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Asus ROG Maximus XIII Hero Review: Premium Hardware, Premium Price

Our Verdict

Asus’ ROG Maximus XIII Hero is a full-featured Z590 motherboard that includes robust power delivery, premium audio with a DAC, four M.2 sockets, dual 2.5 GbE ports and integrated Wi-Fi 6E. Overall, the $499 Hero is a well-rounded premium board for Intel’s Z590 platform.

For

+ High-quality 14-phase 90A VRM
+ 10 USB ports, incl. 2x Thunderbolt 4
+ Dual 2.5 GbE plus Wi-Fi 6E
+ Four M.2 sockets
+ Premium audio

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Features and Specifications

Asus’ ROG Maximus XIII Hero hits the motherboard scene offering users an extended features list, premium styling, and a price tag of $499.99. While that’s certainly expensive, it’s no longer flagship motherboard territory in terms of pricing. The latest Hero includes loads of USB ports (including ultra-fast Thunderbolt Type-C), high-quality VRMs and four M.2 sockets. All that, plus a high-end appearance and overall good performance help make this board worth the cost of admission.

Asus’ current Z590 product stack consists of 13 models. Starting from the top, the ROG Maximus XIII Extreme and its water-cooled counterpart, the Extreme Glacial, carve out the flagship SKUs, followed by the ROG Hero and the overclocking focused ROG Apex. There are four other ROG Gaming boards, Z590-E/-F/-A/-I(ITX), along with two TUF Gaming boards and three Prime boards on the budget end. Asus presents a well-rounded product stack with boards and price points for just about everyone from top to bottom.

Overall, performance on our Hero was the best out of the boards we’ve tested so far. Granted, the difference isn’t much between most of the higher-performing boards ( which bypass the Intel specification), but the Hero and its out-of-the-box settings lead the group. Overclocking went without a hitch, easily handling our 5.1 GHz clock speed along with the memory set to DDR4 4000. Of the several boards we’ve looked at, this and the MSI MEG Ace were some of the easier boards to overclock and get the memory to speed with little or no tweaking.

Generation after generation, the Asus ROG Maximus line has delivered (what this reviewer considers to be) devilishly good looks and a long list of features for the high-end segment. The Maximus XIII Hero continues this trend, tweaking the appearance a bit from the last generation and making other changes including adding PCIe 4.0 support for M.2 sockets and PCIe slots, Wi-Fi 6E, dual Thunderbolt USB Type-C ports and more. We’ll take a look at those and other features in detail. Below is the full specifications list from Asus.

Specifications – Asus ROG Maximus XIII Hero

Socket	LGA 1200
Chipset	Z590
Form Factor	ATX
Voltage Regulator	16 Phase (14+2, 90A MOSFETs)
Video Ports	(1) HDMI
USB Ports	(2) Thunderbolt 4, Type-C (40 Gbps)
	(6) USB 3.2 Gen 2, Type-A (10 Gbps)
	(2) USB 2.0 (480 Mbps)
Network Jacks	(2) 2.5 GbE
Audio Jacks	(5) Analog + SPDIF
Legacy Ports/Jacks	✗
Other Ports/Jack	✗
PCIe x16	(2) v4.0 x16, (x16/x0, x8/x8, x8/x4)
	(1) v3.0 x4
PCIe x8	✗
PCIe x4	✗
PCIe x1	(1) v3.0 x4
CrossFire/SLI	Nvidia 2-Way SLI
DIMM slots	(4) DDR4 5333(OC), 128GB Capacity
M.2 slots	(1) PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe (up to 110mm)
	(1) PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe (up to 80mm)
	(1) PCIe 3.0 x4 / PCIe (up to 80mm)
	(1) PCIe 3.0 x4 / PCIe + SATA (up to 110mm)
U.2 Ports	✗
SATA Ports	(6) SATA3 6 Gbps (RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10)
USB Headers	(1) USB v3.2 Gen 2×2 (Front Panel Type-C)
	(2) USB v3.2 Gen 1
	(2) USB v2.0
Fan/Pump Headers	(8) 4-Pin
RGB Headers	(3) aRGB Gen 2 (3-pin)
	(1) Aura RGB (4-pin)
Legacy Interfaces	✗
Other Interfaces	FP-Audio, TPM
Diagnostics Panel	Yes, 2-character debug LED, and 4-LED ‘Status LED’ display
Internal Button/Switch	Start and Flex Key
SATA Controllers	✗
Ethernet Controller(s)	(2) Intel I225-V (2.5 GbE)
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth	Intel WiFi-6E AX210 (802.11ax, 2×2, MU-MIMO, OFDMA, BT 5.2)
USB Controllers	✗
HD Audio Codec	SupremeFX ALC4082
DDL/DTS Connect	✗ / ✗
Warranty	3 Years

Along with the motherboard, the box includes several accessories ranging from cables to graphic card holders and a support DVD. For the price, this isn’t the most inclusive accessory stack we’ve come across, but it will get you started (hopefully) without a trip to the store. Below is a complete list of all included accessories.

Support DVD
User’s Manual
Q-connector
ROG stickers / keychain / thank you card
Graphics card holder
Wi-Fi Moving Antenna
(4) SATA cables
(1) Screw package for M.2 sockets
(1) ARGB extension cable
(1) RGB extension cable

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(Image credit: Asus)

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Handarbeit

(Image credit: Asus)

Focusing on the top half of the board, we get a better look at the massive heatsinks/shrouds that cover a significant portion of the board. Wedged between the heatpipe-connected VRM heatsink are two reinforced 8-pin EPS connectors (one required) to send power to the CPU. To the right of the socket area and its gunmetal-colored capacitors are four DRAM slots capable of supporting up to 128GB of RAM. Asus lists supported speeds up to DDR4 5333(OC). But as always, your mileage may vary.

Just above the DRAM slots are the first three 4-pin fan/pump headers (of eight total). Six headers (CPU, Chassis, and AIO_Pump, support up to 1A/12W while the W_Pump and H_Amp headers support up to 3A/36W. The AIO and W_Pump headers run at full speed while the rest are Q-Fan controlled.

Continuing right is the 2-character Q-Code debug LED, and just below it are the four Q-LEDs (CPU, DRAM, VGA and Boot) that light up during the boot process. If there is an issue during POST, that specific LED remains lit and tells you, generally, where the problem is. You can use the Q-Code display for more details.

Moving down the right edge, we see the first two (of four) RGB headers. In this area are two 3-pin (ARGB) headers. You’ll find the other two headers, a 4-pin RGB and a third 3-pin ARGB, across the bottom edge. Just below this is a large Start button to power the PC on and a smaller multi-function FlexKey button. By default, this reboots the system, but you can configure this as a quick access feature to activate Safe Boot or turn Aura lighting on/off. Further down the right edge is the 24-pin ATX power connector and below that, a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C front-panel header.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

Asus went with a 14-phase ‘teamed’ VRM configuration for the XIII Hero. Power is sent to a Renesas ISL69269 controller (7+2+1), where each channel feeds two phases (no doubler inline). After that, it’s on to the 14 Texas Instrument NexFET 90A Smart Power stages. This allows the CPU to use up to 1260A, one of the higher values we’ve seen. While the Hero isn’t the most robust solution at this price point, it will have no issues with ambient and even extreme overclocking. You’ll be limited by CPU thermals long before this VRM gets in the way.

