There have been quite a few early processor performance tests in recent weeks 11 Intel Rocket Lake generation. The manufacturer is working intensively on new units for desktops, which are to bring even higher single-threaded performance compared to competing AMD Ryzen processors 5000. We still do not know when exactly the generation systems 11 will debut in stores, although during the fair taking place in just over a week CES, we should have specific information on the Rocket Lake family. In the meantime, another engineering sample of the flagship Intel Core i9 processor 11900 K, which will be equipped with 8 cores and support
was tested in the CPU-Z program. threads simultaneously. How does the top Rocket Lake fare against the background of AMD Vermeer?
Another engineering sample of the Intel Core i9 processor was tested in the CPU-Z program – 11900 K. In the single-threaded test it was the best among all the tested processors. Multithreaded is a bit worse.
New test in CPU -Z is another sample of the capabilities of the upcoming 11 generation of Intel Rocket Lake processors. This time, the flagship 8-core Intel Core i9 chip was tested – 11900 K. The reported base clock is 3.5 GHz. According to earlier information, in Turbo Boost 2.0 mode, the clock can reach a maximum of 4.8 GHz. Added to this is the possibility of civil liability. The TDP for the base clock is 125 W, the same as for 10 Comet Lake-S generation. How does the new processor perform compared to its predecessors and competing AMD Ryzen units 5000 in the CPU-Z test?
In terms of single-threaded performance, Intel can once again count on the palm of precedence. With a score of almost 696, it outperforms all competing AMD Vermeer units. The best of them – Ryzen 9 5950 X and Ryzen 9 5900 X – they achieve 677 points. The processor based on the new Cypress Cove architecture is also much better than its predecessor in the form of Core i9 – 10900 K, which it obtained on the default settings 588 points. However, the processor is definitely worse in the multithreaded test (6522 points) – currently it is below the level of both Core i9 – 10900 K and AMD Ryzen 7 5800 X. However, it is still an engineering sample, so the processor will certainly achieve better results until its debut. It remains, therefore, to wait for the premiere of 11 of the generation.
Pre-production models of Intel’s upcoming desktop processors codenamed Rocket Lake-S have appeared in China. A user in the Chinese forum Chiphell shows authentic images and several benchmarks of low-clocked eight-core cores. Results from the integrated benchmark of the readout tool CPU-Z, which were created with higher clock frequencies, come from elsewhere.
The pictures at Chiphell show different heatspreaders and SMD capacitors than with previous Intel CPUs. The eight-core processor Core i9 – 11900 K should have a single threading score of around 695 and are just ahead of AMD’s Ryzen – 5000 – models like the Ryzen 7 5800 Set X, the 660 to 670 creates points. The higher clocked Ryzen 9 5950 X and Ryzen 5900 X come to just under 680 points. Rocket Lake-S could therefore achieve slightly higher frame rates in 3D games.
The still current Core i9 – 10900 K is clearly below the 16 mark . Intel achieves the increase in performance with the help of new Cypress Cove cores – one backported to 14 – nanometer technology 10 – nm architecture. In addition, there are high clock frequencies thanks to the mature 14 – nm process. With a fixed clock rate of 5.2 GHz, the pre-production model of the Core i9 – 11900 K should for the first time use the 700 Cracking the point mark of the CPU-Z benchmark.
Failed in multithreading As expected, Intel was beaten in the multithreading tests. With an overclocking of all CPU cores to 5.2 GHz, the Core i9 – 11900 K should be about 7200 Points come in the CPU-Z test. Even if there is still leeway due to the RAM, the processor can, as expected, at best just ahead of the ten-core Core i9 – 10900 K and the Ryzen 7 5800 X slide. AMD’s Ryzen 9 models with 12 and 16 Computing cores remain unmatched.
Intel will only get more than eight CPU cores again with the next generation Alder Lake-S, which pairs up to eight large, powerful cove cores with up to eight efficient atomic hearts.
The Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 could easily be anybody’s dream memory kit. However, the hardware requirements and the kit’s eye-watering price tag make it an extremely niche product.
For
Fastest memory kit on the market
Fantastic XMP performance
Fun to overclock
Against
Costs a small fortune
Plug-n-Play is out of the question
Steep hardware requirements
Extremely fast memory kits are often frowned upon because of their premium pricing and the fact that modern processors don’t dramatically benefit from the ultra-fast data rates. Nevertheless, that doesn’t stop memory vendors from climbing the frequency ladder to produce the fastest memory that the market has ever seen, often just to make a statement.
Several memory specialists have released DDR4-5000 memory kits, with the big names including G.Skill, Corsair, and Adata all having claimed their bragging rights. However, Crucial has effectively one-upped the other brands by releasing the new Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 memory to claim the title of the fastest retail memory kit that money can buy.
On paper, DDR4-5100 looks absolutely spectacular, but it remains to be seen if it has any significant impact on real-world performance. And that is exactly what we’re here to find out about today.
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Crucial Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 C19 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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Crucial Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 C19 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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Crucial Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 C19 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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Crucial Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 C19 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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Crucial Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 C19 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 press kit came inside an exclusive Pelican case with some added accessories. Unfortunately, Crucial ships the retail kit in its standard packaging without the bells and whistles we found in the reviewer kit.
Fittingly, the combination to unlock the padlock is 5-1-0-0. Inside, we found a small LEGO figurine of The Flash (alluding to how fast the Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 memory modules are), an electric screwdriver with an integrated light and a set of corresponding tips, along with a Strike Force Energy packet in case we needed a shot of energy during overclocking sessions.
The Ballistix Max memory modules are essentially a replica of the Ballistix Max RGB, sans the RGB lighting. The black, anodized aluminum heat spreader looks minimalistic, but in a good way, explaining why Crucial has been reluctant to alter the design. Even without the RGB diffuser, the Ballistix Max measures 39.17mm (1.54 inches) tall, which isn’t intrusive at all. These shouldn’t present any compatibility issues with many CPU air coolers.
Crucial Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 C19 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Crucial commercializes the Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 in a dual-channel 16GB package, meaning you get two memory modules that are each 8GB in capacity. The memory modules are manufactured with an eight-layer PCB, utilizing Micron’s own D9TNW (MT40A1G8WE-075E:B) integrated circuits (ICs), known by most people as Micron B-die. The Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 retails for $899.99, and rightfully so since Crucial invested a lot of time into binning Micron B-die ICs that can hit DDR4-5100.
Without any surprises at all, the memory defaults to DDR4-2666 with 19-19-19-43 timings. Crucial includes one XMP that profile automatically cranks the memory modules up to DDR4-5100 and sets the timings and DRAM voltage to 19-26-26-48 and 1.5V, respectively. For more on timings and frequency considerations, see our PC Memory 101 feature, as well as our How to Shop for RAM story.
Comparison Hardware
Memory Kit
Part Number
Capacity
Data Rate
Primary Timings
Voltage
Warranty
Crucial Ballistix Max
BLM2K8G51C19U4B
2 x 8GB
DDR4-5100 (XMP)
19-26-26-48 (2T)
1.50
Lifetime
Thermaltake ToughRAM RGB
R009D408GX2-4600C19A
2 x 8GB
DDR4-4600 (XMP)
19-26-26-45 (2T)
1.50
Lifetime
Patriot Viper 4 Blackout
PVB416G440C8K
2 x 8GB
DDR4-4400 (XMP)
18-26-26-46 (2T)
1.45
Lifetime
Klev Cras XR
KD48GU880-40B190Z
2 x 8GB
DDR4-4000 (XMP)
19-25-25-45 (2T)
1.40
Lifetime
TeamGroup T-Force Xtreem ARGB
TF10D416G3600HC14CDC01
2 x 8GB
DDR4-3600 (XMP)
14-15-15-35 (2T)
1.45
Lifetime
On this occasion, we couldn’t test the Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 memory on our Intel platform. Neither our Core i7-10700K nor Core i9-10900K had a strong enough IMC (integrated memory controller) to handle DDR4-5100.
