Last year, AMD released the Ryzen 5000 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.
With the Ryzen 3000 launch in 2019 came the AMD X570 chipset. Featuring PCIe 4.0 support, X570 was an impressive leap from generations past. It was also hot, with motherboards often including chipset cooling fans, and, more significantly, expensive. The high cost of the chipset increased the average cost of X570 motherboards considerably over previous generations.
While AMD has done a great job of maintaining motherboard compatibility with new generation processors, none of the previous-generation AM4 motherboards featured official PCIe 4.0 support, not even for the storage and PCIe controlled by PCIe 4.0 compatible CPUs. Enter B550, the more value-oriented little brother of X570. While the B550 chipset is PCIe 3.0 only, B550 motherboards support PCIe 4.0 from the CPU to the primary PCIe slot as well as the primary M.2 slot (dependent on a PCIe 4.0 ready CPU). With PCIe 4.0 support also came increased cost. PCIe 4.0 devices are still rare in 2021, so for those on a budget, the tried and true B450 chipset is the way to go. What B450 lacks in cutting-edge features it makes up for in value.
The ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F Gaming II features a robust VRM cooling solution and a 8+4 VRM design. 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 STRIX B450-F Gaming II is even compatible with the latest Ryzen 5000 series processors. All of this performance is bundled into a sleek, modern package that comes in at less than US$150.
Let’s take a closer look at what the ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F Gaming II has to offer.
Specifications
Specifications
CPU Support:
AMD AM4 Socket for AMD Ryzen™ 5000 Series/ 4000 G-Series/ 3rd/2nd/1st Gen
1x RJ45 Ethernet port 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 USB Type-C® 1x BIOS FlashBack™ Button 1x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port 1x DisplayPort 1x HDMI 2x USB 2.0 1x Optical S/PDIF out 5x Audio jacks
Audio:
1x Realtek ALC1220A Codec
Fan Headers:
6x 4-pin
Form Factor:
ATX Form Factor: 12.0 in x 9.6 in, 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm
The Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 gave us the power of the Raspberry Pi 4 in a smaller package but it came with a cost, the Compute Module 4 needed carrier boards for GPIO access, USB, Ethernet etc. Tofu, a carrier board from oratek is designed for industrial applications and it comes with features not found on the official Compute Module 4 IO board, including an M.2 socket for use with NVME SSDs and 4G network cards.
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Carrier boards are a necessity for the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 as they are designed for use in custom designed boards which breakout the features required for a project. For example the Otto camera which used the original Raspberry Pi Compute Module and official camera.
Tofu is a custom carrier board for industrial applications and measuring just 3.5 x 3.5 inches (90 x 90mm) Tofu crams a lot of functionality into a compact board. Tofu cleverly uses both sides of the board to provide an M.2 2242 B key slot compatible with NVME drives and 4G network cards so no need for PCIe boards. Additionally there is also a Micro SIM slot for use with 4G network cards.
There are two methods of directly powering Tofu and attached M.2 devices, a 2.1mm barrel jack and a terminal block, both of which can work with voltages between 7.5 and 28V. Tofu provides circuit protections for ESD and reverse current, handy for those moments when you mix up the polarity of your power input. The onboard Gigabit Ethernet port also supports Power over Ethernet (PoE). Power to the Compute Module 4 can also be supplied via the USB C interface, but this does not provide for the M.2 slot.
Tofu is designed solely for the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 and it is compatible with all variants of the board. We see the familiar 40 pin GPIO along with M3 mounting holes to securely hold your HAT board. We see three USB ports, which will most likely use USB 2.0 as USB 3.0 is not part of the spec for Compute Module 4. The official Raspberry Pi Camera and Display can be used with Tofu but it will require the use of cable adaptors, purchase separately. A full size HDMI port and a micro SD card slot round off the features found on Tofu.
Tofu is available for pre-order for Sfr. 99.00, around $109 including taxes.
If you’ve read the review of the NETGEAR Orbi LTE router, you might have guessed that this review was on its way. Indeed, this was the very first product I received for review in the UK, with testing done in a hotel while I was sorting out more permanent accommodations, as the next few pages will no doubt indicate. However, circumstances were such that I received two units accidentally, had to return the first one, and test the second unit, which meant the Orbi review was finished first. Regardless, here we are and thanks again to NETGEAR for sending a review sample to TechPowerUp!
The Nighthawk MR2100, also referred to as the Nighthawk M2, is an interesting product in more ways than one. It is obviously a mobile hotspot router, as shown by the way of the form factor and company image above. A few years ago, NETGEAR made waves with their MR1100, a truly all-in-one portable LTE router that worked with just about any carrier worldwide, but had poor battery life and a lower maximum throughput. They aimed to change that with the release of the MR2100 with a better battery and double the WiFi throughput, but somehow managed to create a product that never had a retail launch in the US. Sure, there were some ways to get it through certain carriers, but it is missing some LTE bands that a few specific carriers in the US and some European countries utilize. With the recent launch of their brand-new 5G WiFi 6 mobile router, does it still merit a place in 2021? We aim to address this question in this review that begins with a look at the specifications in the table below.
MSI dropped some bombs today during the transmission of its MSI Insider Show. In addition to revealing the pricing for its B560 and H510 motherboards, the company the also teased its upcoming MEG Z590 Unify/Unify-X motherboards for Rocket Lake-S processors.
MSI’s Unify series of motherboards are recognized for two main traits. They arrive with a pure black design that lacks RGB lighting (for those that hate RGB), and they’re also heavy on overclocking features. As anticipated, MSI will be bringing the MEG Z590 Unify and Unify-X motherboards to exploit Intel’s Rocket Lake-S chips. The pair of motherboards are like manna from heaven for enthusiasts that require more connectivity than what the MEG Z590I Unify has to offer.
