MSI MPG Z490 Carbon EK X Motherboard

On sale! (normally $729) The MSI MPG Z490 Carbon EK X motherboard supports 10th gen Intel Core processors and LGA 1200 CPU sockets, features up to 4 x DDR memory slots, PCI-E 3.0 expansion slots, 2 x M.2 slots, 6 x SATA ports (6GB/s), 7 x rear USB ports (2 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A), 1 x HDMI, 1 x DisplayPort, Realtek RTL8125B 2.5G LAN, Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec, and an ATX motherboard form factor.

The MPG Z490 CARBON EK X comes with a custom-designed EK cooling solution, a monoblock that aesthetically blends with the motherboard. The iconic carbon fiber and matching engraved design shows its refined quality and distinctive looks. To unleash the high performing for 10th gen Intel core processors, the custom-designed EK cooling solution that offers pristine cooling for both the CPU and VRM power delivery section is used to prevent thermal throttling, allowing gamers to sustain heavy gaming loadings without the noisy environment. It's ready for everything!

Features

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Premium Hardware Design

With years of experience, MSI is no stranger to building high-performance motherboards. The MSI R&D and engineering teams have reviewed countless designs, evaluated a wide selection of high quality components, and developed products for reliability even under extreme conditions.

Cooling

EK Custom-Designed CPU + VRM Water Cooling
Sustain the high performing for 10th gen Intel core processors, a custom-designed EK cooling solution that offers pristine cooling for both the CPU and VRM power delivery section is used to prevent thermal throttling, allowing gamers to sustain heavy gaming loadings without the noisy environment. It's ready for everything!

M.2 Shield Frozr
World’s fastest SSDs can start to lower performance when getting hot. Part of the motherboards heatsink design, M.2 Shield Frozr is the next generation M.2 thermal solution to avoid this by offering the best thermal protection to make sure that SSD maintains maximum performance.

Fully Controllable In BIOS and Software
MSI motherboards let you manage speeds and temperatures for all your system and CPU fans. Total Fan Control allows you check your primary system characteristics in a simplified graphical interface. You can also set up to 4 temperature targets for CPU and motherboard, which will adjust the fan speeds automatically.

Power Solution

12+1+1 Duet Rail Power System
Unleash and sustain maximum performance with an aggressive VRM design built with digital CPU power system. Combining 8 + 4-pin power connectors and exclusive Core Boost technology, MPG series motherboard is ready to sustain heavy gaming loadings.

Core Boost
Core Boost technology combines MSI’s premium layout and digital power design which allows for faster and undistorted current delivery to the CPU at pin-point precision.

More For Performance

• Load-line Calibration - What you set, is what you get. LLC makes sure your CPU voltage remains 100% stable under any load. This greatly improves stability when demanding more CPU performance.

• Overvoltage Protection - Prevents potential short-circuit damage to the CPU and other critical components.

• Digital Power Design - A fully digital power design allows for faster and undistorted current delivery to the CPU at pin-point precision. Creating the perfect conditions for CPU overclocking.

• Double Power Connectors - 8+4 pin connectors deliver adequate power even for an overclocked multi-core CPU

DIY Friendly

Pre-installed IO Shielding
Featuring the pre-installed IO shielding, makes your installation process easier and safer. The patent-pending design protect your IO ports and also prevent electrostatic discharge damage, makes your motherboard a strong gaming foundation.

More User Friendly Enhancements

• XL Clip - The enlarged PCI-E clip helps you swap or remove your devices easier. Keep the PCI-E slot stronger and safer.

• EZ Debug LED - Run into trouble? Onboard LEDs for key components will indicate the source of the problem so you know exactly where to look to get up and running again.

• EZ LED Control - A built-in LED button on the motherboard to control your light effect. Turn on/off your light in a second!

Protection

More Reliable Circuit Transmission
6 PCB layers allows for higher bandwidth and faster transfer speeds. This is also beneficial for reliable circuit transmission.

Fortify Your System With PCI-E Steel Armor
MSI PCI Express Steel Armor slots are secured to the motherboard with extra solder points and support the weight of heavy graphics cards. When every advantage in games counts, Steel Armor shields the point of contact from electromagnetic interference.

Enhanced Performance

High performance MSI motherboards are loaded with advanced features and the latest technology to overwhelm any challenge at hand no matter whether you’re a gamer, prosumer, or PC enthusiast.

Memory

Extreme Stability & Compatibility Testing
MSI conducts thorough memory testing with the most popular memory brands under extreme conditions to ensure your system runs stable no matter what. Our memory partners include brands like Corsair, Crucial, Kingston, G.Skill and many more to optimize memory modules, configurations and even improve overclocking.

Storage

Fast and Future-Ready Storage
MSI MPG Z490 GAMING EK X motherboards support all the latest storage standards, which allows users to connect any ultra-fast storage device. Higher efficiency makes your work easier.

Easy Raid Setup With M.2 Genie
Looking to go all out in terms of raw data speed and put multiple SSDs in RAID 0? Setting this up can prove to be quite the challenge. That’s why we created M.2 Genie, a brilliant feature to make setting up RAID 0 for M.2 and U.2 much easier and less time consuming.

Connectivity

MSI motherboards are built with a variety of connectors to satisfy gamers. Enhanced audio, advanced LAN networking capabilities, USB and Mystic Light turn any gaming experience into an immerse one.

Networking

High-Bandwidth and Low-Latency Network
2.5Gbps LAN provides incredible data transfer speed faster than general Gigabit LAN. This is a premium solution for demanding users.

Surfacing With The Real MU-MIMO Technology
The WIFI 6 adopts the latest OFDMA and two-way MU-MIMO technologies and could provide up to 4X network capacity and efficiency in the high signal density environment. Comparing to the WIFI 5, which can only send the data packet to one device at a time on each channel, the WIFI 6 could combine the packet, separate to several devices and allow signals from the different devices bundled together. This new technology provides all the devices in the same network environment with same and harmonious traffic bandwidth in an efficient way.

Audio

• High Definition ALC1220 Audio Processor - Supports DSD Super Audio CD playback & recording (64x better than regular CD quality) 120dB SNR / 32-bit

• High Quality Audio Capacitors - A high fidelity sound experience with exceptional acoustics and realism for studio level headphones is ensured.

• High Quality Audio Jacks With S/PDIF - Keep your sound perfect by transmit your audio with pure digital signal

USB

Double Bandwidth With Lightning USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20G
Using USB 3.2 devices has never been faster! Featuring the Lightning ASmedia 3241 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 controller, MSI motherboards offer never before seen USB speeds up to 20Gb/s when connecting the Rear USB Type-C. The Lightning USB 20G connectors are covered with gold to ensure a better signal and performance.

USB Front Type-C
MSI gaming motherboards support USB Front Type-C that allows gamers to connect with the latest USB devices. Built up a system with MSI PC case to have the most convenient experience.

Mystic Light

Mystic Light Extension
Still not satisfied with the decoration on the ecosystem? The Mystic Light Extension will help you to have more attractive way to decorate you gaming rig by the LED Strips and still under controlled by the Mystic Light application.