Thermaltake presents the Tower case 100 Mini Chassis, a mini version of the award-winning Tower model 900, designed to host powerful systems in a small space
by Carlo Pisani published on 10 January 2021 , at 20: 01 in the Systems channel Thermaltake
Thermaltake presents the case Tower 100 Mini Chassis , a compact version of the award-winning Tower model 900, designed to accommodate powerful systems in a small space.
“There is a trend among hardcore gamers choosing smaller cases for their high performance computers. It was a great challenge to turn a full tower case like the Tower 900 into an ITX form factor. it was already well configured for space utilization, expandability and cooling as well as an original and attractive appearance. Thermal control is a top priority for such a small case. Tower 100 is a new benchmark for ITX gaming systems! “ said Kenny Lin , CEO of Thermaltake.
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This Tower 100 Mini Chassis is presented with dimensions equal to 462 , 8x 266 x 266 mm , a weight of 6, 1 kg and double color total black or total white .
It features a main internal compartment that can only accommodate mini-ITX motherboards , video cards up to 330 mm, heatsinks for the process with a height of up to 190 mm and enough space to accommodate a single fan of 120 or 140 mm on the back, top and cover of the power supply. Only in place of the upper fan can be installed an All-In-One system with radiator from 120 mm, two fans are supplied with the case 20 mm of 1. 000 RMP.
In the lower part of the case the secondary compartment designed to accommodate a power supply up to 180 mm deep and a maximum of two 2.5 or 3.5 “drives.
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Externally the structure has a very linear design characterized by three panels in 4 mm thick glass and numerous grilled surfaces.
In the upper part there is instead the I / O panel equipped with single USB 3.2 (Gen2) Type-C port , double USB 3.0 port , audio connectors and the usual system buttons.
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Thermaltake has communicated that the Tower for more images and information about it, please visit the page dedicated to this case.
It’s called Tower 100 the new case from Thermaltake designed for even powerful mini-ITX configurations, especially showcase the hardware thanks to three tempered glass panels.
by Manolo De Agostini published 09 January 2021 , at 15: 01 in the Peripherals channel Thermaltake
Thermaltake announced Tower 100 , a new compact case designed for motherboard-based configurations mini-ITX . The new chassis, nevertheless, offers ample space for both cooling solutions and for installing large video cards like many of the latest proposals from Nvidia and AMD.
Tower 100 is characterized by three 4mm thick tempered glass window panels , with options for cooling at the top and bottom of the case (two pre-installed fans from 120 mm and 1000 RPM, one at the top and one at the bottom), as well as in the classic rear position. Frontally, in the external upper part, we find a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type C, two USB 3.0 Type A and the audio jacks.
The case supports additional fans including one from 120 / 140 mm at the top, one from 120 / 140 mm above the power supply cover and one from 120 / 140 mm in the back. Those who want to liquid cool the CPU can do so by placing the radiator from 289 mm of an AIO solution at the top. If you prefer an air cooler, Thermaltake allows you to install tall models up to 190 mm.
As regards the space for video cards, a maximum length of 330 mm allows you to install many of the cards on the market, but clearly it will be your concern to make sure you purchase a model with the appropriate size. Behind the motherboard tray is room for two 3.5-inch or four 2.5-inch drives, but you’ll have to sacrifice a fan. Alternatively there is the option to mount two 2.5 inch drives sideways.
As can be seen from the videos and photos released by the manufacturer, the inside is rotated by 90 degrees, so the I / O outputs are positioned at the top of the case , under a removable panel and accessible through openings. Finally, the case supports standard ATX power supplies at the bottom. At the moment we do not know the price of the Thermaltake Tower 100, while two colors will be available , black and white.
NZXT, maker of PC accessories and cases, has revised its Mini-ITX case, and it’s now available for purchase. In November, we broke the news that the H1 was being recalled for safety concerns. This was due to a number of reports of motherboards being shorted out and potentially starting a fire, due to two screws that attach the PCIe riser assembly to the chassis.
This issue has reportedly been corrected in a new revision of the case. NZXT ensures that this new revision will not suffer from the same issue as before.
“The H1 has been updated to address the safety issue and is once again available for sale. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we resolved this matter,” it said in a blog post.
Those who already own the H1 case can request a free repair kit by going to NZXT’s H1 recall website. The repair process is straightforward, and there’s also a video that explains the steps to apply this repair kit. These repair kits started shipping out as of December 28.
