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MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£520
  • Avg. price in US: ~$630
  • CPU socket: LGA 1700
  • Chipset: Intel Z690
  • Form factor: ATX

MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

8.3

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the motherboard's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best motherboards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

8.6

Technical Score

10.0%

6.2

User score

Excellent
8.6

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

8.7

Memory

16.0%

9.2

Platform & Features

16.0%

8.9

Storage

15.0%

9.6

Network

13.0%

7.3

Ports & USB

8.0%

5.8

Expansion

8.0%

8.9

Power & Cooling

5.0%

9.7

Audio

Excellent
6.2

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.9

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(6)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
(8)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Good
  • 9.1
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    8.1

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    10

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    10

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    8.1

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    10

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

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Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X is a premium ATX motherboard designed in collaboration with EK Water Blocks, featuring a custom-designed monoblock that provides liquid cooling for the LGA 1700 CPU, the direct 18+1+1 phase 75A power delivery system, and the primary M.2 slot. Key specifications include support for DDR5 memory up to 6666+ MHz (OC), dual PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, and five total M.2 slots (four PCIe 4.0 x4) alongside six SATA 6Gb/s ports. High-speed connectivity is provided by Intel Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5G LAN, and a Lightning USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20Gbps Type-C port, while enthusiasts benefit from a built-in flow indicator and an included EK leak tester. Its main pros are the integrated, high-performance liquid cooling solution for critical components and an expansive storage layout, though it lacks on-board overclocking buttons and has been noted for having higher power consumption and clunky proprietary software.

Technical Specifications of MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

8.7

Memory

16.0%

9.2

Platform & Features

16.0%

8.9

Storage

15.0%

9.6

Network

13.0%

7.3

Ports & USB

8.0%

5.8

Expansion

8.0%

8.9

Power & Cooling

5.0%

9.7

Audio

8.6
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has a technical score of 8.58 points, which is higher than that of 91% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.9

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(6)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
(8)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

6.2
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has a user score of 6.16 points, which is lower than that of 92.2% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you prefer a motherboard that has already been bought and reviewed by many other users.
1.9
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has a popularity of 1.9 points, which is lower than 69.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the motherboard's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a motherboard that offers a strong balance of features, performance, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

8.3

Overall score

40.0%

7.8

Price

8.2
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has a quality-to-price ratio of 8.2 points, which is higher than 76.3% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The brand that makes the motherboard.
When it matters: When you have a brand preference for support, BIOS, or build quality.

Importance: MEDIUM

MSI
CPU socket
What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

Importance: HIGH

LGA 1700
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X uses the LGA 1700 CPU socket, which is more advanced than that of 55% of motherboards and equal to that of 22.7% of motherboards.
CPU platform

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel
Chipset
What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

Importance: HIGH

Intel Z690
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X uses the Intel Z690 chipset, which is more advanced than that of 68.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 3.8% of motherboards.
Form factor
What it is: The physical size standard of the motherboard, such as ATX or Micro-ATX.
When it matters: When you need the board to fit a specific case size.

Importance: HIGH

ATX
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has the ATX form factor, which is more versatile than that of 47.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 52.2% of motherboards.
Show more
DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: DDR5

DDR5
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X uses DDR5 memory, which is newer than that of 64.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 35.3% of motherboards.
Memory slots
What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4

4
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has 4 Memory slots, which is more than 21.5% of motherboards and equal to 72.5% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

192 GB
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X supports up to 192 GB of memory, which is more than 72.6% of motherboards and equal to 10.1% of motherboards.
requires BIOS update for full capacity
Memory channels
What it is: The memory channel configuration supported by the motherboard platform.
When it matters: When memory bandwidth matters for your build.

Importance: MEDIUM

2
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.5% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
What it is: The highest officially supported memory speed for the motherboard.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=6400 MT/s

6,666 MT/s
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X supports memory speeds up to 6666 MT/s, which is higher than that of 76.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.2% of motherboards.
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N. of M.2 sockets
What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=3

5
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has 5 M.2 sockets, which is more than 94.7% of motherboards and equal to 4.3% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

Importance: HIGH

2x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x PCIe 4.0 x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0 x4
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X offers 2x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0x4 for M.2 slot interfaces, which is faster than that of 79.2% of motherboards.
N. of SATA 3 connectors
What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

6
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has 6 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 52.6% of motherboards and equal to 32.1% of motherboards.
some SATA ports disabled with certain M.2 use
Supported RAID levels
What it is: The RAID modes officially supported by the motherboard storage platform.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple drives in a RAID setup.

