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Benchmark Results
Our standard benchmarks and power tests are performed using the CPU’s stock frequencies (including any default boost/turbo) with all power-saving features enabled. We set optimized defaults in the BIOS and the memory by enabling the XMP profile. For this baseline testing, the Windows power scheme is set to Balanced (default) so the PC idles appropriately.
Synthetic Benchmarks
Synthetics offer a valuable method for evaluating a board's performance, as identical settings are expected to yield similar results. Turbo boost wattage and advanced memory timings are areas where motherboard manufacturers can still optimize for stability or performance, though, and these settings can impact specific testing scenarios.
Performance on the Godlike X is, as expected, similar to the Godlike and good overall. Across the synthetic benchmarks, both boards were average to above average, depending on the test—nothing to see here.
Timed Applications
The Godlike X did well in the timed applications, too. We saw average results in Corona, while LAME and Handbrake were some of the fastest we’ve seen. Again, we find nothing to worry about here.
3D Games and 3DMark
Starting with the launch of Zen 5, we’ve updated our game tests. We’re keeping the EA’s F1 racing game and have upgraded to the most current version, F1 24. We also dropped Far Cry 6 in favor of an even more popular and good-looking game in Cyberpunk 2077. We run both games at 1920x1080 resolution using the Ultra preset (details listed above). Cyberpunk 2077 uses DLSS, while we left F1 24 to native resolution scaling.
The goal with these settings is to determine if there are differences in performance at the most commonly used (and CPU/system bound) resolution with settings most people use or strive for (Ultra). We expect the difference between boards in these tests to be minor, with most falling within the margin of error differences. We’ve also added a minimum FPS value, which can affect your gameplay and immersion experience.
In our 3DMark and game tests, the Godlike X did well here, posting the best average frames per second (FPS) we’ve seen in Cyberpunk 2077 at 144 FPS. F1 24 results were right in the middle.
Overall, it’s clear that the Godlike X is a strong performer across a wide variety of activities.
Overclocking
Over the past few CPU generations, overclocking headroom has been shrinking on both sides of the fence while the out-of-box potential has increased. For overclockers, this means there’s less fun to have. For the average consumer, you’re getting the most out of the processor without manual tweaking. Today’s motherboards are more robust than ever, and they easily support power-hungry flagship-class processors, so we know the hardware can handle them. There are multiple ways to extract even more performance from these processors: enabling a canned PBO setting from the BIOS, manually tweaking the PBO settings, or just going for an all-core overclock. Results will vary and depend on the cooling as well. In other words, your mileage may vary. Considering all the above, we will not be overclocking the CPU. However, we will try out all our different memory kits to ensure they meet the specifications.
Just like the original Godlike on the original BIOS, we successfully tested with DDR5-7200. Our Klevv DDR5-8000 kit booted but failed the AIDA64 memory bandwidth test, indicating instability. But we aren’t surprised, as it’s not on the QVL list. It’s also well past the ‘sweet spot’ for the AMD platform, and with today’s RAM prices, we doubt many people are looking at these extreme speeds anyway.
Power Consumption / VRM Temperatures
We used AIDA64’s System Stability Test with Stress CPU, FPU, Cache, and Memory enabled for power testing, using the peak power consumption value from the processor. The wattage reading is from the wall via a Kill-A-Watt meter to capture the entire PC (minus the monitor). The only variable that changes is the motherboard; all other parts remain the same. Please note that we have transitioned to using only the stock power use/VRM temperature charts, as this section aims to ensure the power delivery can handle flagship-class processors.
Stress testing on the Godlike X using the latest BIOS and our standard DDR5-6000 pushed peak power to 271W at the wall, the second-highest value we recorded. Idle power dropped to 98W, also one of the higher values. While higher, this is normal for flagship-class boards due to the extra features that require power.
VRM temperatures peaked around 52 degrees Celsius on our sensors and 56 degrees according to the internal sensor. While these values are warmer than several boards, it’s still well within specification. For those who would like to overclock manually or PBO, there’s plenty of headroom left, even for more powerful processors.
Bottom Line
The X870E Godlike X is an incredible flagship motherboard, just like the non-X version. MSI tweaked the premium aesthetic a bit so it stands out from its twin and even includes a numbered, RGB Shield Frozr M.2 heatsink to differentiate it further. Outside of that, they are the same hardware-wise. Priced at $1,299 (ouch!), it fetches a premium over the X870E Godlike, which we can now find for $899.99 at Newegg. The MSI X870E Godlike X motherboard is in a league of its own, commanding a price point with no direct competitors except for perhaps the Crosshair. While flagship X870E boards from rivals—such as the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Xtreme X3D AI Top Ice ($799.99), the Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme ($929.99), and the ASRock X870E Taichi OCF ($499.99) are excellent in their own right, the ASRock simply cannot match the sheer feature set of the Godlike. It's unrealistic to expect it to, given the lower price, but the Gigabyte and Asus sure make you think about it, especially if you don’t have $1,300 for the exclusive “X” version and its extra collectable goodies.
The Godlike’s comprehensive feature set—including seven M.2 storage options, seven USB Type-C ports, LCD screen, and fan hubs—is overkill for most users. Still, for those who need or simply desire these premium specifications, the Godlike X delivers. Showcasing top-tier hardware specs and a premium aesthetic, the MSI X870E Godlike X exudes a unique flair and swagger unmatched by competitors offering similar features for less. It the price point was a bit lower, like the non-X is now, it would make our best motherboards list. Provided that the high price and E-ATX form factor are not deterrents, this board is the ultimate choice for enthusiasts when money and form factor are no object.
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