(Image credit: Asus)

Taking a closer look at the bottom half of the board, we’ll start with the audio section on the left side. Underneath the plastic shroud, Asus chose the premium Realtek ALC4082 codec along with Chemicon brand Japanese audio capacitors. The Hero also includes an ESS Sabre9018Q2C DAC/Amp for driving your headphones properly. The onboard audio solution provides more than sufficient quality for an overwhelming majority of users.

In the middle of the board we find the PCIe slots and M.2 sockets. On the PCIe front, the Hero has three full-length PCIe slots and one x1 size slot. The top two PCIe slots are wired to the CPU and support PCIe 4.0 when using an 11th generation Intel processor. These top two slots run at x16/x0, x8/x8 or x8/x4 (lane bifurcation) and support Nvidia 2-Way SLI (AMD Crossfire is not mentioned in the specifications). The bottom full-length slot is fed from the chipset and runs at PCIe 3.0 x4. Out of the box, the bottom slot runs at PCIe 3.0 x2 mode and disables SATA ports 3/4. If you need to run the bottom slot at the full x4 mode, SATA ports 1/2/3/4 get disabled.

The Maximus XIII Hero has four M.2 sockets mixed in with the PCIe slots. The top two sockets are both wired PCIe 4.0 x4. Asus accomplishes this by sharing bandwidth with the CPU-fed PCIe slots. When M.2_2 is enabled, the top PCIe slot runs at x8 and the second slot drops to x4. These sockets support PCIe modules only, with the top slot able to handle 110mm modules and the second slot up to 80mm. The third M.2 socket, connected to the chipset, runs at PCIe 3.0 x4 mode, supporting up to 80mm modules. The bottom socket supports up to 110mm PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA-based M.2 devices. If M.2_4 (bottom right) is populated, SATA ports 5/6 are disabled. There’s a fair amount of lane sharing between the SATA ports, M.2 sockets and PCIe slots. So be sure to check out the manual for details on your specific configuration.

To the right of the PCIe area is the chipset heatsink, with the ROG symbol illuminated with RGB LEDs from underneath. On the right edge is another fan header, six SATA ports and two USB 3.2 Gen1 front panel headers that bookend the SATA ports.

Across the board’s bottom are several headers and buttons, including more USB ports, fan headers and more. If you’re into monitoring your custom water loop, there are headers for temperature and water flow as well. You can keep an eye on your entire cooling system, be it air or water. Below is the full list, from left to right:

Front-panel audio
RGB and ARGB headers
Retry button
Chassis fan and High Amp fan headers
(2) USB 2.0 headers
(2) Chassis fan headers
Temperature sensor, water flow headers
Speaker
Front panel header

(Image credit: Asus)

The Asus ROG Maximus XIII Hero comes with a pre-installed rear IO panel sporting a black background with white writing for all of the ports and buttons. There are a total of 10 USB ports: two USB 2.0 ports, six USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A and two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports for ultra-fast USB storage. Located above the Type-C ports are the two 2.5 GbE ports, while next to those are the two Wi-Fi 6E antenna sockets. A single HDMI port handles video output when using integrated graphics. The audio stack is the full 5-plug analog, plus SPDIF output. Finally, also here are the BIOS flashback button to flash without a CPU and a Clear CMOS button.

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Ruark’s R5 all-in-one system is now better and more beautiful than ever

(Image credit: Ruark)

“… perhaps the most well-featured all-in-one desktop system you can buy right now,” is what we said of the Ruark R5 when we reviewed it in 2019, and that is no less true today. Now, Ruark has launched a special Signature Edition version that benefits from a performance boost and aesthetic upgrade.

For the Ruark R5 Signature, the signal paths have been revised and the cabling upgraded in an effort to make it sound cleaner than the standard R5. While the R5 comes in a a ‘rich walnut’ wood or light grey lacquer, the Signature model basks in a luxury piano lacquer finish with rose gold metal detailing.

Ruark says that each layer has been carefully built and hand sanded between coats. Once the final coat has been applied, the lacquer was wet sanded with a fine grit abrasive before being hand buffed and polished to a glass-like finish.

(Image credit: Ruark)

Of course, the Signature is just as well equipped as the original, featuring an integrated CD player, Spotify Connect, built-in access to other popular music services such as Amazon Music, Deezer and Tidal, Bluetooth, DLNA streaming and multi-room functionality.

We can also expect a sound that’s as likeably warm and organised (and hopefully clearer) than the R5, whose biggest talent is a lush and coherent midrange.

The Ruark R5 Signature will be available in a limited production run from June, priced £1250 (a not-insignificant premium over the £995 R5).

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Our pick of the best hi-fi systems 2021

Read our Ruark R5 review

Stromer ST2 e-bike review: too hot for Europe

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The words “Swiss design” conjure images of luxury watch movements and delicately sculpted eyeglasses, not hulking e-bikes with thickly welded frames and face-melting power. Stromer is here to challenge those assumptions and force a rethink of how its Swiss-made electric bikes, with top speeds of 45 km/h (28 mph), can disrupt urban transportation for the benefit of residents. I’ve certainly seen the light after testing a new 2021 edition ST2, Stromer’s first e-bike with a carbon belt drive.

Broadly speaking, US cities have all of the fast e-bikes and no bicycle infrastructure, whereas European cities have all of the protective infrastructure and few fast e-bikes. It’s exceedingly rare to see fast e-bikes known as speed-pedelecs in my Amsterdam home, for example, where half of all new bikes sold are electric, and bicycles outnumber people by a lot.

It’s not that EU bike makers are an effete bunch of cheese-eating milquetoasts; they manufacture slow, underpowered e-bikes to avoid the draconian measures triggered by EU Directive 168/2013. It states that any e-bike that goes faster than 25 km/h (15.5 mph) with a continuous rated power above 250 watts is to be treated the same as a gas-guzzling moped. Makers of s-pedelecs like the Stromer ST2 are subjected to a grueling certification process that then requires owners to hold a moped-class driver’s license, liability insurance, and registration. By contrast, a similarly specced Class 3 e-bike in the US usually requires… nothing, other than a helmet.

To make matters worse, speed pedelecs are banned from riding on the vast majority of the ubiquitous bike lanes that famously protect helmet-less Dutch bicyclists in cities like Amsterdam. Why? Because mopeds are banned, and the law doesn’t differentiate. Fuck that. I wasn’t going to put my life at risk for this review by riding alongside heavy (and dangerous) automobiles just because European regulators can’t get their shit together.

Over the entirety of March, I spent my days fawning over the sophistication of the Stromer ST2 while fuming at lawmakers for holding back s-pedelecs from their full potential as car replacements. While I’ll be reviewing the ST2 on its own merits, it’s nigh impossible to recommend to Europeans without first considering the operational rules by which it’s constrained.

Before diving too deeply into why European rules suck, let’s start with what makes the new Stromer ST2 so good.

The ST2 is Stromer’s all-rounder model in a range of s-pedelecs that run from the entry-level ST1 to the ST5 (there is no ST4), with prices ranging from $4,199 / €4,628 to $11,699 / €11,428 and higher depending on configuration and options. Stromer’s motors range from 670W and 35 Nm of torque to 850W and 48 Nm. All Stromers are pedal-assisted e-bikes without throttles.

The ST2 starts at $5,699 / €6,128 and is fitted with a 750-watt Stromer CYRO Drive IG motor mounted on the rear hub. It produces a modest 40 Nm of torque to accelerate the bike up to 45 km/h (28 mph) from a standstill as safely and effortlessly as possible. A torque sensor ensures that power is delivered just as soon it detects a harder press on the pedal. The Gates Carbon belt drive linked to an internal five-gear hub propels the sturdy aluminum-framed bike forward on 27.5-inch wheels sporting high volume Cycl-e ST tires custom-designed by Pirelli.

