Reply
  • emerth
    Forgive my snark, but anyone who buys this does not deserve a lucky plushie: they deserve an idiot badge.
    Reply
  • emerth
    thestryker said:
    With regards to a client platform the only thing really missing from this is ECC support. This is something MSI has never enabled on any of their AM5 boards and I don't know that they've ever addressed it. If one was to have it though this would be the one. I think Wendell from Level1Techs hit the nail on the head though: if you're spending that much on just the motherboard why aren't you buying Threadripper.

    Consumer level boards tend to have some very good options at reasonable prices, but also force you to pay a lot more for specific features than should be the case. Two CPU attached PCIe slots is a big upsell as is a 1DPC memory configuration (unless you want a low end board).
    Thing is you can buy a serious server or workstation board with ECC and 10GbE and all the other server features on expects for less money than this board. This board is intermediate in features between desktop and workstation/server, but costs much more than workstation/server.

    Heck, back in the summer I picked up a couple of Gigabyte B850 AI Top. Dual 10GbE, PCIe5 x16/x8x8 (unswitched), dual PCIe5/x4 SSD (these two off a switch) and a PVCIe5/x2 SSD. Oh and a PCIe5/x2. Price per: $450 Canadian.
    Reply
  • thestryker
    emerth said:
    Heck, back in the summer I picked up a couple of Gigabyte B850 AI Top. Dual 10GbE, PCIe5 x16/x8x8 (unswitched), dual PCIe5/x4 SSD (these two off a switch) and a PVCIe5/x2 SSD. Oh and a PCIe5/x2. Price per: $450 Canadian.
    That's probably the best priced board on the market that has 10Gb and 2x CPU PCIe slots. As long as you don't need more storage or USB it's definitely impossible to beat.
    emerth said:
    Thing is you can buy a serious server or workstation board with ECC and 10GbE and all the other server features on expects for less money than this board.
    No AM5 workstation/server board is going to offer the connectivity this does. The vast majority of them will also have basically minimum viable VRM. The thing they will all have is ECC support (and some will have higher speed networking and remote management support), but that can be gotten from Asus/Gigabyte.

    If you're talking about Threadripper then yes, but I already mentioned that.
    Reply