João Silva 2 hours ago Featured Tech News, Graphics
At CES 2021, Nvidia unveiled the RTX 3060 but as Ampere supply continues to struggle to meet demand, Nvidia will apparently be bringing back a couple of Turing-based graphics cards. According to reports this week, the RTX 2060 and 2060 Super are both due for comebacks this year.
According to Overclocking.com, several brands have already received new stock of RTX 2060 and 2060 Super GPUs, confirming their comeback. The timing of this relaunch seems strange considering that their successor should come in a month or so.
Launched back in 2019, both the RTX 2060 and RTX 2060 Super were based on the TU106 GPU, but the latter had 256 more CUDA cores enabled, which resulted in superior performance. The RTX 2060 Super also featured higher clocks and a 256-bit memory bus instead of a 192-bit bus.
Compared to the upcoming RTX 3060, both RTX 2060 GPUs offer less performance. If the RTX 2060 actually re-release, pricing will be a key factor. The RTX 3060 will come with an MSRP of $330, but the report claims that the RTX 2060 will come slightly above the €300 mark, while the RTX 2060 Super should come just above €400.
Although no official reason has been given for this, but the main theory going around is that this will be used to combat low supply for RTX 3060 at launch, in addition to higher AiB pricing.
KitGuru says: Do you think Nvidia is restocking the RTX 2060 and 2060 Super due to the lack of stock of the RTX 3060? Would you buy the older RTX 2060 and 2060 Super now instead of waiting for stock of the RTX 3060?
Become a Patron!
Check Also
Palit RTX 3090 GameRock OC Review
We’ve never seen a card quite like it – but is the beauty only skin deep?
A streaming client often significantly expands the functionality of a television. But not everyone may support your favorite service.
The right streaming client for video, television, music and games Classic television, music and games Older televisions are also compatible Movies, series, television Music Play Conclusion Test table Do you want your TV over ya re using it, sooner or later there is hardly a way around a streaming client. After the market launch, the manufacturers hardly change anything in terms of the range of functions or the software offering – at best, the current model year and its predecessors receive smaller updates and new services here and there. We show which client is the optimal choice for which streaming service and in which cases existing devices make buying new ones superfluous.
This applies, for example, to consoles that are compared in the form of Microsoft Xbox Series S and X as well as the Sony Playstation 5 are considered. Because they also offer apps for some services and thus compete with classic clients. There are also four streaming clients in stick format: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Stick Lite, Google Chromecast with Google TV (hereinafter referred to as Chromecast) and the MagentaTV Stick from Deutsche Telekom. With the Apple TV 4K, the Amazon Fire TV Cube and the Nvidia Shield TV, three clients rely on a box or box-like design. Since it is unclear how long Microsoft and Sony will support the previous generation of consoles, we have not included you in this comparison. The Amazon Fire TV Stick (without addition) is missing, as it corresponds to the Lite model in terms of performance and limitations. The statements made for Nvidia’s Shield TV also apply to the Pro version.
Classic television, music and games In addition to video-on-demand services (VoD), we also consider live TV -Streaming and other types of entertainment: streaming music and gaming. In addition to the installation of games, the latter also includes corresponding cloud gaming services and the flat-rate offers from Deutsche Telekom (MagentaGaming) as well as from Microsoft (Xbox Game Pass) and Sony (Playstation Now).
Access to all contents of heise + exclusive tests, advice & background: independent, critically sound c’t, iX, Technology Review, Mac & i, Make, c’t read photography directly in the browser register once – read on all devices – can be canceled monthly first month free, then monthly 9, 95 € Weekly newsletter with personal reading recommendations from the editor-in-chief Start FREE month Start your FREE month now heise + already subscribed?