My ST2 with the large-sized sport frame options came standard with fenders, a kickstand, and a mini rack; it did not come with the optional front and rear suspension. It weighs just shy of 33 kgs (72 pounds), which is undeniably heavy for an e-bike. But that mass makes the ride feel rock solid at top speed, without any worrisome wobble or flex when riding over bumps.

Safety is also boosted by custom front and rear hydraulic disc brakes, an electric horn, daytime running lights, and a Roxim Z4E Pro headlight that can produce between 600 and 900 lumens at night. (A dazzling 1600-lumen option is available.) There’s also an integrated brake light around back. The required rearview mirror is useful to see overtaking motorists on roads, but it makes the bike quite wide. This resulted in a few slapped car mirrors before I got a feel for the added width. Fortunately, the mirror folds to make it a bit easier to walk the bike through narrow hallways.

The keyless battery makes a pleasant “thunk” when ejected after a touchscreen and button combo.

My ST2 review bike came fitted with a 48V, 618Wh removable battery rated for up to 120 km or 75 miles, though I’d estimate real-world range for an aggressive rider like me is about half that. I managed just shy of 50 km (31 miles) with 10 percent charge remaining, according to the Stromer app, before deciding to top up. The ST2 has a customizable regenerative braking feature to make the most of the battery. That flat terrain I tested on didn’t benefit from the extended range allowed by the recuperation that’s possible on long steep declines.

I did about half of my testing while illegally riding on bicycle lanes because responsible individuals can regulate their speed for the slower flow of congested city riding. If a powerful Ferrari can share city roads with slower Hyundais, then certainly a powerful e-bike can share a dedicated lane with traditional bicyclists. Putting the ST2 into low-power mode makes this easy. My riding was an even mix of max power (setting 3) at max speed (up to 47 km/h, according to the integrated display) when commuting outside the city center, and lazy 20 to 30 km/h jaunts at low power (setting 1) around town. A beefier battery with a stated range of up to 180 km (110 miles) is also available.

The + and – buttons on the left grip make it easy to toggle between the three power modes, while the right grip is home to the shifter. The excellent 5-Speed Sturmey Archer shifter is smooth and reliable and conveniently works from a standstill.

The display washes out even on an overcast day.“,”image_left”:{“ratio”:”*”,”original_url”:”https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22445516/DSC_4195.jpeg”,”network”:”verge”,”bgcolor”:”white”,”pinterest_enabled”:false,”caption”:null,”credit”:null,”focal_area”:{“top_left_x”:0,”top_left_y”:0,”bottom_right_x”:4928,”bottom_right_y”:3264},”bounds”:[0,0,4928,3264],”uploaded_size”:{“width”:4928,”height”:3264},”focal_point”:null,”asset_id”:22445516,”asset_credit”:null,”alt_text”:””},”image_right”:{“ratio”:”*”,”original_url”:”https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22445517/DSC_4196.jpeg”,”network”:”verge”,”bgcolor”:”white”,”pinterest_enabled”:false,”caption”:null,”credit”:null,”focal_area”:{“top_left_x”:0,”top_left_y”:0,”bottom_right_x”:4928,”bottom_right_y”:3264},”bounds”:[0,0,4928,3264],”uploaded_size”:{“width”:4928,”height”:3264},”focal_point”:null,”asset_id”:22445517,”asset_credit”:null,”alt_text”:””},”credit”:null}” data-cid=”apps/imageslider-1618567556_3085_133009″>

The display washes out even on an overcast day.

The touchscreen display integrated into the top tube is the interface to a bike OS that’s overwrought, in my opinion, though some might like having access to every configuration option (and there are a lot) right on the bike. I do not, especially not when all that overhead makes the bike take 20 seconds just to boot, an eternity if you’re in a hurry. My bike was also configured to boot into a lock screen that was frustratingly slow to respond to the five taps required to enter my secret passcode. The display also easily washes out in sunlight.

In my experience, it’s rare to make any changes once a bike is set up to your liking, meaning it’s best to offload more advanced features to an app. I prefer simple displays that boot fast and serve as a simple dashboard for basics like power setting and battery remaining. Stromer’s app is already very complete, offering lots of ride statistics and bike diagnostics in addition to options to tune the ride to your preferred balance of speed, torque, and agility. (I rode exclusively with the default “standard” setting.) The Stromer OMNI app is one of the best e-bike apps I’ve used.

The ST2 is as high-tech as they come, fitted with Bluetooth to auto-lock / unlock the bike when in range, GPS tracking, and 3G data for over-the-air software updates. An anti-theft mode shuts off the motor and starts blaring the horn to scare off thieves.

S-pedelecs can nearly reach the 50 km/h speed limit of most European cities, which is why they’re often pitched as true car replacements. Traditional e-bikes can already replace car commutes for many, but their top speed of 25 km/h means you’ll have to accept an extended travel time (while getting outside for some exercise). To test this theory, I “raced” a friend to a golf course to the north of Amsterdam; he in his new Tesla Model 3, me on the Stromer ST2 with a six-club pencil bag slung over my shoulder. His 30-minute trip took me just 27 minutes, and I had to wait 5 minutes for a ferry to arrive. Technically, I cheated by occasionally riding at top speed on deserted bike lanes I wasn’t allowed to use… but should have been.

Speed pedelecs are forbidden on Dutch bike lanes like the one above and must share roads with cars instead.

Now, about EU directive 168/2013. As the name implies, it was conceived years before it was fully enacted on January 1st, 2017, which is part of the problem. It failed to anticipate the explosion of electric personal mobility devices we’ve seen over the last four years, especially in countries like the Netherlands where half of all new bicycles sold last year were electric. The directive splits e-bikes into two categories of “type approvals”: type L1e-A includes electric cargo bikes like the Carqon, while type L1e-B includes s-pedelecs like the Stromer ST2 and gasoline-powered mopeds. Any e-bike maxing out at 25 km/h and 250 watts of continuous power is exempt from the directive and treated exactly like a regular bicycle.

Type L1e-B vehicles are limited to a maximum speed of 45 km/h and maximum continuous rated power of 4,000 watts. It requires mopeds and s-pedelecs to be fitted with a rearview mirror, horn, brake light, and prominent license plate; while the owner must be at least 16 years of age, wear a moped-rated helmet, possess a moped (type AM) driver’s license, be covered by liability insurance, and pay to have the vehicle registered.

Critics like the European Light Electric Vehicle Advocacy group LEVA-EU argue that because it was designed primarily for mopeds with combustion engines, the current type L1e-B approval process is unnecessarily complex and burdensome for bike makers. S-pedelec manufacturers are required to comply with 1,036 pages of text, much of which is about moped safety and emission concerns that simply don’t apply to speed pedelecs. The result is higher costs passed onto consumers and curtailed adoption and innovation because… why would any company bother?

Because Europe is Europe, there’s often variance in how regulations are set into law in each member country. While I complain about s-pedelec access to bike paths in Amsterdam, at least some bike lanes still allow them, unlike other European countries. Conversely, Belgium gives owners the choice to ride their s-pedelecs on any bike path or any road with a maximum speed limit of 50 km/h. It’s policy is informed by an effusive in-country study from 2019:

The speed pedelec has the potential to be a sustainable alternative for cars with internal combustion engines for commuting purposes. For the Belgian case, commuting with a speed pedelec can solve problems regarding congestion and air pollution.

