A relatively pricier B850 motherboard. But one that outperforms both equally priced and X870(E) motherboards in several ways. It does so with features that are not directly related to the chipset used, but those are often what matters. The ROG Strix B850-F Gaming WiFi motherboard may thus end up being exactly what you’re looking for in a powerful and timeless setup. This can include, for example, two M.2 slots with PCIe 5.0 support. Read more “Not just the basics: Asus ROG Strix B850-F Gaming WiFi”
Author: Ľubomír Samák
(Gigabyte) B850 Aorus Elite WiFi7: Is it really cheaper? Yes
The AMD B850 chipset is a good option for users who won’t take advantage of the broader capabilities of more expensive motherboards (typically with the X870 or X870E chipsets). The reward is a lower price, and in the case of the B850 Aorus Elite WiFi7, it really is lower. This motherboard is one of the most affordable models that Ryzen 9000 or Ryzen 7000 CPU owners may be interested in. And in tests, it does not perform badly at all. Read more “(Gigabyte) B850 Aorus Elite WiFi7: Is it really cheaper? Yes”
Test: MSI Z890 Ace (and CU9 285K) with CoreLiquid I360 cooler
What would be the results of standard motherboard tests if we used the MSI MAG CoreLiquid I360 cooler with them? Better. Specifically, lower temperatures would be achieved for the CPU cores, which would then run at higher clock speeds, which naturally means higher computing performance. Not dramatically, but if we are to illustrate the situation with plates of scales, their position is quite clear. Read more “Test: MSI Z890 Ace (and CU9 285K) with CoreLiquid I360 cooler”
Savio AK-60: Functional M.2 SSD cooler for 7 EUR
The SSD cooler database is expanding once again, this time with a model that keeps critical components from overheating. The Savio AK-60 can reduce temperatures even by twenty degrees Celsius. Its design is simple, and its price is low. It’s relatively compact, so compatibility with expansion cards is broad, and you’re unlikely to complain about the build quality. This includes features like a secure mounting system. Read more “Savio AK-60: Functional M.2 SSD cooler for 7 EUR”
MSI MEG Z890 Ace: 28 phases for Arrow Lake CPUs and…
Extremely robust power delivery, 10-gigabit ethernet, a huge number of USB ports and more – that’s what comes with one of the most feature-packed LGA 1851 platform motherboards, the MSI MEG Z890 Ace. This is mirrored, of course, by the remarkably high price tag. Such a wealth of features comes at a price, and it’s all about whether you see a potential in it that you can appreciate. Be that as it may, MSI has packed it really properly. Read more “MSI MEG Z890 Ace: 28 phases for Arrow Lake CPUs and…”
Endorfy Fortis 5 Black ARGB: (Quite) a bit of light in the dark
With the Fortis 5 Black ARGB cooler, it’s not enough to just note that it has a backlit fan compared to the Fortis 5 Black. There are more specifics that shape its characteristics. It’s not visible on the external features, because the stated parameters are the same as those of the non-ARGB model, but we’ve come across a few differences when dissecting the results. And we can certainly write about remarkable differences that are worth reflecting on. Read more “Endorfy Fortis 5 Black ARGB: (Quite) a bit of light in the dark”
Endorfy Fortis 5 Black: Six heatpipes for Intel CPUs
In addition to the standard variant, the Fortis 5 is also available in a completely black version. Compared to the lower-end series (Fera 5), it has two more heatpipes which increase the cooling performance of this cooler. In practice, however, it only does better in some cases. When the processor can benefit from the “extra material” available in the Fortis 5 cooler. How so? We’ll break everything down in this detailed analysis. Read more “Endorfy Fortis 5 Black: Six heatpipes for Intel CPUs”
For the price/performance! Arctic Freezer 36 A-RGB (White)