The H1 case is up for sale again, but now in its revised version, over on NZXT’s website. However, we’ve yet to see go back up on Amazon or Best Buy, two online retailers who sold the original H1 case.
NZXT’s H1 comes in both matte white and matte black and retails for $350. If you’re wondering why this case is so expensive, it is equipped with a 650w SFX PSU and 140mm AIO liquid cooling.
On a personal note, I’m glad to see that this case is going back on sale, as I’ve wanted one for quite some time. Our NZXT H1 review praised the chassis’ small build, premium cooling and easy use, landing it on our Best PC Cases page. I originally planned to pull the trigger on an H1 and rebuild my PC over the 2020 holiday season, but the recall made that impossible.
If you’re looking for a slick-looking Mini-ITX case with decent airflow and don’t mind the premium, the H1 is worth a glance now that it should be safe to use.
Some of today’s hardware seems to be focused more on looks than performance. As such it’s no surprise to see cases seemingly built to put your gear on display. With that in mind, Thermaltake just announced the Tower 100 Mini enclosure, which is a glass-clad Mini-ITX tower that’ll let the world see your pretty components.
The case features a layout unlike any we’ve seen before, including a 266mm wide and deep square base that towers up to 462mm. This makes it rather big by Mini-ITX standards, but the design is meant to cool well while providing enough glass to show off the internals. Glass is present on three sides of the case, so that it looks good whether you place it on the left or right side of your desk.
The bottom end of the chassis holds the power supply, and the internals are rotated 90 degrees so that the I/O resides at the top of the chassis. The top slides off, after which you slide the glass panels up. All the case’s panels are removable for easy access from all sides.
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Inside, you’ll fit up to Mini-ITX motherboards, a 120mm radiator at the top or CPU coolers up to 190mm tall, standard ATX-size power supplies up to 180mm long and GPUs up to 330mm long.
For cooling, the case features mesh on many sides, and you get eight filters total. That said, you can only fit up to two 140mm fans for airflow and two 120mm spinners come included in these locations.
For storage there is room behind the motherboard for up to two 3.5-inch drives or four 2.5-inch drives, but for any of these, you’ll have to sacrifice one of the fan mounts. Fortunately, two additional 2.5-inch drive mounts are present on the side.
Front I/O consists of discrete audio jacks, two USB 3.0 ports and one USB Type-C port.
Thermaltake hasn’t said anything about pricing yet, but the case will be available in white and black and compete with the best PC cases later this month.
Page 1: MSI MPG Sekira 74 R in the test: A-RGB-Schick at a tempting price
The MPG Sekira 100 R is one of the most attractive gaming case from MSI. The E-ATX model features glass and aluminum and illuminates both a strip in the front and four fans with A-RGB LEDs. Nevertheless, the price falls by around 100 euros pleasingly moderate.
From the MPG Sekira series we could 2019 already the top model MPG Sekira 500 X test. It showed itself with an independent design, which was mainly composed of a two-part front made of glass and aluminum and four huge 193 – mm fans with A-RGB lighting. We rated the case as a coherent gaming case – even if there are more flexible competing models with sometimes better airflow. However, the MPG costs Sekira 475 X over 200 Euro and should therefore exceed the price range for many users.
The MPG Sekira 100 R is supposed to capture a lot of the optical charm of the flagship. This model also has a two-part aluminum and glass front and an elaborate A-RGB lighting system. The 200 – mm fan soft four 120 – mm-A-RGB fans. MSI has also painted the glass lid of the top model. When using lid fans, this should be more of an advantage in terms of cooling.
The price was significantly reduced, however. The MPG Sekira 74 R currently costs around 122 Euro and is so for a significantly larger group of buyers interesting.
In the unpacked & touched video we take a first look at the case:
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MSI provides the housing with mounting material, black cable ties, instructions, brief instructions and a feedback note. The accessories are completed by a practical splitter cable with which up to three fans can be controlled via a single fan connection. To control the four case fans, only two and not four connections are required.
Before we start the actual test, here are the key data of the housing in tabular form:
The latest Vesa in the affordable Fara series is also the smallest in the range.
Silverstone has released a new Fara H1 M case in the micro-ATX size range. The new H1 M is the second microATX-class case in the low-cost Fara series and clearly the smallest case in the series.
The Fara H1 M enclosure focuses on the most efficient air circulation possible in a small size. The front panel of the case is a popular metal mesh today and behind it there are places for two or 140 mm for fans. In addition, the housing has slots for two and the rear panel for one 90 fans. The ventilation openings in the roof and bottom of the housing are protected by removable dust filters
.