At the close of 2020, Stromer bikes registered in Belgium (4,061) were more than double that of my Dutch home (1,558), according to Bike Europe. And despite being the market leader for s-pedelecs throughout Europe, Stromer produced just 12,417 s-pedelecs in 2020, which is the same number of slow e-bikes Amsterdam-based VanMoof makes in a month. European S-pedelec demand is clearly being stifled.

So, what’s to be done?

The good news here is that the European Commission seems keen to address the regulations that currently govern e-bikes. In October, the EC asked TRL, a UK-based mobility researcher, to initiate a review of the EU’s type approval process required by EU directive 168/2013. TRL recently concluded its findings and recommended that s-pedelecs be moved out of the L1e-B moped category and into the far less restrictive L1e-A category. L1e-A type approvals currently cover 1,000-watt e-cargo bikes capped at 25 km/h and some vehicles with throttles.

It’s a positive sign but still “unfortunate” for s-pedelecs from the perspective of LEVA-EU. The advocacy group has been pushing for an entirely new set of vehicle regulations for zero-emission vehicles like e-bikes, standing scooters, and electric skateboards based upon weight and speed only, not maximum continuous power. LEVA-EU believes that vehicles with similar levels of kinetic energy should be subjected to similar rules. It would therefore distinguish between vehicles with a maximum speed of 25 or 30 km/h and those capable of 45 or 50 km/h, instead of trying to bend the current regulations dictated by Directive 168/2013 (and the related Machinery Directive) to the realities of modern transportation. While the TRL did recommend to “create a dedicated approval process for PMD [personal mobility devices] separate from Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 and the Machinery Directive,” it capped this at a max speed of either 25 or 30 km/h, thus excluding s-pedelecs from the PMD category.

The EC isn’t bound by TRL’s recommendations so we’ll have to wait until 2022 for it to reveal its legislative proposal. Even then, any proposal would have to be negotiated with the member states; a process that could go on for years before new legislation is enacted.

The Stromer ST2 is also available in dark gray.

As much as I’d love to call for revolution and demand that urban commuters act on the moral obligation to disobey the unjust laws governing s-pedelecs in Europe, I can’t really apply the logic I used for a short-term review to long-term ownership — especially not with ST2 prices starting at $5,699 / €6,128.

If you’re in the US, then no problem. But anyone in Europe interested in owning the ST2 or any speed pedelec that falls under the current L1e-B type designation had better do their homework. Not only do you need to factor in local laws that might differ from EU rules, but also the costs to register and insure yourself for such a nascent and confusing transportation category.

The Stromer ST2 is easily the most sophisticated and thrilling e-bike I’ve ridden since I began reviewing the category back in 2016. It also did the rarest of things by letting me glimpse a better future that’s just out of reach.

S-pedelecs could help accelerate European initiatives to green our cities and reclaim all of that space allocated to idling cars. But that won’t happen until EU regulators first remove the barriers to adoption and then create incentives to get city-dwellers out of their cars, even the electric ones, and onto bikes like the Stromer ST2.

Photography by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

Team Group T-Create Expert 2 TB Review – Endurance: 12,000 TBW!

Introduction

Team Group is a well-known Taiwanese hardware manufacturer with a long history of catering to the needs of enthusiasts and gamers from all over the globe. Their lineup includes DRAM memory and solid-state drives, and they also offer various memory cards and USB thumb drives.

Today, we are reviewing the Team Group T-Create Expert SSD, which is rated for an astonishing 12,000 TBW in the reviewed 2 TB version. Yeah, you read that right, twelve-thousand terabytes, or 12 Petabytes. On top of that, Team Group offers a 12 year warranty for the drive—an industry first, too. Please note that “T-Create” is a group of products, not the name of this product. There’s also a T-Create “Classic”, this review covers the T-Create “Expert”.

Under the hood, the T-Create Expert uses a Silicon Motion SM2262ENG controller paired with 64-layer 3D TLC flash from Micron. Yup, that’s right—standard flash that has been on the market for a long time, no secret sauce here. I can imagine that Team Group is using some firmware tweaks to improve endurance, but so far, I haven’t seen anything that would support the super high TBW claim. As expected, DRAM is present, too, two chips are installed to provide 2 GB of storage for the mapping tables of the SSD.

The Team Group T-Create Expert comes in capacities of 1 TB ($400) and 2 TB ($800). Endurance for these models is set to 6000 TBW and 12000 TBW respectively. As mentioned before, Team Group includes a twelve-year warranty with the T-Create Expert.

Specifications: Team Group T-Create Expert SSD
Brand:	Team Group
Model:	TM8FPF002T0C711
Capacity:	2048 GB (1907 GB usable) No additional overprovisioning
Controller:	Silicon Motion SM2262ENG
Flash:	Micron 64-layer 3D TLC B17A
DRAM:	2x 1 GB Micron DDR3-1600 MT41K512M16HA-125:A / D9STQ
Endurance:	12,000 TBW
Form Factor:	M.2 2280
Interface:	PCIe Gen 3 x4, NVMe 1.3
Device ID:	T-CREATE TM8FPF002T
Firmware:	42AAT73A
Warranty:	12 years
Price at Time of Review:	$800 / 40 cents per GB

G.SKILL KM360 Keyboard + Crystal Crown Keycaps Review

Introduction

G.SKILL as a brand is synonymous with memory, so much so that our review database is filled with G.SKILL DDR4 kits when sorting by the company. You need to scroll down a decent amount before you hit a mouse review of their only mouse to date, and then there are a couple of keyboard reviews in there too. Late last year, the company introduced replacement keycaps they were pretty excited about and wanted me to cover. I wanted to wait until I could photograph them properly and then noticed there was another keyboard I can combine them with for a full review. So here we are then, taking a look at a G.SKILL keyboard and the Crystal Crown keycaps, and thanks again to the company for sending review samples to TechPowerUp!

G.SKILL keyboards have been all over the place when it comes to design, but it is also hard to generalize given there have been so few to date. Their Ripjaws model especially has adopted an aggressive design, which this KM360 contrasts strongly with a minimalist design and a TKL (tenkeyless) form factor. So much so that there is no logo or identifier in the stock image above, and it could be any other company’s keyboard. It is with the Crystal Crown keycaps that things look different, and we will take a look at all of this in the review that begins with a look at the keyboard’s specifications in the table below.

Specifications

G.SKILL KM360 Keyboard
Layout:	87-key form factor in a US ANSI layout
Material:	ABS plastic case and keycaps, and aluminium top plate
Macro Support:	No
Weight:	0.68 kg/1.5 lbs.
Wrist Rest:	No
Anti-ghosting:	Full N-Key rollover USB
Media Keys:	No
Dimensions:	132 (L) x 360 (W) x 37 (H) mm
Cable Length:	5 ft/1.5 m
Software:	No
Switch Type:	Cherry MX Red mechanical switch
Backlighting:	Yes, single color white
Interface:	USB 2.0
Warranty:	One year

Apple’s App Store hosted kiddie games with secret gambling dens inside

In popular culture, access to an illicit gambling den is as easy as stumbling into the right shop and saying the password — or greasing some palms. Apple’s App Store apparently has a real-life parallel: today, app developer Kosta Eleftheriou discovered a terrible kiddie game that’s actually a front for gambling websites.