Adhering to the standard ATX form factor, the MEG Z590 Unify and Unify-X share identical specifications, except for the number of memory slots. The Unify-X will only come with two DDR4 memory slots that will ultimately help with memory overclocking, given the shorter traces.
MEG Z590 Unify (Image credit: MSI)
Made to compete with the best motherboards, both Unify motherboards exploit a 16-phase power delivery subsystem with power stages rated for 90A each. A pair of 8-pin EPS power connectors are present to feed the processor with more juice than it can handle. MSI didn’t touch too much on the memory slots, but we expect the motherboards to easily support all of the best RAM, including memory modules faster than DDR4-5000.
Despite being overclocking-oriented, the MEG Z590 Unify and Unify-X aren’t short on other features either. The storage options include six normal SATA III connectors, three PCIe 4.0 x4 slots and one PCIe 3.0 x4 slot. Since multi-GPU setups are a thing of the past, the Unify motherboards only come with one PCIe 4.0 x16 expansion slot.
With Rocket Lake-S, you basically have 20 high-speed PCIe 4.0 lanes at your disposal. The Unify motherboards’ layout allows you to manage the PCIe 4.0 x16 expansion slot in two ways. If you decide to limit the PCIe 4.0 x16 expansion slot to x8, it opens up the opportunity for you to run the three M.2 slots at PCIe 4.0 x4. On the flipside, if you rather have your expansion slot at x16, you’ll be limited to one M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot.
The Unify motherboards’ other attributes include 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet networking, Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, Lightning USB 20G (USB 3.2 Gen 2×2) port and MSI’s Audio Boost 5 technology.
In its latest installment of the MSI Insider Show, MSI has shared the pricing for its complete stack of B560 and H510 motherboards. The budget-friendly offerings are designed for consumers to squeeze every bit of performance out of Intel’s imminent 11th Generation Rocket Lake-S processors.
MSI is pricing the new B560 and H510 motherboards very closely to their counterparts from the previous generation. Rocket Lake-S will bring PCIe 4.0 support to a mainstream Intel desktop platform. The processors are backwards compatible with 400-series motherboards, but you will miss out on the PCIe 4.0 feature, which might bne the only reason users upgrade ro Rocket Lake. At any rate, it’s good to see that the PCIe 4.0 tax doesn’t have a huge impact on MSI’s budget motherboards.
Designed to compete with the best motherboards, the MAG B560 Tomahawk WiFi will retail for $189, which is the same price tag that’s on the current MAG B460 Tomahawk. Other motherboards, such as the MAG B560M Mortar WiFi, B560M Pro-VDH WiFi or MAG B560M Mortar will even be $10 less expensive than the current models.
MSI B560, H510 Motherboard Pricing
Motherboard
MSRP in $ (excl. VAT)
MSRP in € (incl. VAT)
MPG B560I Gaming Edge WiFi
159
159
MAG B560 Tomahawk WiFi
189
189
MAG B560 Torpedo
169
169
MAG B560M Mortar WiFi
179
179
MAG B560M Mortar
159
159
MAG B560M Bazooka
139
139
B560M Pro-VDH WiFi
149
149
B560M Pro-VDH
129
129
B560M Pro WiFi
129
129
B560M Pro
109
109
B560M-A Pro
99
99
H510M Pro
95
95
H510M-A Pro
89
89
The MPG B560I Gaming Edge WiFi, which costs $159, will likely be a very enticing option for SFF builders who don’t have to make the jump to a Z590 motherboard. The Tomahawk series has always been popular with budget performance eekers, and we don’t expect that to change for this generation.
Borrowing the power delivery subsystem from the MAG Z490 Tomahawk, the MAG B560 Tomahawk WiFi leverages the same 12+2+1 design. That’s only two CPU phases less than on the premium Z590 Tomahawk WiFi. The MAG B560 Tomahawk WiFi also comes with support for memory speeds up to DDR4-5066, three M.2 slots, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6E networking.
At $89, the H510M-A Pro arrives with only the strickly necessary feaures for the really tight budgets. You’ll still get access to the PCIe 4.0 goodness through the motherboard’s sole PCIe 4.0 x16 expansion slot. Unfortunately, the M.2 slot is still locked to PCIe 3.0 x4. To get acces to a PCIe 4.0 x4 slot, you’ll have to upgrade to the B560M-A Pro, which commands a $10 higher price tag.
Diversity is the key to Pine64’s business model. From RISC-V powered soldering irons to Arm powered laptops, Pine64 seems to have its fingers in many pies — including the single board computer market dominated by the Raspberry Pi. In their February update, Pine64 has announced the Quartz64 model-A AM SBC, which seems to have an impressive set of features.
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Powered by a Rockchip RK3566 SoC, the Quartz64 comes with a quad-core Arm Cortex A55 CPU running up to 1.8GHz and a Mali-G52 GPU running at 800 MHz which supports Vulkan 1.0 and 1.1. Quartz64 supports up to 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM, but there will be models starting from 2GB of RAM.
Quartz64 model-A is quite a large board, larger than a Raspberry Pi 4 for sure. Measuring 5.2 x 3.1 x 0.7 inches (133 x 80 x 19mm), the Quartz64 offers plenty of extra space for extra features and a port layout that takes advantage of all the extra space.
Around the perimeter are the usual selection of two USB 3.0 and two 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, Micro SD, and a full-size HDMI port capable of 4k60 video output. Wireless connectivity is provided via an optional (model-A) WiFi and Bluetooth expansion, but the Quartz64 wiki indicates that this will be built into the model-B. Power comes via a DC barrel jack requiring a 5V 3A power supply.
