NZXT’s N7 B550 is a solid entrant into the AMD motherboard space. The heavily shrouded appearance looks good and the board is plenty capable with a ton of USB ports on the rear IO. Priced at $229.99, it’s a good basis for a B550 Ryzen rig.
For
Capable 12-Phase, 50A Power Delivery
Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5 GbE
10 USB ports
$229 price
Against
Lack of integrated RGBs may be a turnoff
No USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (20 Gbps) ports
Features and Specifications
A few months back, we looked at NZXT’s N7 Z490 motherboard for Intel processors. We found the board was priced well ($229.99) and came with plenty of features, making it a formidable option in the sub-$250 range. Fast-forward to today and by popular request, NZXT (working with ASRock) released the N7 B550, its first board for AMD CPUs. This board basically looks the same as its Intel-based predecessor, with the familiar flat metal shrouds covering an overwhelming majority of the RGB-free board, an appearance that matches perfectly with the company’s H Series cases, like the H710i. As a first attempt, NZXT is taking square aim at our best B550 motherboard list.
On the features side, the new board includes PCIe 4.0 support, Wi-Fi 6E capability, six SATA ports, and by customer/media request, a lot more USB ports on the rear IO. The N7 B550 power delivery, while not the most robust we’ve seen, supports the flagship Ryzen 9 5950X during stock operations and while overclocked. The delay to market had some benefits, with WiFi in particular. The ability to use 6E sets this board apart from the rest.
Performance-wise, the N7 B550 did well overall in our test suite. We observed above-average results in the PCMark10 tests, with the other results mixing in with all other B550 and X570 based systems. According to Hwinfo, the board boosted our 5950X to 5 GHz (albeit briefly, per usual), so this chip’s full potential is realized during default operations. When overclocking, the board efficiently handled our CPU with the VRMs running warm, but well within specification throughout all testing. Read on as we delve more into the details and performance results of the NZXT N7 B550.
Intel AX210 Wi-Fi 6E (Tri-band, 802.11ax, 2×2, MU-MIMO, BT 5.2)
USB Controllers
✗
HD Audio Codec
Realtek ALC1220
DDL/DTS Connect
✗ / ✗
Warranty
3 Years
NZXT, like all other board partners, includes some accessories to get you started. Below is a complete list of the included accessories. It’s not a long list, but enough to get your build started.
● (4) SATA cables
● Wi-Fi Antenna
● (2) screws for M.2 sockets
● Manual/User Guide
Image 1 of 3
Image 2 of 3
Image 3 of 3
Starting with how the board looks, we find the same heavily shrouded design found on the N7 Z490 also made its way to the N7 B550. The general nature of the shrouds may be polarizing for some users. Any hotspots (VRM and chipset heatsinks) sport a circle pattern for additional surface area, but this look is primarily aesthetic. Like previous iterations, the N7 comes in all black or white shrouds. If you’re looking for a white build or even a stealthy black, the N7 B550 has you covered. If you’re all in on the NZXT ecosystem, the company’s H Series cases match these boards well.
If you’re into integrated RGB lighting, you’ll have to look elsewhere as the N7 B550 doesn’t include any on the board. RGB illumination has to come from 3rd party, or NZXT, lights. Even if you’re into RGB, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as RGB strips, coolers, and RAM often outshine motherboard lights, anyway. There is a 4-pin RGB header and 3-pin aRGB header along with two 4-pin NZXT RGB headers on the board, so there are plenty of connection points for lights. The NZXT CAM software handles RGB lighting control and is compatible with several ecosystems.
With the board so heavily shrouded, there isn’t much to see outside of power and fan connectors. To that end, on the top above the left VRM bank, we find two EPS power connectors: a required 8-pin and optional 4-pin lead to power the CPU. Following the top edge to the right are the first two (of seven) 4-pin fan headers, with two more in the top right corner. All headers support up to 2A/24W output. This should be plenty for most fan and pump setups. In between the fan headers are two 4-pin NZXT RGB headers to control compatible NZXT products.
Just below that are the four DRAM slots, none of which use reinforcement. The board supports up to 128GB of RAM, with speeds listed to DDR4 4666+ (OC) for Vermeer-based CPUs (DDR4 4733+ (OC) for Renior based APUs). On the board’s far-right edge, visible through the metal shrouds is the 24-pin ATX to power the board and a front-panel USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C header.
The NZXT N7 uses a 12+2(+2) phase power delivery for this midrange-class motherboard. Power is sent to a Renesas RAA229004 (6+2) controller, on to Intersil ISL6617A phase doublers and finally, 50A Vishay SiC632A Dr. MOS MOSFETs. While this isn’t the most capable VRM we’ve seen, the configuration handled the mighty Ryzen 9 5950X flagship processor without issue at both stock and overclocked operation.
On the bottom half of the board, the only things you can see are the PCIe slots and the bottom edge headers. This makes for a spotless look hiding the ‘ugly’ PCB all motherboards have underneath. The far left edge holds the audio bits. Here you’ll find a premium Realtek ALC1220 7.1 channel codec, along with a few audio caps. Most people should find the audio solution sufficient for their needs.
The middle of the board contains four PCIe slots (two full-length, two x1 size) and two M.2 sockets (hidden below shrouds). Starting with the PCIe slots, the reinforced top slot is PCIe 4.0, with the second full-length slot running at PCIe 3.0 x4. This combination supports AMD Quad Crossfire X and Crossfire X (2-card) configurations. The two x1 slots are both PCIe 3.0 x1 and fed from the chipset.
Above and below the full-length PCIe slots are the two M.2 sockets. The top socket (M2_1) is wired PCIe 4.0 x4 and supports drives up to 80mm long. The second slot is PCIe 3.0 x2 and supports SATA-based modules up to 80mm. When using a SATA module in the second (M2_2) socket, SATA ports 5/6 are disabled.
Moving to the right, we find more shrouds over the chipset heatsink. Along the right edge of the board are six SATA ports supporting RAID0, 1, 5 and 10 modes. Also located in this area are two front-panel USB 3.2 Gen1 headers. If this board has a lot of anything this time around, it’s available USB ports.
Across the bottom is a slew of buttons and headers, including USB ports and RGB headers. Here’s the complete list, from left to right:
● Front panel audio
● UART header
● 3-pin aRGB and 4-pin RGB headers
● (3) USB 2.0 headers
● (3) System fan headers
● Dr. Debug LED
● Reset/Power buttons
● Front panel header
Focusing on the rear IO, one of the first things that jumps out aside from the matching black integrated IO plate, are the 10 USB ports. There’s a total of four USB 3.2 Gen2 ports (3x Type-A, 1x Type-C), four USB 3.2 Gen1 ports and two USB 2.0 ports. It’s only missing a 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C port, but not many B550 motherboards have one (especially at this price point). For use with APU’s and integrated video, a single HDMI (v2.1) port covers video connectivity. You’ll also find BIOS Flashback and Clear CMOS buttons, Wi-Fi antenna connections and a 5-plug plus SPDIF audio stack.