The secret password isn’t one you’d be likely to guess: you have to be in the right country —or pretend to be in the right country using a VPN.

But then, instead of launching an ugly monkey-flipping endless runner game filled with typos and bugs, the very same app launches a casino experience:

This @AppStore app pretends to be a silly platformer game for children 4+, but if I set my VPN to Turkey and relaunch it becomes an online casino that doesn’t even use Apple’s IAP.

pic.twitter.com/crnOOF0pNi

— Kosta Eleftheriou (@keleftheriou) April 15, 2021

The app, “Jungle Runner 2k21,” has already disappeared from the App Store, presumably thanks to publicity from Gizmodo and Daring Fireball, who each wrote about Eleftheriou’s finding earlier today.

It’s not the only one, though: the same developer, “Colin Malachi,” had another incredibly basic game on the App Store called “Magical Forest – Puzzle” that was also a front for gambling. I tried them both myself, and here’s some visual evidence:

Here’s what Magical Forest looked like when you opened it from the United States:

I accessed them from a VPN server in Turkey; While Daring Fireball notes that users in other non-US countries like Italy also seem to have been able to access the gambling sites, I tried them with a number of other locations including Italy without success.

Unlike the multi-million dollar App Store scams that Eleftheriou uncovered earlier this year, it’s not hard to see why Apple’s App Store review program might have missed these — they largely look like your typical shovelware if you don’t know the trick, with only a handful of tells… like the fact that Jungle Runner uses a Pastebin for its privacy policies:

It’s not necessarily clear to me that they’d be violating very many of Apple’s App Store policies, either. Gambling apps are permitted by Apple, as long as they’re geo-restricted to regions where that gambling is permitted by law, and you could maybe argue that’s exactly what this developer did by checking your IP address. But I imagine Cupertino would frown on a gambling app masquerading as a kid’s game either way — and Eleftheriou suggests the gambling sites may be scamming people out of money, too.

As an icing on the cake, people in the reviews say that they deposited large sums for the promise of a bonus, but they never received the promised payouts.

Surprising no one, the scammers aren’t even operating a fair casino.

— Kosta Eleftheriou (@keleftheriou) April 15, 2021

Apple didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.

DJI Air 2S initial review: Take flight

(Pocket-lint) – DJI has long been the champion of the consumer drone market, pushing boundaries and implenting technology that makes it easy for the average person to do previously impossible aerial photography and videography.

It was undoubtedly through the Mavic series that it saw success reach new heights, but over the past couple of years DJI has been focusing on its smaller, more nimble drones.

It ditched the Mavic name with the Mini 2, and has now followed up the excellent Mavic Air 2 with a new-and-improved Air 2S. No ‘Mavic’ moniker in sight.

What’s new?

For the most part the DJI Air 2S looks just like the Mavic Air 2. It has the familiar Mavic-style sharknose front and arms that fold inwards to make it compact and easy to carry around.

The new stuff isn’t necessarily all that visual. Improvements are almost entirely performance enhancements. It has a bigger 1-inch sensor and more advanced sensors for spotting obstacles. That means better photos, better video quality and much smarter obstacle avoidance.

That’s not to say there aren’t any visual changes. For example, the extra upward-facing obstacle sensors are easy to spot on the front. Plus, the propeller blades now have bright orange tips – just like the Mini 2 – and the camera housing is silver rather than black.

If it ain’t broke…

Dimensions (unfolded): 183 × 253 × 77mm
Dimensions (folded): 180 × 97 × 80mm
Weight: 595g

DJI’s Mavic design is the company’s best idea to date. By making it possible to fold the drone up into a small enough size that it can easily fit in your backpack, it made quadcopters accessible. That’s still here with the Air 2S, which is small enough to fit in your hand when it’s folded.

Pocket-lint

FOLDABLE AND COMPACT

Like its predecessors, the top arms fold outward, while the bottom ones pivot down and out to form the traditional quadcopter shape. Those front/top arms sit slightly higher, too, with feet that rest on the ground to ensure the camera system has enough space beneath it.

This particular camera is mounted underneath the nose and mounted to a three-axis mechanical gimbal, meaning that any movement or shakiness is counterracted – resulting in smooth and sharp images and video. It’s a pretty familiar mechanism by now, and has worked well in previous models.

The removeable battery makes up part of the body of the drone too. In fact, the rear two-thirds of the drone is practically all battery. It’s held in place by a couple of internal clips that you release by pressing a button on either side of the battery. It’s a secure system and keeps it in place unless you really want to take it off.

Pocket-lint

As you’d expect, the drone ships with the redesigned controller we first saw ship with 2020’s Mavic Air 2. It’s a larger, chunkier controller than the old control pads, but it’s practical. It’s easier to grip for one, and the phone holder is much sturdier and less likely to mess with the buttons up the sides. Plus, it’s easier to fit larger phones in it.

Sensors galore!

Four-sided obstacle avoidance
3500mAh battery capacity
31 minutes max flight time
8GB internal storage
microSD to 256GB

DJI drones have led the way when it comes to obstacle avoidance and smart flight paths, and that’s not likely to change any time soon. This latest drone features sensors to avoid obstacles on the front, back, underside and the top. It doesn’t just stop in front of obstacles either, it makes use of DJI’s latest version of APAS (Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems) – which can automatically plot a route and move around obstacles.

The company also says it uses something called ‘binocular zooming technology’ which means the drone can pick up obstacles from further away and detect when they’re coming towards the drone. It should result in obstacles being much harder to hit and easier to avoid, even when they’re coming in fast.

Pocket-lint

There are lots of smart flying modes included too. Those include the usual QuickShots – which can move in a preset path around a subject – but more impressive-sounding is MasterShots.

With MasterShots enabled the drone decides for itself how to fly around the subject in a number of different paths for a couple of minutes and then create a unique video from that footage.

FocusTrack is another staple, where you can focus on a subject and then either get the camera to stay locked while you manually fly the drone around it, or get it to follow the subject in a set direction.

The best drones 2021: Top rated quadcopters to buy, whatever your budget

By Cam Bunton
·
15 April 2021

Improved optics

1-inch CMOS sensor
20MP (2.4μm pixel size)
5.4K video (to 30fps)
4K (to 60fps)
Digital zoom/sensor crop up to 6x

Just a couple of years ago if you wanted really good quality images and stills from a DJI drone it meant spending quite a lot of money. The Phantom 4 Pro was the first consumer-ish drone with a 1-inch CMOS sensor, before it was followed up by the Mavic 2 Pro. Both of those drones are significantly more expensive than the Air 2S.

Now, that same-sized sensor is in the Air 2S and on first impressions the results are very good. We’ve managed to get a little time in the air testing a few of the different modes and the photo quality already looks to be a huge improvement on what the last Mavic Air 2 managed.

That’s no surprise really. Larger sensors mean bigger pixels and that means more data is captured and you usually see better colours and more light, which is more noticeable in low-light situations. We’ve not done enough testing yet to give our final say, but it’s looking to be a very competent camera so far.

It’s similar for video. It can shoot 4K resolution up to 60fps, so you can capture that sharp and smooth footage. If you want to up the sharpness for cropping in post production, you can up it to 5.4K resolution – but this tops out at 30fps.

Of course, there are other resolutions and frame rates which includes slow-motion options. Full HD (1080p) resolultion can go all the way up to 120fps to help give you that slowed down footage. In addition, DJI has added digital zoom to this latest drone, so depending on which resolution and frame-rate you’re filming at you can zoom up to 6x.

