I wasn't going to post a finished update after all of the downvotes and just negative comments for the sake of being negative on my first post about installing this MOBO, but I have had numerous people reach out to me for help with installing this motherboard since there isn't a whole lot available online so fugg it I hope this post helps others and if you're stuck don't be shy and DM me.

I do not recommend this board for "first time" DIY builders. It's not impossible to figure out, however there is basically no installation content on YouTube so you really need to know what you're doing, the different types of cables, headers, etc, and plan your build in advance accordingly (I ran out of ARGB and USB2.0 headers and had to use splitters, everything I used will be linked below). For context I studied CompSci at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston but dropped out after 1 YEAR, so I would consider myself tech savvy and an enthusiast, but I am by no means an expert. This is my 3rd build (re-build technically) in the last year+ and every time I learn something new.

I really maxed out EVERY connection (as you can see from all of the cables in the back) as I paired this MOBO with a 9950X for primarily workstation use with some gaming as well (got my 9950X open box new for $400 vs still unavailable 9950X3D going for $800+ from scalpers, no thanks).

Also of note it will be much easier if you stick with the same brand for components. I wanted to use as much Lian Li components to connect with the strimers I already had but their TL LCD fans are still impossible to find in my area (SoCal) so I went with Corsair. I originally was using an ASUS Ryujin AIO but decided to return it and try out the TRYX Panorama 360 (which I'm glad I did it's absolutely gorgeous and I love their software so far) so I had to find space for 3 different connectivity boxes (I don't know the proper name, someone please correct me) from Lian Li, Corsair, and TRYX that all required ARGB headers to connect to, and for the Corsair and TRYX box also USB2.0 and 4pin fan headers to connect to as well.

Now on to the main event, the MSI MEG Godlike X870E motherboard. I absolutely LOVE this MOBO now that I have everything working properly, but it took a lot of troubleshooting/trial and error to get here. I previously had a pretty much entirely ASUS setup minus my PowerColor Red Devil 7900XTX and my previous ASUS X870E Hero MOBO controlled all of the ARGB from the Armory Crate app (I see a lot of people complaining about how awful it is, but it ran fine for me) pretty easily, but unfortunately MSI and ASUS are not compatible when it comes to ARGB control (I've heard there might be 3rd party apps to control them but I haven't tested yet) so that is one downside of switching to the Godlike but that's on me, not MSI. Luckily the ASUS Hyperion GR701 case I'm using has front panel ARGB control at the click of a button so I connected as many cables to the case instead of the Godlike for quick ARGB control (just an aesthetic but I personally love to use every feature available).

The connectivity options are the best I've seen on any MOBO, 15 IO ports on the back panel (7 of which are USB-C, 2x 40G DP ready, the rest are all 10G, with 8 USB-A 10G) and 5G & 10G network ports. The MOBO itself has 5 options for M.2 SSD storage with an additional PCIE adapter to add 2 more Gen5 SSD's for a total of 5 Gen5 and 2 Gen4 SSD's (I installed a Crucial T705 Gen5 4TB SSD in M.2_1 and a WD_BLACK SN850X Gen4 8TB SSD in M.2_3 slots to avoid GPU lane sharing).

Installing Windows 11 Pro was tricky at first because I tried with everything connected and kept getting a BSOD and couldn't find anything online as to why. I read about issues with the EZ Bridge & EZ Bridge Hub so I started there, disconnected the Hub, and was finally able to install Windows. Once I got into W11Pro I installed the MSI Center app to update and bring everything current then I powered down, reconnected the EZ Bridge Hub, powered back on, and still BSOD. To get the EZ Bridge & EZ Bridge Hub to work properly you have to go to the MSI website and update the drivers AND firmware manually (at least I had to, links below), after I did this I powered down again, connected the EZ Bridge Hub again, and powered back on and VOILÀ! Everything worked finally and I haven't had any issues since (fingers crossed).

One last thing, READ THE MANUAL haha. It's 102 pages long but there's a ton of information in there you need to know and won't find in YouTube videos. It's digital only (very lame a $1300+ MOBO doesn't include a physical manual, but it is 102 pages...).

That's pretty much it, I know I'm missing something but at this point I'm just happy I'm done with cable management and get to play Doom: The Dark Ages today 😁

Drivers, Firmware, & Manual: https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MEG-X870E-GODLIKE/support#bios

8Pin 90 degree reverse adapter x2 for MOBO: https://a.co/d/bu6e1qr

20Pin USB3.0 front panel header 90 degree "Up Angle" adapter x2 for MOBO: https://a.co/d/6T8URFX

9Pin USB2.0 Splitter x2 for MOBO: https://a.co/d/d0zHnY3

MSI MEG Godlike X870E Motherboard: https://us-store.msi.com/Motherboards/AMD-Platform-Motherboard/MEG-X870E-GODLIKE?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21328687882&gclid=CjwKCAjw_pDBBhBMEiwAmY02NiXnEir8eCNxBZ6m9id489nsfueKYvGM92as3uAirizuAT8JCBM5bxoCVw0QAvD_BwE