It wasn’t smooth sailing on the AMD platform, either. While our Ryzen 5 3600’s IMC was more forgiving, our ASRock B550 Taichi simply wouldn’t post with the memory. It wasn’t until we switched over to Gigabyte’s B550 Aorus Master that we finally found the Ryzen 5 3600 and the Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 kit in complete harmony. Naturally, you’ll need to make sure that your chip and motherboard can support these types of clocks before you splurge on this pricey kit. As usual, our MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Trio handled the graphical workloads.
AMD Performance
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Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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Memory Review (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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It’s common knowledge that Ryzen processors have a latency penalty when the chip’s Infinity Fabric clock (FCLK) and the memory clock (MCLK) are not on the same page (1:1 ratio). However, if you go up high enough on the data rate spectrum, you’ll eventually hit a point where the higher data rate negates the penalty.
The Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 outpaced its competitors on our application performance tests without much effort. The memory was faster than the T-Force Xtreem ARGB DDR4-3600 C14, where DDR4-3600 is widely considered the sweet spot for Ryzen processors. It wasn’t a perfect performance, though, as the Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 had a bad showing in the Microsoft Office tests where it fell behind other slower rivals.
Regarding gaming performance, the Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 is right up there with the best. The memory kit was only a few decimal points from matching the T-Force Xtreem ARGB DDR4-3600 C14’s performance.
Overclocking and Latency Tuning
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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Crucial Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 C19 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
After some thorough testing, we determined that our Ryzen 5 3600 sample has hit a wall with DDR4-5100. The chip simply wouldn’t budge beyond that frequency. Sadly, we’re still in the middle of the great Ryzen 5000 shortage, so finding a Zen 3 processor at a reasonable price is practically a wild-goose chase. Rest assured that we will definitely revisit the overlocking headroom aspect of the Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 once we get our hands on a more proficient Intel or AMD processor.
Lowest Stable Timings
Memory Kit
DDR4-3600 (1.46V)
DDR4-4000 (1.45V)
DDR4-4400 (1.45)
DDR4-4500 (1.50)
DDR4-4600 (1.55V)
DDR4-4666 (1.56V)
DDR4-5100 (1.60V)
Crucial Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 C19
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
17-25-25-48 (2T)
Thermaltake ToughRAM RGB DDR4-4600 C19
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
18-24-24-44 (2T)
20-26-26-45 (2T)
N/A
Patriot Viper 4 Blackout DDR4-4400 C18
N/A
N/A
17-25-25-45 (2T)
21-26-26-46 (2T)
N/A
N/A
N/A
Klev Cras XR DDR4-4000 C19
N/A
18-22-22-42 (2T)
19-25-25-45 (2T)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
TeamGroup T-Force Xtreem ARGB DDR4-3600 C14
13-14-14-35 (2T)
N/A
19-19-19-39 (2T)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
It isn’t every day that we get a memory kit with the caliber of the Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 in our labs. While we were eager to pump huge amounts of voltage into the memory to see how high it’ll go, we also wanted to preserve its integrity. For academic purposes, we’ve increased the DRAM voltage from the XMP default of 1.5V to 1.6V to get some headroom to optimize the timings. Logically, 1.6V is not a voltage that we would recommend for daily usage.
The Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 had no problems running stably with a CAS Latency of 17, which was pretty amazing considering the frequency that the memory operates at. While it was possible to drop both the tRCD and tRP from 26 to 25, we didn’t have any luck with the tRAS, though. Any value below 48 wasn’t stable. The final outcome resulted in 17-25-25-48.
Bottom Line
The Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 isn’t your typical memory kit, so the set-it-and-forget-it approach will not fly here. First and foremost, you’ll need to own a processor with a competent IMC to run DDR4-5100 in conjunction with a motherboard that supports that frequency. The memory will likely require a bit of patience and manual finetuning too, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re not into that type of activity, you’ll probably be better served by a mainstream kit that doesn’t push the frequency boundaries.
Crucial’s lightning-fast memory will in all likelihood appeal to professional overclockers that need quality memory to break world records, or that inner circle of elite enthusiasts that love exotic hardware or simply want that last percent of performance that’s on the table.
We’re nearing the end of the DDR4 era, so the Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 could be the highest-frequency DDR4 memory kit that we see before DDR5 hits the market next year. Crucial sells the Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 for $899.99. With that kind of money, you could probably put together an entire gaming PC. Crucial produced the Ballistix Max DDR4-5100 kits in limited quantity, so they may ultimately turn into a collector’s item.
As outlined in a recent post on Chip Hell, one of its users reportedly grabbed an early B560 motherboard and engineering samples of three of Intel’s new Rocket Lake CPUs, including the Core i7-11700, Core i9-11900, and Core i9-11900K.
The tested pitched each processor against AMD’s Zen 3-powered Ryzen 7 5800X to see just how they compare to AMD’s best eight-core chip. Since these are engineering samples, the Intel chips’ clocks speeds are significantly lower than we would likely see with retail models. The poster also threw in Intel’s previous-gen Core i9-9900K and Core i7-10700K as well to compare gen-on-gen performance gains.
The testbed used the same B560 board discussed above, a B550 Taichi Razer Edition for the AMD tests, ASRock Radeon RX 6800 Taichi, 2x8GB kit of ZADAK Spark DDR4-3600 RAM, 1000W Antec HCG-X1000 power supply, and a 360mm AIO liquid cooler.
Here are the Rocket Lake engineering samples tested:
QV1J, Core i7-11700 ES — 1.8GHz base frequency, 4.4GHz boost frequency.
QVTE, Core i9-11900 ES — 1.8GHz base frequency, 4.5GHz boost frequency.
QV1K, Core i9-11900K ES — 3.4GHz base frequency, 4.8GHz boost frequency.
Even though there is a wide selection of benchmarks posted at Chip Hell, we’re only covering the locked 4GHz benchmark results. We chose to focus on this test because the engineering samples for Rocket Lake are clocked so low that any performance benchmarks from these samples are specific to these samples alone, and will not represent actual Rocket Lake performance when the retail SKUs hit shelves this year.
Chip Hell ran the Core i9-9900K, Core i7-10700K, Core i9-11900K ES, and Ryzen 7 5800X in Cinebench, but with all the chips locked at 4GHz, allowing us to see how much of an IPC gain Rocket Lake-S has purely from an architectural standpoint, as clock speed is no longer the deciding factor to performance.
Processor
Cinebench R15 Single-Threaded
Cinebench R15 Multi-Threaded
Ryzen 7 5800X
221
1,121
Core i9-11900K ES
200
1,029
Core i7-10700K
176
888
Core i9-9900K
168
852
We can see the gains from Comet Lake to Rocket Lake are quite decent; Rocket Lake commands a 13% lead over its predecessor. Compare this to the generational leap from Coffee Lake to Comet Lake at just 4%.
However, despite the architectural gains, it’s not enough for Intel to beat AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X, which wins by 8%.
It appears that Intel will use clock speed rather heavily to try to gain an advantage over AMD’s Zen 3 architecture, as AMD still appears to win on clock-for-clock performance. But at least the architectural changes were significant enough to give Rocket Lake a decent IPC increase over Comet Lake. The overall performance gap should also widen rather significantly if clock speeds are higher on shipping Rocket Lake models.