Compromises have also had to be made in front of the smaller size of the H1 M. For example, the maximum length of the video card is full 366 mm, but only if no front fans are installed in the case. There are a total of four seats available for the mass media, two of which fit a 2.5-inch drive, one a 3.5-inch drive, and the last either a 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch drive. The 2.5-inch mounting slots are located on the back of the system board carriage, and the rest are hidden in the bottom of the case next to the power supply.
Silverstone deserves criticism for its range of enclosure front panel connections, which are helplessly obsolete by today’s standards. In addition to the power and reset buttons, the front panel of the case has one USB 3.0 Type-A connector, two USB 2.0 Type-A connectors, and headphone and microphone connectors, and not a single USB Type-C connector.
Silverstone Fara H1 M technical features:
External dimensions: 210 x 392 x 366 (L, K , S), volume 30, 13 liters
Weight: 4, 24 kg
Material: Steel, plastic, tempered glass
Front panel connections: 1 x USB 3.0 Type-A, 2 x USB 2.0 Type-A , headphone and microphone connectors
Maximum video card dimensions: length 320 mm (without front fans), width 160 mm
Maximum height of the processor roller: mm mm
Power supply location: ATX (max. Length 160 mm 3, 5-position with frame, 250 mm without)
Fan seats: 2x 120 / 140 mm in front, 2x 90 in the ceiling, 120 mm at the rear
Radiator locations: 120 / 240 mm in front, 120 mm behind
Silverstone has not yet revealed the final price of the Fara H1 M or how soon it will be found on store shelves. However, the company’s Fara series enclosures are typically inexpensive, and with this Oy.fi price monitoring, other models in the series are priced 50 – 60 euro 65 with the exception of the euro B1 Pro model, so the H1 M can also be expected to be located 50 – 50 for the euro
To kick off the new year, Silverstone is launching the MATX Fara H1 M compact chassis. Designed to offer increased airflow to a variety of components that can be mounted inside of it, this 30-liter chassis can be used to house a gaming or multimedia system with powerful specifications.
The Fara H1 M’s front panel features a steel honeycomb design with mesh, while the right-side panel is made of light tinted tempered glass, allowing users to show off their systems. Both the top and bottom panel come with a removable dust filters to prevent dust from accumulating inside the system. The front I/O panel features a USB-A 3.0 port, 2x USB-A 2.0 ports, an audio-in jack, and an audio-out jack.
The case supports Micro-ATX, Mini-DTX, and Mini-ITX motherboards, 320mm long graphics cards, 160mm tall CPU coolers, and up to 250mm long standard ATX PSUs (160mm with drive cage installed). Additionally, there are 4x expansion slots, 2x 2.5-inch drive bays, a 2.5/3.5-inch drive bay, and a 3.5-inch drive bay.
Despite just measuring 210x392x366mm (WxHxD), the fan support of the Fara H1 M is quite extensive for such a small case, allowing users to mount 2x 120/140mm fans on the front, a 120mm at the rear, 2x 120mm fans on top, and another 2x above the PSU shroud. Radiator support allows users to mount a 120/240mm on the front and a 120mm on the rear.
Pricing and availability details of the Silverstone Fara H1 M haven’t been disclosed. You can learn more about this chassis HERE.
KitGuru says: Do you like the look of the Fara H1 M case? Would you consider it for a new build?
The post Silverstone announces the Fara H1 M, an MATX chassis focused on airflow first appeared on KitGuru.
The Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 was destined to be embedded into a range of carrier boards. Initially, we start with the Compute Module 4 IO board and then design our Compute Module 4-powered product using the various features the IO board provides. For example, Experimental Pi’s recent Compute Module 4 powered retrogaming handheld. But the Over:Board project, currently seeking funding via Indiegogo, aims to take the carrier board design a little further, with a Mini-ITX board designed for the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 that aims to turn your Compute Module 4 into a PC.
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(Image credit: Ross Nicholls)
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The Over:Board Mini ITX carrier board measures 6.7 x 6.7 inches (170 x 170mm) and features a mixture of Raspberry Pi and PC centric interfaces.
From a Raspberry Pi point of view, we have the new dual header interface used to connect the Compute Module 4 to Over:Board. Nearby we have a HAT-compliant 40-pin GPIO header, so we should be able to use our favorite add-on boards.