Even with two fans, this cooler is a very good option. Compared to similar and typically cheaper designs with four heatpipes, it can handle significantly higher loads. This is true on both the latest Intel platform (LGA 1851) and AMD Ryzen 9000 processors (AMD AM5). There is also a certain benefit to these things around cooling performance in mounting via a custom retention bracket (ILM) around the processor socket. Read more “For the price/performance! Arctic Freezer 36 A-RGB (White)”
Arctic S12038-4K: Massive fan for harsh conditions
A totally different type of fan than the ones we normally deal with. The Arctic S12038-4K is designed for high-performance servers, which is also reflected in its features. Very high airflow is provided by as much as 4000 rpm. And in order to ensure that the cooling performance does not drop significantly even through obstacles, the “extreme” Arctic fan has a profile that is as thick as 38 mm. Read more “Arctic S12038-4K: Massive fan for harsh conditions”
Elegant first. The Aorus EZ Chain Fan 120 Ice is a neat piece
Gigabyte has put together a fan that combines ARGB LEDs, clever daisy chaining using connectors in the frame, and very good results on radiators. All of that for an attractive price. The design of the Aorus EZ Chain Fan 120 Ice seems to be optimized for use on radiators in particular. In fact, these are the cheapest ARGB fans with daisy chaining and this kind of efficiency that we’ve ever tested. Read more “Elegant first. The Aorus EZ Chain Fan 120 Ice is a neat piece”
First look at B850 boards. ROG Strix and Aorus Elite WiFi7
New B850 motherboards have been released for AMD Ryzen 9000 (and possibly 7000) processors, promising lower prices (compared to X870/E motherboards). Not much was known about the specific models until the last minute. But now we’ll take a look at two, one from Asus and the other from Gigabyte, which we’ll also take a look at in detailed tests later on. So for now, just a little preview. Read more “First look at B850 boards. ROG Strix and Aorus Elite WiFi7”
BeQuiet! Pure Wings 3 (BL105): Silent, efficient, okay price
Some fans are “too expensive”, others suffer from several technical imperfections. Naturally, these come from being made cheaper, but there is also an attempt to strike a sort of… balance. This, for example, from BeQuiet!, with its Pure Wings models. We compared the latest variants with serial number 3 (Pure Wings 3) in detail with massive competition in 120mm format. And they can be described as the most perfect in history. Undoubtedly. Read more “BeQuiet! Pure Wings 3 (BL105): Silent, efficient, okay price”
Endorfy Fera 5 Black cooler tests on AM5 and LGA 1851
One of the most popular CPU coolers of today has already appeared in our tests, but on an older, basically outdated platform. That’s why we’re bringing you measurements that better reflect what’s in use these days. We have the results of the Endorfy Fera 5 cooler on the latest Intel and AMD platforms with their top processor models. How does an, essentially, inexpensive tower cooler handle them? Read more “Endorfy Fera 5 Black cooler tests on AM5 and LGA 1851”
Duel: Endorfy Navis F360 vs. Fractal Design Lumen S36 V2
We start the new stage of CPU cooler tests on HWCooling with a duel of two AIO liquid coolers. Both the Navis F360 and the Lumen S36 V2 represent the cheapest coolers with a 360mm radiator that Fractal Design (Lumen S36 V2) and Endorfy (Navis F360), respectively, have. Sure, these aren’t downright cheap coolers, but both are associated with very high cooling performance. Read more “Duel: Endorfy Navis F360 vs. Fractal Design Lumen S36 V2”
Z890 Aorus Elite WiFi7’s award changed to “Smart buy!”
At first we weren’t entirely sure, but now, after testing several models, it’s pretty clear – the Z890 Aorus Elite WiFi7 motherboard from Gigabyte deserves the Smart buy! editorial award. The set of its features in ratio to the price is really attractive. At around 340 EUR, it can be a good choice even for the most powerful CPU of the Intel LGA 1851 platform – the Core Ultra 9 285K. Read more “Z890 Aorus Elite WiFi7’s award changed to “Smart buy!””
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