However, Intel will continue to struggle against AMD’s Zen 3 platform, whether or not Intel manages to beat AMD in the single-threaded battle, as Rocket Lake will be severely behind in core count and that won’t change until Intel’s 12th-Gen Alder Lake architecture arrives.
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
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Best Intel Motherboards 2020: Z490, Z390, H370, and X299
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Last year, AMD released the Ryzen 3000 series desktop processors in one of the most monumental hardware launches of the modern era. This final step completed the Red brand’s ascent back into the forefront of the desktop processor market that began with the launch of the first generation of Ryzen CPUs. Now, Intel is finally firing back with the launch of the 10th Gen Intel Core processors, along with a new motherboard standard to drive them.
As should be no surprise, the focus will remain on the new motherboards. While the 10th Gen Intel Core processors will not support PCIe 4.0 connectivity due to signal integrity issues, many of the Z490 motherboards are designed to support the PCIe 4.0 specification. This is accomplished by adding clock generators to help clean up the signal. Generally speaking, when it comes to long-term platform support, AMD has been the trendsetter. Has AMD’s long support of the AM4 socket on its newer-generation processors inspired Intel to take similar steps?
So what is Z490 offering right now? For starters, there has been a large focus on VRM and VRM cooling design. With the top-level Intel Core i9-10900K featuring 10 cores along with HyperThreading, the ability to deliver clean, continuous power is going to be one of the primary factors that separates a good Z490 board from the competition. With the introduction of HyperThreading on Intel’s mid-range line up, power delivery is going to be vital in all segments.
The Maximus family serves as ASUS’s flagship line for Intel motherboards, with premium looks, premium features, blazing performance, and broad overclocking support. The Maximus lineup typically comprises four models: the Hero, Apex, Formula, and Extreme. Intel’s Z490 chipset is no exception. The ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme serves as the capstone entry for the Maximus family, providing every bell and whistle available.
The ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme features a robust VRM cooling solution complete with an optional active cooling fan, all paired with no less than sixteen 90 A power stages from Infineon. Dual BIOS with BIOS flashback has also been included, as well as ASUS’s excellent BIOS designed to provide an optimal, stress-free overclocking experience. The ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme also offers great connectivity with not only WiFi 6 and 2.5 Gb/s LAN, but also 10 Gb/s Ethernet using an Aquantia controller. All of this performance is bundled into a sleek, modern package with excellent RGB options and a host of accessories.
Let’s take a closer look at what the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme has to offer.
2x Antenna ports 1x Bios Flashback button 1x Clear CMOS button 1x Optical SPDIF out port 2x LAN (RJ45) port 1x USB 3.2 (Gen2x2) Type-C port 1x USB 3.2 (Gen2) Type-C port 6x USB 3.2 (Gen1) ports 2x USB 3.2 (Gen2) Type-A ports 2x USB 2.0 ports 5x 3.5 mm audio jacks
Audio:
1x Realtek ALC1220 Codec
Fan Headers:
14x 4-pin
Form Factor:
Extended ATX Form Factor: 12.0 x 10.9 in. / 30.5 x 27.7 cm
Akasa has launched a small box to store a passively cooled Intel NUC 9, the Akasa Turing QLX.
This manufacturer has already shown us creations of Fully passive boxes, which also act as a heatsink for the components that have been mounted inside them. We were even able to see high performance components installed and passively dissipated with the TureMetal UP box . Now we see a model capable of cooling processors up to 45 W completely passive , which means having a good range of possibilities to choose from.
The Akasa Turing QLX comes as an alternative to the usual case of the Intel NUC 9
The chassis Akasa Turing QLX is completely made of aluminum and has dimensions of 150 x 150 x 220 mm. The total volume adds up about 7 liters , so it is at the level of small compact Mini-ITX towers. This model comes to store the Intel NUC 9 (and its Pro versions), being able to choose up to a Core i9 – 9980 8-core HK and 16 threads. The space inside the case is very limited, so the power supply is separate and will obviously be external.
The manufacturer has not disclosed prices or availability, but since the Akasa Turing QLX is already listed on its website, it should not take long to appear on the market.
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Pablo López
With 15 years ago I started to overclock my PC to get every extra FPS I could in games and scratch a few milliseconds in SuperPi, while I was constantly posting about hardware on it. Geeknetic forum as user and reader. Surely they were so fed up with continually reading me on the forum that I became part of the writing team, where I continue to report on the latest in technology. Astrophysics and PC games are the hobbies that, after hardware, cover most of my free time.
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If you’re after the best processor for work, a lot of the decision boils down to just what your work is. Most processors can handle just about any workload you throw at them, given enough time. But faster CPUs (with more cores and/or faster clock speeds) chew through tough workloads in much less time, making them great CPUs for productivity. This list focuses on performance in productivity applications for workstations, while our Best CPUs for Gaming article will give you a better picture of gaming performance. Our CPU Benchmark Hierarchy has all the processors ranked based on performance in gaming, single- and multi-threaded workloads.
A processor that excels at gaming isn’t always the best CPU if your workload is productivity-focused. In fact, as highly threaded CPUs become more common, gaming CPUs and work CPUs are increasingly different silicon beasts, making it tougher to choose which CPU is the best for your workload. So we’ve compiled a list of processors representing the best bang for your buck in common productivity tasks, based on our years of benchmarking and testing data.
Unfortunately, the semiconductor industry is in the midst of crushing shortages spurred by the pandemic and limited production capacity at industry-leading fab TSMC, which produces AMD’s CPUs. As a result, many chips are hard to find at retail, so we’ve bulked up our recommendations with value alternatives that might be easier to find at retail.
When choosing a non-gaming-focused CPU, consider the following:
Know the apps you use: If your apps take advantage of AMD’s superior cores / threads per dollar, you might want to get an AMD chip. But if you’re using lightly-threaded apps or Adobe products, Intel will perform better.
Get the latest gen: You usually won’t save a lot by going with an older chip, and you may limit your upgrade options down the road.
Keep the motherboard in mind: The priciest CPUs require more expensive motherboards than cheaper chips.
For even more information, check out our 2020 CPU Buyer’s Guide, where we discuss how much you should spend for what you’re looking to do, and when cores matter more than high clock speeds.
Architecture: Zen 2 | Socket: sTRX4 | Cores/Threads: 64/128 | Base Frequency: 2.9 GHz | Top Boost Frequency: 4.3 GHz | TDP: 280W
Reasons to Buy
Competitive per-core pricing
Excellent rendering performance
Overclockable
Indium solder
PCIe 4.0
ECC support
Reasons to Avoid
Benefits a narrow cross-section of workloads
Intel’s seemingly-endless delay in transitioning to the 10nm node for the desktop, not to mention a new architecture beyond Skylake, has left the industry ripe for disruption. As a result, AMD’s new Threadripper 3000 processors march into the upper segment of the HEDT market uncontested.
AMD’s Threadripper 3990X slots in as the industry’s uncontested leader in multi-threaded work with 64 cores and 128 threads, but this processor is most effective for a narrow selection of workloads that can benefit from the tremendous thread count while not being impacted by the vagaries of the multi-chip design. As a result, the overwhelming majority of users will be better served with the Threadripper 3970X listed below.
In either case, the Zen 3-powered Threadripper 3990X is pretty much exactly what AMD says it is: A highly specialized processor that provides incredible performance in a narrow cross-section of workloads, but at an extremely attractive price point given its capabilities.
