I would like to thank AZZA for supplying the review sample.
The AZZA Cast 808 we are reviewing may look like a classic ATX mid-tower with a somewhat open frame design, but there is a bit more than meets the eye. Its two-hinged parts of the outer shell and ability to separate the frame from that shell make the case more than that. AZZA initially designed the Cast 808 with the thought that one could switch out the shell—say, for a modded variant of your own—while keeping all the components within the internal frame untouched. While that may be a bit far-fetched for the ordinary user, you at least get to pick between the white and black version. We are reviewing the black AZZA Cast 808 in this article.
Specifications
AZZA Cast 808
Case Type:
ATX Full-Tower
Material:
Steel, aluminium
Weight:
10.9 kg
Slots:
6x horizontal / 3x vertical
Drive Bays:
1x Internal 2.5/3.5″ 2x Internal 2.5″
Motherboard Form Factors:
Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX
Dimensions:
470 mm x 220 mm x 460 mm
Front Door/Cover:
N/A
Front Fans:
3x 120 or 2x 140 mm (optional)
Rear Fans:
1x 120 mm (1x 120 mm AZZA Hurricane III ARGB Fan included)
Top Fans:
N/A
Bottom Fans:
N/A
Side Fans:
N/A
Front Radiator:
360 mm / 280 mm
Rear Radiator:
120 mm
Top Radiator:
N/A
Bottom Radiator:
N/A
Side Radiator:
N/A
I/O:
1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C 2x USB 3.0 1x Headphone 1x Microphone
Thanks to Anandtech, we have information on two new Supermicro motherboards designed for Intel’s new Ice Lake Xeon Scalable CPUs: the 12DPL-NT6 and X12DPL-i6. The boards feature dual LGA4189 sockets — for a max potential configuration of 80 CPU cores all squished into a standard ATX form factor.
The stand-out feature of the X12DPL-NT6 and X12DPL-i6 is the ATX form factor; Supermicro has demonstrated it can put two gigantic LGA4189 sockets onto an ATX board without sacrificing many features; the two sockets alone take up nearly half of the entire board’s size.
The only feature Supermicro had cut out was the platform’s maximum support of twelve DIMM slots. Due to the size constraints, each CPU can only access up to four DIMM slots (eight total on the board), meaning each chip will be limited to quad-channel memory configurations. This will only be a problem if you’re workloads benefit from significantly high memory bandwidth/capacity.
For connectivity, you get four PCIe 4.0 slots on the bottom, with each slot having the full 16 lanes available. For storage, the boards support twelve SATA slots with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 array support, and dual M.2 PCIe Gen 4.0 slots.
The only difference between the X12DPL-NT6 and X12DPL-i6 is the ethernet and M.2 configuration. With the X12DPL-NT6 you get dual Intel X550 10Gb Ethernet ports, and one more M.2 slot capable of PCIe Gen 4.0 x8 support.
The lower end X12DPL-i6 does not include 10Gb Ethernet and instead relies on two Intel i210 Gigabit LAN controllers for network connectivity. It also loses the x8 M.2 slot.
We have no idea of when these boards will be available to purchase, but if you’re in the market for something like this, Supermicro will probably happily return your emails or phone calls.
The Gigabyte Z590 Aorus Pro AX is a full-featured Z590 motherboard that includes robust power delivery, premium audio, four M.2 sockets, and 13 USB ports on the rear IO. This $290 board is a good value, especially for those who would like lots of M.2 and USB ports.
For
+ 13 rear USB ports. including Type-C Gen 2×2
+ Robust 90A, 12-Phase VRM
+ Four M.2 sockets
+ Latest-gen audio solution
Against
– Integrated Wi-Fi lacks 6E capability
Features and Specifications
The Gigabyte Z590 Aorus Pro AX positions itself as a mid-range SKU with a modest (for recent motherboard generations) price of $289.99. For that price, you get the most USB ports — thirteen, including USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port — we’ve seen on any motherboard in quite a while. Additionally, the board includes the latest audio codec, extreme overclocking-capable power delivery and four M.2 sockets. This, coupled with a reasonable price tag, yields a great option fory new Intel-based builds.
Gigabyte’s current Z590 product stack consists of 13 models. There are familiar SKUs and a couple of new ones. Starting with the Aorus line, we have the Aorus Xtreme (and potentially a Waterforce version), Aorus Master, Aorus Ultra, and the Aorus Elite. Gigabyte brings back the Vision boards (for creators) and their familiar white shrouds. The Z590 Gaming X and a couple of boards from the budget Ultra Durable (UD) series are also listed. New for Z590 is the Pro AX board, which looks to slot somewhere in the middle. Gigabyte also released the Z590 Aorus Tachyon (review coming soon), an overbuilt motherboard designed for extreme overclocking.
Overall, performance on the Aorus Pro AX was inconsistent in our testing. Some results were below the average, while others were right there or faster than the pack. For example, the 3D/game testing showed above-average results, while some synthetic tests were slower than others. This board is performant out of the box, with settings that go beyond Intel specifications.
The mid-priced Aorus Pro AX brings users premium features, including 90A MOSFETs, Realtek 4000 series audio, a staggering four M.2 sockets and a slew of USB ports. Gigabyte updated the appearance from the last generation as well. So between the modern appearance and updated hardware, there’s a lot to take in. We’ll cover those and other features in more detail Below. But right out of the gate this looks like a strong contender for our best motherboards list. First, let’s take a look at the full specs list from Gigabyte.
Specifications – Gigabyte Z590 Aorus Pro AX
Socket
LGA 1200
Chipset
Z590
Form Factor
ATX
Voltage Regulator
12 Phase (12+1+1+2, 90A MOSFETs)
Video Ports
(1) DisplayPort
USB Ports
(1) USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, Type-C (20 Gbps)
(4) USB 3.2 Gen 2, Type-A (10 Gbps)
(4) USB 3.2 Gen 1, Type-A (5 Gbps)
(4) USB 2.0 (480 Mbps)
Network Jacks
(1) 2.5 GbE
Audio Jacks
(5) Analog + SPDIF
Legacy Ports/Jacks
✗
Other Ports/Jack
✗
PCIe x16
(1) v4.0 x16
(2) v3.0 x4
PCIe x8
✗
PCIe x4
✗
PCIe x1
✗
CrossFire/SLI
AMD Quad-GPU Crossfire and 2-Way AMD Crossfire
DIMM slots
(4) DDR4 5400(OC), 128GB Capacity
M.2 slots
(1) PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe (up to 80mm)
(2) PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe (up to 110mm)
(1) PCIe 3.0 x4 / PCIe and SATA (up to 110mm)
U.2 Ports
✗
SATA Ports
(6) SATA3 6 Gbps (RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10)
USB Headers
(1) USB v3.2 Gen 2 (Front Panel Type-C)
(1) USB v3.2 Gen 1
(2) USB v2.0
(2) Thunderbolt AIC headers
Fan/Pump Headers
(8) 4-Pin
RGB Headers
(2) aRGB Gen 2 (3-pin)
(2) Aura RGB (4-pin)
Legacy Interfaces
✗
Other Interfaces
FP-Audio, TPM
Diagnostics Panel
4-LED ‘Status LED’ display
Internal Button/Switch
✗
SATA Controllers
✗
Ethernet Controller(s)
(1) Intel I225-V (2.5 GbE)
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
Intel WiFi AX200 (802.11ax, 160 Hz, BT 5.1)
USB Controllers
Realtek RTS5411E
HD Audio Codec
SupremeFX ALC4080
DDL/DTS Connect
✗ / ✗
Warranty
3 Years
Inside the box along with the motherboard are a slew of accessories. While certainly not the most inclusive we’ve seen, the SATA cables, Wi-Fi Antenna, screws and more, are plenty to get your system build moving along. Here’s everything that Gigabyte includes in the box.
