To kick off the new year, Silverstone is launching the MATX Fara H1 M compact chassis. Designed to offer increased airflow to a variety of components that can be mounted inside of it, this 30-liter chassis can be used to house a gaming or multimedia system with powerful specifications.
The Fara H1 M’s front panel features a steel honeycomb design with mesh, while the right-side panel is made of light tinted tempered glass, allowing users to show off their systems. Both the top and bottom panel come with a removable dust filters to prevent dust from accumulating inside the system. The front I/O panel features a USB-A 3.0 port, 2x USB-A 2.0 ports, an audio-in jack, and an audio-out jack.
The case supports Micro-ATX, Mini-DTX, and Mini-ITX motherboards, 320mm long graphics cards, 160mm tall CPU coolers, and up to 250mm long standard ATX PSUs (160mm with drive cage installed). Additionally, there are 4x expansion slots, 2x 2.5-inch drive bays, a 2.5/3.5-inch drive bay, and a 3.5-inch drive bay.
Despite just measuring 210x392x366mm (WxHxD), the fan support of the Fara H1 M is quite extensive for such a small case, allowing users to mount 2x 120/140mm fans on the front, a 120mm at the rear, 2x 120mm fans on top, and another 2x above the PSU shroud. Radiator support allows users to mount a 120/240mm on the front and a 120mm on the rear.
Pricing and availability details of the Silverstone Fara H1 M haven’t been disclosed. You can learn more about this chassis HERE.
KitGuru says: Do you like the look of the Fara H1 M case? Would you consider it for a new build?
The post Silverstone announces the Fara H1 M, an MATX chassis focused on airflow first appeared on KitGuru.
The MSI Godlike performs above average in our testing and easily handled overclocking the Ryzen 9 5950X. With five M.2 sockets, two premium audio codecs, a watercooling ecosystem and an extreme overclocking capable power delivery, there is no doubt the features (and $699 price) are flagship class.
For
19-Phase 70A Power Delivery
Killer Network-based Wi-Fi and 2.5 GbE
10 GbE AIC included
Premium audio w/6.3mm jack
Five M.2 slots
Against
No video outputs
Only six rear USB ports
Expensive
Features and Specifications
The MSI X570 Godlike motherboard isn’t new — in fact, we’ve used it as our test platform in some AMD CPU reviews. But we’ve never had the chance to review it, and given that the Ryzen 9 5950X is our new test CPU, we’ve decided to put this flagship board through its paces with AMD’s latest flagship silicon.
The bold Godlike name infers this is one of the best out there, and to be frank it isn’t very far off, if price isn’t much of an issue. The $699.99 Godlike includes robust power delivery, a premium audio solution, five M.2 sockets and a cool-looking monochrome OLED screen, all of which are fitting for a flagship-class part.
At the time of publishing, MSI’s X570 lineup consists of nine boards, starting with the X570-A Pro ($159.99) and including multiple parts from the MAG line (Tomahawk WiFi), the MPG line (Gaming Plus, Gaming Edge WiFi, and Gaming Pro Carbon WiFi), and the premium MEG lineup (Unify, Ace, and Godlike). From E-ATX flagships like the Godlike to entry-level boards, there is something for everyone in MSI’s X570 range.
Focusing on performance, the Godlike did well in our benchmarking suite, running most tests on the faster side of average. Even in the PCMark 10 MS Office/Application testing, where we often see anomalies, we saw consistent results across the full gamut of testing. The board allowed the 5950X to reach its full 5 GHz boost, so we’re getting all we paid for at default settings. As expected, overclocking on this motherboard went without a hiccup, easily handling our 16-core/32-thread CPU. VRM temperatures at load were some of the lowest we’ve seen as well.
Performance isn’t everything, however. The features list is long and the Godlike includes a 10 GbE add-in-card (AIC) in addition to the existing 1 and 2.5 GbE ports, dual Realtek ALC1220 codecs and two additional PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 sockets via add-in-card. Features and specifications aren’t everything either, though. The appearance of the X570 Godlike is also solid. The Infinity RGB display around the VRMs, coupled with the customizable OLED screen and the overall clean look set this board apart from other less expensive models. Read on for additional details about the X570 Godlike, because there’s a lot here to cover.
Specifications – MSI X570 Godlike
Socket
AM4
Chipset
X570
Form Factor
E-ATX
Voltage Regulator
19 Phase (14+4+1, 70A MOSFETs)
Video Ports
✗
USB Ports
(2) USB 3.2 Gen 2, Type-A and Type-C (10 Gbps)
(2) USB 3.2 Gen 2, Type-A (10 Gbps)
(2) USB 3.2 Gen 1, Type-A (5 Gbps)
Network Jacks
(1) 2.5 GbE
(1) 1 GbE
(1) 10 GbE (via Add-in-card)
Audio Jacks
(5) Analog + SPDIF + 6.3mm outputs
Legacy Ports/Jacks
✗
Other Ports/Jack
✗
PCIe x16
(3) v4.0 (x16), (x16/x0/x0 or x8/x0/x8, or x8/x4/x4)
(1) v4.0 (x4)
PCIe x8
✗
PCIe x4
✗
PCIe x1
✗
CrossFire/SLI
AMD Quad CrossfireX and CrossFireX (2/3-Way), 2-Way Nvidia SLI
DIMM slots
(4) DDR4 5000+(OC), 128GB Capacity
M.2 slots
(1) PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe + SATA (up to 110mm)
(1) PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe + SATA (up to 80mm)
(1) PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe only (up to 110mm)
(2) PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe only (up to 110mm, via Add-in-card)
U.2 Ports
✗
SATA Ports
(6) SATA3 6 Gbps (RAID 0, 1 and 10)
USB Headers
(1) USB v3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C)
(2) USB v3.2 Gen 1
(2) USB v2.0
Fan/Pump Headers
(9) 4-Pin
RGB Headers
(2) aRGB (3-pin)
(1) RGB (4-pin)
(1) Corsair LED (3-pin)
Legacy Interfaces
✗
Other Interfaces
FP-Audio, TPM
Diagnostics Panel
Yes (2 character LED), Dynamic Dashboard
Internal Button/Switch
Power and Reset, OC Knob, BCLK+/-
SATA Controllers
ASMedia ASM1061
Ethernet Controller(s)
(1) Killer E3000 (2.5 GbE)
(1) Killer E2600 (GbE)
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
Killer AX1650x (802.11ax, 2×2, MU-MIMO, BT 5.1)
USB Controllers
ASMedia ASM1042
HD Audio Codec
(2) Realtek ALC1220
DDL/DTS Connect
✗ / ✗
Warranty
3 Years
Inside the box along with the motherboard is a whole lot of accessories. Outside of the usual selection of SATA cables, driver disks, and guides, the Godlike includes multiple add-in-cards (10 GbE, M.2 Expander), thermistors, and more. This accessory stack is the biggest we’ve seen in a while. Below is a complete list of the included extras.
(6) SATA cables
1 to 2 RGB LED extension Y cable (80cm)
Corsair RGB LED extension cable (50cm)
Rainbow RGB LED extension cable (10cm)
(2) Thermistor cables
Wi-Fi Antenna
M.2 Expander-Z Gen4 AIC
10G Super LAN AIC
6.3mm audio adapter
Case badge
SATA Cable labels
Driver DVD
Manual, Quick Guide, Quick Installation Guide
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: MSI)
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(Image credit: MSI)
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(Image credit: MSI)
When you first take the Godlike out of the box, you’re greeted by an attractive board that will fit in with most build themes. The PCB is matte-black, as are all heatsinks and shrouds. The large brushed-aluminum finish VRM heatsinks connect via heatpipe to each other and the chipset heatsink, sharing the thermal load between them. The DRAM and PCIe slots are all reinforced using MSI’s PCIe Steel Armor, protecting against bending/shearing and EMI.