Should you get the Fly More combo?

Two additional batteries (three total)
Charging hub – charges all three at once
Ships with 4 ND filters
Carrying bag included

While battery life should be pretty strong on the DJI Air 2S, the 31 minutes flight time might not be quite enough if you’re planning on a long stint out in the hills. And those are 31 minutes in windless and sterile conditions.

Extra batteries are always a good idea – and the Fly More combo gives you more than just extra batteries. You get a charging hub that allows you to charge all three batteries at the same time, plus a little case with four ND (neutral density) filters.

Pocket-lint

These filters attach to the front of the camera and offer varying strengths. If you’re shooting on a bright day, or shooting near a lake or the sea, it’s always worthwhile to have an ND filter or two kicking around to reduce some of the harsh light and highlights.

The kit comes in a bag which can carry all of it, meaning you don’t have to take your own backpack if you don’t want to carry a big bag around with you.

Of course, getting the Fly More combo pushes the cost up by £270 in the UK, so it’s not cheap, but is a far more cost effective way to get extra batteries and accessories. Just one Intelligent Flight Battery for the Air 2 costs £105 on its own, while the charging hub would set you back £49 and the shoulder bag costs £69.

First Impressions

To get a 1-inch sensor in a DJI drone used to mean spending over four-figures and going with something quite big. Granted, the older Mavic 2 Pro is still foldable, but it’s nowhere near as compact as the Air 2S.

What’s more, the new Air drone still features a lot of the same capabilities of its bigger, more expensive siblings. It’s a win-win. It’ll cost you less, do mostly the same stuff, and takes up less room.

On the whole, based on our short time with the Air 2S so far, this could quite possibly be the best drone for consumers that DJI has ever released. It’s well-equipped, has a great camera, and all the tech and sensors you’d usually expect come in a much bigger and more expensive machine.

Writing by Cam Bunton.

Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 Machine Learning With Seeed’s reTerminal

(Image credit: Seeed)

Seeed Studio announced the reTerminal, its latest addon for the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4. This $195 Compute Module 4 machine learning and industrial application carrier board comes enclosed inside a robust case and sports a 5-inch touchscreen and plenty of expansion possibilities.

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Seeed’s reTerminal works with all models of the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4. For the $195 price tag, it comes with a Compute Module 4 with 4GB RAM and 32GB of eMMC flash. You can easily swap out the Compute Module 4 if you need to change the config to accommodate your use case.

The 5-inch capacitive touch LCD has a 1280 x 720 (293 PPI) resolution, much more useful than 800 x 480 resolutions found on other screens. On the front of the unit, we see four user buttons, which can be programmed as required for useful quick access to common tasks.

On reTerminal’s left side, we find two USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, micro HDMI output (4Kp60), and a USB C power input for the 5V 4A required to power the unit. On the other side, we see a breakout for the Raspberry Pi GPIO. This is not directly compatible with add ons/HATs, but we can use one of the many Raspberry Pi add-on boards with a breakout board.

On the rear, we see a finned radiator used to keep the Compute Module 4’s 1.5 GHz quad-core Cortex-A72 CPU cool. We can only assume that this is passive cooling as there is no mention of active cooling. Also present is a MIPI camera interface, which enables using the official Raspberry Pi Camera and the HQ Camera. A useful addition when we consider that reTerminal is aimed at machine learning applications such as Edge Impulse, PyTorch and TensorFlow. An interesting addition is an industrial high-speed interface, which provides a PCIe 1 lane host, an additional USB 2.0 port, 28 GPIOs, and Power over Ethernet, according to the press release.

A series of M4 screw mounts at various points around the device are used to secure the reTerminal to several external modular accessories. We can see an industrial GPIO breakout from the supplied images and a unit that connects to the industrial high-speed breakout connector. We find a standard camera mount at the bottom of the unit, enabling reTerminal to be held in place using many different camera accessories.

A series of sensors are hidden inside of the reTerminal. First, we have a mic array that can be used with machine learning for voice recognition projects, an accelerometer for display rotation, data collection and gesture input, and a light sensor with proximity detection. An onboard real-time clock provides a means to keep your Compute Module 4’s clock in time, useful for projects where connectivity to NTP servers could be problematic.

Seeed’s reTerminal looks to be a nice and tidy means to use a Raspberry Pi Computer Module 4-powered machine for machine learning. Tom’s Hardware will have all of the reTerminal information you need in a future review. Seeed is offering $5 off if you register here.

Patriot Viper VP4300 M.2 NVMe SSD Review: Killer Looks, Fast Performance

Our Verdict

Patriot’s Viper VP4300 is a high-end PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD with all the features and performance you could want from an enthusiast-grade SSD, but you’ll pay a premium for the privilege.

For

+ Included heatsink and graphene label
+ Appealing aesthetics
+ AES 256-bit hardware encryption
+ Large hybrid SLC cache
+ High endurance
+ 5-year warranty

Against

– Pricing
– Lacks software package
– High idle power consumption

Go to page:

Features and Specifications

Patriot’s Viper VP4300 pumps out fast sequential speeds of up to 7.4 / 6.8 GBps read/write and features wicked good looks, making it a top contender for our best SSDs list. Whether you’re loading up the latest Call of Duty update or scrubbing 4K or 8K content, Patriot’s Viper VP4300 delivers responsive performance. And with two optional cooling solutions included, it will keep cool and look cool during the most strenuous tasks you can throw its way.

When PCIe 4.0 SSDs first hit the market, they all had one formula in common — they came powered by a Phison E16 SSD controller that was merely a repurposed PCIe 3.0 design modified to work with the PCIe 4.0 interface, and then paired with BiCS4 flash. This pairing improved the end-user experience, but it lacked the oomph we now see from new clean-sheet controller designs that leverage the speedy PCIe 4.0 interface, like the Phison E18 and the controllers with the latest Samsung and WD SSDs.

Patriot’s Viper VP4300 now joins the list of new drives with completely new controllers. This SSD slithers its way onto our test bench with a new Rainer controller designed by InnoGrit. This new PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD controller comes paired with a healthy helping of Micron’s 96-Layer TLC flash to serve up fast performance.

The Viper VP4300 also comes with many of the features we expect from a high-end NVMe SSD, and even some we don’t. Patriot even throws in two cooling solutions – a sleek-looking 4mm thick aluminum heatsink and an ultra-thin graphene label for tighter-tolerance installations, like in notebooks. Add in the VP4300’s high endurance ratings, which even outstrip the Samsung 980 Pro and WD Black SN850, and it appears to be a very competitive drive. Let’s put it to the test.

Specifications

Product	Viper VP4300 1TB	Viper VP4300 2TB
Pricing	$ 254.99	$ 499.99
Capacity (User / Raw)	1024GB / 1024GB	2048GB / 2048GB
Form Factor	M.2 2280	M.2 2280
Interface / Protocol	PCIe 4.0 x4 / NVMe 1.4	PCIe 4.0 x4 / NVMe 1.4
Controller	InnoGrit IG5236	InnoGrit IG5236
DRAM	DDR4	DDR4
Memory	Micron 96L TLC	Micron 96L TLC
Sequential Read	7,400 MBps	7,400 MBps
Sequential Write	6,800 MBps	6,800 MBps
Random Read	800,000 IOPS	800,000 IOPS
Random Write	800,000 IOPS	800,000 IOPS
Security	AES 256-bit encryption	AES 256-bit encryption
Endurance (TBW)	1,000 TB	2,000 TB
Part Number	VP4300-1TBM28H	VP4300-2TBM28H
Warranty	5-Years	5-Years

Patriot’s Viper VP4300 comes in just two capacities of 1TB and 2TB. Each is rated to deliver speeds of up to 7.4 / 6.8 GBps of sequential read/write throughput and sustain up to 800,000 random read/write IOPS. Priced at $255 for the 1TB model and $500 for the 2TB, the Viper VP4300 launches with high pricing that exceeds both the WD Black SN850 and Samsung 980 Pro.

