Category: Motherboards

ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II: Not only the most efficient

Extra tests, Motherboards | | Ľubomír Samák

Relative to computing (or gaming) performance, it has the lowest power consumption at factory settings. And the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II also sits among the more modern motherboards available for the Intel LGA 1700 platform. It’s already from the “second wave”, where network connectivity has been upgraded (to WiFi 7) and for example the support for DIMM Flex, useful for memory with extremely high bandwidth, is also new. Read more “ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II: Not only the most efficient” »

Gigabyte B760I Aorus Pro DDR4: Small, powerful, attractively priced

Extra tests, Motherboards | | Ľubomír Samák

In the tests, we looked at a Mini-ITX motherboard. A warning finger is usually put over this format in connection with powerful CPUs, but often unjustifiably. This would be the case even with one of the cheapest models for the LGA 1700 platform – the B760I Aorus Pro DDR4. The “cut off” is mainly things you may not need, for example because a larger number of slots not only won’t be used, but also doesn’t fit into the vision of a space-saving PC build. Read more “Gigabyte B760I Aorus Pro DDR4: Small, powerful, attractively priced” »

Asus TUF B760M-BTF WiFi D4: All connectors out of sight

Extra tests, Motherboards | | Ľubomír Samák

Why put connectors from the front of the motherboard when they can be from the back? This is what Asus and other manufacturers are thinking with boards with, say, an inverted connector layout. The TUF B760M-BTF WiFi (D4) model has all connectors moved from front to back. This, with the current trend of glass side panels, mainly contributes to a nicer look. But we’ll also be interested in other, measurable things as part of our analysis. Read more “Asus TUF B760M-BTF WiFi D4: All connectors out of sight” »

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

Motherboards, News, Processors | | Ľubomír Samák

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

Extra tests, Motherboards | | Ľubomír Samák

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

Chipsets, Motherboards, News | | Jan Olšan

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

Extra tests, Motherboards | | Ľubomír Samák

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

Memory, Motherboards, News | | Jan Olšan

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”

Extra tests, Motherboards | | Ľubomír Samák

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?

Chipsets, Motherboards, News | | Jan Olšan

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

Motherboards, News | | Ľubomír Samák

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

Extra tests, Motherboards | | Ľubomír Samák

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

Motherboards, Networks, News | | Jan Olšan

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

Extra tests, Motherboards | | Ľubomír Samák

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!

Extra tests, Motherboards | | Ľubomír Samák

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!” »

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