On the RGB front, the Mystic Light Infinity II feature above the VRM area steals the show. Through the magic of light and mirrors, the RGB lighting looks like it goes down to infinity, offering a truly unique look. The chipset heatsink also sports RGB lighting, with the familiar MSI Dragon illuminated just above the chipset fan. Additionally, the customizable OLED panel located to the DRAM slots’ right brings another unique aesthetic to a motherboard. MSI’s Mystic Light software controls all of the LEDs and the OLED screen. In short, the X570 Godlike looks the part of a high-end motherboard and includes some cool features to set it apart from other high-end alternatives.
(Image credit: MSI)
Starting with the board’s top half, we get a closer look at the Infinity RGB display above the heatsink on the left-hand side. The mirror reflection system does a great job of showing off the RGBs differently from most motherboards. Above this and the large VRM heatsink are two 8-pin EPS connectors (one required) that send power to the CPU. The socket area is clear of most hazards and begs to have a pot on top for some sub-ambient fun.
To the right of the socket are four reinforced DRAM slots. Capacity is listed up to 128GB, while the supported speeds are close to the fastest we’ve seen listed, at DDR4 5000+(OC). As always, your mileage may vary on reaching sky-high speeds such as that. AMD’s sweet spot, even with the 5000 series processors, still sits at DDR4 3600/3733 with the Infinity Fabric tied to it (1:1). Reserved for benchmarking, these speeds benefit those shooting for world records more than it does for real-world performance gains.
Above the DRAM slots are the first three (of nine) 4-pin fan headers. Each fan header supports both PWM and DC controlled devices. The board will automatically detect what is connected and adjust the mode accordingly. MSI doesn’t list how much power these will output in the manual, but we reached out to the company and have answers. All 4-pin headers are 1A/12W, except for the pump header at 3A/36W. If only by the sheer count of fan headers, there should be plenty of power available to connect your pump and fans to the motherboard. Each header even has a LED next to it that tells you what mode the board is using. You’ll see red for PWM fans and white in DC mode. I don’t recall seeing this before, but this nifty little add-on can be helpful for troubleshooting and gives users information on how the fans connect at a glance, without going into the BIOS.
To the right of the socket is MSI’s OLED-based Dynamic Dashboard. Used for a slew of things, the Dynamic Dashboard displays CPU temperature/speed, BIOS flash status and error messages. The monochrome dashboard is customizable, even allowing you to upload a .GIF animation file to display. If there is an error during POST, the dashboard displays the part causing the issue listing the location and error on the screen. Couple that with the two-character debug LED and the four ‘dummy’ LEDs onboard and you should know what’s going on with this motherboard at all times. While it’s arguably overkill for the average user, for those benchmarking and pushing overclocking limits, this can be very helpful to troubleshoot issues efficiently.
In between these headers on the top of the board is the first (of four + Corsair RGB) RGB headers. In this case, it’s a 4-pin RGB. You’ll find the other three headers on the bottom edge of the board. The Mystic Light RGB application controls the RGB lighting. We’ve had no issues with this software providing proper control in our testing.
To the right of the DRAM slots and Dynamic Dashboard are a few more headers and connectors. From the top-down is the first of two temperature sensors, SYS_FAN2 header, the Corsair header, 24-pin ATX power connector, SYS_FAN3 header and a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C front panel connector.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The MSI X570 Godlike runs a total of 14 phases for Vcore and a 4-phase configuration on the SoC. Managing power is a premium International Rectifier IR35201 (x+y=8) buck controller that sends power to seven IR3599 doublers, then on to 14 70A Infineon TDA21472 MOSFETs. The 980A available for the CPU/Vcore only is one of the highest we’ve come across so far. We had no issues whatsoever overclocking our flagship Ryzen 9 5950X CPU. The VRMs remained cool throughout all of our testing. If sub-ambient cooling and benchmarking are your thing, the VRMs will serve you well. Of course, ambient overclocking won’t be an issue either.
(Image credit: MSI)
Moving to the bottom half of the board, we’ll start on the left side with the audio section. Hidden underneath the shroud are two (yes, two) Realtek ALC1220 codecs. The first is for the rear panel audio connectors, with the second dedicated for front-panel audio. An ESS E9018 Sabre DAC drives the 6.3mm stereo headphone output on the back panel. If you don’t have a 6.3mm headset, a 3.5mm-to-6.3 adapter is included if you’d like to use this port. Rounding out the audio section are 12 yellow Nippon audio caps and four WIMA audio caps (red). Overall, the audio solution is well above average, using premium codecs and a quality integrated DAC. The 6.3mm jack on the back is truly something unique on a motherboard.
In the middle of the board are four reinforced PCIe slots. Intended for GPUs, the top three slots support PCIe 4.0 x16 and break down to x16/x0/x0 or x8/x0/x8, or x8/x4/x4 when all three slots are populated. The fourth/bottom slot is sourced from the chipset and provides PCIe 4.0 x4 lanes. If you plan on using the M.2 Xpander and 10 GbE AICs, that leaves you with two full-size PCIe slots for video cards.
Between the PCIe slots are three M.2 sockets, each with their own heatsinks. The top two (M2_1 and M2_2) support both PCIe 4.0 x4 and SATA-based modules. M2_1 supports up to 110mm modules while M2_2 supports up to 80mm devices. The bottom slot, M2_3, supports PCIe only and drives up to 110mm long. If these three aren’t enough, the M.2 expander card adds two more M.2 sockets. To get the full bandwidth from the AIC, install it in a slot that offers PCIe 4.0 x8 bandwidth (third slot down with nothing installed in the second slot). If you need a whole lot of wicked fast NVMe based storage, this motherboard supports it!
To the right of the M.2 and PCIe area are the chipset heatsink and fan. The large fan was inaudible during our testing, though we weren’t using any chipset-connected PCIe 4.0 devices so the stress level is lower. On the right edge are two USB 3.2 Gen 1 front-panel ports along with six SATA ports. SATA ports 1-4 are fed from the chipset, while ports 5/6 source their lanes from the ASMedia ASM1061 chip. The AMD chipset connected ports support RAID0, 1 and 10 modes, which is typical.
Across the bottom are several buttons and headers ranging from front panel audio to power and reset buttons. A lot is going on down there, especially for hardcore overclockers, where you’ll find BCLK buttons and other extreme overclocking functions. Also worth noting in this section are the temperature sensors and water flow headers. With these on board, you’re able to monitor and then control attached devices through the MSI software and the BIOS. Here’s the full list, from left to right:
Front panel audio
TPM header
3-pin RGB header
LN2 mode header
Fan header
Temperature sensor header
Fan header
BIOS switch
Fan header
BCLK “-” button
USB 2.0 header
BCLK “+” button
Reset and Power buttons
OC knob
USB 2.0 header
Front panel header
Water flow header
Clear CMOS header
Slow mode jumper
(Image credit: MSI)
MSI’s rear IO includes an integrated plate with a black and red theme. On the left are two buttons, one that clears the CMOS and the other used for the board’s BIOS flashback capabilities. Moving right, we spy the two WiFi antenna mounts, two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports and above that, a legacy PS/2 mouse/keyboard port. Next are the two Killer-based Ethernet ports that reside above the four USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (one Type-C). To the right of that is one of the most unique features on this motherboard, a 6.3mm audio jack that uses the integrated DAC. Finally, the rest of the audio stack consists of a 5-plug analog and SPDIF stack.
The Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 was destined to be embedded into a range of carrier boards. Initially, we start with the Compute Module 4 IO board and then design our Compute Module 4-powered product using the various features the IO board provides. For example, Experimental Pi’s recent Compute Module 4 powered retrogaming handheld. But the Over:Board project, currently seeking funding via Indiegogo, aims to take the carrier board design a little further, with a Mini-ITX board designed for the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 that aims to turn your Compute Module 4 into a PC.
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(Image credit: Ross Nicholls)
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(Image credit: Ross Nicholls)
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(Image credit: Ross Nicholls)
The Over:Board Mini ITX carrier board measures 6.7 x 6.7 inches (170 x 170mm) and features a mixture of Raspberry Pi and PC centric interfaces.
From a Raspberry Pi point of view, we have the new dual header interface used to connect the Compute Module 4 to Over:Board. Nearby we have a HAT-compliant 40-pin GPIO header, so we should be able to use our favorite add-on boards.
Over:Board’s typical PC interfaces consist of a 24-pin ATX power interface and a SATA interface with a USB controller that can be used as a boot device. Interestingly, there is a full-size PCI-e slot that enables the use of a PCI-e card. Sadly, the PCI-e interface is limited to 1x, a limitation of the Compute Module 4, but that should be enough for most users.
On the back panel, we have connectors for audio (input and output), a micro SD card slot, two USB 2.0 ports, and Gigabit Ethernet. Video output comes via two full-size HDMI ports. Unusually, an RS232 COM port is present, to be used for serial / UART connections with the Compute Module 4. The final port is micro USB, used for flashing operating systems to the Compute module 4 onboard flash storage (if you are using that particular variant).
Over:Board is currently in the early development phase, so there are no physical units. The goal of crowdfunding is to generate funds to secure prototypes from three different manufacturers. Some of these prototypes are on offer as perks/rewards for supporting the project.
The final production board is set for release in September 2021 for £99 ($135). If you can’t wait that long, prototypes are available from March 2021 for £199 ($270) and in May 2021 for £149 ($202). Remember, before pledging your money, crowdfunding is not “buying” a product; rather, you are showing your support to help the creator make the project real. Only pledge your money if you are happy to accept the risk.
Luke Hill 2 hours ago Featured Tech Reviews, Motherboard
With AMD’s success on the CPU side of the market throughout 2020, it has been a strong year for motherboard fanatics. We have been showered with plenty of options in all shapes and sizes – whether you’re looking for high-end ATX, budget micro-ATX, or enthusiast level Mini-ITX. The options on the market have been excellent throughout this year. Clearly B550 on the venerable AM4 platform has been the notable launch for 2020, but has anything else impressed us enough this year to make it into our Top 5 AMD motherboards list? Let’s have a look.
Watch via our Vimeo Channel (Below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE
#5: ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming ITX/ax
Read the full ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming ITX/ax review HERE.
#4: ASUS ROG Zenith II Extreme Alpha (TRX40)
Read the full ASUS ROG Zenith II Extreme Alpha review HERE.
#3: Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master
Read the full Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master review HERE.
#2: ASUS ROG STRIX B550-E Gaming
Read the full ASUS ROG STRIX B550-E Gaming review HERE.
#1: MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk
Read the full MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk review HERE.
KitGuru says: There we have our list of our Top 5 AMD motherboards that we have reviewed for 2020. It has been a great year to be a motherboard enthusiast with so many compelling options on the market and with B550 proving to be a strong success in our opinion. Let us know what you think of our list in the comment section down below and let us know how you would rate your Top 5 favourites of 2020.
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MSI is expanding its range of PC cases. The MPG-SEKIRA – 100 – Case series should exude a certain luxury and convince as a chic E-ATX case.
The series starts with two models: The MPG SEKIRA 100 R shows a two-part front. The upper part is made of aluminum, the lower part of tinted glass. Behind it sit three 120 – mm fan with A-RGB lighting. The transition between aluminum and glass is also illuminated. Another 120 – mm -A RGB fan sits on the back wall. The lighting can be controlled simply by pressing a button. Visually the MPG SEKIRA reminds you 100 R to MSI’s top model MPG Sekira 500 X.
The MPG SEKIRA 34 P, on the other hand, is much more discreet with a continuous aluminum front and without A-RGB lighting. Also with this model there are four 120 – mm fan pre-assembled – but those without LEDs.
The 215 x 475 x 420 mm (W x H x D) large housing weighs around 8 kg. Inside there is a maximum of space for an E-ATX system with up to 17 cm high processor cooler and up to 34 cm long graphics card. Two combined 2.5 / 3.5-inch drive spaces and two pure 2.5-inch drive spaces are available for drives.
The tool-free mounted glass side panel is secured by the removable housing cover and an additional lock. In the lid there can be two 120 – or 140 – mm fan can be retrofitted. If water cooling is used, a 280 -mm radiator, under the lid a 240 -mm radiator and on the back wall a 34 mm radiator can be installed. Three dust filters on the front, cover and under the power supply are designed to protect the interior from dust. The I / O panel in the lid has two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C and audio jacks for a headset.
At the prices of the MPG SEKIRA 100 – MSI has not yet given any information. Also in the price comparison are MPG SEKIRA 100 R and MPG SEKIRA 34 P not yet listed.
Update 06. 02. 2021: We are currently testing a MPG Sekira 100 R. In the unpacked & touched video, we are already introducing the A-RGB housing. The detailed test will follow in the next few days.
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Page 1: Chieftronic PowerUp 850 W in the test – compact gold power supply with good equipment
Chieftec now has the second with the PowerUp series after PowerPlay Series of gaming power supplies brought to the market with powerful technology, 70 PLUS Gold efficiency and fully modular cable management should convince. How the PowerUp perform, we have based on the 846 W strong top model of the A closer look at the series.
Almost a year and a half ago, Chieftec introduced the new PowerPlay series under its Chieftronic gaming brand, which with 80 – PLUS Platinum Efficiency and a rather eye-catching design. We tested the Chieftronic PowerPlay 550 W with good results. According to Chieftec, the PowerUp should bring the performance of the PowerPlay models into the mainstream area. The technical platform should also be a full bridge platform with LLC resonance converters and DC-DC converters, the efficiency of which in the PowerUp is based on 80 PLUS gold was customized. Also on board is a fully modular cable management, which in view of the 140 mm very compact housing is an interesting feature.
The PowerUp series comprises four models in the performance range from 550 to 850 W, where the essential features such as 80 PLUS Gold, compact housing and fully modular cable management are the same for all models in the series.
This is important for success in the mainstream market an attractive price. The Chieftronic PowerUp 846 W is with its current street price of approx. 130 Euro just below the price level of a Seasonic Focus GX 850 W or a be quiet! Straight Power 11 850 W, currently for approx. 140 euros are to be had. A Cooler Master V-Series V 850 Gold V2 is also a few euros above a PowerUp 850 W.
Here are the facts of the Chieftec PowerUp 850 W in tabular form:
Technical data in the overview
Manufacturer and Designation
Chieftec PowerUp 850 W
Model
GPX – 850 FC
Street price
approx. 130 Euro
Homepage
de.chieftronic.com
Performance values
+ 3.3V
20 A
+ 5V
20 A
+ 12 V
70, 5 A
+ 5Vsb
3.0 A
– 12 V
0, 3 A
Power 12 V
846 W
Power 3.3V & 5V
110 W
Total performance
850 W
Connections
ATX
24-Pin code
EPS / 12 V / CPU
2x 8 (4+ 4) -Pin
PCI-Express (6P / 8 (6 + 2) P / 8P)
0/6/0
SATA
9
4- Pin Molex
3
Floppy
1
Features
Efficiency
80 PLUS Gold
Dimensions (LxWxH)
140 x 150 x 86 mm
Fan
120 mm
Cable management
yes, fully modular
Manufacturer’s guarantee
5 years
Particularities
On the following pages we introduce the Chieftec PowerUp 850 W closer to.