User’s Manual / Installation Guide
Q-connector
Aorus sticker
Graphics card holder
Wi-Fi Antenna
(4) SATA cables
(3) Screw packages for M.2 sockets
(1) RGB extension cable
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Gigabyte)
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(Image credit: Gigabyte)
Image 3 of 3
(Image credit: Gigabyte)
Once we removed the Pro AX from the box, we noticed a few design changes from the Z490 version. The first,the direction of the lines and brushed-aluminum finish on the M.2 and the chipset heatsinks go the other way. Outside of that, the rear IO cover with its single RGB LED strip, VRM heatsinks, matte-black PCB and reinforced slots are familiar carryovers. The audio shroud illuminates the “Amp Up Audio” branding towards the bottom with RGB LED. Those looking for an RGB light show will have to add their own to the internal headers, but what’s here does give off a nice saturated glow, even if it isn’t a disco.
Overall, this board looks good for the price and should fit in with most build themes. The brushed-aluminum accents give this board a more premium appearance than others around the same price point.
(Image credit: Gigabyte)
Starting in the upper left, we get a closer look at the shroud with the Aorus branding, along with the “Team Up, Fight On” motto. Between this is a plastic diffuser to thin the light out from the RGB LEDs below. If that shroud looks familiar, it’s because it’s a carryover from the Z490 Pro AX. Moving to the right, we see an 8-pin EPS connector (required) with an optional 4-pin next to it. Also located in this area, curiously, is the first of eight 4-pin fan headers.
The VRM heatsink is the same as Z490, using a large metal sink on the top bank and a finned heatsink over the left bank. As you’ll see later on, this solution does a good job cooling the chips below. Just to the right, above the DRAM slots, are two more fan headers (CPU_OPT and CPU_FAN). All fan headers on this board support both 3-pin and 4-pin fans. Each header outputs up to 2A/24W, which should be plenty for piggybacking a couple of fans, as well as supporting most water pumps.
Just below these headers are the four DRAM slots. Gigabyte reinforces the slots with its Ultra Durable Memory Armor, which improves the appearance, but in general isn’t all that useful — on any motherboard. The board supports up to 128 GB of RAM with speeds listed up to DDR4 5400, some of the fastest we’ve seen. As always, your mileage may vary as you’ll need the right CPU and memory kit to reach those speeds.
To the right of the DRAM slots are the first set of 3-pin ARGB and 4-pin RGB headers. A little higher up the board than usual is the 24-pin ATX connector for primary power. Below this is a system fan header, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 header and a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C header.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The Pro AX uses a 12+1(+1+2) configuration for the Vcore and System Agent. The EPS connector sends power to a Renesas ISL69269 12-channel (X+Y+Z=12) controller. It’s then fed directly (no phase doublers or teaming here!) to 12 Renesas ISL99390 90A Smart Power Stages. This setup yields 1080A available for the CPU. In short, you’ll be limited by the CPU cooling well before the power delivery lets you down here.
(Image credit: Gigabyte)
As we move to the bottom half of the board, we’re greeted by plastic shrouds and heatsinks covering most of the PCB. On the left side is a plastic shroud that covers a majority of the audio bits. On top is the second and final RGB LED location that lights up the Amp Up Audio branding. Hidden below is the latest generation Realtek ALC4080 codec, along with WIMA audio capacitors for the rear outputs (Gigabyte says 120dB SNR for that output). Also visible are several yellow Nichicon audio capacitors and the audio separation line from the rest of the board. Most users will find this audio solution satisfactory.
In the middle of the board resides the four M.2 sockets and three PCIe slots. To prevent shearing and EMI protection (for what it’s worth), Gigabyte reinforced the top PCIe slot. The top slot is wired directly to the CPU and runs at PCIe 4.0 x16. The two other slots are sourced from the chipset and run at PCIe 3.0 x4 speeds. This configuration supports AMD Quad-GPU Crossfire and 2-Way AMD Crossfire. Since no other slots run at x8 speeds, NVIDIA SLI is not possible. I would like to have seen an additional x1 slot for additional peripherals, but the two full-length slots should be enough for most people.
Laced between and above the PCIe slots are all four M.2 sockets. The top three M.2 sockets are connected via the CPU. The top, M2A_CPU, supports up to 80mm PCIe devices at PCIe 4.0 x4 speeds. The following two sockets, M2B_CPU and M2C_CPU, support up to 110mm PCIe modules at PCIe x4 speeds. The bottom M.2 socket, M2P_SB, is attached to the chipset and runs both SATA and PCIe modules (PCIe 3.0 x4). On this board, SATA port 1 gets disabled when a SATA-based M.2 drive is installed. Not too much to worry about there. The worst case is that you can have four M.2 modules and five or six SATA ports available (depending on what type of module is installed in M2P_SB). That’s a lot of storage without much lane sharing.
To the right of the PCIe/M.2 area is the chipset heatsink with the Aorus falcon on top. To the right of it are six horizontally affixed SATA ports. This board supports RAID0, 1, 5 and 10 modes. Last but not least, just below that next to the CMOS battery are the Thunderbolt 4 AIC headers.
Across the board’s bottom are several headers, including fan and USB, a QFlash button and more. The Aorus Pro AX also has a temperature header on the bottom and includes a sensor for it. This is a good value add for users who would like to ramp up/down fan speeds based on internal chassis temperature. Additionally, in the right-hand corner is the Dr.Debug display. This 4-LED area lights up during the POST process and displays the current stage (Boot, CPU, DRAM and VGA). If there is a problem during this process, the corresponding LED stays lit. Below is the full list of headers and buttons, from left to right:
Front-panel audio
RGB and ARGB headers
TPM header
(2) USB 2.0 headers
2-pin Temperature header
Q-Flash button
(3) System fan headers
Clear CMOS jumper
Front panel header
(Image credit: Gigabyte)
The rear IO area is dominated by a menagerie of USB ports. From USB 2.0 to USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C, you’ll find it here on one of the 13 ports. The IO plate itself comes preinstalled, and its black background and Aorus branding match the rest of the board. There’s a total of four USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, four USB 2.0 ports and finally, The 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port. If you run out of USB ports on this board, you may want to reevaluate your life/peripheral choices–or you could just plug into one of the two previously mentioned USB-C front-panel headers. Video output (when using the integrated graphics on the CPU) comes from a single DisplayPort Port. In addition to the 2.5 GbE port are Wi-Fi antenna connections, and finally, the 5-plug plus SPDIF audio stack.
João Silva 15 hours ago Featured Tech News, Gaming PC
Gigabyte is getting into pre-built gaming PCs, starting with two new models – the Model X and the Model S. The Model X is a more traditional ATX system based on your choice of Intel Z590 or AMD X570 and an RTX 3080 GPU, while the Model S is a compact, 14-litre PC that packs high-end hardware despite its small size.
The Aorus Model X chassis offers good thermal performance and stylish aesthetics thanks to a half-vented, half-tempered glass front panel with RGB lighting and a half-vented top panel with RGB. Rated with acoustic performance below 40dB while gaming, the inside of the Model X was organised to allow less experienced users to mount an SSD or add another component to the system with ease. The chassis comes with an integrated GPU bracket and a 360mm AIO cooler. The side panel can either be transparent or metallic.
The Aorus Model S shares some similarities with other cases such as the NZXT H1 and the darkFlash DLH21. Featuring an AIO thermal design, the Model S has more space to fit the remaining components. The air intakes are concealed to keep the sleek aesthetics of the chassis, which features an RGB-lit Aorus logo on the front panel. During operation, the rated noise performance sits just below 36dB.