Sign in and read Register now and read the article immediately More information about heise + The right streaming client for video, television, music and games Classic TV, music and games Older televisions are also compatible Movies, series, television Music Play Conclusion Test table
IT security: Instructions for the Emotet self-test Modified risk analysis Stake out the analysis area How the malware works An interim balance sheet Shared responsibilities – specific questions Result interpretation and conclusion Article in iX 2 / 2021 read Understanding why action is necessary is elementary when it comes to the Implementation of holistic IT security is possible. Knowing why your own organization is prone to Emotet infestation or not makes the security level more measurable and promotes understanding and acceptance of the resulting measures.
Emotet is current, relevant and dangerous. This not only shows the long history that this malware has since 2014 , but that is also proven by the many cases in the recent past – the Berlin Chamber of Commerce (September ), the University of Gießen and the city administrations of Frankfurt am Main and Bad Homburg (December 2019), various hospitals 2020 – and last but not least Heise in May 2019. The goals are varied and it is not uncommon for a complete breakdown of the IT infrastructure for days or weeks to occur.
Modified risk analysis Everything is at stake quickly if critical warning signals are ignored. Therefore, IT management, security and operations should jointly ask the following question: How susceptible is our organization to an Emotet infestation and which specific measures should we take to limit the potential for damage appropriately?
Access to all contents of heise + exclusive tests, advice & background: independent , critically founded c’t, iX, Technology Review, Mac & i, Make, c’t read photography directly in the browser register once – read on all devices – can be canceled monthly first month free, then monthly 9 , 95 € Weekly newsletter with personal reading recommendations from the editor-in-chief Start FREE month Start your FREE month now heise + already subscribed?
Sign in and read Register now and read the article immediately More information about heise +
Ghost-CMS: Install a slim WordPress alternative on a Raspi Markdowns in Ghost Installation on the Raspberry Pi Node.js instead of PHP Ghost in action It is easy to create your own website – WordPress is usually used as the content management system (CMS) for this. It is considered a generalist and with numerous themes and add-ons it is suitable for most website projects.
Ghost opposes it as a slim CMS that is especially optimized for speed. Here, too, there are extensions, but not to the same extent as in the competitor. This also corresponds to the basic design idea of Ghost, which is very minimalistic, especially when writing posts. When writing, the author should concentrate on the essentials, the text.
The standard Ghost theme is very simple.
This is directed Ghost especially for writers who are used to workflows with markdowns (special characters that are inserted around the text to be formatted) and who can cope with the minimalist approach. Experienced writers can create completely formatted texts in a short time without even removing their fingers from the keyboard – you get into a writing flow and can also write longer texts particularly quickly. We show how to install Ghost on the Raspberry Pi.
Access to all contents of heise + exclusive tests, advice & background: independent , critically founded c’t, iX, Technology Review, Mac & i, Make, c’t read photography directly in the browser register once – read on all devices – can be canceled monthly first month free, then monthly 9 , 95 € Weekly newsletter with personal reading recommendations from the editor-in-chief Start FREE month Now for FREE -Month start heise + already subscribed?
Sign in and read Register now and read the article immediately More information about heise +
A first for Raspberry Pi, the Pico microcontroller provides an affordable and simple way to control lights, motors, sensors and other electronic components.
For
Low cost
Small size
Ease of use
Built-in ADC
Against
C workflow is tricky
No built-in wireless
No 5V output
Raspberry Pi has a history of disrupting the status quo. In 2012, the first $35 Raspberry Pi offered a low cost entry into a market of single-board computers that was dominated by boards costing in excess of $100+. The Raspberry Pi Pico, the latest board in the range, disrupts a different part of the electronics market, taking on microcontroller boards like Arduino.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Available for an MSRP of just $4, the Pico is powered by Raspberry Pi’s own custom silicon, the RP2040 SoC, which features an Arm Cortex M0+ processor running at up to 133 Hz, with 264K of SRAM and 2MB of onboard storage. A great choice for robots, weather stations or other electronics projects, the board doesn’t run a full operating system, but instead launches programs you write in either MicroPython or C on a host computer (that could be a PC, a Mac or a regular Pi) and upload to it.