After almost a decade of total market dominance, Intel has spent the past few years on the defensive. AMD’s Ryzen processors continue to show improvement year over year, with the most recent Ryzen 5000 series taking the crown of best gaming processor: Intel’s last bastion of superiority.
Now, with a booming hardware market, Intel is preparing to make up some of that lost ground with the new 11th Gen Intel Core Processors. Intel is claiming these new 11th Gen CPUs offer double-digit IPC improvements despite remaining on a 14 nm process. The top-end 8-core Intel Core i9-11900K may not be able to compete with its Ryzen 9 5900X AMD rival in heavily multi-threaded scenarios, but the higher clock speeds and alleged IPC improvements could be enough to take back the gaming crown. Along with the new CPUs, there is a new chipset to match, the Intel Z590. Last year’s Z490 chipset motherboards are also compatible with the new 11th Gen Intel Core Processors, but Z590 introduces some key advantages.
First, Z590 offers native PCIe 4.0 support from the CPU, which means the PCIe and M.2 slots powered off the CPU will offer PCIe 4.0 connectivity when an 11th Gen CPU is installed. The PCIe and M.2 slots controlled by the Z590 chipset are still PCI 3.0. While many high-end Z490 motherboards advertised this capability, it was not a standard feature for the platform. In addition to PCIe 4.0 support, Z590 offers USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 from the chipset. The USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 standard offers speeds of up to 20 Gb/s. Finally, Z590 boasts native support for 3200 MHz DDR4 memory. With these upgrades, Intel’s Z series platform has feature parity with AMD’s B550. On paper, Intel is catching up to AMD, but only testing will tell if these new Z590 motherboards are up to the challenge.
The MSI Performance Gaming line, or “MPG” for short, from MSI is generally pitched as the middle ground between the no-holds-barred MEG line and more value-oriented MAG line. The MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X is an exception. Developed in partnership with and distributed by EKWB, the MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X features a monoblock for CPU and VRM cooling as well as all the tools you need to integrate it into your custom water-cooling build.
The MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X features a 16-phase Vcore VRM on a 6-layer PCB. There is also 2.5 Gb/s LAN and built-in WiFi 6E, as well as three M.2 slot heatsinks and even a physical RGB LED off switch. EK is including a leak test kit with the MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X, so you can build with confidence.
Let’s take a closer look at what the MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X has to offer.
1x Intel 1225V 2.5G LAN 1x Intel WiFi 6E AX210 module
Rear Ports:
4x USB 2.0 ports 1x DisplayPort 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 5 Gbps Type-A 1x 2.5G LAN 5x Audio Connectors 1x Flash BIOS Button 1x HDMI port 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps Type-A 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gbps Type-C 2x SMA WiFi connectors 1x Optical S/PDIF Out
Audio:
1x Realtek ALC4080 Codec
Fan Headers:
8x 4-pin
Form Factor:
ATX Form Factor: 12.0 x 9.6 in.; 30.5 x 24.4 cm
Exclusive Features:
Custom EK monoblock
EK leak test kit
2.5 Gb/s LAN
Intel WiFi 6E
Mystic Light
Frozr heatsink design
M.2 Shield Frozr
PCIe Steel Armor
Pre-installed I/O shielding
Testing for this review was conducted using a 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10900K. Stay tuned for an 11th Gen update when the new processors launch!
I would like to thank XPG for supplying the review sample.
The XPG Starker we are reviewing today is a compact full-ATX capable mid-tower chassis with a few unique or at least uncommon design and engineering elements in the front of a frame that is both sturdy and functional. With its steel interior that can hold a thick radiator in the ceiling, built-in ARGB elements, and clean looks, the XPG Starker is meant to appease gamers who want a bit of bling, but also crave clean looks. You may pick between a white or black variant of the chassis. In this review, we are taking a look at the black XPG Starker.
Specifications
XPG Starker
Case Type:
Mid-Tower
Material:
Steel, plastic, and tempered glass
Weight:
N/A
Slots:
7x horizontal or 4x vertical (with supplied metal bracket)
Drive Bays:
2x Internal 2.5″ (may be used for 1x 3.5″) 1x Internal 2.5/3.5″ 1x Internal 3.5″
Motherboard Form Factors:
Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, and ATX
Dimensions:
465 x 215 x 400 mm
Front Door/Cover:
N/A
Front Fans:
3x 120 or 2x 140 mm (1x 120 mm XPG Vento fan pre-installed)
Rear Fans:
1x 120 mm (1x 120 mm Vento ARGB fan pre-installed)
After almost a decade of total market dominance, Intel has spent the past few years on the defensive. AMD’s Ryzen processors continue to show improvement year over year, with the most recent Ryzen 5000 series taking the crown of best gaming processor: Intel’s last bastion of superiority.
Now, with a booming hardware market, Intel is preparing to make up some lost ground with the new 11th Gen Intel Core Processors. Intel is claiming these new 11th Gen CPUs offer double-digit IPC improvements despite remaining on a 14 nm process. The top-end 8-core Intel Core i9-11900K may not be able to compete against its AMD rival Ryzen 9 5900X in heavily multi-threaded scenarios, but the higher clock speeds and alleged IPC improvements could be enough to take back the gaming crown. Along with the new CPUs, there is a new chipset to match, the Intel Z590. Last year’s Z490 chipset motherboards are also compatible with the new 11th Gen Intel Core Processors, but Z590 introduces some key advantages.
First, Z590 offers native PCIe 4.0 support from the CPU, which means the PCIe and M.2 slots powered off the CPU will offer PCIe 4.0 connectivity when an 11th Gen CPU is installed. The PCIe and M.2 slots controlled by the Z590 chipset are still PCI 3.0. While many high-end Z490 motherboards advertised this capability, it was not a standard feature for the platform. In addition to PCIe 4.0 support, Z590 offers USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 from the chipset. The USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 standard offers speeds of up to 20 Gb/s. Finally, Z590 boasts native support for 3200 MHz DDR4 memory. With these upgrades, Intel’s Z series platform has feature parity with AMD’s B550. On paper, Intel is catching up to AMD, but only testing will tell if these new Z590 motherboards are up to the challenge.
The MSI Enthusiast Gaming, or MEG for short, line of motherboards represents the best of the best MSI has to offer. Last year’s Z490 MEG line offered some of the best overclocking available on an Intel platform. Memory overclocking was particularly noteworthy due to such innovations as MSI’s tabbed memory trace layout. Those same innovations return on MSI’s new Z590 lineup with even more refinement. The MSI MEG Z590 ACE features a massive 19-phase VRM with top of the line 90 A power stages and a robust VRM cooling solution, four M.2 slots, Thunderbolt 4, and a plethora of overclocking features. The MSI MEG Z590 ACE has a premium spec sheet, let’s see if there is premium performance to match!