AMD’s decision to pair 64 cores and 128 threads with higher boost frequencies pays big dividends in VFX, 3D animation, and ray tracing workloads with more performance than you would expect from any comparable workstation-class solution, not to mention even some dual-socket servers. The higher boost frequencies provide snappy performance in everyday lightly-threaded applications and devastating threaded performance in workloads that scale well. You also get access to 64 lanes of PCIe 4.0, which is useful for powerful SSD RAID arrays and other high-performance additives.
The $3,990 price tag is eye-watering, but for professionals that can benefit from the 3990X’s hefty allotment of cores and threads, it’s worth every penny.
Read: AMD 64-Core Threadripper 3990X Review: Battle of the Flagships
2. AMD Threadripper 3970X
Best High-End Workstation CPU
SPECIFICATIONS
Architecture: Zen 2 | Socket: sTRX4 | Cores/Threads: 32/64 | Base Frequency: 3.7GHz | Top Boost Frequency: 4.5GHz | TDP: 280W
Reasons to Buy
Excellent single and multithreaded performance
Competitive per-core pricing
Power efficient
Indium solder
Reasons to Avoid
Lack of backward compatibility
While the Threadripper 3990X brings the utmost performance possible to bear, the exotic design does result in slower performance in some common workloads, leaving room for the Threadripper 3970X to serve as the more reasonable option for the productivity-minded.
The 32-core, 64-thread Threadripper 3970X delivers devastating threaded performance in its price range, often trouncing Intel’s most exotic silicon. Intel’s Xeon W-3175X is ill-suited to take on the comparatively power-sipping Threadripper processors on a power efficiency basis, not to mention pricing. Just for comparison’s sake – the overclocked W-3175X pulled 768 watts under load, while the overclocked Threadripper 3970X peaked at 356 watts while often providing more performance in threaded workloads. That math is easy. Threadripper 3000 also brings a solid gain on the single-threaded performance front, too.
Finally, AMD’s forward-thinking adoption of the PCIe 4.0 interface is another attraction that will help win over the semi-professional crowd. While the faster interface isn’t as useful on the mainstream desktop, the ability to stack up throughput-craving devices behind the chipset without the radical throughput restrictions we see with Intel’s DMI is another big win.
AMD’s chips are nearly impossible to find at retail, while Intel now has a steady supply of chips readily available at retail. That makes the Core i9-10980XE an alternative pick that you can snag now, while you’ll likely have to exercise some patience or settle for paying scalper pricing for AMD’s new chips. Just be aware that you’ll sacrifice quite a bit of threaded horsepower by selecting the Core i9-10980XE.
For streamers and professionals who can make use of the extra I/O of and quad-channel memory, Intel’s Cascade Lake-X flagship earns its niche, but the Ryzen 5950X and 3950X are a better value for most productivity workloads where the more-robust HEDT platform is less important. That leaves a preciously slim slice of the market where Intel has an advantage in this price bracket (users that need quad-channel memory or more PCIe lanes). Overclocking performance is a factor if you’re willing to spend the cash. You can drop the -10980XE into an existing X299 board if you’re willing to sacrifice a few PCIe lanes, but be aware that this is the end of the line for the X299 platform.
The refined 14nm process equates to faster clock speeds, and thus performance, at lower overall power consumption. The Core i9-10980XE also has much higher overclocking headroom than its predecessor. But the 10980XE’s advantage after tuning over the AMD Ryzen 5950X comes at a $280 premium and requires more robust cooling and power delivery, so you should factor that into your purchasing decision. In most cases, the Ryzen 9 5950X and 3950X, both listed below, remain the better choice if you can find those chips on shelves.
Read: Intel Core i9-10980XE Review
3. AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Best High Performance Value
SPECIFICATIONS
Architecture: Zen 3 | Socket: AM4 | Cores/Threads: 16/32 | Base Frequency: 3.4GHz | Top Boost Frequency: 4.9GHz | TDP: 105W
Reasons to Buy
Class-leading 16 cores & 32 threads
Overclockable
Higher boost frequencies
Reasonable price-per-core
Power efficiency
PCIe Gen 4.0
Reasons to Avoid
Requires beefy cooling
No bundled cooler
Higher gen-on-gen pricing
No integrated graphics
High end desktop (HEDT) processors have long offered the ultimate in performance, as long as you were willing to pay the price. Aside from high pricing, HEDT chips also require expensive accommodations, like beefy motherboards and the added cost of fully populating quad-channel memory controllers. Add in the inevitable trade-offs, like reduced performance in lightly-threaded applications and games, and any cost-conscious users who could benefit from the threaded horsepower of a HEDT chip just settle for mainstream offerings.
AMD’s Ryzen 9 5950X, with 16 cores and 32 threads, expands on its predecessors’ mission of bringing HEDT-class performance to mainstream motherboards, lowering the bar for entry. The 5950X carries a $799 price tag, but that’s downright affordable compared to competing HEDT processors that don’t offer the same class of performance.
The Ryzen 9 5950X’s healthy slathering of cores and threads are incredibly adept at productivity workloads. Still, it does come with a dual-channel memory controller that can restrict performance in workloads constrained by memory throughput. However, outside of that notable restriction, if you’re after a chip and platform that can do serious work seriously fast, but still be nimble enough to deliver high-refresh gameplay at the end of the day, the Ryzen 9 5950X fits the bill like no other CPU before it, blurring the lines between HEDT and mainstream platforms.
Architecture: Zen 2 | Socket: AM4 | Cores/Threads: 16/32 | Base Frequency: 3.5GHz | Top Boost Frequency: 4.7GHz | TDP: 105W
Reasons to Buy
Class-leading 16 cores & 32 threads
Overclockable
Higher boost frequencies
Reasonable price-per-core
Power efficiency
Compatible with most AM4 boards
PCIe Gen 4.0
Reasons to Avoid
Requires beefy cooling
Limited overclocking headroom
The Ryzen 9 3950X is a previous-gen processor, and we typically don’t recommend investing in older chips for productivity-focused builds. However, given the ongoing chip shortages that likely won’t end soon, the Ryzen 9 3950X might be the only option if you’re looking for a 16-core 32-thread processor to drop into a mainstream motherboard.
AMD’s 16-core 32-thread Ryzen 9 3950X brings HEDT-class performance to mainstream motherboards, lowering the bar for entry. The 3950X carries a $749 MSRP, but you can find this nimble chip for ~$715 at retail. Perhaps the most attractive aspect of this chip right now is that you can find it in stock, whereas the more powerful Ryzen 9 5950X is subject to crushing shortages, and thus price gouging.
Read: AMD Ryzen 9 3950X Review
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X (Image credit: AMD)
4. AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Best Overall Value
SPECIFICATIONS
Architecture: Zen 3 | Socket: AM4 | Cores/Threads: 12/24 | Base Frequency: 3.7GHz | Top Boost Frequency: 4.8GHz | TDP: 65W
Reasons to Buy
Support for PCIe 4.0
Unlocked multiplier
Compatible with 500-series motherboards
Excellent gaming performance
Excellent single- and multi-threaded performance
Reasons to Avoid
No bundled cooler
Higher gen-on-gen pricing
No integrated graphics
If you’re truly only concerned about the best gaming CPU and basic productivity tasks, you should go with the Ryzen 5 5600X and save yourself some money. However, if you prize a brutal mix of performance in all aspects, like single- and multi-threaded work and gaming, the Ryzen 9 5900X is your chip – it delivers in all facets.
The 12-core 24-thread Ryzen 9 5900X is rated for a 3.7 GHz base and 4.8 GHz boost, but we clocked it in at 5.0 GHz during our own testing. Not only is the 5900X incredibly potent in threaded applications given its price point – it is also the uncontested fastest gaming chip on the market, so you’ll get the best of both worlds.