Moving inwards, we see a plethora of ports and connections, including those for external displays (DSI) and cameras (CSI) and a 4xPCIe slot for additional expansion, but we doubt an RTX 3080 will be compatible. A single SATA 6.0 port, which can be used for mass storage and as a boot device, resides behind the USB ports. A vacant eMMC slot offers the chance to purchase an optional eMMC module between 16B and 128GB.
Something new with the Quartz64 is a native e-ink port, compatible with a 10-inch e-ink panel, which will be released at the same time as the Quartz64. According to teaser information in an earlier update, the e-ink display will support a capacitive pen. Quartz64 comes with an integrated battery charging circuit, enabling the board to run from battery power.
How much and when can we expect the Quartz64? Well, those questions remain unanswered for now, but we are looking forward to learning more about this board.
(Pocket-lint) – Thunderbolt is a super-speed technology first invented by Intel. While it initially used Mini DisplayPort connectors, it now uses USB-C and is, essentially, a super-speed version of it.
Thunderbolt 3 is part of the upcoming USB 4 standard, but many of us don’t have the new USB-4 ports on the recent MacBooks. What many of us have – whether a recent Mac or a high-end notebook Windows PC – is a Thunderbolt 3 port that works on top of the USB-C standard. If you don’t have Thunderbolt on your computer but you do have USB-C, why not check out our guide to the best USB-C docks?
Thunderbolt’s benefit is the amount of data it can throughput – up to 40Gbps with the right cables. So it’s the best technology if you’re often transferring large files onto a compatible Thunderbolt drive. The docks here are fully Thunderbolt 3 compatible but they also have the key benefit of USB-C – you can connect up display, power and data to your laptop via a single cable.
All of these docks are designed for on-desk use. Again, if you need a portable hub, check our our guide to USB-C hubs.
Coincidentally, Intel has now announced Thunderbolt 4, coming to future Intel machines.
Our guide to the best Thunderbolt docks
Anker
Anker PowerExpand Elite
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This 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 dock is a beast. Not only does it boast 85W charging for your laptop, but it’ll give you 18W charging for your phone via USB-C.
There are also dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, two USB-C ports, four USB-A ports, an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, SD/microSD card slots, and a 3.5 mm headphone or auxillary port. Plus there’s Gigabit Ethernet, too. There’s pretty much no compromise here.
The Thunderbolt 3 port supports 5K at 60Hz while the HDMI port supports a resolution of 4K at 60Hz. You’re able to connect displays to both simultaneously for maximum performance.
Basically, it’ll connect to pretty much anything remotely modern. An 80cm/2.3ft Thunderbolt 3 cable is included.
Corsair
Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt 3 dock
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Corsair’s TBT100 Thunderbolt 3 dock has a definite advantage over rivals in that it’s nicely sleek and can sit neatly under a display without drawing attention to itself.
It also offers plenty of connectivity options on its svelte frame with two USB-C ports, two USB-A, two HDMI and a 3.5mm combo headphone jack. There’s also an SD card reader, too, in addition to a Gigabit Ethernet port.
Indeed, the only disadvantage of the TBT100 is that there’s no USB-A on the front for connecting a USB stick or similar quickly and easily.
Belkin
Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro
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The Belkin dock is the best if you have stacks of legacy USB-A gear that you need to connect into your Thunderbolt Mac or PC.
That’s because this fairly compact dock not only has four USB-A ports on the rear but also one on the front in addition to an SD card slot and headphone jack. It also supports 85W upstream charging.
However, there’s no HDMI on the rear of this unit – it’s designed for DisplayPort monitors and you can connect up dual 4K 60hz displays.
An 80cm/2.3ft Thunderbolt 3 cable is included.
CalDigit
CalDigit Thunderbolt 3 Mini Dock
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This simple Thunderbolt 3 dock is a good solution if you want to connect displays via DisplayPort – there are dual DisplayPort 1.2 connectors that support 4K at 60fps.
There’s also a USB-A 3.0 port for flexibility plus Gigabit Ethernet for connections to wired networks. An alternative version of this dock features dual HDMI instead of dual DisplayPort.
Elgato
Elgato Thunderbolt 3 Pro
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This dock – from Corsair brand Elgato – is great if you have several devices that use the USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 connector – there are 2 x standard USB-C ports on the rear as well as dual Thunderbolt 3 ones, meaning there are plenty of options for newer devices.
Dual USB-A pon the front joins SD/micro SD card, Gigabit Ethernet and DisplayPort connectivity, too.
Plugable
Plugable Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C Dock
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With a whole host of connectivity, this Plugable device is great value for money – it has a stack oof ports including dual USB-C on the back (data only) and three USB-A ports – two on the rear and one on the front.
You can drive dual 4K displays at 60hz over Thunderbolt 3 using the dual DisplayPort connectors.
There’s also Gigabit Ethernet for good measure plus an 80cm/2.3ft Thunderbolt 3 cable is included.
Are you old enough to remember the Rubik’s Cube? Well, SolidRun’s latest SBC, the Cubox-M, may just remind you of that 1980’s sensation. Announced today by SolidRun, the Cubox-M is a 2-inch cube SBC with either a dual- or quad-core Arm processor packaged into a compact and rather slick plastic enclosure, so there are no bare boards on display, unlike the Raspberry Pi.
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(Image credit: SolidRun)
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Being just 2 inches cubed does not mean that the Cubox-M lacks power. The onboard NXP i.MX8M Plus Dual- / Quad-core Arm Cortex A53 can run at up to 1.8Ghz and features “an integrated neural processing unit for enhanced AI and machine learning capabilities at the edge” (per SolidRun’s press release).