<> Chieftronic PowerUp 850 W in the test – compact gold power supply with good features Chieftec PowerUp 850 W – Appearance and technology
With the Fara H1 M, SilverStone is expanding its Fara case series. The new model is a mini-tower that can hold a maximum of Micro-ATX mainboards. A mesh front gives hope for good cooling performance.
Only recently we were able to test a midi tower from the Fara series with the Fara B1 Pro. With its four A-RGB fans, this model is a real eye-catcher, but the cooling performance suffers a little from the transparent plastic front. With the smaller Fara H1 M, SilverStone is now taking a different approach. The mini-tower is equipped with a single 120 – mm fan at the rear, but has a mesh front. A considerable airflow should be possible, especially in combination with additional front fans. Two 120 – or 140 – mm front fans and two 120 – mm lid fan. Alternatively, SilverStone provides a 240 – mm front radiator and a 120 – mm rear wall radiator.
With dimensions of 210 x 392 x the Micro-ATX case mm (W x H x D) a volume of 30, 13 liters. The weight of the steel case is given as 4, 24 kg. The I / O panel in the lid shows a somewhat outdated configuration with two USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port as well as two 3.5 mm jack sockets for audio. A two-part interior is visible through the slightly tinted hard glass side panel. In the mainboard chamber there is space for a Micro-ATX mainboard with up to 16 cm high CPU cooler and up to 32 cm long graphics card (without front fan). In the bottom chamber there is an up to 25 cm long power supply unit or a combination of one up to 16 cm long power supply and a drive cage space. This cage can hold two 3.5-inch drives. The drive space on the cage can alternatively be used for a 2.5 inch drive. Two pure 2.5-inch drive slots are available on the mainboard tray.
SilverStone has not yet given any information about the price. The Fara H1 M has not yet been listed in the price comparison either. But you can certainly expect a relatively low price.
Gigabyte adds a new case to its catalog and does so in grand style by proposing a very large full-tower with an angular design to recall the shapes of the falcon logo of the company’s gaming division: let’s talk about the Aorus C 700 Glass
by Carlo Pisani published on 07 January 2021 , at 08: 21 in the Systems channel Gigabyte
Gigabyte adds a new case to its catalog and does it in grand style by proposing a full-tower very cap edent and angular design to recall the shapes of the falcon logo of the company’s gaming division: we are talking about the Aorus C 700 Glass .
Dimensions equal to 671 x 301 mm, with a ‘height of 714 mm, and a total weight of just over 19 kg , able to accommodate cards mothers up to format E-ATX, heatsinks for CPU with maximum height of 198 mm, long graphics cards up 490 mm , which can be installed both horizontally and vertically, and power supplies from 160 mm.
Click to enlarge
So much space inside that can also accommodate a maximum of 10 2.5 “SSD , four of which can also be 3.5 “, and complex cooling systems with 3x configurations 21 or 3x 120 for the top and front panels and 1x 140 or 2x 20 on the back, space also designed for accommodate a radiator up 420 mm at the top, one from 360 mm in the front and a maximum radiator of 140 mm in the rear one; pre-installed five PWM fans of 120 mm.
Click to enlarge
Regarding the external part of the Aorus C 700 Glass we find side walls in translucent black tempered glass on both sides following the oblique trend of the top and front panel set with various RGB light zones that can be configured via software RGB FUSION 2.0.
Click to enlarge
Included one ARGB and PWM controller equipped with three 3-pin 5V ARGB connectors and five with PWM nectors to manage lighting and fans from the controls present in the rich I / O panel in which there are also four USB3.0 ports , a USB 3.1 Gen2 type C port from 20 GB / s, single HDMI port, audio connectors and system buttons
For the moment Gigabyte has not provided information about availability and price for this Aorus C case 700 Glass; for more images and information about it, please visit the page dedicated to this case.
A few days before the virtual edition of CES begins 2021, some manufacturers such as ADATA have already shown which products will be the ones to officially launch during a of the largest and most important electronics fairs in the world.
Through its XPG gaming brand; The company has shown a wide catalog of news that includes XPG Xenia Xe notebooks from 15, 6 “, with 11th generation low voltage Intel Core processors. These laptops, although sold as gaming equipment, include integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, so they will not be a very suitable solution for those looking to play at full performance, but rather as an ultrabook more focused on general use and with high autonomy, up to 16 hours.
XPG Gammix S 70, an NVMe SSD with PCIe 4.0 that reaches 7. 400 MB / s, plus DDR5 modules
The ADATA XPG Gammix S 70 is an SSD in M.2 format with NVMe and PCIe Express 4.0, a drive that can reach 7. 349 MB / s read and 6. 400 MB / s of writing, both sequential, next to 650. 000 Random Read IOPS and 740. 000 Write IOPS of the same type.
In addition, the company will also show its first ADATA DDR5 modules running at 1.1v and up to 8. 400 MT / s
Gaming boxes and AiO coolers
Other products that ADATA will show are its gaming boxes XGP Starker Air and XPG Defender Pro, the first will come with ATX support and the second will support E-ATX boards. In both cases, they will be semi-tower boxes with support for high-performance cooling and ARGB lighting in their fans and also in the case itself.
You will be accompanied by the XPG Levante, an All in One liquid cooling with a 2.1 “LCD screen integrated into the water pump to be able to display system information. XPG Vento PRO 120 PWM fans are manufactured by the legendary Nidec and with RGB.
And also a “Gaming” gum: XPG Gaming Gum
Yes, ADATA will also use the most important electronics fair in the world to announce its latest product for the gaming market: a chewing gum.
Under the name of XPG Gaming Gum comes the latest “occurrence” with the tagline Gaming, a chewing gum designed for gamers that contains ingredients such as caffeine (supposedly nte to improve concentration) and lutein (antioxidant that, they say, is beneficial for the eyes and prevents inflammation while improving sharpness). This product was already shown in March, but it seems that now it will hit the market.
End of Article. Tell us something in the Comments or come to our Forum!
Page 1: MSI MPG Z 490 GAMING CARBON WIFI in the test – carbon look incl.USB 3.2 Gen2x2
MSI’s GAMING- (PRO) -CARBON mainboards from the MPG product range (MSI Performance Gaming) are of great interest to many people who want to upgrade, because in most cases these models strike the balance between good equipment and an acceptable price. So we didn’t let it be missed and the MSI MPG Z 490 GAMING CARBON WIFI through our LGA 1200 – Mainboard test course sent.
Last summer we introduced the MSI MPG Z 490 GAMING EDGE WIFI ( Hardwareluxx test), which was able to convince in the important areas. The MPG Z 490 GAMING CARBON WIFI also comes from the MSI performance series, but can – and this much is revealed in advance – stand out in a few points.
The basis between the two models is quite similar. In addition to the CPU socket, four DDR4 memory banks and six SATA 6GBit / s ports, two M.2 interfaces and various USB connections are usually used. In order to do justice to the model name, the corresponding optics are of course only used in the CARBON variant.
MSI has not only applied the carbon look to the large chipset cooler, but also to the I / O panel cover. The MPG Z 490 GAMING CARBON WIFI was designed in the classic ATX format, whereby the PCB itself is black and has been given some bright accents. Except for the two M.2 and the VRM cooler, the circuit board is generally kept dark.
