The MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X is a beautiful board. Its great looks start with the carbon-fiber aesthetic the excellent RGB implementation nicely builds upon. With an integrated rear I/O shield, full-coverage M.2 heatsinks, and good storage options, the MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X has a lot to offer.

Out of the box, performance for the MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X was good. Memory overclocking was great as well since I reached 4000 MHz CL16 stable with my Trident Z Neo quad-channel kit with both my i9-10900K and i9-11900K. For CPU overclocking, I was able to achieve 5.2 GHz on all cores with both samples. The largest limitation to overclocking with Z590 is going to come down to dealing with the heat produced by the incredibly dense Intel Core i9 Processors.

When it comes to VRM thermals, the MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X topped the chart for the best result yet. The additional phases and upgraded power stages paid off, netting a 10 °C improvement over last year's MSI MPG Z490 Carbon EK X. An impressive result considering the Z490 Carbon EK X topped out at just 48 °C.

At this price point, you are trading some features for that fancy water block. While there is 2.5 Gb/s LAN, there is only one LAN port, and a controller. There is also no Thunderbolt or 10 Gb/s LAN. However, at $499.99, the MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X is still one of the most affordable water-cooled boards on the market, making it an excellent choice for those who want a custom water-cooled board at an attainable price.