Over:Board’s typical PC interfaces consist of a 24-pin ATX power interface and a SATA interface with a USB controller that can be used as a boot device. Interestingly, there is a full-size PCI-e slot that enables the use of a PCI-e card. Sadly, the PCI-e interface is limited to 1x, a limitation of the Compute Module 4, but that should be enough for most users.
On the back panel, we have connectors for audio (input and output), a micro SD card slot, two USB 2.0 ports, and Gigabit Ethernet. Video output comes via two full-size HDMI ports. Unusually, an RS232 COM port is present, to be used for serial / UART connections with the Compute Module 4. The final port is micro USB, used for flashing operating systems to the Compute module 4 onboard flash storage (if you are using that particular variant).
Over:Board is currently in the early development phase, so there are no physical units. The goal of crowdfunding is to generate funds to secure prototypes from three different manufacturers. Some of these prototypes are on offer as perks/rewards for supporting the project.
The final production board is set for release in September 2021 for £99 ($135). If you can’t wait that long, prototypes are available from March 2021 for £199 ($270) and in May 2021 for £149 ($202). Remember, before pledging your money, crowdfunding is not “buying” a product; rather, you are showing your support to help the creator make the project real. Only pledge your money if you are happy to accept the risk.
Luke Hill 2 hours ago Featured Tech Reviews, Motherboard
With AMD’s success on the CPU side of the market throughout 2020, it has been a strong year for motherboard fanatics. We have been showered with plenty of options in all shapes and sizes – whether you’re looking for high-end ATX, budget micro-ATX, or enthusiast level Mini-ITX. The options on the market have been excellent throughout this year. Clearly B550 on the venerable AM4 platform has been the notable launch for 2020, but has anything else impressed us enough this year to make it into our Top 5 AMD motherboards list? Let’s have a look.
Watch via our Vimeo Channel (Below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE
#5: ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming ITX/ax
Read the full ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming ITX/ax review HERE.
#4: ASUS ROG Zenith II Extreme Alpha (TRX40)
Read the full ASUS ROG Zenith II Extreme Alpha review HERE.
#3: Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master
Read the full Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master review HERE.
#2: ASUS ROG STRIX B550-E Gaming
Read the full ASUS ROG STRIX B550-E Gaming review HERE.
#1: MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk
Read the full MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk review HERE.
KitGuru says: There we have our list of our Top 5 AMD motherboards that we have reviewed for 2020. It has been a great year to be a motherboard enthusiast with so many compelling options on the market and with B550 proving to be a strong success in our opinion. Let us know what you think of our list in the comment section down below and let us know how you would rate your Top 5 favourites of 2020.
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Top 5 AMD CPUs of 2020!
We go over our picks for the top 5 AMD CPUs of 2020
MSI is expanding its range of PC cases. The MPG-SEKIRA – 100 – Case series should exude a certain luxury and convince as a chic E-ATX case.
The series starts with two models: The MPG SEKIRA 100 R shows a two-part front. The upper part is made of aluminum, the lower part of tinted glass. Behind it sit three 120 – mm fan with A-RGB lighting. The transition between aluminum and glass is also illuminated. Another 120 – mm -A RGB fan sits on the back wall. The lighting can be controlled simply by pressing a button. Visually the MPG SEKIRA reminds you 100 R to MSI’s top model MPG Sekira 500 X.
The MPG SEKIRA 34 P, on the other hand, is much more discreet with a continuous aluminum front and without A-RGB lighting. Also with this model there are four 120 – mm fan pre-assembled – but those without LEDs.
The 215 x 475 x 420 mm (W x H x D) large housing weighs around 8 kg. Inside there is a maximum of space for an E-ATX system with up to 17 cm high processor cooler and up to 34 cm long graphics card. Two combined 2.5 / 3.5-inch drive spaces and two pure 2.5-inch drive spaces are available for drives.
The tool-free mounted glass side panel is secured by the removable housing cover and an additional lock. In the lid there can be two 120 – or 140 – mm fan can be retrofitted. If water cooling is used, a 280 -mm radiator, under the lid a 240 -mm radiator and on the back wall a 34 mm radiator can be installed. Three dust filters on the front, cover and under the power supply are designed to protect the interior from dust. The I / O panel in the lid has two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C and audio jacks for a headset.
At the prices of the MPG SEKIRA 100 – MSI has not yet given any information. Also in the price comparison are MPG SEKIRA 100 R and MPG SEKIRA 34 P not yet listed.
Update 06. 02. 2021: We are currently testing a MPG Sekira 100 R. In the unpacked & touched video, we are already introducing the A-RGB housing. The detailed test will follow in the next few days.