Whether you choose AMD or Intel for the CPU, some specifications are shared across both variants. For instance, the Model S comes with a 750W power supply for both Intel and AMD configurations. There are also some differences, with AMD-based PCs coming with slower memory options compared to an Intel-based PC.
The following table shows the specifications of the AMD-powered Aorus Model X and S gaming systems:
Model
Aorus Model X
Aorus Model S
Platform
X570
B550
CPU
AMD R9 5900X
AMD R9 5900X
RAM
32GB DDR4-3600 RGB
32GB DDR4-3600
GPU
RTX 3080
RTX 3080
PSU
850W 80 Plus Gold
750W 80 Plus Gold
Storage 1
M.2 2280 Gen4 1TB
M.2 2280 Gen4 1TB
Storage 2
M.2 2280 NVMe 2TB
M.2 2280 NVMe 2TB
The next table shows the specifications of the Intel-based Aorus Model X and S gaming PCs:
Model
Aorus Model X
Aorus Model S
Platform
Z590
Z590
CPU
Intel Core i9-11900K
Intel Core i9-11900K
RAM
16GB DDR4-4400 RGB
32GB DDR4-4000
GPU
RTX 3080
RTX 3080
PSU
850W 80 Plus Gold
750W 80 Plus Gold
Storage 1
M.2 2280 Gen4 1TB
M.2 2280 Gen4 1TB
Storage 2
M.2 2280 NVMe 2TB
M.2 2280 NVMe 2TB
The Intel version of the Model S comes with 32GB DDR4-4000 memory and the Intel Model X with 16GB DDR4-4400 memory. AMD versions of both PCs come with DDR4-3600 or DDR4-4000 memory instead. It’s also worth noting that the AMD Model S comes with a B550 motherboard, while the Model X features an X570 motherboard.
KitGuru says: What do you think of Gigabyte’s latest Aorus gaming PCs? Would you go for an Intel or AMD based system?
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I would like to thank Zalman for supplying the review sample.
The Zalman Z3 Iceberg we are reviewing is a mid-tower chassis that aims to offer sensible features at a price point of around $90. That puts it up against a slew of options out there, so it will be interesting to see how it holds up. The Z3 Iceberg is available in either black or as a white version with a few little touches of black here and there. We got the white variant for review, so let’s dive right in.
Specifications
Zalman Z3 Iceberg
Case Type:
Mid-Tower
Material:
Steel, plastic, and tempered glass
Weight:
6.4 kg
Slots:
7
Drive Bays:
2x Internal 2.5/3.5″ 4x Internal 2.5″
Motherboard Form Factors:
Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, and ATX
Dimensions:
410 x 210 x 480 mm
Front Door/Cover:
N/A
Front Fans:
3x 120 or 140 mm (1x 120 mm ARGB fan pre-installed)
ASRock’s Z590 PG Velocita is a full-featured Z590 motherboard that includes three M.2 sockets, Killer based networking (including Wi-Fi 6E), capable power delivery, premium audio, and more. It’s a well-rounded mid-ranger for Intel’s Z590 platform.
For
Killer based 2.5 GbE and Wi-Fi 6E Networking
10 USB ports on rearIO
Capable power delivery
Against
Last gen audio codec
No USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C on rearIO
Features and Specifications
Next up out of the ASRock stable is the Z590 PG Velocita. The Z590 version of this board comes with an improved appearance, enhanced power delivery, PCIe 4.0 capability for your GPU and M.2 device, fast Killer-based networking and more. Priced around $300, the PG Velocita lands as a feature-rich mid-range option in the Z590 landscape.
ASRock’s Z590 lineup is similar to the previous-generation Z490 product stack. At the time we wrote this, ASRock has 12 Z590 motherboards listed. At the top is Z590 Taichi, followed by the PG Velocita we’re looking at here, and three Phantom Gaming boards, including a Micro-ATX option. Additionally, there are two professional boards in the Z590 Pro4 and Z590M Pro4, two Steel Legend boards, two Extreme boards (also more on the budget end), and a Mini-ITX board round out the product stack. Between price, size, looks, and features, ASRock should have a board that works for everyone looking to dive headlong into Rocket Lake.
Performance testing on the PG Velocita went well and produced scores that are as fast or faster than the other Z590 boards we’ve tested so far. The PG Velocita eschews Intel specifications, allowing the Intel Core i9-11900K to stretch its legs versus boards that more closely follow those specs. Overclocking went well, with the board able to run our CPU at both stock speeds and the 5.1 GHz overclock we’ve settled on. Memory overclocking also went well, with this board running our DDR4 3600 sticks at 1:1, and DDR4 4000 was nice and stable after a few tweaks to voltage to get it there.
The Z590 PG Velocita is an iterative update, just like most other Z590-based motherboards. The latest version uses a Killer-based 2.5 GbE and Wi-Fi 6E network stack, adds a front panel USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C port, premium Realtek audio codec (though it is last generation’s flagship), three M.2 sockets and more. We’ll dig into these details and other features below. But first, here are the full specs from ASRock.
Along with the motherboard, the box includes several accessories ranging from cables to graphic card holders and an additional VRM fan. The included accessories should get you started without a trip to the store. Below is a complete list of all included extras.
Support DVD / Quick installation Guide
Graphics card holder
Wi-Fi Antenna
(4) SATA cables
(3) Screw package for M.2 sockets
(3) Standoffs for M.2 sockets
Wireless dongle USB bracket
3010 Cooling Fan with bracket
4010 Cooling Fan bracket
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: ASRock)
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(Image credit: ASRock)
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(Image credit: ASRock)
Once you remove the Z590 PG Velocita from the box, one of the first things you’ll notice (if you’re familiar with the previous model) are the design changes. ASRock sticks with the black and red theme but forgoes the red stenciling on the black PCB from the last generation. The VRM heatsinks are large, connected via heatpipe and actively cooled out of the box by a small fan hidden in the left heatsink. ASRock includes an additional small fan and brackets for the top VRM heatsink (we did not use this in any test). The rear IO cover also sports the black and red Phantom Gaming design theme, along with the ASRock branding lit up with RGB lighting. The heatsinks on the bottom half of the board cover the three M.2 sockets and the chipset heatsink. The latter sports a PCB and chip under clear plastic for a unique look. Overall, I like the changes ASRock made to the appearance of this board, and it should fit in well with more build themes.
(Image credit: ASRock)
As we look closer at the top half of the board, we start by focusing on the VRM area. These aren’t the most robust parts below the heatsink, so additional cooling is welcomed. Just above the VRM heatsinks are two 8-pin EPS connectors (one required) to power the processor. To the right of the socket area are four unreinforced DRAM slots with latches on one side. ASRock lists supported speeds up to DDR4 4800(OC) with a maximum capacity of 128GB. As always, your mileage may vary as support depends on the CPU’s IMC and the kit you use to reach those speeds.
Located above the DRAM slots, we find the first two (of seven) 4-pin fan headers. The CPU/Water Pump and Chassis/Water Pump headers both support 24W/12A, with the remainder of the fan headers supporting 12W/1A. There are plenty of fan/pump headers on this board to support the motherboard running them all without a controller if you choose. A third 4-pin header is located in this area, while a fourth is in an odd spot, just below the left VRM heatsink. Outside of that, all headers auto-sense if a 3- or 4-pin connector is attached.
Just to the right of the fan headers up top are an ARGB (3-pin) and RGB header (4-pin). You’ll find the other two on the bottom edge of the board. The Polychrome Sync application controls these LEDs and any attached to the headers.