The technical properties
These are the technical data of the MSI MPG Z 490 GAMING CARBON WIFI:
The data of the MSI MPG Z 490 GAMING CARBON WIFI in the overview
Mainboard format
ATX
Manufacturer and Designation
MSI MPG Z 490 GAMING CARBON WIFI
CPU socket
LGA 1200 (for Comet Lake-S )
Power connections
1x 24 – ATX pin 1x 8-pin EPS 12 V 1x 4-pin + 12 V
Phases / coils
15 (14 x CPU (12 + 1 + 1 ), 1x RAM)
Price
from 244 Euro
Website
MSI MPG Z 490 GAMING CARBON WIFI
Southbridge / CPU features
Chipset
Intel Z 490 Express chipset
Memory banks and type
4x DDR4 (dual-channel), max. 5. 000 MHz
Memory expansion
Max. 128 GB RAM UDIMM Non-ECC
SLI / CrossFire
SLI (2-Way), CrossFireX (3-Way)
Onboard features
PCI-Express
2x PCIe 4.0 x 16 (electrical with x 16 / x8) via CPU (PCIe 4.0 only with Rocket Lake-S!) 1x PCIe 3.0 x 16 (electrical with x4) via Intel Z 490 2x PCIe 3.0 x1 via Intel Z 490
PCI
–
Storage
6x SATA 6 GBit / s via Intel Z 320 2x M.2 with PCIe 3.0 x4 via Intel Z 490 (M-Key, 32 Gbit / s)
USB
1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (20 Gbit / s, 1x external) via ASMedia ASM 3241 5x USB 3.2 Gen2 (10 GBit / s, 4x external, 1x internal) via Intel Z 490 2x US B 3.2 Gen1 (5 Gbit / s, 2x internal) via Intel Z 320 6x USB 2.0 (2x external, 4x internal) via Intel Z 490
graphic interfaces
1x HDMI 1.4b 1x DisplayPort 1.2
WLAN / Bluetooth
WiFi 802. 11 a / b / g / n / ac / ax over Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX 201 CNVio, dual band, Max. 2.4 GBit / s, Bluetooth 5.1
1x 4-pin CPU FAN header 1x 4-pin water pump header 6x 4-pin system FAN header
LED lighting
Chipset cooler, I / O panel cover 1x 4-pin RGB header 2x 3-pin ARGB header 1x 3-pin CORSAIR header
Onboard comfort
Status LEDs, LED switch
The supplied accessories
Mainboard manual
Driver and software DVD
Quick Installation Guide
two SATA cables
2T2R-WLAN-Atenne
3 -Pin ARGB extension cable
Corsair RGB LED extension cable
RGB-LED-Y-ext connection cable
MSI case sticker
Information card for product registration
MSI product booklet
Housing screw instructions
SATA cable sticker
Be MSI is generous in terms of accessories and puts a little more in the box. The manual, the support data carrier, the 2T2R WiFi antenna and of course the M.2 screws are among the mandatory items. But we were also able to find a quick start guide, short instructions for screwing the case, the MSI gaming case sticker, and numerous SATA identification stickers. Also on board are numerous cables, such as two SATA cables, a 3-pin ARGB extension cable, a CORSAIR RGB LED extension cable and a 4-pin RGB Y adapter cable.
Finally, with the small product booklet, MSI gives an outlook on many other MSI products and with the info card MSI encourages product registration, which of course also gives the buyer some advantages.
<> MSI MPG Z 320 GAMING CARBON WIFI in the test – carbon look including USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Features and layout (1)
At the beginning of the year there were indications that Intel would introduce the Single Rail Power Supply Desktop Platform Form Factor ATX 12 VO wants to introduce more broadly. It is already used in many complete systems by numerous manufacturers. But such systems are rarely screwed on and so the contacts with this type of power supply are rather few and far between.
We now had the opportunity an ASRock Z 462 Phantom Gaming 4SR with this ATX 12 Take a closer look at the VO connection. With this, Intel beats some partners (including together with ASUS and the Prime Z 490 – S) a path that ATX 12 VO possibly to translate into the masses. Whether and when this change will actually take place cannot currently be foreseen. But let’s first take a look at what ATX 00012 VO at all means:
Currently a power supply unit operates the installed components with 12 V, 5 V and 3.3 V. The 12 – V-rail is now the most important thing for the operation of the system. The operating voltages for the processors, GPUs, memory chips and the many other components are provided by the mainboard and the power and voltage supply on the graphics card. 5 V and 3.3 V are only used by a few components – for example SATA drives and USB devices. But here, too, a change is emerging. In the specifications of SATA 3.2, for example, the supply over 3.3 V is already deleted.
For ATX 12 VO, the 3.3 and 5 V are no longer made available via the power supply unit. The – Pin ATX connector (formerly 19 – Pin) on only 10 Pins together. Depending on the platform, it is supplemented by the familiar EPS connections in order to additionally supply the mainboard or the graphics cards. In the case of the Z 490 Phantom Gaming 4SR from ASRock are 6-pin and 8-pin (EPS). But no matter how many plugs are required here, only the 12 – V-rail operated.
Instead of the power supply, the mainboard will use voltage converters which should provide the additional voltage rails that are still required. 5 V will continue to be required for SATA drives (SSDs and HDDs) and USB hardware is also dependent on 5 V. In the future, this voltage will be offered directly via the mainboard, including the necessary connections, but no longer via the power supply.
On the supply side, there was a High Power HP1-P 650 GD-F 12 S ATX 12 VO available. This is one of the few ATX power supplies that can be connected directly to ATX 12 VO is compatible. The non-modular power supply has an output power on 490 W, an efficiency class is not specified. The main supply via 12 V represents the power supply at maximum 54, 1 A represents what exactly the 650 W corresponds. Further 12 – V consumers are charged with up to 1.5 A, i.e. 18 W, supplied.
The power supply as such offers the ATX on the wiring harness 12 VO 10 – Pin, two 4-pin CPUs, one 8-pin CPU and three 6-pin PCIe. The inside of the power supply is structured much more simply, because of 100 to 240 V only to 12 V must be converted and all other voltage levels are eliminated. Larger circuits and components, which cannot always be optimized for the wide range of the respective application, are eliminated. This ensures a significantly higher efficiency, as we will see later.
A Molex connector is also available, but this also only delivers 12 V and accordingly components such as fans must also be able to accept this voltage. The high-power power supply also offered SATA connections, which according to the 3.2 specification also only 12 Offer V.
The mainboard converts the 12 V into the other voltage rails, as they are just necessary to supply the processor, RAM and other components. But of course other devices also have to be supplied internally that have not yet been covered and these are, for example, SATA hard drives or SSDs. To ensure compatibility, the ATX VO standard adapter shown above. These are set on the mainboard and can supply two or four drives per connection. On the ASRock Z 462 Phantom Gaming 4SR had two of these connections and this will also be the standard configuration, after all, most boards offer six or eight SATA data connections and the corresponding Drives have to be supplied somehow.
In conjunction with the test system came a Corsair HX 1000 – power supply unit for the ATX standard and the already mentioned High Power HP1-P 650 GD-F 12 S for the ATX 12 VO standard used. We have the power consumption directly at the 00012 – V-rails measured – the voltage recorded by multimeter and the current intensity measured with pliers. The power consumption of the system results from the voltage (U) times the current (I). For the ATX power supply we had to do this in addition to the 12 – V- also include the 5-V and 3.3-V rails n.
Power consumption
Load
224. 6 XX
232.1 XX
W
Less is better
In a first test we tested the two test systems with the Core i7 – 10700 K set under full load using a blender and measure for the ATX system 232, 1 and before the ATX 12 VO system 224, 6 W. Here is the difference so so low that we don’t have it on the ATX 12 VO supply can fix.