Perhaps even more important than the Pico itself is Raspberry Pi Foundation’s first foray into making its own silicon. We wanted to learn more about the RP2040 so we asked James Adams, Chief Operating Officer at Raspberry Pi Trading to tell us how “Pi Silicon” was created.
“We couldn’t see a way to offer something differentiated in the microcontroller space using existing third-party silicon, so we set out to build our own,” Adams said. “The RP2040 chip has been a long time in the making – we started initial work at the back end of 2016, we had some test silicon in our hands in September 2018 which we then reworked into the final device we use on the Raspberry Pi Pico board. The device has evolved substantially since those early days. We learned a lot from our first test silicon and I think, although it has taken a while, what we’ve ended up with is very exciting (in terms the architecture and performance per $) – it’s a superb bit of engineering. The RP2040 chips are fabricated at TSMC on their 40nm process.”
Adams outlined some of the advantages of the custom silicon.
“We are offering some really unique features with the RP2040 chip – a dual core device (I’m not aware of other dual core microcontrollers at this price point) coupled to a high-performance bus matrix, meaning you can get full performance on both cores concurrently, and plenty of high-bandwidth RAM,” he said. As well as the usual fixed peripherals (UARTs, I2C, SPI etc.) we also have a special bit of hardware called the PIO (Programmable I/O) unit, which is basically a very small, specialised, programmable state machine that can do high-speed, cycle accurate “bit banging” of I/O – this block can be used to offload many kinds of timing-critical pin-waggling tasks from the CPU(s) – we’ve had it emulating interfaces such as SD card, VGA and driving WS2812B LEDs. We’ve also added other goodies like optimised floating-point libraries to the boot ROM, and a USB core which can be used in either master or slave mode.”
Could the Raspberry Pi Pico be the start of a new range of boards based upon the RP2040? Adams said the Foundation is waiting to see how things go with the first board.
Raspberry Pi Pico Hardware Specifications
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
System on Chip
RP2040 microcontroller chip designed by Raspberry Pi in the United Kingdom. Dual-core Arm Cortex M0+ processor, flexible clock running up to 133 MHz. 264KB of SRAM, and 2MB of on-board Flash memory
On paper the Raspberry Pi Pico is not even a rival for the Raspberry Pi Zero, which itself costs only $5, , but the key difference between the two is that the Pico is not a Linux computer, rather it is a microcontroller like Arduino and is better for many projects. It could even work in conjunction with a regular Pi. Just like the larger Raspberry Pis and newer Arduino boards, the Pico uses a 3.3V GPIO. This could be seen as a con, but many components can be used with 3V and 5V voltages, and those designed for 5V can still be used with 3V via a voltage divider or a logic level converter board.
The Raspberry Pi Pico is an efficient board for embedded projects. Compared to a typical Raspberry Pi, the Pico consumes much less current, granted it is a microcontroller with none of the overheads that a computer brings. In our test we powered a Raspberry Pi Pico running 12 Neopixel LEDS at full brightness from a 5V power supply. We recorded 140mA current draw, 0.7W! This is remarkable, a Raspberry Pi 4 running idle with nothing connected would run at 4-5W. So compared to Raspberry Pi, the Pico sips power!
Talking of power, we can power the Raspberry Pi Pico via the micro USB port, or we can use the VSYS GPIO pin to provide power between a range of 1.8V to 5.5V. There is no battery charging available via the Pico, so an external circuit would need to be used, page 18 of the Raspberry Pi Pico Datasheet goes into great detail on how to achieve this.
Design of the Raspberry Pi Pico
Image 1 of 4
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 2 of 4
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 3 of 4
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 4 of 4
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
What strikes us at first glance is that the Raspberry Pi Pico resembles a newer Arduino microcontroller, an Adafruit Feather or a Teensy board. The Pico is not your typical Raspberry Pi as it eschews from the design and user experience of a typical Pi. It looks and behaves like a typical microcontroller. Measuring 2 x 0.8 inches (51 x 21mm) the Raspberry Pi Pico is smaller than the Raspberry Pi Zero.