Cubox-M comes with 4GB of LPDDR4-4000 RAM as standard, but this can be configured to up to 8GB of LPDDR4-4000, and given the size of the board, this is not user-configurable.
Boot media and storage are handled via 8GB eMMC flash storage, and a MicroSD slot is around the back. Due to the size of the Cubox-M, there’s a limited selection of ports. There are only two USB 3.0 ports and a single full-size HDMI 2.0 port providing up to 1080p at 60Hz. A Gigabit Ethernet port provides wired network connectivity,
and without any form of wireless connectivity, this is the only way to get online. Just under the USB 3.0 ports is what looks to be a micro USB port, but we have not found any documentation to indicate this port’s purpose. It could be a USB OTG port, or a means to flash a new operating system to the onboard eMMC storage.
What operating systems are supported? Well, at the time of launch, we are told that there is support for Linux Kernel 4.9 and above, so in theory, distributions such as Ubuntu, Fedora, Manjaro are compatible – but this remains to be seen. Android 11 is also compatible with Cubox-M.
The front of Cubox-M is relatively sparse, with just a power button on display. Still, there is an indicator LED and an infrared receiver for use with a remote control, which is available separately.
Power is provided via a 12V DC supply. Still, there is an optional Power over Ethernet upgrade, which means that Cubox-M can be embedded into a remote location without the need for a dedicated power supply.
The Cubox-M will retail for $99, and the POE upgrade will be from $120.
João Silva 3 days ago Accessories, Featured Tech News
Razer is about to launch the Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma, a universal dock with 10x ports and RGB lighting to greatly expand and centralise connectivity for your setup.
Featuring Thunderbolt 4 interfaces, the Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma allows users to transfer data at blazing fast speeds, connect to multiple displays and devices, and charge a laptop through a single cable. The USB-C port is capable of delivering up to 90W of power to charge a laptop, while also delivering power to all other connected devices. The dock supports up to two video outputs at 4K with a 60Hz refresh rate or a single output at 8K with a 30Hz refresh rate.
With four Thunderbolt 4x ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, a 3.5mm audio combo jack, a UHS-II SD card slot, and 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 ports, this docking solution is ready for every scenario. The Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma, as the name suggests, includes Razer Chroma RGB, capable of displaying 16.8 million colours and multiple lighting effects. Users can synchronise the Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma with other Chroma RGB-compatible devices through Razer Synapse. This docking solution works with both Windows and Mac devices with Thunderbolt 3/4 interfaces and is USB4 compliant, but it also supports legacy Thunderbolt devices.
The Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma is now available for pre-order, priced at $329.99.
KitGuru says: Are any of you in need of a dock like this? What do you make of the Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma?
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If you’ve been hunting for a Thunderbolt 4 dock for your new laptop, Razer has a new option for you to consider, simply called the Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock. It’s loaded with ports, and of course, Chroma RGB lighting, too. Razer says it’s USB4 compliant, so it’ll be compatible with the next wave of fast peripherals and devices. It’s available for preorder through Razer for $329.99, which seems competitive for what it offers.
Taking a trip around this understated, matte black aluminum dock, its front hosts a fast UHS-II SD card slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a single Thunderbolt 4 port to plug straight into your computer. On the back is where you’ll find most of the ports, including a barrel jack for its 135W power source, three Thunderbolt 4 ports for connecting displays and accessories (including support for Razer’s Core X external graphics card enclosure), a Gigabit Ethernet port, and three USB Type-A 3.1 Gen 2 ports.
The dock is 7.48 inches long, 2.93 inches wide, and just over an inch tall. It weighs three quarters of a pound.Razer
The Thunderbolt 4 Dock can deliver 90W PD charging to laptops, and if you plan to connect external monitors to it, it can support up to two 4K screens with a 60Hz refresh rate, or one 8K display at 30Hz.
This dock is also compatible with Windows 10 laptops with Thunderbolt 3 ports, as well as recent MacBook Pro and Air models running macOS Big Sur and all of Apple’s M1-powered machines — all of which feature Thunderbolt 3.
Razer’s Thunderbolt 4 dock is almost a direct (but slightly more expensive) parallel to the Kensington SD5700T dock that my colleague Monica Chin checked out. It’s $289.99 and features the same amount of Thunderbolt 4 ports, plus one extra USB Type-A port. Razer’s option is a little more slim, lightweight, and flashy with its LEDs, but only you will know if that’s worth $40 more.
The Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 introduced a change in form factor for the industrial/embedded range of Raspberry Pi. Previous models favored the SODIMM form factor, but for the Compute Module 4, we saw a change to a dual, custom interface. The Compute Module 4 form factor requires a development board, often referred to as a “carrier board” in order to be used. Many makers are building their own custom carrier boards, and the Sourcekit PiTray mini looks to be the latest offering the power of the Compute Module 4 in a form factor similar to the Raspberry Pi 4.
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The Sourcekit PiTray mini shares the same dimensions as the Raspberry Pi 4 at 3.3 x 2.2 inches (85 x 56mm), and while it may look familiar, this is a different board. On the top edge of the board is a 40 pin GPIO compatible with HATs and accessories in the Raspberry Pi range, including the M2.5 screw holes useful for securing boards atop the Pi. A single Gigabit Ethernet port, 1 x USB 2.0, and a full-size HDMI 2.0 port round off the right side of the board. For Compute Module 4 boards with onboard eMMC storage, a switch on the board’s bottom edge is used to select eMMC as a boot medium.
