Breaking records on an Asus mobo: 9.1 GHz with a Core i9-14900KS

An experienced group of extreme overclockers gathered around Intel’s latest and most powerful desktop processor (Core i9-14900KS) and managed to do unprecedented things. Namely, to reach over 9 GHz on the cores of this processor. That’s a high enough clock speed to break several world records in terms of speed measurements. In this short report, you will find what exactly was achieved. Read more “Breaking records on an Asus mobo: 9.1 GHz with a Core i9-14900KS” »

MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk Max WiFi: Mainly faster network

The second wave of Z790 motherboards, released alongside 125W Intel Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs, is also attractive for its upgraded network connectivity. The latter is also cutting edge on the Z790 Tomahawk Max WiFi. It’s one of the cheapest boards with WiFi 7. But in our tests of it, we’ll naturally be interested in the overall implementation of all the features. That is, what MSI managed better or worse compared to competing models. Read more “MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk Max WiFi: Mainly faster network” »

New AMD 700 series AM5 chipsets may be coming in Q3 2024

Posts on the Chinese Board Channels forum used to share various information from hardware manufacturer circles, now shed light on future events that await us in the coming year in the desktop market. This concerns both the arrival of a new desktop platform and chiplet processors from Intel, but also AMD. Much less is known about plans for the AM5 platform, so this is an interesting insight if these rumours are confirmed. Read more “New AMD 700 series AM5 chipsets may be coming in Q3 2024” »

Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Pro X: White for Raptor Lake Refresh

We tested the first Z790 motherboard primarily designed for use with the 14th generation Intel Core (Raptor Lake) processors. The chipset’s features haven’t changed, but there’s a lot of new, noteworthy stuff around it. That includes upgraded network connectivity headed by WiFi 7 and, finally, 5-gigabit Ethernet. And in the year that it’s been at it, Gigabyte has worked on a lot of details too. Some were more successful, others less so. Read more “Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Pro X: White for Raptor Lake Refresh” »

256GB RAM: 64GB DDR5 modules coming, motherboards are ready

Early this year DDR5 memory modules got capacity boost when 24GB and 48GB modules hit the market. These were based on 24Gb chips. However, it looks like another leap is coming and 64GB modules could soon be on the market, allowing up to 256GB of RAM to be installed into regular desktop PCs, or 128GB for laptops or Mini-ITX boards. Board manufacturers are already gearing up support, hopefully this time there won’t be compatibility issues. Read more “256GB RAM: 64GB DDR5 modules coming, motherboards are ready” »

MSI MAG X670E Tomahawk WiFi: Extra features “cheaper”

The X670E Tomahawk WiFi motherboard is a combination of the highest-end AMD chipset and a relatively lower price. At least by X670E motherboard standards. In addition to broader connectivity (that’s first and foremost), there’s also PCI Express 5.0 support. The decent VRM is also well prepared to run efficiently with even the most powerful processors that can be used on the AM5 platform. Read more “MSI MAG X670E Tomahawk WiFi: Extra features “cheaper”” »

AMD Pro 695 chipset: 2S Threadripper boards, or just a mistake?

A week ago, AMD unveiled its most powerful CPUs, the HEDT and workstation Threadripper and Threadripper Pro 7000. Two platforms with WRX90 and TRX50 chipsets were also released with them, but it looks like there could be a third type of boards for these CPUs, with a chipset labelled Pro 695. What it’s supposed to be, however, is very unclear. Or perhaps, on the contrary, seemingly clear but contradictory on closer inspection. Read more “AMD Pro 695 chipset: 2S Threadripper boards, or just a mistake?” »

Asus DIMM Flex: If fast memory, then managed dynamically

Although no new boards with the Z890 chipset came out with Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs, each manufacturer added new models with the “old” (Z790) chipset. The reason to take interest in them may be, for example, DIMM Flex support. The latter should increase memory bandwidth and stability on selected Asus motherboards. Asus describes well how it all technically works and has published some practical results as well. Read more “Asus DIMM Flex: If fast memory, then managed dynamically” »

MSI B650 Gaming Plus WiFi: Axe for “expensive” and “weak” boards

If you don’t want to skimp on a motherboard for an AMD CPU, but also don’t want to pay more than you need to, the MSI B650 Gaming Plus WiFi appears to be an attractive option. The price is well under two hundred euros and yet it can handle even the Ryzen 9 7950X without any power limits. Although there are also things calling for improvement, the cheapest MSI B650 board in ATX format defends its position in a lower-budget gaming build. Read more “MSI B650 Gaming Plus WiFi: Axe for “expensive” and “weak” boards” »

Realtek RTL8126 has stability issues, no 5.0Gb/s Ethernet this year

In June, Computex 2023 brought news of 5.0Gb/s Ethernet adapters coming soon to motherboards courtesy of Realtek-developed RTL8126 low-cost NIC chip. It would follow in the footsteps of the previous RTL8125, which enabled mass adoption of 2.5Gb/s Ethernet networking on motherboards. Unfortunately, it looks like the advent of 5,0Gb/s networking will be delayed as the RTL8126 suffers from flaws and the rollout was cancelled. Read more “Realtek RTL8126 has stability issues, no 5.0Gb/s Ethernet this year” »

ASRock B650E Taichi motherboard – breaker of several records

The AMD B650E chipset is a compromise solution to some extent, but the ASRock Taichi motherboard that is based on it makes an ultimate impression. And it’s not just a “feel”, it really is that… The VRM of the CPU didn’t fit in our thermal image with the standard procedure. There are a few quirks and things that you might find it worth tweaking, but those are usually related to other things, like the more modest chipset features. Read more “ASRock B650E Taichi motherboard – breaker of several records” »

Gigabyte A620M Gaming X vs. 200+W. No fireworks in sight!

Some people paint disasters around cheap motherboards (literally, flames in the graphics editor and such… natural disasters sell), yet often you have nothing to worry about and nothing burns up anywhere. Such A620M Gaming X can handle even the most powerful processors for AMD AM5 socket with ease. It doesn’t make much sense to pair it up like this, as the features are tailored to the undemanding user, but it is an option. Read more “Gigabyte A620M Gaming X vs. 200+W. No fireworks in sight!” »

So we took a look at the MSI MAG B760M Mortar WiFi and…

When building a relatively cheaper Intel-based desktop, you’ll probably choose a “B” chipset motherboard. One of those is the B760M Mortar WiFi. Because of the use of the Micro ATX format, this motherboard is also attractive for smaller computer cases. The cross-generational comparison with the B660M Mortar WiFi is also striking. What direction is MSI taking this? Read more “So we took a look at the MSI MAG B760M Mortar WiFi and…” »

Asus improves board warranty: Memory OC and beta BIOS covered

Recently, a controversy has flared up on the web surrounding Asus motherboards. It is related to the issues of Ryzen 7000X3D CPUs killed by excessive VSoC voltage, which was previously set too high by Asus boards (not just Asus ones though). Asus received further complaints after providing a fix as a beta BIOS update that was not officially covered by warranty. The company has now responded by changes that should improve things quite a bit. Read more “Asus improves board warranty: Memory OC and beta BIOS covered” »

A620 chipset specs in detail: a PCIe Gen4 uplink surprise

Last Friday, the last day of Q1, low-cost AM5 boards for Ryzen 7000 processors based on the low-end A620 chipset were released by all the manufacturers in a coordinated fashion (we’ve put together an overview of the models here), but AMD itself didn’t make any announcements at first, so we didn’t have exact specs. These have been published now and include one surprising thing which makes the A620 better than expected. Read more “A620 chipset specs in detail: a PCIe Gen4 uplink surprise” »

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