PREMIUM HARDWARE DESIGN With years of experience, MSI is no stranger to building high-performance motherboards. Our 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.EK CUSTOM-DESIGNED CPU + VRM WATER COOLING Sustain the high performing for 12th gen Intel core processors, a custom-designed EK cooling solution that offers pristine cooling for both the CPU, VRM and primary M.2 section is used to prevent thermal throttling, allowing gamers to sustain heavy gaming loadings without the noisy environment. It''s ready for everything! 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.LATEST DDR5 MEMORY A huge step of DDR performance enhancement with the latest DDR5 memory. Combines with dedicated SMT welding process and MSI Memory Boost technology, MPG Z690 CARBON EK X is ready to deliver the world class memory performance. 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. 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. MPG Z690 CARBON EK X Supports 12th Gen Intel® Core™ / Pentium® Celeron® processors for LGA 1700 socket Supports DDR5 Memory, up to 6666+(OC) MHz CPU + VRM + M.2 Water Cooling: A custom-designed EK monoblock with build-in inflow indicator that offers pristine cooling for both the CPU, VRM and primary M.2 section Lightning Fast Game experience: PCIe 5.0 slots, Lightning Gen 4 x4 M.2, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Enhanced Power Design: Direct 18+1+1 phases power, dual 8-pin CPU power connectors, Core Boost, Memory Boost M.2 Shield Frozr: All M.2 slots covered with Shield Frozr to built for high performance system and non-stop gaming experience MYSTIC LIGHT: 16.8 million colors / fancy lighting effects controlled in one click. MYSTIC LIGHT SYNC supports RGB, RAINBOW(ARGB), Corsair LED strips and Ambient devices. 2.5G LAN with LAN Manager and Intel Wi-Fi 6E Solution: Upgraded network solution for professional and multimedia use. Delivers a secure, stable and fast network connection AUDIO BOOST 5: Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality for the most immersive gaming experience High Quality PCB: 8-layer PCB made by 2oz thickened copper and server grade level material Pre-installed I/O Shield: Better EMI protection and more convenience for installation