Power consumption
Idle
7.4 XX
14. 7 XX
35. 3 XX
W
Less is better
It looks different in idle mode. Here we see a power consumption of in the standard power saving settings , 3 W for the complete system, if ATX mainboard and ATX power supply are used. The ATX comes in the same standard power-saving settings 12 VO system on 14, 7 W – thus consumes less than half.
We can increase or reduce the consumption with all active C-States as well as the Link Power Management for PCI-Express and SATA, which reduces the power consumption via the interfaces when they are not transmitting any data. However, SATA Link Power Management and PCI Express Active State Power Management (ASPM) must also be fully supported by the hardware and software. With these measures we can reduce the power consumption for the entire system to 7.4 W.
ATX 12 VO: A first assessment
ATX 12 VO will play no role for most desktop users for the time being. Instead, OEMs and SIs (System Integrators) will probably rely more on it, because it represents a cost-effective alternative and more and more components in ATX 12 VO are available. This applies to the motherboards in their own design, which sizes such as Dell, HP and many more can indulge in, but also to the power supplies. Manufacturers such as Delta, FSP, Seasonic, Cooler Master, High Power and Channel Well are already working with these OEMs and SIs as well as Intel.
A Z 490 Phantom Gaming 4SR from ASRock and a Prime Z 490 – S from ASUS with the standard desktop functions underline that there are efforts here, which start with the SIs will take effect, but sooner or later they can also be an alternative for every user. Power supply manufacturers such as Corsair already offer adapters for their modular power supplies to ATX 12 VO. Here, however, the advantages of low self-consumption do not arise, since the power supply is still responsible for the other voltage rails.
Specifications from the USA are the driver behind the current development. From July 1st 2021 In comparison to systems manufactured five years ago, desktop systems sold may only be Consume% of the electricity in idle mode. This goes back to a specification of the California Energy Commission (CEC).
The higher efficiency results from the more direct integration of the voltage conversion. In the power supply units, a lot of this is lost in percentage terms in idle mode and accordingly the biggest differences are shown at this point. As soon as there is load on the system, the values for ATX and ATX are the same 12 VO as far as possible.
So the greatest advantage is identified, but how does it look like the disadvantages, if there are any? The power supplies should be less complex, which should theoretically also be reflected in the price. At the moment it is difficult to say whether it will do this, as there is no ATX 12 VO power supplies are available on the market.
On the other hand is increasing the complexity on the mainboards, because the conversion of 12 V to 5 V or 3.3 V must now take place here. However, a mainboard usually does that anyway, because only with 12 V it doesn’t work either and has to provide various voltage levels. But yes, theoretically this creates more complexity and a higher probability of failure due to the mainboard. This only moves from one pocket (power supply) to the other (mainboard). It is currently not possible to estimate whether ATX 11 VO has a negative influence or not with regard to the vulnerability of the hardware.
Even if ATX 12 VO would become more widespread in the coming months: The changes are not that big. The connector is a bit smaller and some hardware would have to be supplied via the mainboard. Without complex SATA and LED supply requirements, this would certainly be doable and not that much of a difference. But it will certainly take a few years before we have ATX 12 VO will also be seen on a larger scale in the DIY environment.
Page 1: SilverStone Fara B1 Pro in the test: A-RGB housing with elegant supply air design
SilverStones Fara B1 Pro actually offers the typical mix of A-RGB fans and a transparent front, which can lead to cooling problems. At least visually, this midi tower has larger side air inlets. But can the four case fans really treat themselves to enough fresh air?
In recent years there has been one in the case segment strong trend towards RGB or A-RGB fans. Such fans are particularly effective behind a front made of glass or transparent plastic. However, such an airtight front can become a problem for cooling. And in fact, such housings have often attracted attention due to their poor cooling performance. SilverStone’s Fara B1 Pro has four A-RGB fans and a transparent plastic front, but the manufacturer is clearly trying to address the airflow problem. The transparent plastic element does not stretch across the entire width of the front, but leaves space for side air inlets – and for the hope that optics and cooling could be combined.
The Fara B1 Pro is designed as a rather compact and light midi tower. As a result, there are certain limits to the possible uses. If you want to use water cooling, you can, for example, use a maximum of one 280 – place mm radiator. There is not enough space for a triple radiator.
The SilverStone Fara B1 Pro is currently available for around 85 Euro listed. Alternatively, there are also more simply equipped and cheaper sibling models. The simple Fara B1 comes with just one pre-assembled and unlit fan, e.g. for under 50 Euro offered.
In the unpacked & touched video we take a first look at the case:
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SilverStone includes a bag with assembly material, some black cable ties and brief instructions with the Fara B1 Pro. An A-RGB controller is also not missing. This controller allows the effect to be changed at the touch of a button, the connection to a housing button (with the Fara B1 Pro, the reset button can be converted into an LED button) or the lighting control via a suitable mainboard with 3-pin A-RGB -Connection. Up to four A-RGB fans can be connected to two sides of the controller. An S-ATA power connection is used to power the controller and lighting.
Before we start the actual test, here are the key data of the housing in tabular form:
Key data:
Designation:
SilverStone Fara B1 Pro (SST-FAB1B-PRO)
Material:
Steel, tempered glass, plastic
Dimensions:
207 x 446 x 401 mm (B x H x D), 37 liter volume
Form factor:
ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
Drives:
1x 3.5 Inch (internal), 5x 2.5 inch (internal)
Fan:
3x 100 / 2x 140 mm (front, 3x 120 mm pre-installed), 1x 120 mm (back wall, pre-installed), 2x 120 / 140 mm (cover, optional)
Radiators (maximum according to the manufacturer):
Front: 240 / 280 mm, cover: 240 mm, back wall: 100 mm
CPU cooler height (maximum according to manufacturer):
16, 5 cm
Graphics card length (maximum according to the manufacturer):
32, 2 cm with front fan, maximum 17 cm wide
Weight:
about 5, 75 kg
Price:
round 85 Euro
<> SilverStone Fara B1 Pro in the test: A-RGB housing with elegant supply air design External appearance (1)
The EVGA 650W N1 is a low-performance PSU with incorrect OCP and OPP and weak efficiency.
For
Full power at 36 degrees Celsius
Satisfactory transient response at 12V
Low inrush and leakage currents
Long hold-up time
Efficient 5VSB rail
Enough connectors
Rifle bearing fan
Against
12V OCP and OPP are not configured correctly
Low overall performance
Low efficiency
Noisy
20AWG gauges on the PCIe and 4-pin Molex connectors
Lousy transient response at 3.3V
Low-end capacitors in both primary and secondary sides
High EMI emissions
Specifications and Part Analysis
The EVGA 650 N1 is a low-end PSU with low overall performance, low efficiency, noisy operation, and low-end parts at its internals. It managed to deliver, though, full load at 36 degrees Celsius, and its transient response at 12V is satisfactory, while the hold-up time is longer than what the ATX spec requires. Its build quality is low, and you should be careful not to overload its +12V rail since OCP is not correctly configured. This is definitely not stuff for our best PSU picks article, and you should get a Corsair CX650 or a CV650 instead. If you can pay more, you should also look at the Cooler Master MWE Bronze with similar capacity.
The EVGA N1 line consists of three members with capacities ranging from 550W to 750W. These PSUs aim for the mainstream market, so they don’t have any modular cables, and according to EVGA, they can deliver full power at a low ambient temperature, 25 degrees Celsius. Typically, high-end PSUs can deliver full power continuously at 50 degrees Celsius. Still, they use higher quality components to achieve this, which cost way more than the parts that EVGA and HEC used for the N1 models.