On the right edge are power and reset buttons, while just below those are the 24-pin ATX header for power to the board. Just below this is the first USB 3.2 Gen1 front panel header and the USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C front panel header.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
ASRock uses a 12-phase configuration for the CPU. Power goes through the 8-pin EPS connector(s) and is sent to the Renesas ISL69269 (X+Y+Z=12) controller. The controller then sends power to six Renesas ISL6617A phase doublers and finally onto the 12 Vishay 50A SIC654 DrMOS power stages. This provides 600A total to the CPU. While not the highest value we’ve seen, the VRM’s easily handled our CPU at stock and overclocked, with some help from the active cooling fan. This board comes with another fan, however, we chose not to use it and after testing, found there wasn’t a need for it.
(Image credit: ASRock)
Moving down to the bottom half of the board, we’ll start on the left side with audio. Hidden below the plastic shroud is the premium Realtek ALC1220 codec. ASRock chose to go with the last generation’s flagship solution instead of jumping up to the latest 4000 series Realtek codec, likely to cut costs. We also spy a few Nichicon Fine Gold audio capacitors poking through the said shroud. This board doesn’t have a fancy DAC as more expensive boards tend to, but this solution will still be satisfactory for an overwhelming majority of users.
In the middle of the board, we see three full-length reinforced PCIe slots (and an x1 slot) as well as the heatsinks that cover the three M.2 sockets. Starting with the PCIe configuration, when using 11th gen CPU, the top two slots are PCIe 4.0 capable with the slot breakdown as follows: x16/x0, x8/x8, or x8/x8/x4 (PCIe 3.0). ASRock says the PG Velocita supports Quad CrossfireX, 3-Way CrossFireX and CrossfireX. As is increasingly common, there’s no mention of SLI support. The x1 slot is connected via the chipset and runs at PCIe 3.0 x1 speeds.
Looking at M.2 storage, the top socket, M2_1, is connected directly to the CPU and offers the fastest speeds (PCIe 4.0 x4 @ 64 Gbps), supporting up to 80mm devices. The second slot down, M2_2, is chipset connected, supporting PCIe 3.0 x4 speeds and accepting SATA-based modules. The bottom socket, M2_3, is also fed from the chipset and runs both SATA-based drives and PCIe, at 3.0 x4 speeds. If M2_2 is occupied, SATA ports 0/1 will be disabled. If M2_3 has a SATA-type drive installed, SATA 3 will be disabled. In the worst-case scenario, when all M.2 sockets are populated (one with a SATA drive), you’ll still have three SATA ports available as well. The top two sockets hold up to 80 mm modules while the bottom supports up to 110 mm drives.
To the right of the PCIe socket sits the chipset heatsink and its PCB-under-plexi look. Continuing to the right edge, we spot another 4-pin fan/pump header, the second USB 3.2 Gen1 header and six SATA ports. Below that is another 4-pin fan header and finally a clear CMOS button to reset your BIOS. Around the SATA ports are the mounting holes for the included GPU support bar. Including this in the box is a great value add, especially with graphics cards seemingly getting larger and heavier as time goes on.
Across the board’s bottom are several headers, including more USB ports, fan headers and more. Below is the complete list, from left to right:
Front-panel audio
Thunderbolt header
UART header
RGB and ARGB headers
USB 2.0 header
TPM header
(2) Chassis/WP headers
Dr. Debug LED
Temperature sensor, water flow headers
Speaker
Front panel header
(Image credit: ASRock)
Flipping the board around to the rear IO area, there’s the pre-installed IO plate which matches the colors and design of the rest of the board. There are 10 USB ports: You get two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (Type-A and Type-C), six USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and two USB 2.0 ports, all of which have ESD protection. Two of these ports, outlined in red, are the Lightning ports. The ports are sourced from two different controller interfaces, allowing gamers to connect their mice/keyboard with the lowest jitter latency–according to ASRock. On the video front, the PG Velocita includes an HDMI port and DisplayPort for use with the integrated video on the processor.
Also here are the Intel (black) and Killer (blue) Ethernet ports on the networking front. The Killer LAN can communicate directly with the CPU, yielding lower latency than chipset-connected LAN–again according to ASRock. Next up are the antenna ports for Wi-Fi 6E and, finally, the gold-plated 5-plug audio stack plus SPDIF.
Although Thermaltake’s The Tower 100 isn’t the most practical case, it’s joyfully weird and doesn’t cost much.
For
+ Unique new case design
+ Showpiece from all angles
+ Easily accessible top IO
+ Reasonable thermal performance
+ Affordable
Against
– Cheap build quality
– Lacking cable management
– Impractical build process
– Limited cooling potential
Features and Specifications
Thermaltake’s The Tower 100 is a new ITX chassis that comes with a totally different design from what we’re used to. It places the motherboard along the back wall of the chassis, GPU directly into the PCIe slot, rear IO at the top under a cover, and a large ATX power supply in the basement. It’s bigger than most ITX cases, but it’s got a unique design that may appeal to those who want to show off their hardware, thanks to the glass on three sides.
But although it’s a small showcase, it does limit practicality somewhat by favoring form over function. Without further ado, let’s dig a bit deeper and find out if the case is good enough for a spot on our Best PC Cases list.
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Specifications
Type
Mini-ITX
Motherboard Support
Mini-ITX
Dimensions (HxWxD)
18.2 x 10.5 x 10.5 inches (462.8 x 266 x 266 mm)
Max GPU Length
13.0 inches (330 mm)
CPU Cooler Height
7.5 inches (190 mm)
Max PSU Size
ATX, up to 7.1 inches (180 mm)
External Bays
✗
Internal Bays
2x 2.5-inch
Expansion Slots
2x
Front I/O
2x USB 3.0, USB-C, Headphone, Mic
Other
✗
Front Fans
✗
Rear Fans
1x 120mm
Top Fans
1x 120mm
Bottom Fans
✗
Side Fans
✗
RGB
No
Damping
No
Features
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Touring around the outside of the chassis, two things that are immediately clear are the lavish amount of glass that’s included for an ITX case, and the ventilation. Glass doesn’t do many favors for cooling, but ventilation does, and from the looks of it, there’s plenty to be found here.
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The materials quality isn’t the most stunning, but given that this chassis carries an MSRP of just $109, it’s nothing to be upset about and more than adequate. Only the shroud around the top of the chassis is made from cheap plastic, though it is color-matched quite well to the rest of the case.
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Front IO comprises two USB 3.0 ports, a USB Type-C port, dedicated microphone and headphone jacks, and of course power and reset switches. This is all very complete, and much appreciated at the case’s price.
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Meanwhile, air filters are also provided on all possible air intake locations. All the side and front vents have filters. The top and rear exhaust have filters, and the bottom PSU intake has an air filter. Of course, that’s a good thing, but there’s a good reason for it: With no dedicated spots for fan-assisted air intake, every corner better have filtration or you’ll end up with significant dust buildup.
Opening Up the Tower 100
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Opening up The Tower 100 is a bit of a tedious process, but let’s start with the teardown to reveal the case’s internals. First, you pop off the top cover by pressing down the back to click it out, revealing access to the top-mounted rear IO location. You’ll also spot an exhaust fan here, along with all the cabling for the front IO.
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Then, you have to remove five screws to remove the plastic shroud. It then comes right off, and you can remove the glass panels.
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Then, we remain with the bottom vents, which are removed by unscrewing them from below. The thumbscrews here are quite tight, so you’ll need a screwdriver to get them off. Personally, I would have preferred to see the front and sides as a single panel and the top shroud stuck on with clips. As designed, it’s quite a bit of work to get the side panels off – a lot more than most ATX cases.
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The rear panel comes off by removing four thumbscrews, again bring your screwdriver.
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And with that, we have the chassis stripped down to its bare essentials.
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The only remaining thing to mention about the internals of the chassis is the dual SSD brackets on the right side, where you can mount your 2.5-inch drives somewhat on display.