1x BIOS Flashback button 1x Clear CMOS button 2x SMA antenna connectors 1x HDMI port 2x USB Type-C® Thunderbolt ports 2x Mini DisplayPort input 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports (red) 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports 2x USB 2.0 ports 1x RJ-45 port 1x optical S/PDIF Out connector 5x audio jacks
Audio:
1x Realtek ALC4082 Codec
Fan Headers:
8x 4-pin
Form Factor:
ATX Form Factor: 12.0 x 9.6 in.; 30.5 x 24.4 cm
Exclusive Features:
8 layer PCB
AudioBoost 5 HD
DDR4 Boost with steel Armor
Thunderbolt 4
Mystic Light
Quad M.2 with M.2 Shield Frozr
Testing for this review was conducted using a 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10900K. Stay tuned for an 11th Gen update when the new processors launch!
Cooler Master’s MasterFrame 700 is an open-air presentation case and test bench that transforms in just a few minutes. But while it’s built like a tank and has a true quality finish, it requires a skilled, patient builder to make the best of it.
For
+ Gorgeous open-chassis looks
+ Excellent build quality
+ Beautiful paint finish
+ Heavy steel panels
+ Includes lightly-tinted glass panel
Against
– Very heavy
– Paint finish in threads makes some screws difficult to insert
– Transforming from open-air case to test bench requires longer AIO tubes
– Can be tedious to work in (needs a skilled, patient builder)
– Motherboard tray covers back of socket
Assembling the MasterFrame 700
When Cooler Master reached out asking if I could have a look at its upcoming MasterFrame 700 open-air chasis / test bench, I was scratching my head a little about how to approach it. I wondered what mainstream appeal there could be in a test bench.
And while ‘mainstream’ is absolutely not how I would describe the MasterFrame 700, it actually left me quite impressed. After my experience with it, I can appreciate its appeal as an open-air chassis to showcase pretty builds.
It won’t be making it onto our Best PC Cases list as it’s not a chassis meant of the masses, but if you’re into this sort of thing, it might be worth reading on to find out more about the MasterFrame 700 – if the photos haven’t already convinced you.
Specifications
Type
Open-air/Test bench chassis
Motherboard Support
Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX
Dimensions (HxWxD)
16.1 x 12.1 x 27.6 inches (410 x 306 x 702 mm)
Max GPU Length
17.7 inches (450 mm), Up to 12.2 inches (310 mm) for maximum compatibility
CPU Cooler Height
6.2 inches (158 mm)
Max PSU Length
8.3 inches (210 mm)
External Bays
✗
Internal Bays
4x 3.5-inch
7x 2.5-inch
Expansion Slots
8x
Front I/O
2x USB 3.0, USB-C, 3.5 mm Headphone/Mic Combo
Other
(Removable) Tempered Glass Panel
Left Fans
None (Up to 2x 140mm, 3x 120mm)
Right Fans
None (Up to 2x 140mm, 3x 120mm)
Top Fans
None (Up to 2x 140mm, 3x 120mm in Test Bench Mode on a Radiator)
Bottom Fans
None (Up to 2x 140mm, 3x 120mm in Test Bench Mode on a Radiator)
Side Fans
✗
RGB
No
Damping
No
Warranty
1 Year
Normally, we start off case reviews with a tour of the features, build a standardized system in it, and wrap up with thermal and acoustic testing – but today we’re foregoing the usual format. Instead, I’m going to take you on the path I took to familiarize myself with the product, which starts off with assembling the MasterFrame 700.
Unboxing, Layer by Layer
Image 1 of 4
Image 2 of 4
Image 3 of 4
Image 4 of 4
The Cooler Master MasterFrame 700 comes flat-packed into a relatively compact, briefcase-style box. None of the components come assembled, and as such we have to start with assembling the case. I started off by fixing the case’s radiator wings to the main frame, which was easily accomplished by using three countersunk screws per hinge, of which there are four. I also stuck on four rubber feet.
The hinges are beautifully manufactured to a mirror finish. In fact, all the parts are quite nicely made with a very smooth and even paint job. The panels themselves are also very thick steel, and altogether, it’s a very heavy chassis that oozes quality – which is no surprise given that it’s partly manufactured by hand.
Image 1 of 2
Image 2 of 2
However, at this stage, I already ran into my first issue – with the wings on, the entire chassis was tilted quite far forward, which didn’t seem right.
With no manual to be found (yet), I played around a bit with the wing layout and eventually got the wings attached the correct way – with the text on the user’s side and the straight edge at the bottom – the top of the wings are slanted down slightly for style.
I then proceeded to attach the PCIe bracket, PSU bracket, and rear cover. The case comes with two PSU covers that you can install above one another for extra power. I don’t really see the need for a second PSU, but I suppose the addition of just one bracket can’t do much harm for those who do.
Image 1 of 3
Image 2 of 3
Image 3 of 3
At this point, the chassis was almost assembled and ready for system installation. I also chucked on the glass panel holder, a small SSD bracket at the rear, a fifth rubber foot at the bottom of the rear cover, the IO panel at the top, and voila:
However, in this assembly I had a few moments where I got stuck, not knowing exactly how to fix a certain bracket to the mainframe. When it was all done and built, which took longer than it looks like from the pictures, I was wondering where the manual was. I had already turned the box over twice looking for it. But eventually, I found it hidden under the glass panel.
Image 1 of 2
Image 2 of 2
Yep. I had placed the glass panel aside for when I neared the end of the build, but in doing so totally overlooked that the manual might be in there. Oh well, we made it this far.
Neat Little Details
The MasterFrame 700 comes with a few neat little details that show thoughtful design. For example, it includes a magnetic rubber pad shaped like the Cooler Master logo that you can use to keep track of screws, a VESA 100 mount for if you want to wall-mount the chassis, and there are instructions on where to place the standoffs for the motherboard.
Image 1 of 3
Image 2 of 3
Image 3 of 3
That said, I’m not sure I fully understand the VESA mount. It’s part of the main frame, but behind it is the PSU mount, cable management space and the rear cover to hang hard drives nto. As such, you’d need to make a lot of sacrifices to be able to wall-mount this chassis if you want it flat against the wall – or you’ll need an arm. And it better be a strong arm, because this chassis is very heavy with a system installed into it.
I would like to thank XPG for supplying the review sample.
Born out of a sub-branding effort that took place in the past and was “upgraded” to its own independent branding, XPG is the gaming-focused product range from ADATA. The XPG Defender Pro we are reviewing today advertises E-ATX compatibility and a well-designed, metal exterior with embedded LED strips as well as a set of fans. As seen in the promotional image above, this case ships in either black or white color variants, and we received the white one for review.
Specifications
XPG Defender Pro
Case Type:
E-ATX Mid-Tower
Material:
Steel, plastic, and tempered glass
Weight:
N/A
Slots:
7+2
Drive Bays:
2x Internal 2.5/3.5″ 2x Internal 2.5″
Motherboard Form Factors:
Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX, CEB, and EEB
Dimensions:
492 x 220 x 441 mm
Front Door/Cover:
N/A
Front Fans:
3x 120 or 2x 140 mm (2x XPG Vento 120 fans pre-installed)
After almost a decade of total market dominance, Intel has spent the past few years on the defensive. AMD’s Ryzen processors continue to show improvement year over year, with the most recent Ryzen 5000 series taking the crown of best gaming processor: Intel’s last bastion of superiority.