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Product Photos
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Theoretically speaking, the 650 N1 could handle a strong graphics card like the Nvidia RTX 3070, but I would advise against that since it only has two PCIe connectors installed on the same cable, which uses thin 20AWG gauges. If you have invested a high amount for a good GPU, it’s better spend a bit more to get a decent power supply. Getting a PSU based on your leftover money after purchasing all the other system parts is not a wise move.
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Product Photos
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Specifications
Manufacturer (OEM)
HEC
Max. DC Output
650W
Efficiency
80 PLUS White, ETA-S (82-85%)
Noise
LAMBDA-S+ (35-40 dB[A])
Modular
✗
Intel C6/C7 Power State Support
✓
Operating Temperature (Continuous Full Load)
0 – 25°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
120mm Rifle Bearing Fan (DWPH EFS-12E12H)
Semi-Passive Operation
✗
Dimensions (W x H x D)
150 x 85 x 140mm
Weight
1.76 kg (3.88 lb)
Form Factor
ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
Warranty
2 Years
Power Specifications
Rail
3.3V
5V
12V
5VSB
-12V
Max. Power
Amps
24
20
52
3
0.3
Watts
130
624
15
3.6
Total Max. Power (W)
650
Cables & Connectors
Fixed Cables
Cable Count
Connector Count (Total)
Gauge
In Cable Capacitors
ATX connector 20+4 pin (560mm)
1
1
18-20AWG
No
4+4 pin EPS12V (620mm)
1
1
18AWG
No
6+2 pin PCIe (560mm+120mm)
1
2
20AWG
No
SATA (450mm+120mm+120mm)
2
6
20AWG
No
4-pin Molex (450mm+120mm+120mm) / FDD (+120mm)
1
3 / 1
20-22AWG
No
All cables are fixed, and the amount of provided connectors is satisfactory, given that this is a mainstream PSU. All cables are long enough, but the distance between all peripheral connectors is short. Moreover, it is a great shame to use thin 20AWG gauges on the PCIe and SATA connectors, while the ATX spec recommends 18AWG, at least.
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Cable Photos
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Component Analysis
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)
HEC
PCB Type
Single Sided
Primary Side
–
Transient Filter
4x Y caps, 2x X caps, 2x CM chokes, 1x MOV, 1x MPS HF81 (1x Discharge IC)
This is a low-end platform from HEC, using an outdated design. On the primary side, there is an APFC converter, thankfully, and the two pain FETs are installed in double forward topology. On the secondary side, passive rectification is used along with a group regulation scheme where 12V and 5V are tied together, while the 3.3V rail is independently regulated. Group regulation is not recommended for any modern system since it requires a high enough load at 12V and 5V to keep voltages on these rails in control. If the load is unbalanced between the rails, load regulation goes south.
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Transient filter
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The transient filtering stage includes all necessary parts, and it even uses an MOV and a discharge IC. It is a nice surprise to find discharge ICs in such low-end platforms.
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Bridge rectifiers
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HEC was wise enough to use two bridge rectifiers in this platform, which are bolted on a heat sink.
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APFC converter
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The APFC converter uses three MagnaChip FETs and one NXP boost diode. These are decent parts, but we cannot say the same for the Teapo bulk cap, which is only rated at 85 degrees Celsius.
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Main FETs and primary transformer
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The primary switching FETs are configured in a double forward topology, which is rarely used nowadays since most manufacturers prefer half-bridge topologies in their mid-capacity PSUs.
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12V and minor rail SBRs
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The only two coils on the secondary side are a clear indication of a group regulation scheme. To make matters even worse, SBRs (Schottky Barrier Diodes) are used to rectify all rails instead of FETs, which are much more efficient.
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Filtering caps
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The filtering caps on the secondary side belong to low-end Teapo and Elite lines. This PSU will have a hard time outliving the two-year warranty under higher than 30 degrees Celsius operating temperatures.
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5VSB circuit
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The standby PWM controller is a Power Integrations TNY279PN, while the secondary rectifier is a PFC PFR10L60CT SBR. The latter is strong enough to handle the 5VSB rail’s demands.
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The supervisor IC is provided by Weltrend and supports all necessary protection features but OTP, which looks to be missing from this platform.
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Soldering quality
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Soldering quality is satisfactory. Definitely not great, but good enough for this price range.
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Cooling fan
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EVGA states that the PSU’s fan has a sleeve bearing, but I broke it apart and found an inferior rifle bearing. It is weird that EVGA’s marketing team totally missed this.
Best Intel Motherboards 2020: Z490, Z390, H370, and X299
Note:For AMD’s AM4 X570, B550, B450 and Threadripper motherboards, see page two or our Best AMD X570 Motherboards page. This first page focuses on Intel, after laying out some basics.
Choosing the best gaming motherboard or best motherboard for another type of build is in many ways an integral part of your PC build, despite the fact that choosing the best CPU or the best graphics card often gets more attention. Nearly every part of your PC plugs into your motherboard. Its form factor dictates the size of your computer, and its chipset and socket limit what kind of processor you can install.
If you’re not sure which chipset you’re after when choosing the best gaming motherboard for you, or you have more basic questions for a different type of build, you can visit our motherboard basics and motherboard buying guide features to help narrow down your buying options.
The picks below include the best gaming motherboards designed for Intel’s 10th Gen “Comet Lake,” as well as 9th Generation “Coffee Lake Refresh,” followed by the lower-cost H370 alternative. You can see how those chips stack up in our CPU Benchmark Hierarchy. Below our mainstream picks, you’ll find our recommendations for the best motherboards with Intel’s high-end desktop (HEDT) LGA-2066 socket and X299 chipset supporting the X-Series and Extreme line of processors.
The second page of this guide covers the best AMD motherboards, including X570 and B550 chipset models, as well as high-end Threadripper picks that compete with Intel’s X-Series platform.
When choosing a motherboard, consider the following:
Get the right socket for your CPU: You can find great CPUs from either Intel or AMD, but whatever processor you choose, make sure that your board has the correct socket to support it. The latest mainstream AMD chips use AM4 CPU sockets while current Intel 8th Gen and 9th Gen Core CPUs require LGA 1151v2 sockets.
Smaller boards = fewer slots and features. Motherboards come in three main sizes–for more info see our diagram and explanation of motherboard parts. From largest to smallest, there’s ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX. (Yes, Mini is smaller than Micro). You can use a smaller chassis with the micro or mini boards, but you’ll have to settle for fewer card expansion slots, sometimes fewer RAM slots, and other connectors.
Pay for built-in Wi-Fi and high-end ports only if you need them. Don’t spend extra for wireless if you are using a wired connection. You can future proof your PC by getting USB 3.1 Gen 2 and / or Thunderbolt 3 support.
The Best Intel Gaming Motherboards: Z490, Z390, H370, and X299
ASRock Z490 Taichi (Image credit: ASRock)
1. ASRock Z490 Taichi
Best ATX Z490 Motherboard
Socket: LGA 1200 | Chipset: Intel Z490 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 15 Phases | PCIe x16: (3) v3.0 | USB Ports: 5 USB 3.2 Gen1, 4 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, One USB-3.2 2×2 Type-C | Warranty: 1 year
Solid 12-phase/50A VRM for Vcore
USB 3.2 Gen 2X2 Type-C port
Three M.2 and eight SATA ports
Expensive compare to Z390 Taichi
Annoying use of star screws on chipset shroud
Tough to press PCIe slot latch for removal
The ASRock Z490 Taichi is a great motherboard in the $350-$400 price bracket for building a Z490 system, comparing favorably to similarly priced competition.It includes eight SATA ports (while others have six), as well as a speedy USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port. It also has a premium appearance and runs cooler than competing boards in the power delivery department.