The left side has a USB C port to power and flash the Compute Module 4. A run button resets the Compute Module 4, and a MicroSD slot provides storage and boot media for all models of the Compute Module 4.
But something is missing: The SourceKit PiTray mini appears to be missing a PCIe breakout that’s present of the official Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 IO board, and a smaller version of which is present on another Compute Module 4 development board, the Piunora, which uses an M.2 slot to breakout the connection. But the Piunora does not share the Raspberry Pi board layout, instead favoring an Arduino form factor. Your choice of carrier board will depend on your requirements.
The Sourcekit PiTray mini is available to pre-order from DFRobot for $14.50.
The Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 introduced both a new form factor and a PCIe 1x connection which has seen use with M.2 expansions for storage and Tensorflow Processing Units. Wiretrustee has taken the initiative and created a NAS carrier board that provides space for up to four SATA drives.
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Wiretrustee’s SATA Board for Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 measure just 4 inches square (100 x 100mm), and on the top of the board we see four SATA power and data interfaces angled so that the drives are vertical. These four drives are linked to a Marvell 88SE9215 SATA-to-PCIe interface. At this time, Wiretrustee have tested the SATA ports, and in a Reddit post they have discussed their progress including SATA drive speeds, which are nothing to write home about but it is still early days.
“We’ve tested it with the Raspberry PI OS and it has a write speed of ~220MB/s on each of the SATA ports (not simultaneously of course)”.
On first glance, we instantly noticed that there was no space on the board for the Compute Module 4. Rather than create a board with a larger footprint, they have cleverly located the CM4 on the underside of the board. The board has connectors for 12V power input and a 12V 4 pin fan connector, useful to keep the CM4 and drives cool if used in an enclosure. An LED control board, broken off from the mainboard, shows drive activity and provides useful power and reset buttons.
Looking around the board we can see a Gigabit Ethernet port, two USB 2.0 ports, a single HDMI 2.0 port and USB-C power for the CM4. A microSD can be used as a boot device, but you can also use a CM4 with onboard flash storage as a boot device.
It is still early days for this project, and it is still under heavy development with a testing schedule currently underway. There is no word on price or release date, but Wiretrustee intend to offer the board via Crowd Supply.
Choosing the best motherboard is in many ways the most integral part of your PC build, although choosing the best graphics card and best CPU often get more attention. Every part of your PC plugs into the motherboard you choose. Its form factor dictates the size of your computer and how much you can plug into it, and the chipset / CPU socket define what kind of processor you can install.
Motherboards (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Motherboards—particularly high-end models—are often made up of a confusing collection of features, and can range in price from sub-$60 (£50) budget boards to as much as $1,000 or more. We’re here to help untangle the complexities and make sure you pick the right model for your needs, without blowing too much of your build budget for other parts.
Speaking build budgets, if you’re looking to save some money while shopping , you should check out our feature about the eight features you probably don’t need on a motherboard.
And if you’re after a brand-new board from Intel’s new Z590 or AMD’s X570 linuep, note that motherboard prices for both platforms have increased over previous generations, at least in part due to support for PCIe 4.0. Just note that while AMD’s B550 boards support PCIe 4.0 now with a Zen 2/3-based processor, the Intel Z490 boards that list PCIe 4.0 support (and all new Z590 boards) will only activate that support when paired with a next-generation Rocket Lake-S CPU. Those processors aren’t quite here yet, but should arrive in the next few months.
TLDR
Get the right socket for your CPU: You can find great CPUs from either Intel or AMD, but whatever CPU you buy, make sure that your board has the correct socket to support it. The latest mainstream AMD chips use AM4 sockets while current Intel 10th and upcoming 11th Gen Core CPUs work in LGA 1200 sockets.
Smaller boards = fewer slots and features. Motherboards come in three main sizes, from largest to smallest: 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 PCIe slots, RAM slots and other connectors.
You can spend under $150: You can often find a decent motherboard for less than $150. But if you want to overclock an Intel chip, you want PCIe 4.0 or you need a lot of ports, you will have to spend more, often more than $200. High-end desktop chips like AMD Threadripper require expensive $200-plus motherboards.
Pay for built-in Wi-Fi, high-end ports only if you need them. Don’t spend extra for wireless if you are using a wired connection. You can futureproof your PC by getting USB 3.1 Gen 2 and / or Thunderbolt 3 support, as well as PCIe 4.0.
The Basics: Chipsets, Board Size, Connectors & Ports
If you’re after a refresher on motherboard basics, including the differences between chipsets, motherboard sizes, connector and port features, and RAM slots, you can find them in our Motherboard Basics feature. There we dive deep into the complexities of board design and features, so you’ll know exactly what to look for (or ignore) when shopping for a motherboard.
Motherboards
How much can you spend on a motherboard?
Prices range from below $50 (£40) on the low-end to above $1000 (£772) for premium boards that support HEDT (High-End Desktop) chips like Core X and Threadripper. Here’s roughly what you get at each price range:
Up to $100/£80: You can get overclockable boards for AMD chips (even with the premium, last-generation X370 chipset) in this range. But with Intel, you’re stuck with stock speeds (though that may change with Intel’s upcoming B560 and H570 boards). Depending on sale prices, you can get a host of features, including onboard Wi-Fi, although Wi-Fi-equipped boards usually start above $80/£60.
Sub $150/£140: Boards with Intel’s Z490 and chipset, which you’ll need for overclocking, start at the low end of this range. You also start to see more AMD boards with higher-end chipsets (X570) and premium features such as RGB lights lights and Wi-Fi. Note that, when we wrote this, pricing for the full range of Intel’s latest Z590 motherboards was still very much up in the air.