There’s also support for PCIe 4.0 and overclockability to consider. The Ryzen 9 5900X drops into existing 500-series motherboards, and support for 400-series motherboards is in the works for early 2021. You’ll need to bring your own cooler, and the bigger, the better – cooling definitely has an impact on performance with the higher-end Ryzen 5000 processors. However, if you’re looking for a chip with a great mixture of both single- and heavily-threaded performance, the Ryzen 9 5900X is a great option.
Read: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X Review
(Image credit: Intel)
Intel Core i7-10700K
Alternate Pick – Best Overall Value
SPECIFICATIONS
Architecture: Comet Lake | Socket: 1200 | Cores/Threads: 8 / 16 | Base Frequency: 3.8GHz | Top Boost Frequency: 5.1GHz | TDP: 125W
Reasons to Buy
Lower per-thread pricing
Turbo Boost Max 3.0
Excellent gaming performance
High overclocking headroom
Reasonable cooling requirements
Reasons to Avoid
No bundled cooler
PCIe 3.0 interface
Requires new motherboard
Not much faster than Core i5 (in gaming)
The Ryzen 9 5900X is superior to the Core i7-10700K in nearly every facet, but again, crushing shortages of AMD’s chips make the 5900X a rarity at retail. The Core i7-10700K slots into the middle ground between the Ryzen 9 5900X and the Ryzen 5 5600X listed below, and given the current state of the market, it might be the best pick in its price range. You can currently find this chip for ~$360, which is slightly below its official $387 MSRP.
The Core i7-10700K comes armed with eight cores and 16 threads that operate at a 3.8 GHz base and 5.1 GHz boost, making them adept at chewing through threaded workloads. The Core i7-10700K is a speedy chip with plenty of overclocking headroom, and it also comes with integrated graphics, which isn’t an option with AMD’s 5000-series processors.
You’ll need to bring your own cooler for the 10700K, but higher-end watercoolers can unlock quite a bit of overclocking headroom. Intel’s next-gen Rocket Lake processors will also be drop-in compatible with the LGA 1200 motherboard you’ll need for this processor.
Read: Intel Core i7-10700K Review
(Image credit: AMD)
5. AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Best Budget CPU
SPECIFICATIONS
Architecture: Zen 3 | Socket: AM4 | Cores/Threads: 6 / 12 | Base Frequency: 4.1GHz | Top Boost Frequency: 4.8GHz | TDP: 65W
Reasons to Buy
Strong gaming performance
Strong in single- and multi-threaded workloads
Relatively easy to cool
PCIe 4.0
Bundled cooler
Power efficiency
Works with existing 500-series motherboards
Reasons to Avoid
Higher gen-on-gen pricing
The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X offers a compelling blend of pricing and performance in its price range, but the six-core 12-thread chip lands at $299, a $50 price hike over its previous-gen counterpart. However, the 5600X brings more than enough extra application performance to justify the premium, not to mention that it’s the most power-efficient desktop PC processor we’ve ever tested. That means it is easier to cool than competing chips in its price range, ultimately resulting in a quieter system.
AMD’s Zen 3 microarchitecture results in a stunning 19% increase in IPC, which floats all boats in terms of performance in gaming, single-threaded, and multi-threaded applications. The 5600X serves up more than enough performance for day-to-day application workloads, but you’ll need to align your expectations with the fact that this is a six-core processor. That said, you won’t find this level of performance from any other six-core chip on the market. If entertainment is also on the menu, the 5600X is an incredibly well-rounded chip that can handle any type of gaming, from competitive-class performance with high refresh rate monitors to streaming.
The Ryzen 5 5600X has a 3.7 GHz base and 4.6 GHz boost clock, but with the right cooling and motherboard, you can expect higher short-term boosts. The chip also has a 65W TDP rating, meaning it runs exceptionally cool and quiet given its capabilities (the previous-gen model was 95W).
Existing AMD owners with a 500-series motherboard will breathe a sigh of relief as the 5600X drops right into existing 500-series motherboards. Support for 400-series motherboards will come next year, so those users will have to wait for a drop-in upgrade until then. If you need a new motherboard to support the chip, both 400- and 500-series motherboards are plentiful and relatively affordable, with the B550 lineup offering the best overall value for this class of chip.
Read: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Review: The Mainstream Knockout
£150)Architecture: Zen 2 | Socket: AM4 (1331) | Cores/Threads: 6/12 | Base Frequency: 3.8GHz | Top Boost Frequency: 4.4GHz | TDP: 65W
Reasons to Buy
Low price
Excellent performance in gaming and applications
PCIe 4.0 support
Bundled cooler
Low power consumption
Unlocked multiplier
Backward compatibility
Reasons to Avoid
No cheap B-series motherboards with PCIe 4.0
Limited overclocking headroom
No integrated graphics
The Ryzen 5 3600 represents the lowest-end processor we’d recommend for a productivity-focused machine, but again, this is a previous-gen processor. However, due to ongoing product shortages, it might be the best bang for your buck that’s actually available at retail outlets.
Intel’s entry-level Comet Lake processors have made strides in the battle against AMD’s Ryzen, but in threaded apps, there really is no contest again: The Ryzen 3000 processors offer far more value than Intel’s competing chips. For instance, the Ryzen 5 3600 offers nearly the same amount of threaded horsepower as Intel’s $262 Core i5-10600K but retails for ~$200.
The 3600X might be worth the extra coin if you aren’t interested in overclocking, as it does provide more performance out of the box and comes with a better cooler. However, it’s hard to justify the $50 premium over the Ryzen 5 3600.
A Ryzen 5 3600 paired with a B550 motherboard (or even a B450 if you aren’t interested in PCIe 4.0 connectivity) will make a great setup for mainstream users focused on light productivity tasks, like streaming, rendering, and encoding.
The Zen 3 architecture has been a big leap in performance in the desktop CPU market and it seems that little is left to see its reach the laptop market with the family 5000. We already knew leaked details of this family of processors, and now the result of the GeekBench 5 test of the AMD Ryzen 9 has been leaked 5900 H, one of the most powerful models of the next generation.
With 1. 520 points in single-core, Ryzen 5900 H outperforms Core i9 – 10900 desktop
Validated results show a score of 1. 520 points in single core and 9. 427 MHz in multi core. If we compare it with a whole Intel Core i9 – 10900 of desktop, we see that this is below in single-core, with 1. 320 mean points, and 9. 427 mean points in multi-core, test where it slightly exceeds it, all comparing a laptop processor with 65 W of TDP with a desktop processor with 65 W for TDP.
If we compare with the Ryzen 9 2020 HS we find a performance increase of 31% in multi-core and practically the 40 % in single core, so everything points to Zen 3 architecture performs especially either in portable format.
We still have to meet the most powerful model, the Ryzen 9 5900 HX, which should offer a bit more speed as it is a more chosen chip and has 500 MHz more than Boost according to leaks.
PROCESSOR
ARCHITECTURE
CORES / THREADS
GHZ BASE
GHZ BOOST
GPU
CACHE
TDP
AMD RYZEN 5000 H Series
AMD Ryzen 9 5900 HX
Zen 3
8 / 16
3.3 GHz
4.7 GHz
8 CUs
16 MB
45 W
AMD Ryzen 9 5900 H
Zen 3
8 / 16
3.3 GHz
4,65 GHz
8 CUs
16 MB
45 W
AMD Ryzen 9 5900 HS
Zen 3
8 / 12
3.1 GHz
4.5 GHz
?
16 MB
35 W
AMD Ryzen 7 5800 H
Zen 3
8 / 16
3.2 GHz
?