Importance: MEDIUM

0/1/5/10
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
JBOD excluded from RAID-level set
NVMe RAID support
What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

Importance: LOW

yes
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X supports NVMe RAID. 40.3% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

2
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has 2 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is more than 95.2% of motherboards and equal to 4.3% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 4.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for modern expansion cards.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is equal to 55.6% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 3.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need more full-length expansion slots.

Importance: MEDIUM

1
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 40.6% of motherboards and equal to 26.7% of motherboards.
runs at x4 mode
PCIe slot electrical configuration
What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

Importance: HIGH

?
PCIe bifurcation support
What it is: Shows whether the board can split PCIe lanes across multiple devices from one slot or link.
When it matters: When you plan multi-SSD adapters or more advanced expansion setups.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X supports PCIe bifurcation. 39.1% of motherboards support this feature.
x8/x8.
Show more
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8

10
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has 10 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 75.6% of motherboards and equal to 15.7% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=14

17
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has 17 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 72.1% of motherboards and equal to 10.8% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=1

1
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has 1 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is more than 35.4% of motherboards and equal to 48.8% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB-C ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C connectivity across the whole build.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=2

2
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has 2 USB-C ports (including headers), which is more than 51.8% of motherboards and equal to 32.8% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

1
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is more than 81.7% of motherboards and equal to 18.1% of motherboards.
Show more
LAN speed
What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.5GbE

2.5 Gbps
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X supports LAN speeds up to 2.5 Gbps, which is higher than that of 49.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 41.5% of motherboards.
LAN controller
What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

Importance: MEDIUM

?
N. of RJ45 ports
What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

Importance: LOW

1
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has 1 RJ45 ports, which is equal to 85.6% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes onboard Wi-Fi hardware instead of requiring a separate adapter.
When it matters: When you want wireless networking without adding an extra card.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X supports Wi-Fi connectivity. 50.9% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
What it is: The supported Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
When it matters: When you care about wireless speed and router compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)

Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X supports Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), which is newer than that of 72.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 16.6% of motherboards.
Show more
Audio codec
What it is: The onboard audio codec used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When sound quality from the built-in audio matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek ALC4080
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X uses the Realtek ALC4080 audio codec, which is more advanced than that of 90.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.4% of motherboards.
Audio channels
What it is: The audio channel configuration supported by the onboard sound solution.
When it matters: When you want surround sound from the motherboard audio outputs.

Importance: LOW

Good value: 7.1

7.1
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=120 dB

120 dB
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has an audio SNR of 120 dB, which is higher than that of 55% of motherboards and equal to that of 41.5% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

Importance: LOW

yes
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X supports a headphone amp. 37% of motherboards support this feature.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
What it is: The number of rear 3.5mm audio jacks on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more analog audio connection options.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=5

5
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has 5 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 49.8% of motherboards and equal to 36.8% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=12

18
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has 18 VRM phases, which is more than 87.6% of motherboards and equal to 0.4% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=2

2
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has 2 CPU power connectors, which is more than 54.6% of motherboards and equal to 45.3% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

8
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has 8 fan headers, which is more than 82.3% of motherboards and equal to 15.2% of motherboards.
Pump header
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a dedicated header designed for a liquid-cooling pump.
When it matters: When you build with an AIO or custom liquid cooling loop.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has a pump header. 23.1% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
What it is: The maximum current the dedicated pump header can supply.
When it matters: When you want to make sure the pump header can power your cooling setup.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2 A

3 A
MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X supports up to 3 A on the pump header, which is higher than that of 76.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 23.2% of motherboards.
Show more

MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X vs the average motherboard

  • 3 more M.2 sockets
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (5 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=3

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (5 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.5 vs 2
  • 2 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=1