Now, with a booming hardware market, Intel is preparing to make up some of that lost ground with the new 11th Gen Intel Core Processors. Intel is claiming these new 11th Gen CPUs offer double-digit IPC improvements despite remaining on a 14 nm process. The top-end 8-core Intel Core i9-11900K may not be able to compete against its Ryzen 9 5900X AMD rival in heavily multi-threaded scenarios, but the higher clock speeds and alleged IPC improvements could be enough to take back the gaming crown. Along with the new CPUs, there is a new chipset to match, the Intel Z590. Last year’s Z490 chipset motherboards are also compatible with the new 11th Gen Intel Core Processors, but Z590 introduces some key advantages.
First, Z590 offers native PCIe 4.0 support from the CPU, which means the PCIe and M.2 slots powered off the CPU will offer PCIe 4.0 connectivity when an 11th Gen CPU is installed. The PCIe and M.2 slots controlled by the Z590 chipset are still PCI 3.0. While many high-end Z490 motherboards advertised this capability, it was not a standard feature for the platform. In addition to PCIe 4.0 support, Z590 offers USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 from the chipset. The USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 standard offers speeds of up to 20 Gb/s. Finally, Z590 boasts native support for 3200 MHz DDR4 memory. With these upgrades, Intel’s Z series platform has feature parity with AMD’s B550. On paper, Intel is catching up to AMD, but only testing will tell if these new Z590 motherboards are up to the challenge.
The ASRock Z590 Steel Legend WiFi 6E aims to be a durable, dependable platform for the mainstream market. The ASRock Z590 Steel Legend WiFi 6E features a respectable 14-phase VRM that takes advantage of 50 A power stages from Vishay. Additionally, ASRock has included a 2.5 Gb/s LAN controller from Realtek as well as the latest WiFi 6 connectivity. The ASRock Z590 Steel Legend WiFi 6E has all the mainstream features most users need packaged in at a reasonable price. All that is left is to see how the ASRock Z590 Steel Legend WiFi 6E stacks up against the competition!
2x Antenna Ports 1x PS/2 Mouse/Keyboard Port 1x HDMI Port 1x DisplayPort 1.4 1x Optical SPDIF Out Port 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A Port 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C Port 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Ports 2x USB 2.0 Ports 1x RJ-45 LAN Port 5x HD Audio Jacks
Audio:
1x Realtek ALC897 Codec
Fan Headers:
7x 4-pin
Form Factor:
ATX Form Factor: 12.0 x 9.6 in.; 30.5 x 24.4 cm
Exclusive Features:
ASRock Super Alloy
XXL Aluminium Alloy Heatsink
Premium Power Choke
50A Dr.MOS
Nichicon 12K Black Caps
I/O Armor
Shaped PCB Design
Matte Black PCB
High Density Glass Fabric PCB
2oz copper PCB
2.5G LAN
Intel® 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E
ASRock steel Slot
ASRock Full Coverage M.2 Heatsink
ASRock Hyper M.2 (PCIe Gen4x4)
ASRock Ultra USB Power
ASRock Full Spike Protection
ASRock Live Update & APP Shop
Testing for this review was conducted using a 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10900K. Stay tuned for an 11th Gen update when the new processors launch!
I would like to thank Antec for supplying the review sample.
Antec seems heavily invested in the Flux platform because it is a unique selling point that stands out in this otherwise crowded sub-$100 market. With the original DF600 Flux, we saw some thermal benefits, but it was not worth the increased operating noise due to the fact that it only included the fans but not a fan controller. Then there was the P10 Flux, which actually made good use of that thermal platform, and its approach to silence provided a better use case for the Flux setup. Today, we get to review the Antec DF700 Flux, which is also part of the Dark Fleet series and seems to improve usability for that unique fan setup.
If you’ve ever needed remote access to a PC, you’ve probably tried VPN or other apps such as TeamViewer. However, this kind of software only works within the remote computer’s OS, which means that it can’t access the BIOS, reboot, install an operating system or power on the computer. There are several solutions that allow you to remote control a PC independently of its operating system, but using a KVM over IP is one of the most convenient and affordable.
While a store-bought KVM over IP device can cost hundreds of dollars, it’s easy to use a Raspberry Pi to create your own. A developer named Maxim Devaev designed his own system called Pi-KVM, which he is planning to sell as a $130 kit. However, if you have the right parts, you can use the software he’s developed and your Pi, to put it together for far less.
Below, we’ll show you how to build your own Raspberry Pi-powered KVM over IP that can output full HD video, control GPIO ports and USB relays, configure server power using ATX functions and more. You’ll be able to control the whole setup via a web browser from another device over the internet via TailScale VPN or on your local network.
What You Need to Build a KVM Over IP with Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi 4 or Raspberry Pi Zero
16 GB or larger microSD Card. (See best microSD cards for Raspberry Pi)
HDMI-to-CSI bridge like this one or or USB HDMI capture dongle. (https://amzn.to/2ZO9tjo
USB female to dual male Type-A splitter like this one.
USB C to Type-A cable
5V, 3 amp power supply with USB Type-A output. You’ll be plugging a type-A cable into it so the official Raspberry Pi power supply won’t do.
Setting Up the SD Card for Raspberry Pi KVM Over IP
The software you need for the Raspberry Pi is all contained on a custom disk image that you must download and burn to a microSD card. Here’s how to do that with Raspberry Pi Imager, but you can also use other burning software such as balenaEtcher.
1. Download the Pi-KVM disk image. The first thing we will need is to download the ready made image from pikvm.org. Note that there are different versions, depending on which Pi you use and whether you use the HDMI-to-CSI bridge or an HDMI-to-USB capture dongle. The image file is in BZ2 format so you’ll need to uncompress it.
2. Extract the IMG file from the BZ2 file you downloaded. If you have Windows, BZ2 support isn’t built-in, but you can use 7Zip to do it.
3. Launch Raspberry Pi Imager. If you don’t have it installed already, you can download it from the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s website.
4. Select “Choose OS” -> “Use Custom” and locate the Pi-KVM image.Pick your microSD card by clicking Choose SD Card. We will now “Choose SD Card”, make sure it’s the correct one you are choosing.
5. Click Write.
Setting Up the Raspberry Pi for KVM Over IP
Now that we have finished burning the microSD Card, we can move on to installing the HDMI-to-CSI-2 bridge or USB-to-HDMI dongle and prepping the OTG USB-c cable
1. Connect the CSI ribbon cable from the HDMI-to-CSI-2 bridge to the Raspberry Pi’s CSI camera port. Make sure that the blue marking faces the black clamp. If you are using an HDMI-to-USB dongle instead, connect it to a USB port on your Pi. If you are using a Pi Zero, you will need microUSB to USB Type-A hub.
2. Disable the 5V pin on one of the USB Type-A male connectors from your splitter. The easiest way to do this is to place a small piece of Kapton tape over the right-most pin on the connector. You could also try cutting that leads to that pin, but that’s more complicated.