8 CUs
16 MB
45 W
AMD Ryzen 5 5600 H
Zen 3
6 / 16
3.0 GHz
4.1 GHz
?
8 MB
65 W
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Antonio Delgado
Computer Engineer by training, writer and hardware analyst at Geeknetic since 2011. I love gutting everything that comes my way, especially the latest hardware that we get here for reviews. In my spare time I fiddle with 3d printers, drones and other gadgets. For anything here you have me.
Biostar and ASRock are the first two manufacturers that formalize support for future 11th generation Intel Core CPUs with their own Z chipset solutions 490
by Paolo Corsini published 28 December 2020 , at 09: 41 in the Motherboards and Chipsets channel Intel Core ASRock Biostar
In the first months of 2021 Intel will make available 11th Generation Core processors for desktop systems , better known by the name the n code of Rocket Lake-S . These CPUs will continue to be built with nanometer manufacturing technology 14 but will adopt a new microarchitecture , thanks to which they will benefit from an increase in IPC (instruction per clock) compared to the models now on the market.
These processors will installed on motherboards equipped with LGA socket 1200 based on Intel series chipsets 500 , expected to debut together with the processors. However, there are confirmations on compatibility also with motherboards based on Intel Z chipset 490, obviously equipped with LGA socket 1200, which are now on the market. These models are those combined with the tenth generation Intel Core processors for desktop systems, offered in versions up to 10 core as maximum in Core i9 model – 10900 K.
Biostar has officially announced that its Intel Z chipset motherboards 490 will receive bios updates with which official support for these processors will be implemented . Not only that: a similar compatibility is also expected for motherboards developed by ASRock , with a compatibility list which affects not only the models with Z chipset 490 but also those W 480 and H 470.
At this point it is foreseeable that all motherboard manufacturers will make bios updates available for your LGA socket motherboards 1200 so as to extend compatibility with new 11th generation Core CPUs. By doing so, motherboards with chipset 400 will implement support for PCI Express 4.0 peripherals through the controller integrated in the new Rocket Lake-S family processors.
Lumi managed to grab the records in both the GPUPI and 3DMark Port Royal tests, but unfortunately the latter’s record has already been displaced.
It is always nice to start digesting Christmas hams with positive news. This time they will be served by Juhani Luumi, a top superclocker who is also known to us from TechBBS, and who brought new video card records to Finland in honor of Christmas.
Plum’s Christmas overclocking session originally produced two records, but unfortunately in a fast-moving world, one of them has already had time to displace. He still captured the current record in the GPUPI – 1B test program, where the video card calculates the approximate silicon.
EVGA’s GeForce RTX 3090 K | NGP | N, or more familiarly, Kingpin was naturally cooled with liquid nitrogen and worked in the test 2895 at a clock frequency of MHz. GDDR6X memories were set to run during the test for approximately 18 , At a speed of 1 Gbps (1425 MHz). The graphics card was supported by a liquid-cooled 5.4 GHz overclocked Core i9 – 10900 K EVGA Z 490 on the Dark motherboard
The new GPUPI – 1B record time is 2 seconds and , which is milliseconds, which covers the previous record held by the Greek watchmaker OGS 12 with a margin of milliseconds. The OGS result was also run on a liquid nitrogen cooled RTX 3090 graphics card.
Plum’s already displaced record came in turn in the 3DMark Port Royal test. Luumin 18 343 score record was run with the same configuration, but this time the graphics card worked at its highest according to 3DMark 2715 at a clock frequency of MHz and memories of approximately 28 At the speed of Gbps (1440 MHz).
Plum result exceeded by about delay Australian watchmaker Escapeee with a new record 18 343 points. The result is run on an RTX 3090 graphics card operating at the highest 2760 clock speed in the test and whose memories work around , 3 Gbps at speed (2020 MHz). Unlike Luum, the graphics card was supported by the Escapee Ryzen 9 5950 X, which was apparently set to run at 4.6 GHz for all cores.
Update 22 . 10:
Inherited by the ousted top result, Luumi decided to break the records again. In the GPUPI – 1B test, Luumi was the first to tune his RTX 3090 Kingpin graphics card to a clock frequency above 2.9 GHz. Specifically, the new record run at 2910 MHz is now 2 seconds and 119 milliseconds, ie the record improved 13 milliseconds.
Plum also got back its top spot in the 3DMark Port Royal test 17 496, but Escapee has already pecked at the new 18 3090 ). In contrast, no wedges were found in the 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra test, but Luum’s new one 12 248 score record still holds. The result was run with RTX 3090 operating according to 3DMark 2730 MHz clock speed and memory operating at approximately 12, 9 Gbps (1425 MHz) speed. The graphics-enabled liquid-cooled Core i9 – 10900 K operated in a test at a clock frequency of 5.5 GHz.
CPU-Z screenshots with engineering samples of the Intel Core i9-11900K, i9-11900, and i7-11700 processors have leaked, alongside another screenshot with the results of the alleged Core i7-11700 on Cinebench R20. Additionally, a Core i7-11700KF has appeared on the Ashes of The Singularity database.
Starting with the CPU-Z screenshots shared on Chiphell (via @harukaze5719), the engineering samples seem to be clocked at a lower frequency than the retail units, expected to feature a 3.5GHz base clock, all-core boost of 4.8GHz, and a single-core boost of 5.3GHz. As per the leaker, this engineering sample has 125W TDP and a 3.4GHz base clock, a 4.3GHz all-core boost, and a 4.8GHZ single-core boost.
Both the engineering samples of the Core i7-11700 and i9-11900 have a 65WTDP and a base clock of 1.8GHz, boosting all cores up to 3.9GHz and 4.0GHz, respectively. The single-core boost of both processors also seems to differ, with the i7-11700 boosting up to 4.3GHz and the i9-11900 up to 4.5GHz.
Image credit: Chiphell, Leakbench
The engineering samples were acquired for 2800 Yuan (£317) for the 11900K, 2300 Yuan (£261 USD) for the 11900, and 1600 Yuan (£181) for the 11700. All samples were tested on an unreleased B560 motherboard.
The same leaker that shared the CPU-Z screenshots also posted another screenshot with a Cinbench R20 result of the Core i7-11700 engineering sample, which scored 529 in the single-core benchmark and 4672 in the multi-core one.
Another interesting leak about the 11th Gen Core line-up has been spotted by Leakbench, who found an entry of a Core i7-11700KF on the Ashes of The Singularity database. Based on the naming scheme of previously released processors, this CPU probably lacks the Xe-LP iGPU of the i7-11700K, but everything else should remain the same. The AoTS entry doesn’t reveal much about the processors, but it seems that it will come with a 3.6GHz base clock, 100MHz more than the rumoured specification of the Core i9-11900K.
Compared to the results of other Intel processors with the same core configuration (8C/16T) from the 9th Gen and 10th Gen Core series, the results are roughly the same and within the margin of error, depending on the entry. This doesn’t mean that there is no improvement over previous generations, but given the IPC gain, we were expecting better performance.
Intel Rocket Lake-S processors are expected to be announced during CES 2021, on January 11-14, 2021, and released during the first quarter of 2021.
KitGuru says: Can Intel 11th Gen Core Rocket Lake-S processors stand toe-to-toe against AMD Ryzen 5000 series? Which would you consider for an upgrade?
A Bilibili user (via harukaze5719) has posted a thread over at the Bilibili forums that expose the purported specifications of three Intel 11th Generation Rocket Lake-S processors. The chips are engineering samples that the user claims to have picked up on the black market, so final specifications will likely differ from those shown.