Sub $200/£180: As you start to climb into the premium tier, you’ll see more RGB lights, beefier heatsinks and better power phases and VRMs (voltage regulation modules)–which are important for competitive overclocking. You’ll also find a better selection of ports at this level, including a greater number of USB 3.0/3.1 Gen 2 connectors. The bulk of Intel’s Z490 boards also start in this range, right around or above $150.
$200/£180+: For mainstream platforms, before Z490 and X570, this was the truly premium price range, where you’d see the best board components, giant (often very stylized) heatsinks, and I/O covers designed to deliver a slick, premium look. Extreme overclocking features, which mainstream builders don’t need, are also often a key feature set.
For more recent chipsets like Z490 and Z590, the truly premium boards start above about $250.
Also in this price tier, you’ll find HEDT motherboards for CPUs with very high core counts (Intel Core X and AMD Threadripper). Threadripper boards in particular start at around $300 (£250).
What CPU are you using with your motherboard?
The CPU you’re planning on pairing with your board will narrow down your options, since the CPU socket on a given motherboard will only work with the chip line it was designed for.
For instance, if you’re buying an Intel 10th or 11th Generation Core processor, you’ll need a board with an LGA 1200 socket. Older 9th Generation processors need boards with an LGA 1151 socket. AMD makes this process a bit less confusing because (for now at least) the company uses the same AM4 socket for all of its mainstream current-gen chips, from Athlons all the way up to 16-core Ryzen 9 parts, although you may run into complications installing newer CPUs on previous-generation motherboards. Intel, on the other hand, has a tendency in recent years to switch sockets (or at least socket compatibility) from one generation to the next, although that’s not the case this generation, with Socket 1200 sticking around for two generations.
For the true high-end, both Intel (LGA 2066) and AMD (TR4) have different sockets to accommodate the larger size and power draw of their Core X and Threadripper processors. For more on processor considerations, see our CPU Buying Guide.
Sockets
Enthusiast/Mainstream
HEDT
Intel
LGA 1200
LGA 2066
AMD
AM4
TR4
What size motherboard do you want?
We’ve covered this in detail in our Motherboard Diagram feature. But most modern motherboards come in three sizes.
ATX is the de facto standard and offers the most space for plugs and slots.
Micro-ATX is 2.4-inches shorter, which means less room for expansion slots.
Mini-ITX can make for a tiny PC, but you’ll usually only have room for one add-in card (like a graphics card), and fewer connectors for storage and RAM.
What ports do you need?
It’s always important to check the I/O area on a motherboard to make sure it has the external connection options you’re after, but also check for USB headers on the motherboard. These will let you add more ports via front-panel connection on your PC case, or via inexpensive expansion slot brackets at the back.
Here’s a list of common ports, and our take on each:
USB 3 / USB 3.1 Gen1: You can never have too many of these, because they work with most peripherals.
USB 2: Slower than USB 3 / 3.1, but more than adequate for keyboards, mice and many other devices.
USB 3.1/3.2 Gen2: Not many peripherals take advantage of this standard yet, but it delivers 10 Gbps of bandwidth, which is double what you get with USB 3.1 Gen 1 / USB 3.0. USB 3.2 Gen2 2×2 doubles that bandwidth again, with two 10 Gbps lanes. You’ll often only find one of these ports on mid- and high-end boards.
USB Type-C: These ports could be either USB 3.1 Gen1 or USB 3.1 Gen2 compatible and are designed for newer devices such as phones. A few are also just USB 2.0, and often get labeled as Audio USB-C ports, aimed at connecting USB-C headsets.
HDMI / DisplayPort Video out: You only need these if you plan to use integrated graphics. Discrete cards have their own ports.
Audio ports: Important if you plan to connect analog speakers or headphones.
PS/2 ports: Give you compatibility with really old keyboards and mice.
Thunderbolt: Very rare to find this built into motherboards, but some boards support it through dedicated add-on cards. Provides the fastest possible connections, up to 40 Gbps.
While you may not need many USB 3.1 Gen 2 or Type-C ports today, they are good ways to future-proof your PC.
How many RAM slots do you need?
Most mainstream boards these days have four RAM slots, although compact Mini-ITX models often have just two, and high-end HEDT boards (like the one pictured below) frequently offer eight. The amount of slots of course limits the amount of RAM you can install.
But for mainstream tasks and games, 16GB is sufficient and 32GB is ample. And even with just two slots, you can install as much as 64GB of RAM. Note, though, that you will often pay a premium for denser 64 and 32GB kit that uses two sticks, rather than a kit that’s spread across four sticks.
What expansion slots do you need?
You’re most likely to come across just two types these days: the short PCIe x1 shot (often used for things like USB and SATA expansion), and the longer PCIe x16 slot (used for graphics cards, RAID cards, and extremely fast PCIe storage like Intel’s Optane 905 SSD). If you’re just planning on installing a single graphics card, a couple of SATA/M.2 drives, and perhaps a video capture or sound card, you should be fine with most ATX or Micro-ATX boards, which offer at least one x16 slot and one or two x1 slots.
But note that recent X570 and B550 as well as upcoming Intel Rocket Lake-S boards (and, confusingly, some previous-generation Z490 boards) also support PCIe 4.0 rather than the 3.0 that’s been standard for the past several years. PCIe 4.0 technically doubles the available bandwidth of every PCIe lane. But outside of PCIe 4.0 SSDs, most devices haven’t taken major advantage of PCIe 4.0 yet. So think of it as some future-proofing on your board.
However, figuring out how many drives and cards you can install is tricky, because no matter how many physical slots you have, there’s a limited number of HSIO (high-speed input/output) lanes and PCIe lanes that all of your components must share. We could spend 3,000 words trying to explain how these lanes work, but the bottom line is that many mainstream motherboards compensate for bandwidth limitations by switching some connections off when you install hardware in specific slots.