A Word on Hardware Compatibility
This chassis is primarily aimed at offering a lot of GPU space and compatibility. As such, fitting large GPUs up to 13 inches (330mm) is a breeze, but you won’t get a lot of CPU cooling potential. The biggest AIO that fits in here is a 120mm unit, which isn’t much. For gaming, this will be fine, but if you’re also running a very powerful Intel CPU and doing a lot of CPU-intensive tasks, you may want to look elsewhere.
The new Corsair RM750x (2021) achieves top performance, isn’t noisy, and is equipped with a top-notch ML fan.
For
+ Full power at 47 degrees Celsius
+ High overall performance
+ Silent at low and mid loads
+ Fully compliant with ATX v2.52
+ Highly efficient at light loads
+ Long hold-up time
+ Low inrush current
+ Magnetic Levitation fan
+ Two EPS and four PCIe connectors
+ Fully modular
+ 10-year warranty
Against
– High OCP triggering points on the minor rails
– A small overall efficiency boost would be nice
– The fan speed profile could be even more relaxed
– In cable capacitors
– Small distance between peripheral connectors
Specifications and Part Analysis
It wasn’t easy to deliver a better product than the existing RM750x (2018), but Corsair managed to do this, and the new model achieves notably better performance. Compared to the previous model, it loses in quietness, but you cannot call it noisy with 28 dBA overall noise output. All in all, this is an excellent power supply, so that it will replace the older RM750x in our Best PSU Picks article. Notable competitors are the XPG Core Reactor 750W and the Seasonic Focus GX-750.
Corsair decided to make some notable changes in its RMx line, among the most popular ones in today’s market. This was not an easy task since the existing RMx units only counted three years in production and delivered excellent performance and silent operation simultaneously. When you try to upgrade something that is already very good, you face many challenges since you also have to keep the budget under control.
The new Corsair RMx (2021) line consists of five models with capacities ranging from 550W to 1000W, and the main differences with the previous models are depicted below.
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Product Photos
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We will look at the third stronger member of the new RMx line in today’s review, with 750W capacity. The RM750x is made by Channel Well Technology, like the rest of the line, and all of its cables are modular. The external design looks nice, and the fan grille, with the triangle perforations, doesn’t look so restrictive. The PSU’s dimensions are normal, which is a good thing since the smaller the power supply, the higher the noise output.
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Product Photos
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Specifications of Corsair RM750x
Manufacturer (OEM)
CWT
Max. DC Output
750W
Efficiency
80 PLUS Gold, Cybenetics Gold (87-89%)
Noise
Cybenetics A- (25-30 dB[A])
Modular
✓ (fully)
Intel C6/C7 Power State Support
✓
Operating Temperature (Continuous Full Load)
0 – 50°C
Over Voltage Protection
✓
Under Voltage Protection
✓
Over Power Protection
✓
Over Current (+12V) Protection
✓
Over Temperature Protection
✓
Short Circuit Protection
✓
Surge Protection
✓
Inrush Current Protection
✓
Fan Failure Protection
✗
No Load Operation
✓
Cooling
140mm Magnetic Levitation Fan (NR140ML)
Semi-Passive Operation
✓
Dimensions (W x H x D)
150 x 85 x 160mm
Weight
1.64 kg (3.62 lb)
Form Factor
ATX12V v2.53, EPS 2.92
Warranty
10 Years
Power Specifications of Corsair RM750x
Rail
3.3V
5V
12V
5VSB
-12V
Max. Power
Amps
20
20
62.5
3
0.3
Watts
150
750
15
3.6
Total Max. Power (W)
750
Cables & Connectors of Corsair RM750x
Description
Cable Count
Connector Count (Total)
Gauge
In Cable Capacitors
ATX connector 20+4 pin (610mm)
1
1
16-20AWG
Yes
4+4 pin EPS12V (650mm)
2
2
18AWG
Yes
6+2 pin PCIe (600mm+150mm)
2
4
16-18AWG
Yes
SATA (500mm+110mm+110mm+110mm)
1
4
18AWG
No
SATA (520mm+110mm+110mm)
2
6
18AWG
No
4-pin Molex (450mm+100mm+100mm+100mm)
1
4
18AWG
No
AC Power Cord (1400mm) – C13 coupler
1
1
18AWG
–
There are two EPS and four PCIe connectors, which are enough to deliver the unit’s full power without any issues. The number of peripheral connectors is increased, and our only complaint here is the small distance between the 4-pin Molex connectors. SATA drives’ slots might be close to each other in most chassis, not in all, though, but this usually is not the case for the devices that take power from 4-pin Molex (e.g., case fans). Finally, the in-cable caps can be a headache during cable routing and management.
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Cable Photos
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Component Analysis of Corsair RM750x
We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to better understand the components we’re about to discuss.
General Data
–
Manufacturer (OEM)
CWT
PCB Type
Double Sided
Primary Side
–
Transient Filter
4x Y caps, 2x X caps, 2x CM chokes, 1x MOV
Inrush Protection
NTC Thermistor SCK-037 (3 Ohm) & Relay
Bridge Rectifier(s)
2x GBU1506 (600V, 15A @ 100°C)
APFC MOSFETs
2x On Semiconductor FCPF190N60E (600V, 13.1A @ 100°C, Rds(on): 0.19Ohm)
APFC Boost Diode
1x Power Intergrations QH08TZ600 (600V, 8A @ 95°C)
Bulk Cap(s)
2x Nippon Chemi-Con (400V, 470uF & 390uF each or 860uF combined, 2,000h @ 105°C, KMW)
Main Switchers
2x On Semiconductor FCPF190N60E (600V, 13.1A @ 100°C, Rds(on): 0.19Ohm)
Corsair NR140ML (140mm, 12V, 0.27A, Magnetic Levitation Bearing Fan)
5VSB
–
Rectifier
1x PS1045L SBR (45V, 10A) & IPS ISD04N65A
Standby PWM Controller
On-Bright OB5282
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Overall Photos
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Like the RM1000x model, which we reviewed first, the OEM didn’t change, so Channel Well Technology (CWT) makes the new RMx units. The platform has several differences to offer improved performance and ATX v2.52 compatibility. The major change is the new fan, and the PCB’s dimensions haven’t changed, so there was space for a 140mm fan, allowing for good airflow.
The build quality is high, and CWT used good parts, including On Semiconductor FETs, Japanese caps by Chemi-Con and Rubycon, and lots of FPCAP polymer caps.
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Transient filter
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The transient filter has all required parts to provide adequate protection and, at the same time, suppress both incoming and outgoing conducted EMI emissions.
The inrush currents are suppressed by an NTC thermistor and relay combination, which does a good job.
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Bridge rectifiers
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The bridge rectifiers are powerful and are installed on a dedicated heat sink, so they won’t get too hot even under high loads and increased operating temperatures.
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APFC converter
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The APFC converter uses two FETs, provided by On Semiconductor, and a single boost diode. The bulk caps are by Chemi-Con, and their combined capacity is high enough to provide for a longer than 26ms hold-up time.
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Main FETs and primary transformer
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The main FETs are installed in a half-bridge topology, and an LLC resonant converter is also used to boost efficiency. The resonant controller is a Champion CM6901VAC IC.
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12V FETs and VRMs
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Six FETs regulate the 12V rail while a pair of DC-DC converters generate the minor rails.
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Filtering caps
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Chemi-Con mostly provides the filtering caps, so there won’t be any issues in the long run. Besides electrolytic caps, we also find a large number of polymer ones by FPCAP.
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5VSB Circuit
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The 5VSB rail uses an SBR on its secondary side, and the standby PWM controller is an On-Bright OB5282 IC.
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Supervisor IC Board
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The Supervisor IC is a Weltrend WT7502R, supporting all basic protection features but OTP (Over Temperature Protection). The latter is implemented through another circuit.