The first processor corresponds to the Core i9-11900, which comes equipped with an eight-core, 16-thread configuration and a 16MB L3 cache. The base clock is set at 1.8 GHz, while the single boost clock peaks at 4.5 GHz. The all-core boost on the Core i9-11900 appears to top out at 4 GHz. The Core i9-11900 is a 65W processor, but that’s just the PL1 (power level 1) rating. The PL2 value is actually configured to 224W.
Both the Core i7-11700K and Core i7-11700 share the same core specifications as the Core i9-11900. In the case of the Core i7-11700K, the chip reportedly flaunts a 3.4 GHz base clock and a 4.8 GHz single base clock. The all-core boost clock is a bit lower at 4.3 GHz. Coming as no surprise, the Core i7-11700K features a 125W PL1 and a 250W PL2 rating.
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Intel Core i9-11900 (Image credit: Bilibili)
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Intel Core i9-11900 (Image credit: Bilibili)
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Intel Core i7-11700K (Image credit: Bilibili)
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Intel Core i7-11700K (Image credit: Bilibili)
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Intel Core i7-11700 (Image credit: Bilibili)
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Intel Core i7-11700 (Image credit: Bilibili)
Lastly, the Core i7-11700 allegedly checks in with a 1.8 GHz base clock but has a single boost clock that reaches 4.4 GHz. The all-core boost clock, however, is stuck at 3.8 GHz. Like the Core i9-11900, the Core i7-11700 also abides by the 65W PL1 and 224W PL2 restrictions.
According to the Bilibili user, the default XMP frequency for Rocket Lake-S is DDR4-3200. However, it was possible to pair the processors with DDR4-4133 memory on an unspecified B560 motherboard. This is a fascinating discovery as it appears that Intel might have enabled memory overclocking on the B560 chipset. If true, this would be a revolutionary change in the right direction since the chipmaker’s lesser chipsets are historically limited to the officially supported memory frequency for that specific generation of processors. For example, existing B460, H470, and H410 motherboards are limited to DDR4-2933 memory modules, which are the Comet Lake-S processors’ official specifications.
It’s a known fact that Rocket Lake-S will wield Cypress Cove cores, which, according to Intel, will offer double-digit instruction per cycle (IPC) improvements. On the graphics side, a previous leak spoke of four potential setups for the 11th Generation chips. The Rocket Lake-S SKUs will feature Xe graphics with either 32 EUs or 24 EUs, while the Comet Lake-S Refresh models will land with UHD Graphics 630and 610 with 24 EUs and 12 EUs each, respectively.
Intel has established the launch date for Rocket Lake-S in the first quarter of next year. However, rumors claim that we might see an announcement as early as CES 2021.
AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X offers great performance in applications, but the same gaming performance as its less-expensive counterpart, the Ryzen 5 5600X.
For
Strong gaming performance
Solid single- and multi-threaded
IPC gain, boost frequencies
Power efficiency
Overclockable
PCIe Gen4 support
400/500-series compatible
Against
Price
No bundled cooler
No integrated graphics
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X slots into AMD’s Zen 3-powered product stack with eight cores and sixteen threads, serving as the mainstream workhorse of the Ryzen 5000 series processors that have taken our list of Best CPUs by storm. Powered by the Zen 3 architecture that delivers a ~19% increase in instruction per cycle (IPC) throughput, the Ryzen 7 5800X delivers the impressive gains over the previous-gen models that we’ve come to expect, resetting our performance expectations for an eight-core processor.
However, balancing a product stack is all about selecting the right price point for any given chip, and the Ryzen 7 5800X’s relatively high price point ($50 more than the previous-gen model) not only puts it into contention with bruising competition from within AMD’s own product stack, it also allows Intel’s $374 Core i7-10700K to slot in as a value alternative.
The $449 Ryzen 7 5800X is the next step up the ladder from the $299 six-core 12-thread Ryzen 5 5600X, the best gaming CPU for the money, but the 5800X provides roughly the same gaming performance for $150 more. AMD also stopped bundling air coolers with its chips with a TDP rating that exceeds 65W, so the 105W Ryzen 7 5800X comes without what used to be one of AMD’s most prized value-adds for the Ryzen 7 series – the Wraith Prism RGB cooler.
AMD’s cooler-less Ryzen 5000 series models require a 280mm AIO cooler (or equivalent air cooler), adding plenty of cost into the equation. That will likely dissuade gaming-focused enthusiasts from dropping the extra cash for the 5800X’s two additional cores that don’t deliver meaningful gaming performance gains over the Ryzen 5 5600X.
Conversely, the $549 Ryzen 9 5900X is an alluring chip for the productivity-minded. The 5900X comes armed with 12 cores and 24 threads for $100 more than the 5800X, and the extra four cores and eight threads equate to ~37% more performance in threaded workloads for 22% more cash. The Ryzen 9 5900X is also the fastest gaming chip in the Zen-3 powered stack, so there aren’t any tradeoffs from moving up to the competitively-priced 12-core model.
AMD Ryzen 5000 Series Processor Competition
Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 Series Processors
RCP (MSRP)
Cores/Threads
Base/Boost Freq.
TDP
L3 Cache
Ryzen 9 5950X
$799
16 / 32
3.4 / 4.9
105W
64MB (2×32)
Core i9-10980XE
$815 (retail)
18 / 36
3.0 / 4.8
165W
24.75MB
Ryzen 9 3950X
$749
16 / 32
3.5 / 4.7
105W
64MB (4×16)
Ryzen 9 5900X
$549
12 / 24
3.7 / 4.8
105W
64MB (2×32)
Core i9-10900K / F
$488 – $472
10 / 20
3.7 / 5.3
125W
20MB
Ryzen 9 3900XT
$499
12 / 24
3.9 / 4.7
105W
64MB (4×16)
Ryzen 7 5800X
$449
8 / 16
3.8 / 4.7
105W
32MB (2×16)
Core i9-10850K
$453
10 / 20
3.6 / 5.2
95W
20MB
Core i7-10700K / F
$374 – $349
8 / 16
3.8 / 5.1
125W
16MB
Ryzen 7 3800XT
$399
8 / 16
3.9 / 4.7
105W
32MB (2×16)
Ryzen 5 5600X
$299
6 / 12
3.7 / 4.6
65W
32MB (1×32)
Core i5-10600K / F
$262 – $237
6 / 12
4.1 / 4.8
125W
12MB
Ryzen 5 3600XT
$249
6 / 12
3.8 / 4.5
95W
32MB (1×32)
Intel’s $440 Core i9-10850K comes into the picture with ten cores and 20 threads. This chip serves as the gaming equivalent to the $490 Core i9-10900K and is $10 cheaper than the Ryzen 7 5800X. The aging Skylake microarchitecture doesn’t have enough gas left in the tank to match the Ryzen 7 5800X’s stellar performance in gaming or lightly-threaded work, but it does offer roughly 3% more performance in threaded performance. Given its other deficiencies, we don’t see Core i9’s extra threaded horsepower wooing away many Ryzen 7 5800X shoppers.
AMD’s Zen 3 suffers from a noticeable gap in its product stack: Based upon product naming alone, it appears there is a missing Ryzen 7 5700X to plug the $150 hole in the stack, but we aren’t sure if AMD will actually bring a 5700X to market. For now, that gap allows the $374 Core i7-10700K to weigh in as a cheaper alternative to the 5800X, but you’ll make plenty of tradeoffs for the lower price point. Given the 10700K’s low price point, it makes a solid value alternative – just be aware that you’ll sacrifice performance.