This will be the connector that attaches to a USB port on the PC you wish to control. If you don’t disable that 5V pin, it will back feed the power from your wall power to the PC, possibly causing damage to its USB port.
3. Connect the USB C-to-A cable to the Type-A female connector on the splitter. This will provide power to the Pi. Your cables should look like the picture below.
4. Connect the USB-C cable to the Raspberry Pi 4’s USB-C port.
5. Connect the unmodified Type-A male to your power supply.
6. Attach the USB Type-A connector and HDMI to the PC you wish to remote control.
7. Insert the microSD card we created and power on the Raspberry Pi.
Setting Up the Pi-KVM Software
At this point we are ready to start using the Pi-KVM. On first boot it will take longer then expected due to the initial process for enlarging the microSD card so be patient and it will boot.
1. Locate your Raspberry Pi’s IP address. You can do this looking through your router’s control panel to see what devices are logged on, or by using a little method I like to do called ARP.
To find the Pi’s IP using this method, launch Windows PowerShell, run the command “arp -a” and you’ll see a list of devices on your local network. Anything that begins with b8:27:eb: or dc:a6:32: is a Raspberry Pi.
2. Navigate to the Pi’s IP address in a browser on your client computer (the one you are using to control the other PC). You will be redirected you to your login page.
3. Log in. The default username is admin and the password is admin also.
4. Click the KVM icon.
You should now be presented with a screen like the one shown below, providing you with access to the remote PC and a number of other menus. . I have more options then others and you can unlock them by going to the pikvm github for more instructions.
Keep in mind that the more storage you have on your sd card the more ISO images you can store and use for future PC setups.
With the proper GPIO hook ups you can also enable the use of ATX controls
To expand the functionally of the PI-KVM to allow for more display inputs, you can connect it to an HDMI 4 port switch with USB control.
Updating Pi-KVM to the Latest Version
Pi-KVM is always getting new features so it’s important to keep the software up to date. Fortunately, you don’t need to reflash the microSD card. To update:
1. Click the Terminal icon on Pi-KVM’s main menu. A CLI shell will appear.
2. Become a super user by typing “su” and then entering “root” as the password.
3. Type “rw” to make the file system read/write.
4. Enter “pacman -Syu” and “Y” to get updates.
Reminder: set the file system back to ReadOnly with “ro” in the command line when done.
Access Pi-KVM Over the Internet
You can use Tailscale to access Pi-KVM over the internet. This is a convenient and free (for private use) tool for organizing a small VPN network.
1. Create a Tailscale account choosing the Solo Plan will be free for personal use only
2. Click the Terminal icon on Pi-KVM’s main menu.
3. Become a super user by typing “su” and then entering “root” as the password.
4. Type “rw” to make the file system read/write.
5. Type “pacman -S tailscale-pikvm” to install tailscale VPN service on PI-KVM.
6. Type “reboot” to perform a soft reboot on the Pi-KVM
7. After the reboot has been performed we will need to gain access to the terminal again so follow steps 1-4
8. Type “systemctl enable –now tailscaled” to enable to service
9. Type “tailscale up” to start the initiation process
10. Follow the Link to authorize this installation
11. Once connected successfully you will see “Success” appear on the terminal.
12. Navigate to this URLhttps://login.tailscale.com/admin/machines to view the IP address assigned by tailscale VPN.
On the Client Side
This will show you how to install tailscale on the workstation side. Tailscale supports most operating systems including windows, mac, and linux.
1. Download tailscale for your OS from https://tailscale.com/download
2. Navigate to this URLhttps://login.tailscale.com/admin/machines to view the IP address assigned by tailscale VPN.
3. Navigating to the IP address given by tailscale on your browser. It will connect you to your PI-KVM
This is a very affordable way to build a very modern, very fast KVM over IP without the high cost. This software is also provided to you for free. There are more features that I have not covered in this tutorial such as VPN, Sharing network from your PI to PC, VNC and many more and if you wish to learn about it, visit the Pi-KVM github page or join the Discord.
After almost a decade of total market dominance, Intel has spent the past few years on the defensive. AMD’s Ryzen processors continue to show improvement year over year, with the most recent Ryzen 5000 series taking the crown of best gaming processor: Intel’s last bastion of superiority.
Now, with a booming hardware market, Intel is preparing to retake some of that lost ground with the new 11th Gen Core Processors. Intel is claiming these new 11th Gen CPUs offer double-digit IPC improvements despite remaining on a 14 nm process. The top-end 8-core Intel Core i9-11900K may not be able to compete against its AMD rival Ryzen 9 5900X in heavily multi-threaded scenarios, but the higher clock speeds and alleged IPC improvements could be enough to take back the gaming crown. Along with the new CPUs, there is a new chipset to match, the Intel Z590. Last year’s Z490 chipset motherboards are also compatible with the new 11th Gen Core Processors, but Z590 brings some key advantages.
First, Z590 offers native PCIe 4.0 support from the CPU, which means the PCIe and M.2 slots powered off the CPU will offer PCIe 4.0 connectivity when an 11th Gen CPU is installed. The PCIe and M.2 slots controlled by the Z590 chipset are still PCI 3.0. While many high-end Z490 motherboards advertised this capability, it was not a standard feature for the platform. In addition to PCIe 4.0 support, Z590 offers USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 from the chipset. The USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 standard offers speeds of up to 20 Gb/s. Finally, Z590 boasts native support for 3200 MHz DDR4 memory. With these upgrades, Intel’s Z series platform has feature parity with AMD’s B550. On paper, Intel is catching up to AMD, but only testing will tell if these new Z590 motherboards are up to the challenge.
The AORUS line from Gigabyte spans a broad range of products: laptops, peripherals, and core components. Across the enthusiast spectrum, the AORUS name denotes Gigabyte’s gaming-focused products, with the AORUS motherboard range featuring a consistent naming scheme that includes the Pro, Elite, Ultra, Master, and Extreme motherboards. Within this lineup, the Master serves as the high-end mainstream option offering prime features at a high but attainable price point.
The Gigabyte Z590 AORUS Master features a monster 19-phase VRM utilizing 90 A power stages and Gigabyte’s signature finned cooling solution. Both Q-Flash and a dual BIOS have been included, providing a redundant safety net for ambitious overclocking. The Gigabyte Z590 AORUS Master also offers a full-coverage aluminium backplate for added rigidity and additional VRM cooling. Additionally, Gigabyte has included a 10 Gb/s LAN controller from Aquantia. All of the features are in order, so let’s see how the Gigabyte Z590 AORUS Master stacks up against the competition.
1x Q-Flash Plus button 1x Clear CMOS button 2x SMA antenna connectors 1x DisplayPort 1x USB Type-C® port, with USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 5x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports (red) 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports 1x RJ-45 port 1x optical S/PDIF Out connector 5x audio jacks
Audio:
1x Realtek ALC1220 Codec
Fan Headers:
9x 4-pin
Form Factor:
ATX Form Factor: 12.0 x 9.6 in.; 30.5 x 24.4 cm
Exclusive Features:
APP Center
@BIOS
EasyTune
Fast Boot
Game Boost
RGB Fusion
Smart Backup
System Information Viewer
USB TurboCharger
Support for Q-Flash Plus
Support for Q-Flash
Support for Xpress Install
Testing for this review was conducted using a 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10900K. Stay tuned for an 11th Gen update when the new processors launch!
