(Gigabyte) Z890 Aorus Elite WiFi7 in test with Core Ultra 9 285K

We’re kicking off a round of Z890 motherboard tests loaded with the most powerful CPU for the LGA 1851 platform – the Core Ultra 9 285K. We’re doing this with Gigabyte – the Z890 Aorus Elite WiFi7 from the mid-range, or the upper mid-range, if you like… There will be competing models in a similar category later on, but now to the motherboard, which has undergone many changes from the Z790 Aorus Elite AX of the previous generation. Read more “(Gigabyte) Z890 Aorus Elite WiFi7 in test with Core Ultra 9 285K” »

MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi: Basis in above-standard features

Two network adapters, over twenty USB ports, a really powerful VRM… in short, a motherboard for those with more demands than usual. The X870E Carbon WiFi is also rich in connectivity thanks to the two chips that make up the chipset’s south bridge. Overall, this makes it a very well equipped motherboard for the AMD AM5 platform that is more expensive, but you still don’t have to pay a devastating amount for it. Read more “MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi: Basis in above-standard features” »

Full of latest hardware and… surprises – SOŠE Liptovský Hrádok

The last stop of this year’s HWCooling Techtour. It was different, but still energetic, professional and enriching for students. In Liptovský Hrádok, we found out the “overall winner” of the skills competition and managed to do other things that we hadn’t quite done before. Third time’s the charm? Definitely. The students were (again) very active, curious and overall well prepared. Read more “Full of latest hardware and… surprises – SOŠE Liptovský Hrádok” »

LGA 1851 is here. MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi tested

The information embargo on Z890 motherboard tests (and also Intel Core Ultra 200S/Arrow Lake CPUs) is over. We kicked off our tests with an in-depth analysis of the MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi motherboard, which also sheds light on the features of the Core Ultra 7 265K CPU. Primarily though, this will now be about the Z890 Tomahawk, which in some places has some major changes from its last generation. Read more “LGA 1851 is here. MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi tested” »

X870 Aorus Elite WiFi7. Gigabyte’s mid-range tested

It copies the older B650E Aorus Pro X USB4 in many points, but it is not a “perfect clone”. In some ways the Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WiFi7 has the upper hand, in others it lags behind. However, this mid-range motherboard is definitely worth your attention. Those who were frustrated by the in some places relatively poor connectivity of the Asus TUF Gaming X870 Plus WiFi may now be satisfied. Read more “X870 Aorus Elite WiFi7. Gigabyte’s mid-range tested” »

Asus TUF Gaming X870 Plus WiFi: USB4 for reasonable money

Motherboards with AMD X870 chipsets are already in stores. Unlike the older models designed for the AM5 platform, also compatible with Ryzen 9000 processors, X870 motherboards must support the USB4 interface, and there are more minor changes. We start our analysis of motherboards with the new AMD chipsets with the Asus model – the TUF Gaming X870 Plus WiFi. The mid-range also has a strong VRM. Read more “Asus TUF Gaming X870 Plus WiFi: USB4 for reasonable money” »

Gigabyte B650E Aorus Pro X USB4: Motherboard with X870 specs

Are you eagerly awaiting the new AMD X870(E) motherboards? They don’t necessarily have to be “better” than the Gigabyte B650E Aorus Pro X USB4 in any fundamental way. The features of this motherboard match what can be expected in models with “800 series” chipsets. These will be coming out soon, but USB4 support, which is a key new feature, is already available on the Gigabyte motherboard. So there might not be too many practical differences. Read more “Gigabyte B650E Aorus Pro X USB4: Motherboard with X870 specs” »

MSI B760M Gaming Plus WiFi: A cheap motherboard with a surprise

The seemingly inconspicuous motherboard hides something you probably wouldn’t expect, it has both HDMI and DisplayPort video outputs doubled, in pairs. Otherwise, the B760M Gaming WiFi is an affordable solution also suitable for higher-end Intel Core processors designed for the LGA 1700 platform with DDR5 memory. Meanwhile, due to the smaller MicroATX format, you can also fit the motherboard into smaller cases. Read more “MSI B760M Gaming Plus WiFi: A cheap motherboard with a surprise” »

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

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

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

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” »

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” »

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” »

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”” »

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” »

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