AMD’s premium could be a disadvantage if Intel becomes more aggressive on pricing, but AMD’s suggested selling prices rarely manifest at retail, and continuing shortages have found Ryzen 5000 chips selling far over recommended pricing. History indicates that, given sufficient supply, AMD’s processors typically retail for far less than the official price points. That makes it hard to predict how pricing will shake out over the next months as supply normalizes.
Meanwhile, Intel’s response won’t come until the first quarter of 2021 when its Rocket Lake chips blast off. These new chips bring a back-ported Cypress Cove architecture that grants a “double-digit” IPC increase paired with Intel’s never-ending line of 14nm chips. Early indicators point to these chips flaunting their own impressive gains in per-core performance.
Intel’s Rocket Lake tops out at eight cores, so while those chips won’t be able to challenge AMD’s core-heavy Ryzen 9 processors, they could be worthy rivals for AMD’s Ryzen 7 and 5 models. For now, Zen 3 has caught Intel flat-footed with its Comet Lake chips, so you should only consider them as alternatives if they’re retailing below the official MSRPs.
Ryzen 7 5800X Specifications and Pricing
The Ryzen 5000 series processors come as four models that span from six cores and twelve threads up to 16 cores and 32 threads. With the exception of the Ryzen 7 5800X, AMD increased its Precision Boost clock rates across the board. However, the Ryzen 7 5800X has the same 4.7 GHz boost clock as its predecessor, the Ryzen 7 3800XT.
As before, AMD only guarantees its boost frequencies on a single core, and all-core boosts will vary based on the cooling solution, power delivery, and motherboard firmware. Given sufficient accommodations, the chips could exceed their specified boost clocks – our Ryzen 7 5800X sample frequently boosted to 4.85 GHz on a single core, which is well above the rated 4.7 GHz boost. It’s clear that AMD has spec’d the Ryzen 5000 processors conservatively.
AMD also reduced Zen 3’s base frequencies compared to the previous-gen processors. For instance, the Ryzen 7 5800X comes with a 3.8 GHz base frequency compared to the previous-gen 3800XT’s 3.9 GHz, but in practice, that isn’t a meaningful distinction. AMD says that if you top the chip with an adequate cooler, it will rarely (if ever) drop to the base frequency. We recorded many cases of a 4.5 GHz all-core boost with the Ryzen 7 5800X, which certainly wasn’t possible with the previous-gen chips. We’ll cover that more in-depth below.
AMD Ryzen 5000 Series CPUs
Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 Series Processors
RCP (MSRP)
Cores/Threads
Base/Boost Freq.
TDP
L3 Cache
Ryzen 9 5950X
$799
16 / 32
3.4 / 4.9 GHz
105W
64MB (2×32)
Ryzen 9 5900X
$549
12 / 24
3.7 / 4.8 GHz
105W
64MB (2×32)
Ryzen 7 5800X
$449
8 / 16
3.8 / 4.7 GHz
105W
32MB (1×32)
Ryzen 5 5600X
$299
6 / 12
3.7 / 4.6 GHz
65W
32MB (1×32)
The Ryzen chips continue to expose 20 lanes of PCIe 4.0 to the user and stick with DDR4-3200 memory as the base spec. However, if the silicon lottery shines upon you, we found that the chips offer much better memory overclocking due to improved fabric overclocking capabilities. We achieved DDR4-3800 with a 1:1 memory/fabric clock ratio, which wasn’t possible with the previous-gen Ryzen 7 3800XT, but still short of the DDR4-4000 we achieved with the Ryzen 9 5900X. Overall the 500-series motherboard firmwares are mature, but there is continuing development on the memory and fabric overclocking front. That means we could see further improvements here with newer BIOS updates.
The Ryzen 5000 chips drop into existing AM4 motherboards with 500-series chipsets, like X570, B550, and A520 models. AMD is adding support for 400-series motherboards starting in Q1, 2021, but that comes with a few restrictions. Regardless, some motherboard vendors have jumped ahead and already offer support on 400-series motherboards, so that initiative is well underway. Just remember that you’ll lose support for the PCIe 4.0 interface on those older motherboards.
We’ve covered AMD’s Zen 3 microarchitecture more in-depth in our Ryzen 9 5950X and 5900X review. The highlight reel is that AMD has unified its L3 cache into one 32MB contiguous cluster, which vastly reduces memory latency, thus boosting performance in latency-sensitive workloads, like gaming. AMD also made a number of fine-grained optimizations to the microarchitecture.
(Image credit: AMD)
AMD leverages its existing Ryzen SoC for the 5000 series chips. Zen 3 uses the same 12nm I/O Die (IOD) paired with either one or two 8-core chiplets (CCD) in an MCM (Multi-Chip Module) configuration. For the Ryzen 7 5800X, the chip comes with one CCD with all eight cores enabled, while CPUs with 12 or 16 cores come with two chiplets.
The IOD still contains the same memory controllers, PCIe, and other interfaces that connect the SoC to the outside world. Just like with the Matisse chips, the IOD measures ~125mm^2 and has 2.09 billion transistors.
The chiplets have been redesigned, however, and now measure ~80.7mm^2 and have 4.15 billion transistors. That’s slightly larger than Zen 2’s CCDs with ~74mm^2 of silicon and 3.9 billion transistors. For more details of the magic behind the 19% increase in IPC, head here.
MORE: Best CPUs
MORE: Intel and AMD CPU Benchmark Hierarchy Comparisons
Intel appears to be testing more and more of its future Rocket Lake processors, as more engineering samples have been spotted by @harukaze5719 on Twitter; including the flagship Core i9-11900K, a higher clocked i9-11900, and a new i7-11700. But perhaps the best news of all is that Intel has seemingly unlocked B560 to allow full overclocking support.
In the past, Intel’s lower-priced B series of motherboard chipsets were always locked to prevent users from overclocking their CPUs and memory. Instead, you had to hike up and grab a more-expensive Z series board to unlock those features. Fortunately, though, this looks to be changing with Rocket Lake and its associated 500 series chipset boards. Harukaze5719 was able to run a 4133MHz XMP profile on a B560 motherboard on a Core i9 11900K and Core i9-11900, both of which are engineering samples.
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(Image credit: Twitter)
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(Image credit: Twitter)
This is the first time we’ve seen the top-end Core i9-11900K engineering sample in the wild. According to Harukaze579, this chip has a base frequency of 4.3ghz and a turbo clock of 4.8ghz. This is promising because if the core frequencies are this high on an engineering sample, we could be seeing some crazy high turbo clocks on the official SKUs.
There also appears to be a new i9-11900 engineering sample floating around with a much higher frequency than the QVJ1 model we’ve been seeing. This model features a significantly higher base clock of 4 GHz (compared to 1.8Ghz) and a boost frequency of 4.5 GHz (before it was 3.8Ghz).
(Image credit: Twitter)
Harukaze5719 also shared a Cinebench R20 score for another Rocket Lake SKU, the Core i7-11700, which has a 3.8Ghz base clock along with a 4.3Ghz boost. It scored a multi-threaded score of 4672 points and 529 points in the single-threaded benchmark. For comparison, the multi-threaded score managed to just beat the Ryzen 5 5600X barely by a few hundred points. However, the single-core score is much more favorable and the i7-11700 managed to beat Intel’s flagship i9-10900K Comet Lake-S SKU.
Next year will be very interesting for Intel. It looks like AMD’s relentless competition is finally forcing Intel’s hand in allowing its B series boards to overclock, which AMD has done on its B series boards since 1st Gen Ryzen. But, will backporting a new architecture to 14nm really pay off? We’ll have to wait and see.
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