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Page 1: SilverStone Fara B1 Pro in the test: A-RGB housing with elegant supply air design
SilverStones Fara B1 Pro actually offers the typical mix of A-RGB fans and a transparent front, which can lead to cooling problems. At least visually, this midi tower has larger side air inlets. But can the four case fans really treat themselves to enough fresh air?
In recent years there has been one in the case segment strong trend towards RGB or A-RGB fans. Such fans are particularly effective behind a front made of glass or transparent plastic. However, such an airtight front can become a problem for cooling. And in fact, such housings have often attracted attention due to their poor cooling performance. SilverStone’s Fara B1 Pro has four A-RGB fans and a transparent plastic front, but the manufacturer is clearly trying to address the airflow problem. The transparent plastic element does not stretch across the entire width of the front, but leaves space for side air inlets – and for the hope that optics and cooling could be combined.
The Fara B1 Pro is designed as a rather compact and light midi tower. As a result, there are certain limits to the possible uses. If you want to use water cooling, you can, for example, use a maximum of one 280 – place mm radiator. There is not enough space for a triple radiator.
The SilverStone Fara B1 Pro is currently available for around 85 Euro listed. Alternatively, there are also more simply equipped and cheaper sibling models. The simple Fara B1 comes with just one pre-assembled and unlit fan, e.g. for under 50 Euro offered.
In the unpacked & touched video we take a first look at the case:
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SilverStone includes a bag with assembly material, some black cable ties and brief instructions with the Fara B1 Pro. An A-RGB controller is also not missing. This controller allows the effect to be changed at the touch of a button, the connection to a housing button (with the Fara B1 Pro, the reset button can be converted into an LED button) or the lighting control via a suitable mainboard with 3-pin A-RGB -Connection. Up to four A-RGB fans can be connected to two sides of the controller. An S-ATA power connection is used to power the controller and lighting.
Before we start the actual test, here are the key data of the housing in tabular form:
Key data:
Designation:
SilverStone Fara B1 Pro (SST-FAB1B-PRO)
Material:
Steel, tempered glass, plastic
Dimensions:
207 x 446 x 401 mm (B x H x D), 37 liter volume
Form factor:
ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
Drives:
1x 3.5 Inch (internal), 5x 2.5 inch (internal)
Fan:
3x 100 / 2x 140 mm (front, 3x 120 mm pre-installed), 1x 120 mm (back wall, pre-installed), 2x 120 / 140 mm (cover, optional)
Radiators (maximum according to the manufacturer):
Front: 240 / 280 mm, cover: 240 mm, back wall: 100 mm
CPU cooler height (maximum according to manufacturer):
16, 5 cm
Graphics card length (maximum according to the manufacturer):
32, 2 cm with front fan, maximum 17 cm wide
Weight:
about 5, 75 kg
Price:
round 85 Euro
<> SilverStone Fara B1 Pro in the test: A-RGB housing with elegant supply air design External appearance (1)
In the debut video of the undersigned, we will update the in-game mini-ITX configuration to the latest RTX 3070 model of the graphics card and learn how to silence parts in a small package.
The mini-ITX craze for io-Tech’s delivery continues, and with the first YouTube video to sign Juha Kokkonen’s previous lineup using AMD’s fresh parts, we’re upgrading the RTX 3070 graphics card to a home mini-ITX computer.
In addition to a component update alone, the video shows you how to make a smaller ITX configuration as quiet as possible. To do this, we will take a brief look at how to adjust fan profiles from bios and software from Windows, as well as underfolding GeForce graphics cards with MSI Afterburner.
If you liked the video, subscribe to io-Tech’s YouTube channel for free, thanks!
Best Intel Motherboards 2020: Z490, Z390, H370, and X299
Note:For AMD’s AM4 X570, B550, B450 and Threadripper motherboards, see page two or our Best AMD X570 Motherboards page. This first page focuses on Intel, after laying out some basics.
Choosing the best gaming motherboard or best motherboard for another type of build is in many ways an integral part of your PC build, despite the fact that choosing the best CPU or the best graphics card often gets more attention. Nearly every part of your PC plugs into your motherboard. Its form factor dictates the size of your computer, and its chipset and socket limit what kind of processor you can install.
If you’re not sure which chipset you’re after when choosing the best gaming motherboard for you, or you have more basic questions for a different type of build, you can visit our motherboard basics and motherboard buying guide features to help narrow down your buying options.