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Modular Board
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There are several bus bars on the modular board for power transfers with minimized energy losses. Many polymer caps are also installed on this area for lower ripple on all rails.
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Soldering quality
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Soldering quality is satisfactory, but in some areas of the PCB’s finish doesn’t look so good.
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Cooling fan
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The major change between the previous and the new RMx generation is the Magnetic Bearing fan, able to withstand super-tough operating conditions without sweating.
Tuesday’s Newegg shuffles always seem to have the most options, and today’s shuffle brings with it a sale on one of AMD’s best CPUs plus a wide selection of Nvidia’s best graphics cards. Only the former is up for grabs solo, but you’re still able to sign up for a chance to buy the Ryzen 9 5900X, RTX 3060, RTX 3070, RTX 3080 or RTX 3090 today. Plus, the Radeon RX 6800 XT is on offer today too, if you want to go for a pure AMD build.
While previous shuffles have had solo purchase options, consoles or bundles with monitors, today’s shuffle brings us back to motherboard, RAM and power supply pack-ins. They’re not overpriced, but you’re not saving anything on these components, either. Newegg is just tacking them on to hard-to-find graphics cards so that you have to buy one to get the GPU you’re probably actually here for.
That said, there is an option to buy a Ryzen 9 5900X on its own for $549 in today’s shuffle, which is probably the most enticing offer today. There’s also an RTX 3080 and 1440p @ 165Hz monitor bundle that’s up for grabs and is probably less likely to give you a redundant part than a motherboard bundle — who doesn’t want a second (or third) monitor?
Of course, you can also splurge on other graphics cards across Nvidia’s RTX 30-series lineup, and there’s even some pretty fancy third-party custom options with water cooling and RGB lighting available. Just be prepared to get a motherboard or other component with your GPU. The Radeon RX 6800 XT bundles also have some pretty swank looking gear from ASRock, plus it’s pretty high up in our GPU benchmarks hierarchy. Although, you’ll be trading away DLSS and some ray tracing capability if you go AMD.
While it’s true that the prices in Newegg Shuffles are higher than the MSRPs for these items, our eBay GPU pricing index shows that they’re still generally far lower than what you’re likely to get from scalpers. In most cases, even with the bundled components you’ll end up with a lower price than on eBay for just the GPU.
For those unfamiliar with the process, Newegg Shuffle uses a lottery format. Just select the component(s) you’d like to potentially buy. Then Newegg will hold a drawing later today, after which the ‘winners’ will be notified by email with the chance to purchase an item (only one) within a several-hour period. Based on our experience, you won’t get selected most of the time. But hey, it’s free to try.
Today’s complete options and prices consist of the following:
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X for $549
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X with Antec 550W Power Supply for $594
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X with Cooler Master Water Cooler for $679
Gigabyte Aorus GeForce RTX 3060 Elite with Gigabyte B550 Aorus Elite Motherboard for $674
Gigabyte Aorus GeForce RTX 3060 Elite with Gigabyte B550M Aorus Pro Micro ATX Motherboard for $644
Gigabyte Aorus GeForce RTX 3060 Elite with Gigabyte B550 Gaming Motherboard for $719
MSI GeForce RTX 3070 Ventus OC with OLOy 2 x 8GB RAM for $844
MSI GeForce RTX 3070 Ventus OC with OLOy WarHawk RGB 2 x 8GB RAM for $839
Gigabyte Aorus GeForce RTX 3070 with Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro Motherboard for $994
Gigabyte Aorus GeForce RTX 3070 with Gigabyte 750W Power Supply for $899
Gigabyte Aorus GeForce RTX 3070 with Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite Motherboard for $994
Asus TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 with ASUS TUF Gaming 27 inch 1440p @ 165Hz Monitor for $1,409
Asus TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 with Asus Strix B550-F Gaming Motherboard for $1,269
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 Vision OC with Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master Motherboard for $1,454
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 Vision OC with Gigabyte Z490 Aorus Master Motherboard for $1,464
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 Vision OC with Gigabyte 850W Power Supply for $1,229
ASRock Radeon RX 6800 XT with ASRock B550M Steel Legend Micro ATX Motherboard for $1,439
ASRock Radeon RX 6800 XT with ASRock Z490 Aqua Extended ATX Motherboard for $1,789
Gigabyte Geforce RTX 3090 Vision OC with Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master Motherboard for $2,504
Gigabyte Geforce RTX 3090 Vision OC with Gigabyte 850W Power Supply for $2,279
Gigabyte Aorus GeForce RTX 3090 Xtreme Waterforce with Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master Motherboard for $2,704
Gigabyte Aorus GeForce RTX 3090 Xtreme Waterforce with Gigabyte 850W Power Supply for $2,479
Gigabyte Aorus GeForce RTX 3090 Xtreme Waterforce plus AIO Cooling System with Gigabyte 850W Power Supply for $2,479
Gigabyte Aorus GeForce RTX 3090 Xtreme Waterforce plus AIO Cooling System with Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master Motherboard for $2,704
Regarding those pumped up prices, it’s worth noting that some of these components are also third-party custom options that generally include some extra features. It’s also unclear how much of the pricing increase comes direct from Newegg as opposed to from the AIB partners, though we do know that multiple GPU vendors announced higher prices due to increased tariffs several months ago.
With component shortages plaguing the PC industry, not to mention the smartphone and automotive industries, the latest word is that prices aren’t likely to return to ‘normal’ throughout 2021. If you can keep chugging along with whatever your PC currently has, that’s the best option, as otherwise prices are painful for all of the Nvidia Ampere and AMD RDNA2 GPUs.
Today’s Newegg shuffle starts at 1 pm EST/10 am PST. The Newegg Shuffle normally lasts for 2 hours, so if you’re interested in any of these components, act fast!
For other ways to get hard-to-find graphics cards, check out our RTX 3080 stock tracker and our feature on where to buy RTX 30-series cards. And for more Newegg savings, visit out page of Newegg promo codes.
B450 Motherboard (Image credit: GS Group & Philax)
GS Group Holding and Philax have started manufacturing Russia’s first domestically-produced B450 motherboard. Philax plans to release at least 40,000 motherboards to the Russian market.
Philax specifically chose the B450M Pro4 because of the possibility to add a TPM module, which is important for government agencies. GS Group Holding and Philax’s partnership doesn’t just stop with motherboards, though. The duo also has plans to produce up to 50,000 monitors. There’s also an 18-month project to develop and produce motherboards for Russia’s homemade Elbrus and Baikal processors.
Avid enthusiasts will probably find Philax’s B450 motherboard very familiar. That’s because the design is based on ASRock’s B450M Pro4. Philax and ASRock probably reached an agreement for the latter to use the design, probably under a licensing agreement of some sort. Obviously, Philax’s rendition doesn’t carry the ASRock brand. In fact, it doesn’t even sport the model name.
Although the B450 chipset is a bit outdated, it’s compatible with a wide range of Ryzen processors and APUs, including the latest Ryzen 5000 (Vermeer) and Ryzen 4000 (Renoir) lineups. Adhering to the micro-ATX form factor, the motherboard comes with four DDR4 memory slots. It supports DDR4-3200 and above memory modules.
While not generous, the AM4 motherboard does come with the necessities. It provides four SATA III ports for standard hard drives and SSDs and up to two M.2 slots for high-speed drives. The expansion options on the B450 motherboard consist of two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots and one PCIe 2.0 x1 slot. The speed varies depending on the processor choice.
Ryzen APUs will be able to take advantage of the motherboard’s D-Sub, DVI-D, or HDMI port. Connectivity-wise, the B450 motherboard offers a PS/2 combo port, two USB 2.0 ports, four USB 3.1 Gen1 ports, and even USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A and Type-C ports.
I would like to thank Phanteks for supplying the review sample.