For example, adding a PCIe M.2 drive may disable some SATA ports, or installing a card in a third PCIe slot may disable a second (or third) M.2 slot, etc. These issues vary greatly by motherboard model, so you’ll need to consult online manuals before buying–especially if you’re planning on loading up your board with lots of components.
That said, if you are planning on plugging lots of drives and cards into your PC, it’s worth considering one of the high-end HEDT platforms, as they have more PCIe lanes to work with. All of AMD’s Threadripper processors have 64 lanes (60 from the CPU, 4 from the chipset), while Intel’s competing Core X platform provides up to 44 lanes, depending on the CPU, and up to 24 more from the chipset. So if you’re planning on plugging, for instance, multiple graphics cards and a RAID array of PCIe/NVMe storage, or other bandwidth-hungry hardware into your system, these higher-end platforms are definitely the way to go.
Which chipset should you get?
Your CPU choice will dictate your compatible chipset options, and if you opt for the highest-end consumer Intel or AMD chips (Core X or Threadripper), you’ll only have one choice (X299 for Intel or X399 for AMD). But for mainstream users who just want to install a single graphics card and a few drives, you can often get the features you’re after by opting for a chipset below Intel’s Z590 or X570 for AMD.
Previously, if you chose, say, an H470, B460, or H410 board on the Intel side, you’d lose the option to overclock, though only a handful of mainstream Intel chips are unlocked for overclocking anyway (those with product names that end in the letter “K”). But that looks to be changing with upcoming Intel 500-series boards. Stay tuned to our motherboard reviews for more info there as we get to test a new round of mainstream Intel boards.
On the AMD side, the B550/X570 (as well as older B450, B350 and B300) chipsets still support overclocking. Although you will lose some fast USB and SATA ports and PCIe lanes over the X570 chipset, enough of those connectivity options remain to support most mainstream computing tasks. If you need more ports and drives, stepping up to an X570 board is worth the money, especially considering that many higher-priced B550 boars are just as (if not more) expensive than many X570 offerings.
Do you plan to overclock?
As we noted in the chipset section above, if you plan to overlock on the Intel side, for older boards, you’ll need to opt for a Z490 chipset and a CPU with a “K” in its model name (like the Core i7-8700K), or step up to the high-end X299 platform and a Skylake X chip. It looks like lesser Intel 500 series boards will also make overclocking possible, though you’ll still need an unlocked “K” processor. On the AMD side, things are a lot simpler, with nearly all current-generation Ryzen chips supporting overclocking, and all but the lowest-end chipsets (A320 and A300) supporting overclocking as well.
But that doesn’t mean that mainstream users should overclock their processors. As we said in our CPU Buying Guide, in order to make your CPU achieve higher clock speeds than it’s rated for out of the box, you’ll likely spend extra on an enhanced cooling system and a high-end motherboard. By the time you factor in all these extra costs, you may be better off budgeting another $50-$100 (£40-80) for a CPU that comes with higher clock speeds out of the box.
Now, if you already have a top-of-the-line chip and want to push it even further, or you just enjoy the challenge, by all means, spend the extra money and time to squeeze out that extra speed.
What about audio?
Unless you’re a serious audiophile, you happen to get faulty hardware, or you opt for the lowest-end motherboard possible while still expecting exquisite sound, you should get by with on-board audio these days just fine.
Motherboard audio quality is primarily defined by the audio codec (aka the audio processing chip) a given board uses. So, if you’re a stickler for sound quality, you can look up the codec a given board uses before buying and see if it’s a mid-range or high-end model. Alternatively, you can, of course, still opt for a dedicated sound card, or USB speakers that move the DAC (digital-to-analog converter) hardware outside of the PC altogether, like the Audioengine A2+.
Given the sheer number of features that board makers sometimes slap on motherboards–particularly high-end models–it’s impossible to discuss them all. But here are a few to keep an eye on:
On-board on/off switches: These can be handy in the initial build process, or if your system is being housed in an open case for benchmarking/component testing. But for the average user, on-board buttons (which sometimes also include buttons to clear the CMOS or do basic overclocking) aren’t necessary.
LED diagnostic readouts: The tiny speaker that plugs into motherboard headers to provide diagnostic beeps when something goes wrong is going the way of the dodo. In its place, many mid-to-high-end boards now include a two-or-three-digit display for the same purpose, giving you an alpha-numeric code when something goes wrong. This can be a real help when building a PC or upgrading and you either forget to plug something in, something isn’t seated properly, or one of your components turns out to be faulty.
Wi-Fi Card: If you don’t have Ethernet near your computer, you want this. And if you plan on keeping your PC around for years to come, look into a board with Wi-Fi 6.
Dual Ethernet ports: A single Gigabit Ethernet port has plenty of bandwidth for Internet traffic, so this is helpful mainly if you plan to use the computer as a server and the board can aggregate the two connections into one. For those with heavy-duty wired network needs, look for a board with 2.5Gb or 10Gb Ethernet.
For more on what features you don’t need, see our 8 Motherboard Features You Probably Don’t Need.
How important are aesthetics to you?
If the only time you’re going to see your system’s innards is when it’s powered down with the side panel off, there’s no reason to opt for RGB lights or flashy I/O covers and heatsinks. However, if your case has a window, you should get a board that you like looking at–with lights if you like them.
Just keep in mind that, particularly if you’re a novice builder, a dark motherboard can make building or updating your system more difficult, as on-board labels will be harder to see. Also, if you are building a system that you want to look as clean as possible (that is, with few visible wires snaking around the motherboard), look for a board with its fan and USB headers placed around the edges, and SATA and USB 3 header ports that point to the side, rather than sticking up vertically. This will make accomplishing a clean build much easier.