The picks below include the best gaming motherboards designed for Intel’s 10th Gen “Comet Lake,” as well as 9th Generation “Coffee Lake Refresh,” followed by the lower-cost H370 alternative. You can see how those chips stack up in our CPU Benchmark Hierarchy. Below our mainstream picks, you’ll find our recommendations for the best motherboards with Intel’s high-end desktop (HEDT) LGA-2066 socket and X299 chipset supporting the X-Series and Extreme line of processors.
The second page of this guide covers the best AMD motherboards, including X570 and B550 chipset models, as well as high-end Threadripper picks that compete with Intel’s X-Series platform.
When choosing a motherboard, consider the following:
Get the right socket for your CPU: You can find great CPUs from either Intel or AMD, but whatever processor you choose, make sure that your board has the correct socket to support it. The latest mainstream AMD chips use AM4 CPU sockets while current Intel 8th Gen and 9th Gen Core CPUs require LGA 1151v2 sockets.
Smaller boards = fewer slots and features. Motherboards come in three main sizes–for more info see our diagram and explanation of motherboard parts. From largest to smallest, there’s ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX. (Yes, Mini is smaller than Micro). You can use a smaller chassis with the micro or mini boards, but you’ll have to settle for fewer card expansion slots, sometimes fewer RAM slots, and other connectors.
Pay for built-in Wi-Fi and high-end ports only if you need them. Don’t spend extra for wireless if you are using a wired connection. You can future proof your PC by getting USB 3.1 Gen 2 and / or Thunderbolt 3 support.
The Best Intel Gaming Motherboards: Z490, Z390, H370, and X299
ASRock Z490 Taichi (Image credit: ASRock)
1. ASRock Z490 Taichi
Best ATX Z490 Motherboard
Socket: LGA 1200 | Chipset: Intel Z490 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 15 Phases | PCIe x16: (3) v3.0 | USB Ports: 5 USB 3.2 Gen1, 4 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, One USB-3.2 2×2 Type-C | Warranty: 1 year
Solid 12-phase/50A VRM for Vcore
USB 3.2 Gen 2X2 Type-C port
Three M.2 and eight SATA ports
Expensive compare to Z390 Taichi
Annoying use of star screws on chipset shroud
Tough to press PCIe slot latch for removal
The ASRock Z490 Taichi is a great motherboard in the $350-$400 price bracket for building a Z490 system, comparing favorably to similarly priced competition.It includes eight SATA ports (while others have six), as well as a speedy USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port. It also has a premium appearance and runs cooler than competing boards in the power delivery department.
If you need three M.2 slots and eight SATA ports, this is the only board around this price point with that storage configuration. If your budget allows for an upper mid-range board, ASRock’s Z490 Taichi should be at the top of the list.
Read: ASRock Z490 Taichi review
Gigabyte Z390 Designare
2. Gigabyte Z390 Designare
Best ATX Z390 Motherboard
Socket: LGA 1151 | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 13 Phases | PCIe x16: (3) v3.0 | USB Ports: 10 Gbps | Warranty: 3 years
Full-Spec Thunderbolt 3 ports
Supports 8K passthrough from DisplayPort 1.4 graphics cards
Two Gigabit Ethernet ports plus 1.73Gb/s Wi-Fi
Third x16 slot switchable between PCH and CPU lanes
Great price for the added features
Mediocre CPU Overclocking
The Z390 Designare beats its closest rival on features for the price, has similar overclocking limits to its closest rival but beats it in overclocked DRAM performance, and has at least enough extra value to justify its premium over cheaper boards. We have to consider whether the “workstation replacement” PC market will tolerate a board with mediocre CPU overclocking. But given that there’s so little to gain from overclocking the Core i9-9900K, we feel that more often than not the answer is yes.
Read: Gigabyte Z390 Designare Review
ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming ITX
3. ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming ITX
Best Mini-ITX Z390 Motherboard
Socket: LGA 1151 | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Form Factor: Mini ITX | Voltage Regulator: 7 phases | PCIe x16: (1) v3.0 (full bandwidth) | USB Ports: 10 Gbps | Warranty: 3 years
Vastly-improved Core i9-9900K efficiency
Great performance
Good overclocking
Thunderbolt 3 &
1.73Gb/s Wi-Fi at a very reasonable price
Egregious DIMM over-voltage
Firmware H/W Monitor misreports DIMM overvoltage
Thunderbolt 3 is only half-speed (20Gbps)
Meager onboard RGB lighting
No Gen2 header for front-panel USB 3.1
Even if you never use its Thunderbolt 3 port, it’s hard to deny the supremacy of a board that does everything else better than the competition, while costing less. The Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ac is even cheaper than the non-Wi-Fi version of MSI’s ATX MGP Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon, though that won’t matter to anyone who needs the extra DIMM and PCIe slots afforded by the larger form factor. But for those looking for a Mini ITX board to support Intel’s Core i9-9900K, the Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ac is easily our first choice, making it one of the best gaming motherboards you can buy.