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.2 vs 0
  • Newer DDR memory generation
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
    When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: DDR5

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR5 vs DDR4
  • 4 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (5 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster USB-A ports for storage or accessories.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=2

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (5 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.5 vs 1
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=1

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C port/s.1 vs 0
  • 2 more rear USB ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (10 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=8

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (10 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.10 vs 8
  • Newer CPU socket
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
    What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
    When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.LGA 1700 vs LGA 1151
  • More VRM phases
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (18 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
    What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
    When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=12

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (18 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.18 vs 10
  • Newer CPU socket
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • Integrated I/O shield
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46.1% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
  • Includes POST code display
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
  • Newer DDR memory generation
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 50% more maximum memory capacity
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (192 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
  • 44.9% higher maximum RAM speed
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has a higher maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (6,666 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • 3 more M.2 sockets
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (5 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • 2 more SATA 3 connectors
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • 2 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
  • 4 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (5 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C port/s.
  • 2 more rear USB ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (10 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
  • 2 more total USB connections
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (17 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB4 or Thunderbolt header/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 header/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 headers
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 header/s.
  • 1 more total USB-C connections
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 2 more USB 2.0 ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • Better audio codec
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has better audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC4,080 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
  • 5 dB higher audio SNR
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has a higher audio SNR than the average motherboard (120 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • More VRM phases
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (18 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
  • 3 more fan headers
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more fan headers than the average motherboard (8 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • 1 A higher pump header current limit
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has a higher pump header current than the average motherboard (3 A vs 2 A). The average motherboard provides pump header current of 2 A.

Total
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z690 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (2x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
  • 1 fewer PCIe x1 slots
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 4 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
    rear Type-A ports are Gen 2
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.
  • 4 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
    rear Type-A ports are Gen 2
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want more standard USB ports with faster transfer speeds.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=4

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.0 vs 4
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z690 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
    When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z690 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.Intel Z690 vs Intel B860
  • 3.25x more expensive
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X is more expensive than the average motherboard (£520 vs £160).
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X is more expensive than the average motherboard (£520 vs £160).£520 vs £160
  • 29.9% lower user score
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has a lower user score than the average motherboard (6.16 vs 8.000).
    What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has a lower user score than the average motherboard (6.16 vs 8.000).6.16 vs 8
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.
    What it is: The number of PS/2 ports on the motherboard rear I/O.
    When it matters: When you want support for older keyboards or mice.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.0 vs 1
  • 1 fewer PCIe x1 slots
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe x1 slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want space for smaller add-in cards.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=2

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.0 vs 1
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (2x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
    What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (2x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.2x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • 2.23x less popular
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X is less popular than the average motherboard (1.87 vs 4.165).
    What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you prefer a motherboard that has already been bought and reviewed by many other users.
    MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X is less popular than the average motherboard (1.87 vs 4.165).1.87 vs 4.17
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB

Graphic comparison of MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X and

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
6 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
8 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X?

  • High-value water-cooling solution with an included EK-Quantum monoblock that cools the CPU, VRMs, and primary M.2 slot.
  • Exceptional storage expansion featuring five M.2 slots (four PCIe 4.0, one PCIe 3.0) and six SATA ports.
  • Solid overclocking potential supported by an 18+1+1 power delivery design and 75A smart power stages.
  • Excellent connectivity options including Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5G LAN, and a 20Gbps USB-C port.
  • Simplified custom loop building through EK's Matrix 7 standard, making port alignment easier for enthusiasts.
  • Included premium accessories such as an EK leak tester, a 16GB USB drive with drivers, and a screwdriver set.

What customers dislike about MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X?

  • Replacing the primary SSD requires draining the entire water loop and removing the monoblock.
  • Rear I/O is somewhat dated for its price, featuring four legacy USB 2.0 ports instead of all high-speed options.
  • The monoblock mounting mechanism is basic and requires installation outside of the case on a flat surface.
  • Memory performance in some AIDA64 benchmarks was noted to be slower than average for the Z690 platform.
  • Lack of advanced networking features like 5Gbps or 10Gbps LAN, which are found on some competitors in this price range.
  • Initial BIOS versions had some stability and performance issues that required manual updates to resolve.

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