MORE: Best Motherboards
MORE: All Motherboard Content
MORE: How to Sell Your Used PC Components
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I would like to thank Asustor for supplying the review sample.
Asustor recently introduced the Lockerstor 4 NAS, a four-bay NAS with some interesting features. For starters, it uses a capable quad-core Intel Celeron processor for a NAS, with burst frequency of up to 2.7 GHz. Such a server has to strike a balance between power and energy consumption when it comes to the CPU since it operates continuously around the clock. A power-hungry CPU would increase the thermal load, which requires active cooling. Active cooling, on the other hand, is not as reliable as passive cooling and may get noisy. Keeping internal NAS temperatures low is of immense importance for other reasons as well—it ensures less storage-related issues over the long run. While aggressive fan-speed profiles will work, no one wants a noisy NAS at home.
Another interesting feature is the HDMI 2.0a port, which supports up to 4K resolution with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. In combination with the Asustor Portal applications, which include Plex, this NAS can be a powerful multimedia hub. Besides multimedia, there are other scenarios where an HDMI port may come in handy (e.g., surveillance). Below are a few more strong points that speak for the AS6604T.
Two 2.5 Gbit Ethernet ports
Pair of M.2 NVMe SSD ports (only be usable for cache purposes).
Upgradable RAM
Dual file-system support for internal storage (btrfs and EXT4)
Finally, if four bays are not enough for your needs some time down the line, you can easily expand your storage by connecting other Asustor NAS units over the bundled USB 3.2 ports.
Specifications
Asustor Lockerstor 4 (AS6604T) Specifications
Processor
Intel Celeron J4125 Quad Core 2.0 GHz (burst frequency of up to 2.7 GHz)
Operating System
Embedded Linux
Memory
4 GB SO-DIMM DDR4 (upgradable)
Flash Memory
8 GB eMMC
Storage
4x 3.5″https://www.techpowerup.com/2.5″ SATA II/III
M.2 Drive Slots (SSD Cache)
2x M.2 PCIe (NVMe) *M.2 2280
RAID Levels:
Single Disk, JBOD, RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10
Maximum Drive Bays with Expansion Unit
16
Maximum Internal Capacity (Raw)
72 TB (18 TB HDD x4, real capacity depends on the RAID type)
Maximum Capacity (Raw) with Expansion Units
288 TB (18 TB HDD x16, real capacity depends on the RAID types)
File System (Internal Drives)
EXT4, btrfs
File System (External Drives)
EXT4
EXT3
FAT32
NTFS
HFS+
exFAT
btrfs
iSCSI
Target & Initiator
Hot-Swap
4x
Networking
2.5 Gigabit Ethernet x2 (2.5G/1G/100M)
HDMI Output
1x HDMI 2.0a
Expansion
3x USB 3.2 Gen 1
IP Cameras
up to 40 (4x are included)
Dimensions
185.5 (H) x 170 (W) x 230 (D) mm
Weight
2.96 kg
Power Consumption
27.6 W (Operation) 12.6 W (Disk Hibernation) 0.75 W (Sleep Mode) (with Seagate Ironwolf 16 TB)
ASRock has announced its new series of ultra-compact form-factor (UCFF) PCs that combine small dimensions with performance of desktop APUs from AMD. ASRock’s Jupiter X300-series is only slightly larger the company’s Mars 4000U-series machines launched last November, but it clearly packs considerably more performance and features than its smaller brother.
ASRock’s Jupiter X300 barebones PC uses AMD’s easy-to-find socketed Ryzen 2000/3000/4000 APU with up to eight cores, built-in Radeon Vega graphics as well as an up to 65W TDP cooled using a copper heatsink and a high-performance blower. The APUs can be paired with up to 64GB of DDR4 3200 MHz memory (using two SO-DIMM modules), an M.2-2280 SSD with a PCIe 3.0 x4 or SATA interface, and a 2.5-inch/9.5-mm drive.
The manufacturer says nothing about compatibility of its Jupiter X300 systems with AMD’s not-yet-announced Ryzen 5000-series ‘Cezanne’ APUs, but the machines are based on a rather outdated AMD X300 chipset. Meanwhile, since the motherboard uses a proprietary form-factor, it will prove tricky to upgrade.
(Image credit: ASRock)
The Jupiter X300 chassis measures 178 × 178 × 34mm, so not as compact as a NUC, but not too far away from NUC-like dimensions. The system — which is actually smaller than Apple’s MacMini — can be attached to VESA mounts of a display or used on the desktop.
(Image credit: ASRock)
Connectivity department of ASRock’s Jupiter X300 is quite advanced. The machine can be equipped with Intel’s AX200 Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5 module (or any other adapter if you buy it separately), it has one Gigabit Ethernet port, three display outputs (a DisplayPort 1.2, an HDMI 2.0, and a D-Sub to support legacy monitors), two 3.5-mm audio connectors, and eight USB ports (two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, two USB 2.0), which might be a record for an UCFF PC.
(Image credit: ASRock)
ASRock positions its Jupiter X300-series machines for home, office, and enterprise customers. Since the latter often require remote management and advances security, ASRock offers them its X300-serie DASH barebones with a DASH-enabled LAN, trusted platform module 2.0, an anti-intrusion sensor. Obviously, to use remote management and other advanced features of AMD’s business platform, the systems have to be equipped with the company’s Ryzen Pro-series APUs.
ASRock did not announce MSRPs of its Jupiter X300-series barebones PC.
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