Read: ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming ITX Review
Gigabyte Z390 Gaming X
4. Gigabyte Z390 Gaming X
Best Cheap Z390 Motherboard
Socket: LGA 1151 | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 11 phases | PCIe x16: (2) v3.0 (x16/x4) | USB Ports: 10 Gbps | Warranty: 3 years
Consistently under $150
Fully supports Core i9-9900K
Good overclocking
Second PCIe x16 slot has only four PCH lanes
No front-panel USB3 Gen2
Only one USB3 Gen2 header
Hot voltage regulator requires a fan near CPU socket
An alternative to its award-winning Gaming SLI, Gigabyte’s Z390 Gaming X offers similar overclocking capability on substantially similar layout, at a noticeably lower price that garnered it the same value award. It’s the best gaming motherboard for Z390 if you’re on a budget. After Gigabyte stopped distributing the SLI model in USA, the Gaming X became our only option for budget overclocking of Intel’s K-series unlocked LGA-1151 processors.
Read: Gigabyte Z390 Gaming X Review
ASRock H370M Pro4
5. ASRock H370M Pro4
Best Intel H370 Motherboard
Socket: LGA 1151 | Chipset: Intel H370 | Form Factor: Micro ATX | Voltage Regulator: 10 phases | PCIe x16: (2) v3.0 (x16/x4*) (*Shares upper PCIe x1) | USB Ports: 10Gbps | Warranty: 3 year
Two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports and two Gen1 USB 3.1 I/O panel ports
Four USB 3.0 front-panel ports
H370 features at B360 price
No RGB controller
No front-panel 3.1 Gen2 header
Priced around $80 (£78) and at times dipping below $70 (£70), the ASRock H370M Pro4 brings Intel’s more-advanced H370 feature set to buyers who thought they could only afford a lesser B360 model. If you have less than $100 to spend, it’s one of the best gaming motherboards for Intel’s pared-down platform. ASRock splits the H370’s extra HSIO (high-speed input/output) pathways across two rear-panel USB 3.0 ports and two internal SATA headers. Buyers who don’t need RGB or a 10Gb/s USB 3.1 Gen2 front-panel header will be pleased to find that the H370M Pro4 offers more of nearly every other port than its closest competitor, for a lower price.
Socket: LGA 2066 | Chipset: Intel X299 PCH | Form Factor: EATX | Voltage Regulator: 12 phases | PCIe x16: (4) v3.0 (@48: x16/x8*/x16/x8), (CPU @44: x16/x4*/x16/x8), (CPU @28: x16/x4*/x8/x0) | USB Ports: 10Gbps: (2) Type-C via Thunderbolt 3 | Warranty: 3 years
Dual 10GbE, plus 2.4Gbps Wi-Fi 6
Thunderbolt 3 with dual Type-C outputs and dual DisplayPort inputs
Price premium is lower than the value of its premium components
Expensive
Excessive PCIe, M.2 & SATA sharing
10.8-inch depth requires extra case considerations
Fully equipped for the 48 lanes of Intel’s 10th generation Core Extreme processors, the X299X Designare 10G comes loaded to the brink with Intel X550 dual 10Gb/s Ethernet and a pair of Thunderbolt 3 headers with dual DisplayPort passthrough on Intel’s 40Gb/s controller. A four-drive M.2 expander card and 2.4Gb/s Wi-Fi 6 finish a package of which the added component value far outweighs the price difference over its closest competitor.