Phanteks first introduced the fine 1-mm mesh front panels with the Eclipse P400 and P500 series enclosures. Both of these live in the $100+ segment and squarely cater to the mid-range, or mid to high range of system builders. Below that price point is the P300 Mesh edition with an MSRP of $60, still able to hold an ATX motherboard. Today, with the release of the Eclipse P200A, Phanteks is offering an even more compact ITX option for the Eclipse series, further lowering the barrier of entry to $50 even with the current tariffs in place. So, it will be interesting to see where Phanteks had to trim features and functionality to hit that price point without loosing the Eclipse DNA that makes the series so popular with consumers. We are reviewing the Phanteks Eclipse P200A Performance, which clocks in at that budget price point, but you may also opt for the Eclipse P200A ARGB variant with a glass side panel and ARGB elements out of the box.
Gigabyte X570 Aorus Pro WiFi (Image credit: Gigabyte)
Hardware detective Tum_Apisak has uncovered a CPU-Z validation that exposes Gigabyte’s X570S Aorus Pro AX motherboard, lending credence to the rumor that AMD is preparing a chipset refresh. Gigabyte has already registered various X570S motherboards with the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC). It’s never a sure-thing that every model will hit the retail shelves, but at least we’re sure now that we’ll see the X570S Aorus Pro AX.
With the 500-series chipset, AMD went with an in-house design with licensed IP instead of just outcourcing the chipset design to ASMedia like the chipmaker has done in the past. The main reason why the X570 chipset relies on active cooling is due to the increased TDP from PCIe 4.0 support. While the X470 chipset only pulls around 6W, the consumer and enterprise variants of the X570 chipset draw up to 11W and 15W, respectively.
There hasn’t been any new clues as to what improvements the X570S chipset will bring over the current X570 chipset. The current speculation is that AMD has found a way to optimize the chipset so it doesn’t require the small cooling fan that AMD aficionados aren’t very fond of. Or perhaps AMD has hit ASMedia up to improve the existing design. For now, it’s anyone’s guess.
There are a couple of passive X570 motherboards on the market, such as the Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero or the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Xtreme. However, these motherboards are also quite expensive. If the X570S chipset is what we suspect, AMD will have paved the way for motherboard vendors to utilize the chipset in more budget-friendly offerings.
The X570S Aorus Pro AX could very well be a refresh of the current X570 Aorus Pro WiFi. The motherboard doesn’t have the “M” or “I” suffix in its name, so it likely adheres to the same ATX form factor. The “AX” designation obviously alludes to the motherboard featuring 802.11ax connectivity or Wi-Fi 6, however way you want to call it. The X570S Aorus Pro AX’s firmware dates back to March 20, meaning the motherboard is fresh out of the oven so it might not be long before we see an official announcement from AMD and its partners.
I would like to thank DarkFlash for supplying the review sample.
DarkFlash is relatively new to the case market, having been established in 2016. They do offer quite a few clean, but solid ATX cases in interesting color choices, like pink or “NeoMint,” a gentle light green variant. While their previous products stayed true to ATX and M-ATX form factors with a few open frame variants, like the Blade-X or Knight K1, the DLH 21 we are reviewing in this article represents the brand’s first ITX enclosure. Also available in four colors, it offers a unique look and functional I/O, and even comes with subtle ARGB lighting built right into the base.
Specifications
DarkFlash DLH 21
Case Type:
SFF chassis
Material:
Steel and plastic
Weight:
N/A
Slots:
2
Drive Bays:
1x Internal 3.5″ 2x Internal 2.5″
Motherboard Form Factors:
Mini-ITX
Dimensions:
238.8 x 175 x 412 mm
Front Door/Cover:
N/A
Front Fans:
N/A
Rear Fans:
N/A
Top Fans:
1x 92 mm (included)
Bottom Fans:
N/A
Side Fans:
2x 120 mm (optional)
Front Radiator:
N/A
Rear Radiator:
N/A
Top Radiator:
N/A
Bottom Radiator:
N/A
Side Radiator:
240 mm
I/O:
1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C 2x USB 3.0 1x Audio combo plug
The Neotron dev team, consisting of makers Jonathan Pallant and Kaspar Emanuel, have created a custom PCB to carry our new favorite microcontroller—the Raspberry Pi Pico. The system is designed to resemble a retro-style computer you might find in the ’80s, albeit with a micro-ATX form factor.
The best Raspberry Pi projects don’t just draw inspiration from others, they add value and utilize the board to its fullest potential. The Neotron Pico is based off the team’s existing project, the Neotron 32, another ARM-based retro-style system using the same OS but the Pico adds a new dimension with room for expansion and a cheaper price point. The PCB was designed using KiCad, a free and open source electronics design application, and in the render we can see the Raspberry Pi Pico at the rear of the board, along with ports for PS/2 peripherals, sound, video and a DC barrel jack for power. An unpopulated SD card reader is also present to the right of the VGA connector, if the tracks exist on the board then adding an card reader should be relatively simple.
According to the project documentation, the board is able to output 12-bit Super VGA video using PIO state machines on the Pico. An SPI-to-GPIO expander is used to offer a total of eight IRQs and SPI chip-selects. Users can install up to eight peripherals or expansion slots.
Software-wise the board runs Neotron OS. This OS was written in Rust and is very similar to MS-DOS. You can read more about the PCB in detail and explore the code used in this project on the official Neotron Pico GitHub page.
Asus’ ROG Maximus XIII Hero is a full-featured Z590 motherboard that includes robust power delivery, premium audio with a DAC, four M.2 sockets, dual 2.5 GbE ports and integrated Wi-Fi 6E. Overall, the $499 Hero is a well-rounded premium board for Intel’s Z590 platform.
For
+ High-quality 14-phase 90A VRM
+ 10 USB ports, incl. 2x Thunderbolt 4
+ Dual 2.5 GbE plus Wi-Fi 6E
+ Four M.2 sockets
+ Premium audio
Features and Specifications
Asus’ ROG Maximus XIII Hero hits the motherboard scene offering users an extended features list, premium styling, and a price tag of $499.99. While that’s certainly expensive, it’s no longer flagship motherboard territory in terms of pricing. The latest Hero includes loads of USB ports (including ultra-fast Thunderbolt Type-C), high-quality VRMs and four M.2 sockets. All that, plus a high-end appearance and overall good performance help make this board worth the cost of admission.
Asus’ current Z590 product stack consists of 13 models. Starting from the top, the ROG Maximus XIII Extreme and its water-cooled counterpart, the Extreme Glacial, carve out the flagship SKUs, followed by the ROG Hero and the overclocking focused ROG Apex. There are four other ROG Gaming boards, Z590-E/-F/-A/-I(ITX), along with two TUF Gaming boards and three Prime boards on the budget end. Asus presents a well-rounded product stack with boards and price points for just about everyone from top to bottom.
Overall, performance on our Hero was the best out of the boards we’ve tested so far. Granted, the difference isn’t much between most of the higher-performing boards ( which bypass the Intel specification), but the Hero and its out-of-the-box settings lead the group. Overclocking went without a hitch, easily handling our 5.1 GHz clock speed along with the memory set to DDR4 4000. Of the several boards we’ve looked at, this and the MSI MEG Ace were some of the easier boards to overclock and get the memory to speed with little or no tweaking.
Generation after generation, the Asus ROG Maximus line has delivered (what this reviewer considers to be) devilishly good looks and a long list of features for the high-end segment. The Maximus XIII Hero continues this trend, tweaking the appearance a bit from the last generation and making other changes including adding PCIe 4.0 support for M.2 sockets and PCIe slots, Wi-Fi 6E, dual Thunderbolt USB Type-C ports and more. We’ll take a look at those and other features in detail. Below is the full specifications list from Asus.