If you need three M.2 slots and eight SATA ports, this is the only board around this price point with that storage configuration. If your budget allows for an upper mid-range board, ASRock’s Z490 Taichi should be at the top of the list.
Read: ASRock Z490 Taichi review
Gigabyte Z390 Designare
2. Gigabyte Z390 Designare
Best ATX Z390 Motherboard
Socket: LGA 1151 | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 13 Phases | PCIe x16: (3) v3.0 | USB Ports: 10 Gbps | Warranty: 3 years
Full-Spec Thunderbolt 3 ports
Supports 8K passthrough from DisplayPort 1.4 graphics cards
Two Gigabit Ethernet ports plus 1.73Gb/s Wi-Fi
Third x16 slot switchable between PCH and CPU lanes
Great price for the added features
Mediocre CPU Overclocking
The Z390 Designare beats its closest rival on features for the price, has similar overclocking limits to its closest rival but beats it in overclocked DRAM performance, and has at least enough extra value to justify its premium over cheaper boards. We have to consider whether the “workstation replacement” PC market will tolerate a board with mediocre CPU overclocking. But given that there’s so little to gain from overclocking the Core i9-9900K, we feel that more often than not the answer is yes.
Read: Gigabyte Z390 Designare Review
ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming ITX
3. ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming ITX
Best Mini-ITX Z390 Motherboard
Socket: LGA 1151 | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Form Factor: Mini ITX | Voltage Regulator: 7 phases | PCIe x16: (1) v3.0 (full bandwidth) | USB Ports: 10 Gbps | Warranty: 3 years
Vastly-improved Core i9-9900K efficiency
Great performance
Good overclocking
Thunderbolt 3 &
1.73Gb/s Wi-Fi at a very reasonable price
Egregious DIMM over-voltage
Firmware H/W Monitor misreports DIMM overvoltage
Thunderbolt 3 is only half-speed (20Gbps)
Meager onboard RGB lighting
No Gen2 header for front-panel USB 3.1
Even if you never use its Thunderbolt 3 port, it’s hard to deny the supremacy of a board that does everything else better than the competition, while costing less. The Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ac is even cheaper than the non-Wi-Fi version of MSI’s ATX MGP Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon, though that won’t matter to anyone who needs the extra DIMM and PCIe slots afforded by the larger form factor. But for those looking for a Mini ITX board to support Intel’s Core i9-9900K, the Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ac is easily our first choice, making it one of the best gaming motherboards you can buy.
Read: ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming ITX Review
Gigabyte Z390 Gaming X
4. Gigabyte Z390 Gaming X
Best Cheap Z390 Motherboard
Socket: LGA 1151 | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 11 phases | PCIe x16: (2) v3.0 (x16/x4) | USB Ports: 10 Gbps | Warranty: 3 years
Consistently under $150
Fully supports Core i9-9900K
Good overclocking
Second PCIe x16 slot has only four PCH lanes
No front-panel USB3 Gen2
Only one USB3 Gen2 header
Hot voltage regulator requires a fan near CPU socket
An alternative to its award-winning Gaming SLI, Gigabyte’s Z390 Gaming X offers similar overclocking capability on substantially similar layout, at a noticeably lower price that garnered it the same value award. It’s the best gaming motherboard for Z390 if you’re on a budget. After Gigabyte stopped distributing the SLI model in USA, the Gaming X became our only option for budget overclocking of Intel’s K-series unlocked LGA-1151 processors.
Read: Gigabyte Z390 Gaming X Review
ASRock H370M Pro4
5. ASRock H370M Pro4
Best Intel H370 Motherboard
Socket: LGA 1151 | Chipset: Intel H370 | Form Factor: Micro ATX | Voltage Regulator: 10 phases | PCIe x16: (2) v3.0 (x16/x4*) (*Shares upper PCIe x1) | USB Ports: 10Gbps | Warranty: 3 year
Two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports and two Gen1 USB 3.1 I/O panel ports
Four USB 3.0 front-panel ports
H370 features at B360 price
No RGB controller
No front-panel 3.1 Gen2 header
Priced around $80 (£78) and at times dipping below $70 (£70), the ASRock H370M Pro4 brings Intel’s more-advanced H370 feature set to buyers who thought they could only afford a lesser B360 model. If you have less than $100 to spend, it’s one of the best gaming motherboards for Intel’s pared-down platform. ASRock splits the H370’s extra HSIO (high-speed input/output) pathways across two rear-panel USB 3.0 ports and two internal SATA headers. Buyers who don’t need RGB or a 10Gb/s USB 3.1 Gen2 front-panel header will be pleased to find that the H370M Pro4 offers more of nearly every other port than its closest competitor, for a lower price.
Socket: LGA 2066 | Chipset: Intel X299 PCH | Form Factor: EATX | Voltage Regulator: 12 phases | PCIe x16: (4) v3.0 (@48: x16/x8*/x16/x8), (CPU @44: x16/x4*/x16/x8), (CPU @28: x16/x4*/x8/x0) | USB Ports: 10Gbps: (2) Type-C via Thunderbolt 3 | Warranty: 3 years
Dual 10GbE, plus 2.4Gbps Wi-Fi 6
Thunderbolt 3 with dual Type-C outputs and dual DisplayPort inputs
Price premium is lower than the value of its premium components
Expensive
Excessive PCIe, M.2 & SATA sharing
10.8-inch depth requires extra case considerations
Fully equipped for the 48 lanes of Intel’s 10th generation Core Extreme processors, the X299X Designare 10G comes loaded to the brink with Intel X550 dual 10Gb/s Ethernet and a pair of Thunderbolt 3 headers with dual DisplayPort passthrough on Intel’s 40Gb/s controller. A four-drive M.2 expander card and 2.4Gb/s Wi-Fi 6 finish a package of which the added component value far outweighs the price difference over its closest competitor.
Read: Gigabyte X299X Designare 10G Review
ASRock X299E-ITX/AC
7. ASRock X299E-ITX/AC
Best Mini ITX X299 Motherboard
Socket: LGA 2066 | Chipset: Intel X299 | Form Factor: Mini-ITX | Voltage Regulator: 7 phases | PCIe x16: (1) v3.0 | USB Ports: 10Gbps | Warranty: 3 years
Good overall performance
Great overall efficiency
Surprisingly high overclocks
Skylake-X requirement provides two M.2’s via CPU PCIe
No 110mm M.2 card support
Connecting third M.2 slot to PCH excludes RAID 5 via VROC
Only six total I/O-panel USB ports, and four of those share bandwidth
No voltage regulator temperature reporting
No Kaby Lake-X support
By being the only LGA 2066 motherboard available to Mini-ITX builders, the ASRock X299E-ITX/ac automatically becomes the best choice for these builds. Despite its lack of competition, the price is reasonable and the performance level is spot-on for the Core i9-7900X, even with the board’s lower-than-average default power ceiling. It’s not perfect, but if you’re looking to build a compact high-power Intel X299 desktop, this board should serve you well.
Read: ASRock X299E-ITX/AC Review
MORE: How To Choose A Motherboard
MORE: All Motherboard Content
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Best Intel Motherboards 2020: Z490, Z390, H370, and X299
Next PageBest AMD Motherboards: TRX40, X570, X470, B550, and X399
I would like to thank Antec for supplying the review sample.
Antec recently introduced their F-LUX platform, which employs a unique reverse-fan on the PSU shroud to alter the cooling flow for better temperatures within. Just as the name implies, the Antec P10 FLUX we are reviewing here today employs that same setup and is geared towards those who want an external 5.25″ drive bay with a clean chassis. With its front door, sound dampening materials, and lack of ARGB, this chassis looks just right for workstation users.
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