The Viper VP4300 carries very robust endurance ratings, though. The 1TB model is rated to endure up to 1,000 TB of writes within its five-year warranty period, while the 2TB is rated for up to 2,000 TB. The VP4300 has very little factory overprovisioning, roughly 7% of the SSD’s capacity is dedicated to the task, and it uses InnoGrit’s Proprietary 4K LDPC ECC along with end-to-end data path protection to ensure reliable performance within the lifespan of the product.

A Closer Look

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Patriot’s Viper VP4300 comes in an M.2 2280 double-sided form factor and includes two optional thermal solutions (“heatshield options,” as they refer to them) to choose from. You can either install the slim yet aggressive-looking aluminum heatsink that measures roughly 72 x 22 x 4 mm, or you can use the very thin graphene sticker for installation into tighter spaces, like notebooks.

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Like the Samsung 980 Pro and WD Black SN850, the Viper VP4300 leverages a high-end PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD controller and NAND flash to match. Codenamed Rainer, InnoGrit’s IG5236 is a multi-core NVMe 1.4-compliant SSD controller with a DRAM-based architecture.

Two 8Gb SK hynix DDR4 DRAM chips are present on the PCB, one on each side, that accelerate FTL accesses to ensure responsive performance. The controller is fabbed on TSMC’s 12nm FinFET process and uses multiple consumer-oriented power management techniques to maintain its cool and perform efficiently, too.

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Patriot paired the controller with Crucial’s fast 512Gb 96-Layer TLC flash. The controller interfaces with this flash over eight NAND channels at speeds of up to 1,200 MTps, and there are 32 NAND dies spread among the four NAND packages. The flash has a quad-plane architecture for a high level of parallelism per die, and it’s also quite robust and efficient thanks to the unique application of CuA (circuitry under array) design and tile groups.

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Features and Specifications

Next Page 2TB Performance Results

Biostar Z590 Valkyrie Review: Much Improved, But More to Do

Our Verdict

With an expected price between $400-$450, the Biostar Z590 Valkyrie is up against stiff competition on Intel’s new Rocket Lake platform. But outside of a lack of integrated Wi-Fi and some teething issues, the Valkyrue ticks all the boxes.

For

+ Robust 90A VRMs
+ Two USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 ports
+ Three M.2 sockets

Against

– VRM fans loud under heavy load by default
– Poor memory performance
– Style may be polarizing

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Features and Specifications

With Intel’s new Rocket Lake CPUs and new chipset hitting the scene, Biostar took the opportunity to step up its game developing new motherboards for Z590, including the Valkyrie that we have on the test bench for review. Expected to be an upper-midrange option, it comes with high-end power delivery, three M.2 sockets, along with several fast USB ports and a price tag somewhere between $400 and $450. A company rep told us US pricing still isn’t final yet.

Biostar’s current Z590 product stack isn’t as robust as most other board partners. Currently, it consists of three boards: the flagship Valkyrie we’re looking at here, the Z590I Valkyrie (ITX), and the more familiar and budget-oriented Z590GTA. In addition to these three, the company also has a B560 board, the B560GTQ, and two H5120 based boards in the H510MH/E 2.0 and H510MX/E 2.0. While Biostar doesn’t have as many SKUs as the competition, the company still provides mid-range, budget, and ITX-size options.

On the performance front, the Valkyrie was generally on the slower side of testing, albeit not by much in many tests. Our DDR4 3600 memory kit defaulted to Gear 2, which increases latency and reduces bandwidth. The latest BIOS at the time of this writing (5.19 according to CPUz) added the ability to switch gears. However, I could not quickly get our board to work at Gear 1 running DDR4 3600, as I could with ,ost other Z590 boards. Hopefully, another BIOS update will address the bandwidth/latency shortcomings and allow the board to get close to the expected memory bandwidth.

Early performance aside, Biostar brought a solid board to the table. From its flagship-class VRMs, three M.2 sockets and premium audio (albeit from the last generation), the Valkyrie is a step up from its Z490 offerings. Curiously, a Wi-Fi antenna is included, but the board does not come with Wi-Fi. You’ll need to add a card (up to 6E capability) or stick to Ethernet. There are plenty of USB ports on the rear IO, with six USB 3.2 Gen 2 or greater. We’ll cover all the features the Valkyrie has to offer below. But first, here are the full specifications from Biostar.

Specifications – Biostar Z590 Valkyrie

Socket	LGA 1200
Chipset	Z590
Form Factor	ATX
Voltage Regulator	20+1+1 (90A MOSFETs for Vcore)
Video Ports	(1) HDMI (v2.0)
	(1) DisplayPort (1.4)
USB Ports	(1) USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, Type-C (20 Gbps)
	(5) USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)
	(2) USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
Network Jacks	(1) 2.5 GbE
Audio Jacks	(5) Analog Plus SPDIF
Legacy Ports/Jacks	✗
Other Ports/Jack	✗
PCIe x16	(2) v4.0 x16
	(1) v3.0 x16
	(x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4)
PCIe x8	✗
PCIe x4	✗
PCIe x1	✗
CrossFire/SLI	AMD 2-Way Crossfire
DIMM slots	(4) DDR4 5000+(OC), 128GB Capacity
M.2 slots	(1) PCIe 4.0 x4 / PCIe (up to 110mm)
	(2) PCIe 3.0 x4 / PCIe + SATA (up to 80mm)
U.2 Ports	✗
SATA Ports	(6) SATA3 6 Gbps (RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10)
USB Headers	(1) USB v3.2 Gen 2×2 (Front Panel Type-C)
	(1) USB v3.2 Gen 1
	(2) USB v2.0
Fan/Pump Headers	(5) 4-Pin
RGB Headers	(2) aRGB (3-pin)
	(1) RGB (4-pin)
Legacy Interfaces	✗
Other Interfaces	FP-Audio, TPM
Diagnostics Panel	Yes, 4-LED ‘Status LED’ display, 2-character debug
Internal Button/Switch	LED on/off, LN2 mode, BIOS switch, Start/Reset, Clear CMOS
SATA Controllers	✗
Ethernet Controller(s)	(1) Realtek RTL8125B (2.5 GbE)
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth	✗
USB Controllers	✗
HD Audio Codec	Realtek ALC1220
DDL/DTS Connect	✗ / ✗
Warranty	3 Years

Starting with accessories, Biostar includes what you need to get started and not much else. All that comes in the box along with the motherboard are four SATA cables, a DVD with drivers, a User Manual and Smart Connector.

User’s Manual
Driver DVD
(4) SATA cables
Smart Connector

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In looking at the Z590 Valkyrie for the first time, the jet black PCB and overall styling give off a mid-range vibe with all the shrouds and neatly organized headers across the bottom. The left side of the socket behind the rear IO is covered by a large shroud reaching over the left VRM heatsink. A small heatsink covers the top set of VRMs, along with two tiny fans that actively cool the power bits underneath. Another pair of fans are hidden under the rear IO shroud as well.