Matthew Wilson 1 day ago Cases, Featured Tech News
Antec is revamping its Cube Mini-ITX chassis for 2020. The new Antec Dark Cube comes with two panel options, allowing users to choose between tempered glass for aesthetics or a mesh front panel for optimal airflow.
The Dark Cube is described an untraditional case, but it still maintains support for the latest high-end gaming hardware. This includes motherboards up to M-ATX in size, despite being an ITX case. By using dual panel options, users can also opt for maximum airflow with a mesh front, or better aesthetics for showing off your build with a tempered glass panel instead.
The Dark Cube measures in at 512 x 240 x 406mm (Lx W x H) and features a case structure made of 3mm aerospace standard aluminium alloy. Inside the case you will find room for one 3.5″ HDD drive bay and one 2.5″ SSD bay. There are also four expansion slots.
The case supports graphics cards with a length of up to 330mm and also supports up to 1x 240mm liquid cooling radiator in the front and a 120mm radiator in the rear. There are also three fan mounts for additional cooling. Thanks to metallic rails, the Dark Cube chassis can support different configurations, including an upside down build.
The Antec Dark Cube will be available later this month with an MSRP of €209. Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.
KitGuru Says: Are any of you planning on putting together a small form factor gaming PC this year? Will you be considering the Antec Dark Cube for it?
Become a Patron!
Check Also
Ghost of Tsushima’s developers will become ambassadors for the island
Ghost of Tsushima took many by surprise when it launched last Summer, offering a beautiful …
Asus has introduced its family of custom graphics cards based on the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT GPU with 2560 stream processors and a 192-bit memory interface. The new boards formally belong to higher-end/performance mainstream segment of the market, yet they have almost all the features that are found on enthusiast-grade graphics cards.
Asus’s family of custom Radeon RX 6700 XT video cards includes three models: the Dual Radeon RX 6700 XT, the TUF Gaming Radeon RX 6700 XT, and the ROG Strix Radeon RX 6700 XT. The ROG Strix-badged Radeon RX 6700 XT card naturally sits on top of the stack, the TUF-branded board combines durability and performance, whereas the Dual card is slightly more compact than the other two and can fit into Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX cases.
All the products rely on their own custom PCB that is both tall and long, which most probably indicates an enhanced voltage regulating module (VRM). The cards also feature a hardware BIOS switch to automatically load different clocks and voltage settings, so it is safe to say that the three Radeon RX 6700 XT boards from Asus feature higher frequencies than those recommended by AMD.
As far as power delivery is concerned, the ROG and the TUF Radeon RX 6700 XT cards use two eight-pin auxiliary PCIe power connectors, whereas the Dual Radeon RX 6700 XT board comes with one eight-pin and one six-pin PCIe power connectors.
All of the Asus Radeon RX 6700 XT cards are equipped with a large proprietary cooling system that is wider than two slots, feature two (in case of the Dual model) or three fans that stop at idle, multiple heat pipes, and a backplate to improve cooling and guarantee longevity. Since the new custom-built Radeon RX 6700 XT cards are designed mostly for DIY enthusiasts, their coolers are equipped with addressable RGB LEDs, making sure that the card blends in with your chosen aesthetic. The ROG has plenty of LEDs, whereas the TUF and Dual boards have more modest lighting.
Asus yet has to announce final specifications of its Dual Radeon RX 6700 XT, TUF Gaming Radeon RX 6700 XT, and ROG Strix Radeon RX 6700 XT cards, so at this point it is impossible to tell how the new cards stack up against AMD’s reference design.
Asus did not disclose pricing or availability dates of its Radeon RX 6700 XT, though given the current deficit of GPUs and components, this is hardly surprising.
While we still don’t have an Intel Rocket Lake-S Core i9-11900K CPU to use for testing, Intel Z590 boards have been rolling in. So while we await benchmark results, we’ll be walking in detail through the features of these brand-new boards. First up on our bench was the ASRock Z590 Steel Legend 6E Wi-Fi, followed by the Gigabyte Z590 Aorus Master and Gigabyte’s Z590 Vision G. Today, we take a close look at the MSI MEG Z590 Ace. We’ll have to wait for benchmark results, though, to see if it deserves a spot on our best motherboards list.
The latest version of the Ace board features robust power delivery, four M.2 sockets, a premium audio codec and more. The new Ace also has updated styling on the heatsink and shrouds while still keeping the black with gold highlights theme from the previous generation. Emblazoned on the rear IO is the MSI Dragon (with RGB LEDs) and the Ace name (no lighting). We don’t have an exact price for the MEG Z590 Ace. However, the Z490’s MSRP was $399, so we expect the Z590 version to cost the same or slightly more.
MSI’s current Z590 product stack consists of 11 models, with most falling into the MEG (high-end) MPG (mid-range) and MAG (budget) lineups. We’re greeted by several familiar SKUs and a couple of new ones. Starting at the top is the flagship MEG Z590 Godlike, the Ace we’re looking at now, and a Mini ITX MEG Z590I Unify. The mid-range MPG line consists of four boards (Carbon EK X, Gaming Edge WiFi, Gaming Carbon WiFi and Gaming Force), while the less expensive MAG lineup consists of two boards (Z590 Tomahawk WiFi, and Torpedo). Wrapping up the current product stack are two ‘Pro’ boards in the Z590 Pro WiFi and Z590-A Pro. The only thing missing out of the gate is a Micro ATX board, but it’s likely we see one or two down the line.
We can’t talk about Rocket Lake-S performance yet — not that we have a CPU at this time to test boards with anyway. All we’ve seen at this point are rumors and a claim from Intel of a significant increase to IPC. But the core count was lowered from 10 cores/20 threads in Comet Lake (i9-10900K) to 8 cores/16 threads in the yet-to-be-released i9-11900K. To that end, we’ll stick with specifications and features, adding a full review that includes benchmarking, overclocking and power consumption shortly.
MSI’s MEG Z590 Ace includes all the bits you expect from a premium motherboard. The board has a stylish appearance, very capable power delivery (16-phase 90A Vcore) and the flagship Realtek ALC4082 audio codec with included DAC. We’ll cover these features and much more in detail below. First, here are the full specs from MSI.
(1) Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210 (MU-MIMO, 2.4/5/6GHz, BT 5.2)
USB Controllers
??
HD Audio Codec
Realtek ALC4082
DDL/DTS Connect
✗ / DTS:X Ultra
Warranty
3 Years
The accessories included with the board are reasonably comprehensive, including most of what you need to get started. Below is a full list.