Specifications – Asus ROG Maximus XIII Hero
Socket
LGA 1200
Chipset
Z590
Form Factor
ATX
Voltage Regulator
16 Phase (14+2, 90A MOSFETs)
Video Ports
(1) HDMI
USB Ports
(2) Thunderbolt 4, Type-C (40 Gbps)
(6) USB 3.2 Gen 2, Type-A (10 Gbps)
(2) USB 2.0 (480 Mbps)
Network Jacks
(2) 2.5 GbE
Audio Jacks
(5) Analog + SPDIF
Legacy Ports/Jacks
✗
Other Ports/Jack
✗
PCIe x16
(2) v4.0 x16, (x16/x0, x8/x8, x8/x4)
(1) v3.0 x4
PCIe x8
✗
PCIe x4
✗
PCIe x1
(1) v3.0 x4
CrossFire/SLI
Nvidia 2-Way SLI
DIMM slots
(4) DDR4 5333(OC), 128GB Capacity
M.2 slots
(1) PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe (up to 110mm)
(1) PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe (up to 80mm)
(1) PCIe 3.0 x4 / PCIe (up to 80mm)
(1) PCIe 3.0 x4 / PCIe + SATA (up to 110mm)
U.2 Ports
✗
SATA Ports
(6) SATA3 6 Gbps (RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10)
USB Headers
(1) USB v3.2 Gen 2×2 (Front Panel Type-C)
(2) USB v3.2 Gen 1
(2) USB v2.0
Fan/Pump Headers
(8) 4-Pin
RGB Headers
(3) aRGB Gen 2 (3-pin)
(1) Aura RGB (4-pin)
Legacy Interfaces
✗
Other Interfaces
FP-Audio, TPM
Diagnostics Panel
Yes, 2-character debug LED, and 4-LED ‘Status LED’ display
Along with the motherboard, the box includes several accessories ranging from cables to graphic card holders and a support DVD. For the price, this isn’t the most inclusive accessory stack we’ve come across, but it will get you started (hopefully) without a trip to the store. Below is a complete list of all included accessories.
Support DVD
User’s Manual
Q-connector
ROG stickers / keychain / thank you card
Graphics card holder
Wi-Fi Moving Antenna
(4) SATA cables
(1) Screw package for M.2 sockets
(1) ARGB extension cable
(1) RGB extension cable
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(Image credit: Asus)
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(Image credit: Asus)
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(Image credit: Asus)
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(Image credit: Asus)
Handarbeit
(Image credit: Asus)
Focusing on the top half of the board, we get a better look at the massive heatsinks/shrouds that cover a significant portion of the board. Wedged between the heatpipe-connected VRM heatsink are two reinforced 8-pin EPS connectors (one required) to send power to the CPU. To the right of the socket area and its gunmetal-colored capacitors are four DRAM slots capable of supporting up to 128GB of RAM. Asus lists supported speeds up to DDR4 5333(OC). But as always, your mileage may vary.
Just above the DRAM slots are the first three 4-pin fan/pump headers (of eight total). Six headers (CPU, Chassis, and AIO_Pump, support up to 1A/12W while the W_Pump and H_Amp headers support up to 3A/36W. The AIO and W_Pump headers run at full speed while the rest are Q-Fan controlled.
Continuing right is the 2-character Q-Code debug LED, and just below it are the four Q-LEDs (CPU, DRAM, VGA and Boot) that light up during the boot process. If there is an issue during POST, that specific LED remains lit and tells you, generally, where the problem is. You can use the Q-Code display for more details.
Moving down the right edge, we see the first two (of four) RGB headers. In this area are two 3-pin (ARGB) headers. You’ll find the other two headers, a 4-pin RGB and a third 3-pin ARGB, across the bottom edge. Just below this is a large Start button to power the PC on and a smaller multi-function FlexKey button. By default, this reboots the system, but you can configure this as a quick access feature to activate Safe Boot or turn Aura lighting on/off. Further down the right edge is the 24-pin ATX power connector and below that, a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C front-panel header.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Asus went with a 14-phase ‘teamed’ VRM configuration for the XIII Hero. Power is sent to a Renesas ISL69269 controller (7+2+1), where each channel feeds two phases (no doubler inline). After that, it’s on to the 14 Texas Instrument NexFET 90A Smart Power stages. This allows the CPU to use up to 1260A, one of the higher values we’ve seen. While the Hero isn’t the most robust solution at this price point, it will have no issues with ambient and even extreme overclocking. You’ll be limited by CPU thermals long before this VRM gets in the way.
(Image credit: Asus)
Taking a closer look at the bottom half of the board, we’ll start with the audio section on the left side. Underneath the plastic shroud, Asus chose the premium Realtek ALC4082 codec along with Chemicon brand Japanese audio capacitors. The Hero also includes an ESS Sabre9018Q2C DAC/Amp for driving your headphones properly. The onboard audio solution provides more than sufficient quality for an overwhelming majority of users.
In the middle of the board we find the PCIe slots and M.2 sockets. On the PCIe front, the Hero has three full-length PCIe slots and one x1 size slot. The top two PCIe slots are wired to the CPU and support PCIe 4.0 when using an 11th generation Intel processor. These top two slots run at x16/x0, x8/x8 or x8/x4 (lane bifurcation) and support Nvidia 2-Way SLI (AMD Crossfire is not mentioned in the specifications). The bottom full-length slot is fed from the chipset and runs at PCIe 3.0 x4. Out of the box, the bottom slot runs at PCIe 3.0 x2 mode and disables SATA ports 3/4. If you need to run the bottom slot at the full x4 mode, SATA ports 1/2/3/4 get disabled.
The Maximus XIII Hero has four M.2 sockets mixed in with the PCIe slots. The top two sockets are both wired PCIe 4.0 x4. Asus accomplishes this by sharing bandwidth with the CPU-fed PCIe slots. When M.2_2 is enabled, the top PCIe slot runs at x8 and the second slot drops to x4. These sockets support PCIe modules only, with the top slot able to handle 110mm modules and the second slot up to 80mm. The third M.2 socket, connected to the chipset, runs at PCIe 3.0 x4 mode, supporting up to 80mm modules. The bottom socket supports up to 110mm PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA-based M.2 devices. If M.2_4 (bottom right) is populated, SATA ports 5/6 are disabled. There’s a fair amount of lane sharing between the SATA ports, M.2 sockets and PCIe slots. So be sure to check out the manual for details on your specific configuration.
To the right of the PCIe area is the chipset heatsink, with the ROG symbol illuminated with RGB LEDs from underneath. On the right edge is another fan header, six SATA ports and two USB 3.2 Gen1 front panel headers that bookend the SATA ports.
Across the board’s bottom are several headers and buttons, including more USB ports, fan headers and more. If you’re into monitoring your custom water loop, there are headers for temperature and water flow as well. You can keep an eye on your entire cooling system, be it air or water. Below is the full list, from left to right:
Front-panel audio
RGB and ARGB headers
Retry button
Chassis fan and High Amp fan headers
(2) USB 2.0 headers
(2) Chassis fan headers
Temperature sensor, water flow headers
Speaker
Front panel header
(Image credit: Asus)
The Asus ROG Maximus XIII Hero comes with a pre-installed rear IO panel sporting a black background with white writing for all of the ports and buttons. There are a total of 10 USB ports: two USB 2.0 ports, six USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A and two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports for ultra-fast USB storage. Located above the Type-C ports are the two 2.5 GbE ports, while next to those are the two Wi-Fi 6E antenna sockets. A single HDMI port handles video output when using integrated graphics. The audio stack is the full 5-plug analog, plus SPDIF output. Finally, also here are the BIOS flashback button to flash without a CPU and a Clear CMOS button.
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