Read: Gigabyte X299X Designare 10G Review
ASRock X299E-ITX/AC
7. ASRock X299E-ITX/AC
Best Mini ITX X299 Motherboard
Socket: LGA 2066 | Chipset: Intel X299 | Form Factor: Mini-ITX | Voltage Regulator: 7 phases | PCIe x16: (1) v3.0 | USB Ports: 10Gbps | Warranty: 3 years
Good overall performance
Great overall efficiency
Surprisingly high overclocks
Skylake-X requirement provides two M.2’s via CPU PCIe
No 110mm M.2 card support
Connecting third M.2 slot to PCH excludes RAID 5 via VROC
Only six total I/O-panel USB ports, and four of those share bandwidth
No voltage regulator temperature reporting
No Kaby Lake-X support
By being the only LGA 2066 motherboard available to Mini-ITX builders, the ASRock X299E-ITX/ac automatically becomes the best choice for these builds. Despite its lack of competition, the price is reasonable and the performance level is spot-on for the Core i9-7900X, even with the board’s lower-than-average default power ceiling. It’s not perfect, but if you’re looking to build a compact high-power Intel X299 desktop, this board should serve you well.
Read: ASRock X299E-ITX/AC Review
MORE: How To Choose A Motherboard
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Best Intel Motherboards 2020: Z490, Z390, H370, and X299
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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.
End of Article. Tell us something in the Comments or come to our Forum!
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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Page 1: Case FAQ: What you should know about PC cases (Update 2021)
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The housing is available when a new PCs are usually way down the list. It is one of the most durable components and therefore deserves a certain amount of attention. However, there are some pitfalls when choosing a suitable case. Our FAQ is intended to draw attention to this and make it easier to buy a housing.
At the beginning there is the question of what kind of housing is actually needed. Because PC cases are available in a wide variety of sizes, at very different prices and with very different features. Especially with high-performance PCs, it is important which cooling options the housing offers. The case also plays an important role in the volume of the system. A well-chosen case can be a loyal companion for years to come. And it is precisely the modern, often highly modular housings that offer a lot of scope for adjustments – also to meet future trends.
What housing formats and materials are there?
The size of the case depends mainly on the desired mainboard and the available space. In addition, care should be taken to ensure that other components such as processor cooler, graphics card and power supply have enough space. Corresponding information is provided on the manufacturer’s product pages and the item descriptions in most online shops. The desired cooling solution can also have an effect on the size of the housing – especially if powerful water cooling is to be installed.
Most cases are tower cases, so they protrude upwards. If the width, depth and height are approximately the same, it is called a cube. This format is mainly used for smaller housings. The classic, flat desktop case of earlier times, however, has become rare.
Tower housings are roughly divided into mini towers, midi towers and full or big towers. However, some of the terms are not entirely clear. It is important that the desired mainboard fits into the appropriate housing. The mainboard formats supported are therefore always specified in the specifications of the housing.
The most typical mainboard formats are Mini-ITX (17 × 17 cm, usually one expansion card slot) , Micro-ATX or µATX (17, 4 × 24, 4 cm, mostly four expansion card slots), ATX (30, 5 × 24, 4 cm, usually seven expansion card slots) and E-ATX (30, 5 × 33 cm, usually seven expansion card slots). Because not all E-ATX mainboards reach the full E-ATX width by a long way, cases with E-ATX support are also advertised that are not actually intended for mainboards with the maximum E-ATX width. The manufacturers then usually specify the maximum exact dimensions the E-ATX mainboard may have. Typical is something like “E-ATX (Support 12 “x 11 “)”. Because the conversion factor from inches to centimeters is 2, 54, in this case an E-ATX mainboard with a height of 28, 5 cm and a width of 28 cm .
A concrete example of a typical midi tower that accepts E-ATX mainboards in addition to ATX mainboards is the be quiet! Silent Base 802. It is used for E-ATX mainboards up to 28, 5 x 27, 5 cm released. We mainly use this be quiet! Model as an example housing in this FAQ. A really full-grown full tower, however, is the be quiet! Top model Dark Base Pro 900 Rev. 2. If you are unsure how big the individual be quiet! Housings are in comparison, you can use the size comparison on the manufacturer’s website. Wikipedia has a much more detailed overview of the different mainboard form factors.
Currently, for PC Housing mainly used four different materials. Most cases have a robust steel frame. In particular, more elaborately shaped elements are made of plastic. The light metal aluminum can be used as a high-quality alternative to plastic and steel. Pure aluminum housings not only look particularly high-quality, they are also lighter than steel housings. However, because they are also significantly more expensive, manufacturers sometimes make a compromise: They manufacture the basic frame inexpensively from robust steel, but upgrade the outside of the housing with aluminum panels. In recent years, glass has finally established itself as a typical housing material. Glass side parts, but also some glass fronts and glass lids, allow glimpses into the interior. This means that the built-in hardware comes into its own even when the housing is closed.
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<> Case FAQ: What you should know about PC cases ( Update 2021) What is installed where?
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