Manual
Quick Installation Guide
USB drive (Drivers)
Cleaning brush
Screwdrivers
Stickers (MEG/Cable)
(4) SATA cables
(4) Screws/standoff sets for M.2 sockets
Thermistor cable
1 to 2 RGB LED Y cable, Corsair RGB LED cable, Rainbow RGB LED cable
DP to mini DP cable
Image 1 of 3
Image 2 of 3
Image 3 of 3
Looking at the Z590 Ace for the first time, we see the black PCB along with black heatsinks and shrouds covering most of the board. MSI stenciled on identifying language such as the MEG Ace name and the MSI Gaming Dragon in gold, setting this SKU apart from the rest. The VRM heatsinks are both made from a solid block of aluminum with lines cut out. Additionally, the shroud is made of metal and connected to the heat pipes, increasing surface area significantly. Also worth noting is the VRM heatsinks share the load connected via heatpipe. RGB LED lighting is minimal here, with a symbol on the chipset shining through a mesh cover on the chipset heatsink and the MSI dragon above the rear IO. While tastefully done, some may want more. With its mostly black appearance, the board won’t have trouble fitting in most build themes.
Focusing on the top half of the board, we’ll get a better look at what’s going with the VRM heatsinks and other board features in this area. In the upper-left corner, we spot two 8-pin EPS connectors, one of which is required for operation. Just below this is the shroud covering the rear IO bits and part of the VRM heatsink. On it is a carbon-fiber pattern along with the MSI Gaming Dragon illuminated by RGB LEDs. The socket area is relatively clean, with only a few caps visible.
Just above the VRM heatsink is the first of eight fan headers. All fan headers on the board are the 4-pin type and support PWM- and DC-controlled fans and pumps. The CPU_FAN1 header supports up to 2A/24W and auto-detects the attached device type. The PUMP_FAN1 supports up to 3A/36W. The rest of the system fan headers support up to 1A/12W. This configuration offers plenty of support for most cooling systems. That said, I would like to have seen all pump headers auto-detect PWM/DC modes instead of only CPU_FAN1.
To the right of the socket are four reinforced DRAM slots. The Z590 Ace supports up to 128GB of RAM with speeds listed up to DDR4 5600 (for one stick with one rank). The highest supported speed with two DIMMs is DDR4 4400+, which is plenty fast enough for an overwhelming majority of users.
MOving down the right edge of the board, we see the 2-character debug LED up top, a system fan header, five voltage read points (Vcore/DRAM/SA/IO/IO2), 4-LED debug, 24-pin ATX connector, and finally, a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C front panel header. Between both debug tools and the voltage read points, you’ll have an accurate idea of what’s going on with your PC.
With the MEG Z590 Ace towards the top of the product stack, you’d expect well-built power delivery and you wouldn’t be wrong. MSI lists the board as 16+2+1 (Vcore/GT/SA) and it uses a Renesas ISL69269 (X+Y+Z = 8+2+1) PWM controller that feeds power to eight-phase doublers (Renesas ISL617A), then onto 16 90A Renesas ISL99390B MOSFETs for the Vcore. This configuration yields 1440A of power for the CPU, which is plenty for ambient and sub-ambient/extreme overclocking. It won’t be this board holding you back in any overclocking adventures, that’s for sure.
As we focus on the bottom half, we’ll take a closer look at the integrated audio, PCIe slot configuration and storage. Starting with the audio bits on the left side, under the shroud, is the Realtek latest premium codec, the ALC4082. Additionally, the Z590 Ace includes an ESS Sabre 9018Q2C combo DAC, a dedicated headphone amplifier (up to 600 Ohm) and high-quality Chemicon audio capacitors. This audio solution should be more than adequate for most users.
In the middle of the board are four M.2 sockets and five PCIe slots. With the PCIe connectivity, all three full-length slots are reinforced to prevent shearing and EMI, while the two PCIe x1 slots don’t have any reinforcement. The top slot supports PCIe 4.0 x16 speeds, with the second and third slots PCIe 3.0. The slots break down as follows, x16/x0/x4 x8/x8/x4 or x8/x4+x4/x4. This configuration supports 2-Way Nvidia SLI and 2-Way AMD Crossfire technologies. All x1 slots and the full-length bottom slot are fed from the chipset, while the top two full-length slots source their lanes from the CPU.
M.2 storage on the Z590 Ace consists of four onboard sockets supporting various speeds and module lengths. The top slot, M2_1, supports PCIe 4.0 x4 modules up to 110mm. Worth noting on this socket is that it only works with an 11th Gen Intel CPU installed. M2_2, M2_3, M2_4 are fed from the chipset, with M2_2 and M2_3 supporting SATA- and PCIe-based modules up to 80mm, while M2_4 supports PCIe only. M2_2/3/4 are all PCIe 3.0 x4.
The way this is wired, you will lose some SATA ports and PCIe bandwidth depending on the configuration. For example, SATA2 is unavailable when using a SATA-based SSD in the M2_2 socket. SATA 5/6 are unavailable when using the M2_3 socket with any type of device. Finally, the bandwidth on M2_4 switches from x4 to x2 when PCI_E5 (bottom x1 slot) is used. The M.2 sockets support RAID 0/1 for those who would like additional speed or redundancy.
Finally, along the right edge of the board are six horizontally oriented SATA ports. The Z590 Ace supports RAID 0, 1 and 10 on the SATA ports. Just be aware you lose a couple of ports on this board if you’re using some of the M.2 sockets. Above these ports is a USB 3.2 Gen1 front panel header along with another 4-pin system fan header.
Across the board’s bottom edge are several headers, including more USB ports, fan headers, and more. Below is the full list, from left to right:
Front Panel Audio
aRGB and RGB headers
(3) System Fan headers
Supplemental PCIe power
Tuning controller connector
Temperature sensor
(2) USB 2.0 headers
LED switch
BIOS selector switch
OC Retry jumper
TPM header
Power and Reset buttons
Slow mode jumpers
Front panel connectors
Moving to the rear IO area, we see the integrated IO plate sporting a black background with gold writing matching the board theme. There are eight USB Type-A ports (two USB 3.2 Gen2, four USB 3.2 Gen1 and two USB 2.0 ports). On the Type-C front, the Z590 Ace includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports capable of speeds up to 40 Gbps. Just to the right of those are Mini-DisplayPort inputs for running video through the Thunderbolt connection(s). Handling the video output for the CPU’s integrated graphics is a single HDMI (2.0b) port. We also spy here the Wi-Fi antenna connections, 5-plug plus SPDIF audio stack, Intel 2.5 GbE and finally, a Clear CMOS button and BIOS Flashback button that can be used without a CPU.
Software
For Z590, MSI has changed up its software offerings. We used to have several individual programs to adjust the system, but MSI moved to an all-in-one application called MSI Center with thisboard. The new Software is a central repository for many of the utilities (12) MSI offers. These include Mystic Light (RGB control), AI Cooling (adjust fan speeds), LAN Manager (control the NIC), Speed Up (for storage), Gaming Mode (auto-tune games), among several others (see the screenshots below for details). The User Scenario application has a couple of presets for system performance and is where you manually adjust settings, including CPU clock speeds and voltage, RAM timings, and more. Overall, I like the move to a single application. The user interface is easy to read and get around in. However, sometimes loading these applications takes longer than I would like to see. But MSI Center does an excellent job of pulling everything in.