The PCIe area is covered in heatsinks/shrouds, with only the three full-length PCIe slots poking through. There is red highlighting in this area that gives way to gold highlights on the chipset heatsink. A second RGB lighting zone illuminates the chipset heatsink and Valkyrie symbol/branding. Overall the motherboard looks good and has a unique color scheme. For the most part, users should have few issues working this board in with their builds, as the red and gold highlights don’t stick out too much. That said, at the expected price, there are more refined boards available.

(Image credit: Biostar)

Focusing on the top half of the board, we get a close-up look at the louvered shroud covering the rear IO and left VRM bank. The right side uses a piece of acrylic that the RGB lighting shines through brightly. Just above are two 8-pin EPS connectors (one required) for the CPU. To the right is the top VRM heatsink. To the right of the heatsink are the first two (of five) four-pin fan headers. CPU_Fan, CPU_OPT and SysFan1/2/3 support both three and four-pin fans. The manual doesn’t mention output, so it’s best to assume each supports 1A/12W.

Continuing right are four unreinforced DRAM slots supporting up to 128 GB of RAM. Biostar lists RAM speed up to DDR4 5000(OC), but as always, your mileage may vary. In our case, this board didn’t like to run our DDR4 3600 memory kit at 1:1 to the memory bus and was using Gear 2. I’m no memory overclocking expert, but if other boards are working 1:1 with DDR4 3600, there are few reasons this one shouldn’t be. We also had trouble running our DDR4 4000 sticks as well. But we’re still early days on this platform, and this board isn’t even available for sale in the US as of this writing, so we’re hopeful an update will improve these compatibility issues.

On the right edge are several items, including all three RGB lighting headers. The Valkyrie comes with two 3-pin ARGB headers and one 4-pin RGB header. Most boards come with four RGB headers (two of each), but I’d imagine few would run into problems with three. Below are three onboard buttons; Power, Reset and Clear CMOS, each backlit with red, orange and blue LEDs, respectively. Next is the 24-pin ATX connector that feeds power to the motherboard. Finally, just below that is the front panel USB 3.2 Gen2x2 header.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

One of the places Biostar upped its game is with power delivery. The Valkyrie sports a 20+1+1 phase (CPU, System Agent, Graphics) VRM designed to run Intel’s flagship CPUs. The two 8-pin connectors feed power to a Renesas ISL69269 multi-phase controller (X+Y=12) through 10 Renesas ISL6617A phase doublers on its way to 20 90A ISL99390B MOSFETs. Some quick math yields 1800A of total power for the CPU. You won’t have any concerns with power delivery when overclocking.

(Image credit: Biostar)

Moving on to the bottom half of the board, we’ll start by looking at the audio section on the left side. Hidden under a plastic shroud is the Realtek ALC1220 codec. While this is a premium audio codec that most find plenty acceptable, it isn’t the latest and greatest (4000 series) that many other Z590 based boards use. Poking through the shroud are four Chemicon brand audio capacitors. We don’t find any fancy opamps or other audio features, but most users should be happy with the sound output by this board.

In the middle of the board, we spot three reinforced full-length PCIe slots mixed in with three M.2 sockets. The top and second slot are both wired to the CPU, yielding a PCIe 4.0 setup on both. The top slot is x16, while the 2nd slot runs at a maximum of x8. When both slots are populated, they run at x8/x8 speeds. Biostar mentions AMD Crossfire support, but not SLI (even though they have the required amount of PCIe lanes). The bottom full-length slot is connected to the chipset with PCIe 3.0 x4 capabilities.

The Biostar Z590 Valkyrie has three M.2 sockets, all of which have heatsinks to help keep the modules underneath running cool. The top socket is CPU-connected, supporting up to PCIe 4.0 x4 drives up to 80mm. The bottom two M.2 sockets support PCIe (3.0 x4) and SATA-based modules up to 110mm. When using a SATA-based M.2 module on the middle socket, SATA_5 is disabled. When using the bottom M.2 socket with a SATA-based M.2 module, SATA_6 is disabled. In short, if you have two SATA-based M.2 modules, that still leaves four SATA ports available and the primary M.2 socket for PCIe-based modules if needed. RAID support for M.2 devices wasn’t listed.

To the right is the chipset heatsink, you’ll see the Valkyrie symbol and additional RGB lighting. On the right edge of the board is a USB 3.2 Gen 1 header, while just below that are the six SATA ports (supports RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10). Finally, just below that is a BIOS switch that swaps between the dual BIOS – an excellent value add for a board equipped for overclocking.

The bottom edge of the motherboard is usually a mess of headers and ports, and while the Valkyrie has those, all headers (that aren’t fans) have plastic around them, which cleans up the look quite a bit. Below is the complete list of headers and switches, in order from left to right.

Front Panel Audio
(3) System Fan headers
Thunderbolt
COM
(2) USB 2.0 headers
Front Panel
2-character debug LED
LN2 switch
TPM SPI header

(Image credit: Biostar)

On the USB front, there are a total of eight ports — enough for most users. One USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C, five USB 3.2 Gen 2, and two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. Just above the two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports is the Realtek 2.5 GbE port. If you plan on using the integrated graphics, you have a choice between HDMI (2.0) and DisplayPort (1.4) connections. There is a combo keyboard/mouse PS/2 port if you’re still hanging on to PS/2 based peripherals as well. Finally, we see a gold-plated 5-plug plus SPDIF audio stack.

Last but certainly not least, the rear IO area. Biostar uses an integrated IO plate that gives the board a more premium look and feel. It’s black, along with the Valkyrie branding written in gold above the Wi-Fi antenna connections. There are also vents cut out designed to bring cool air through the IO plate and through the fans to cool the left VRM bank. Remember that this board does not include Wi-Fi out of the box, so if you just look at the pictures and not dig down in the specifications, you could easily be misled. In order to get Wi-Fi out of this board, you will need to purchase a Key-E Wi-Fi card.

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Bitspower Summit M Silver Metal Version
Top:	Full copper in a nickel-plated finish
Mounting (hold-down) Bracket:	Metal, matte silver finish
Cold Plate:	Nickel-plated copper
CPU Socket Compatibility:	Intel LGA 775, 115x, 1200, 2011(-3), 2066 (Square ILM only); AMD AM4, FM2+, sTR4
Ports:	Two, BSP G1/4″ threaded
Warranty:	One year

Pulsar Xlite
Size:	122.66 mm x 66.17 mm x 42 mm
Size (inches):	4.83″ x 2.6″ x 1.65″
Ambidextrous:	No
Weight:	48 g
Number of Buttons:	5 (including wheel click)
Main Switches:	Omron D2FC-F-7N (20M) (OF) (China)
Wheel Encoder:	Mechanical
Sensor:	PixArt PAW3370
Resolution:	50–20,000 CPI
Polling Rate:	125/250/500/1000 Hz
Cable:	1.80 m, braided
Software:	Yes
Price:	$59.95
Warranty:	2 years

Upholstery	Fabric (tested), faux leather, or leather
Total Height (with base)	51.7 – 55.4 inches
Seat Height	18.7-22.4 inches
Backrest Height	33 inches
Backrest Width (Should Level)	21.7 inches
Seating Area Width (total)	20.5 inches
Seating Area Depth	19.7 inches
Armrest Width	3.9 inches
Armrest Height	26-33 inches
Maximum Weight Supported	290 pounds
Weight	77 pounds
Warranty	3 or 5 years

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