Image 1 of 10
Image 2 of 10
Image 3 of 10
Image 4 of 10
Image 5 of 10
Image 6 of 10
Image 7 of 10
Image 8 of 10
Image 9 of 10
Image 10 of 10
Firmware
To give you a taste of the Firmware, we’ve gathered screenshots showing most BIOS screens. MSI’s BIOS is unique from the other board partners in that the headings aren’t at the top but split out to the sides. In each section, all the frequently used options are easy to find and not buried deep within menus. Overall, MSI didn’t change much here when moving from Z490 to Z590 and their BIOS continues to be easy to use.
Image 1 of 23
Image 2 of 23
Image 3 of 23
Image 4 of 23
Image 5 of 23
Image 6 of 23
Image 7 of 23
Image 8 of 23
Image 9 of 23
Image 10 of 23
Image 11 of 23
Image 12 of 23
Image 13 of 23
Image 14 of 23
Image 15 of 23
Image 16 of 23
Image 17 of 23
Image 18 of 23
Image 19 of 23
Image 20 of 23
Image 21 of 23
Image 22 of 23
Image 23 of 23
Future Tests and Final Thoughts
With Z590 boards arriving but now Rocket Lake-S CPUs yet, we’re in an odd place. We know most of these boards should perform similarly to our previous Z490 motherboard reviews. And while there are exceptions, they are likely mostly at the bottom of the product stack. To that end, we’re posting these as detailed previews until we get data using a Rocket Lake processor.
Once we receive a Rocket Lake CPU and as soon as any embargos have expired, we’ll fill in the data points, including the benchmarking/performance results, as well as overclocking/power and VRM temperatures.
We’ll also be updating our test system hardware to include a PCIe 4.0 video card and storage. This way, we can utilize the platform to its fullest using the fastest protocols supported. We will also update to the latest Windows 10 64-bit OS (20H2) with all threat mitigations applied and update the video card driver and use the newest release when we start this testing. We use the latest non-beta motherboard BIOS available to the public unless otherwise noted. While we do not have performance results from the yet-to-be-released Rocket Lake CPU, we’re confident the 70A VRMs will handle the i9-11900K processor without issue. A quick test of the i9-10900K found the board quite capable with that CPU, easily allowing the 5.2 GHz overclock we set. For now, we’ll focus on features, price, and appearance until we gather performance data from the new CPU.
The MSI MEG Z590 Ace is a premium motherboard adorned with several high-end features, including a very robust VRM capable of handling 10th and 11th generation flagship Intel processors at both stock speeds and overclocked. Additionally, the board includes four M.2 sockets, 2.5 GbE and integrated Wi-Fi 6E, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports for increased bandwidth and peripheral flexibility.
The MEG Z590 Ace’s 16-phase 90A VRM handled our i9-10900K without issue, even overclocked to 5.2 GHz. We’ll retest once we receive our Rocket Lake-based i9-11900K, but so long as the BIOS is right, it shouldn’t pose any problems for this board. Although it has four M.2 sockets, unlike the Gigabyte Z590 Vision G, using these sockets causes SATA ports to drop, because more lanes are tied to the chipset on this board). That said, if you’re in a worst-case scenario, you can run four M.2 modules and still have three SATA ports left over. Most users should find this acceptable.
As far as potential drawbacks go, the price point of $400-plus will be out of reach for some users. Another concern for some may be the lack of RGB elements on the board. The MSI dragon and chipset heatsink light up with RGB LEDs, but that’s it. If you like a lot of RGB LED bling, you can add it via the four aRBG/RGB headers located around the board. The other drawback is the lack of a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C port, but the faster Thunderbolt 4 ports certainly make up for that.
Direct competitors at this price point are the Asus ROG Strix Z590-E Gaming, Gigabyte Z590 Aorus Master, and the ASRock Z590 Taichi. All of these boards are plenty capable with the differences residing in VRMs (Gigabyte gets the nod here), M.2 storage (MSI and Giga both have four) and audio (the Ace has the most premium codec). Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but if you forced me to pick among these, the Taichi would be the board I’d want to show off the most. That said, no board here is a turnoff and has its own benefit over another.
The Ace’s appearance, including the brushed aluminum and carbon fiber-like finish, really gives it a premium look and feel, while easily blending in with your build theme. If your budget allows for a ~$400 motherboard and you’re looking for a lot of M.2 storage and enjoy a premium audio experience, the MEG Z590 Ace is an excellent option near that price point. Stay tuned for benchmarking, overclocking, and power results using the new Rocket Lake CPU.
Asus just announced the ProART B550-Creator, the first AM4 motherboard to come with Thunderbolt 4 support. The motherboard will be available next month with a price tag of $299.
Like its other ProART motherboards, the ProART B550-Creator arrives with a minimalistic design that features a black exterior accented by gold accents. The motherboard employs a powerful 12+2-phase power delivery subsystem that’s cooled by a pair of thick heatsinks. The motherboard feeds the processor with a combination of a 8-pin EPS and 4-pin ATX power connectors. On the memory side, the ProART B550-Creator is equipped with four DDR4 memory slots and accommodates up to 128GB of memory. However, Asus didn’t specify up to what memory frequencies are supported.
Storage-wise, the ProART B550-Creator offers four normal SATA III connectors for conventional hard drives and SSDs. There are also a pair of M.2 ports for high-speed storage. Logically, the primary M.2 port adheres to the PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, however, the nature of the secondary M.2 port is uncertain. The ProART B550-Creator’s M.2 ports utilize Asus’ new M.2 latch mounting system that facilitates SSD installation.
Image 1 of 3
Image 2 of 3
Image 3 of 3
The ProART B550-Creator provides three PCIe x16 and two PCIe x1 expansion slots. Since the motherboard’s product page isn’t available, the speed of the expansion slots are unknown.
Being a motherboard tailored to professionals and creative artists, the ProART B550-Creator naturally has the latest in connectivity. The motherboard flaunts two Thunderbolt 4 ports as well as dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports. The rear panel also shows a pair of USB 2.0 ports, four USB 3.0 ports, a combo PS/2 connector, a DisplayPort In connector and a standard HDMI port.
The ProART B550-Creator’s audio system is based on Realtek’s ALC1220A audio codec. The codec itself is isolated from the other components of the motherboard. The system also includes audio-grade capacitors and an integrated amplifier. The motherboard supplies five 3.5mm audio jacks and one SPDIF-Out connector for connecting your audio devices.
I would like to thank Deepcool for supplying the review sample.
The Macube series from Deepcool offers a solid steel exterior and a clean glass side panel with a functional no-frills interior while being budget-friendly. So when Deepcool offered us the Macube 110 for review, we jumped at the opportunity. The Deepcool Macube 110 is a smaller mATX variant to the larger ATX Macube 310, but with the same solid feel and clean, understated design. As with the bigger variant, the Macube 110 is available in black or white.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.