Image 1 of 4
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 2 of 4
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 3 of 4
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Image 4 of 4
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Designed for use with breadboards and surface mount carrier boards, the 40 pins of the Raspberry Pi Pico come unsoldered and so for use we need to break out the soldering iron. We can solder our own header pins to the Pico, or if we intend to embed the Pico into a project we can choose to solder the casellations to pads on the carrier board.
Using the Raspberry Pi Pico with a breadboard requires a half size or larger breadboard, so those mini breadboards are not much use.
James Adams tells us more about the Raspberry Pi Pico design. “The Pico has been designed to be as small and low cost as possible while still being very flexible and friendly to beginners. The board is the same length and one 0.1” pitch wider than a standard 40 pin DIP (Dual Inline Package), and we see it as a component in itself (as it can be soldered down as an SMT module using the castellated edge pads), as well as a development board.
Could the Pico bring about its own add on standard, in a similar vein to the Raspberry Pi HAT or Arduino Shield standards? It seems likely that the Pico is most likely to be integrated into carrier boards,one of which is already in use internally at Raspberry Pi and others are currently in development with third parties, these carrier boards would provide extra functionality dependant on their intended use.
Using the Raspberry Pi Pico
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
With no USB ports, HDMI or other ports to speak of, the Raspberry Pi Pico needs a computer in order to be useful. The Raspberry Pi Pico is platform agnostic and it will work with Windows, Mac and Linux machines. In our tests we used Windows 10 and followed the official documentation to get started.
The documentation is split into two languages, C and MicroPython. We first tested MicroPython, a version of Python 3 developed by Damien George for microcontrollers.As we explain in our detailed tutorial how to up a Raspberry Pi Co, iInstallation of MicroPython requires a UF2 file to be copied to the Pico. By pressing the BOOTSEL button as we insert the micro USB cable to the computer we see a drive pop up. After copying the file we can then access the Raspberry Pi Pico as a serial device which provides access to the Python Shell.
To write code and save files to the Pico we needed an editor and for the official choice for beginners is Thonny. Installation was a breeze and we were soon writing code to flash an LED and react to input from a PIR sensor.
Two features that are new to the Raspberry Pi world are Programmable IO (PIO) and analog inputs. PIO is a versatile hardware interface that can be used to create interfaces such as I2C, SPI, I2S and even VGA / DPI if you are feeling adventurous and know your electronics.
We tested a number of the official examples including a PIO project to control a chain of Neopixels which saw us create a decorator and function which was used to communicate with WS2812 “Neopixels” to create an animation sequence. The creation of the decorator and function requires the knowledge of how Neopixels work, and if we are going to use PIO then we would ultimately need to understand how our intended configuration would work. PIO can be as easy or as difficult as we require, but the Neopixel example illustrated the concept quite well and it was easy to wire up our test project. There are three analog inputs, which share the same GPIO pins as digital pins but using the ADC class from the machine library we can configure them to read the voltage of those pins. Analog inputs are useful for certain types of electronics such as potentiometers, joysticks and temperature sensors.
So how is C on the Raspberry Pi Pico? Well the best way to describe right now is “tricky”. Following the official user guide, we jumped through a number of hoops to install the applications, libraries and fixes in order to flash an LED and to send text to the serial console.
While this worked and we were pleased with the results, it required much more time to reach this stage, something that we fear may put some off. To use C we need to go hands on at the command line, or use Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code. Both of these approaches have their pros and cons, but our top tip is to read chapter six of the Getting started with Raspberry Pi Pico and follow the steps to the letter. If not, then you will waste a lot of time. We’ll revisit the C workflow once the board is officially released when we hope the process is refined and simplified.
Adams said that MicroPython is the “preferred” language, but pointed out that C is the language for low-level embedded chips. He also noted that one could use the Arm assembler.
Use Cases for the Raspberry Pi Pico
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The Raspberry Pi Pico is made to be embedded into a project. The price, size and design of this board lend make it a viable Arduino alternative . Robots, Neopixel powered light displays and learning electronics are all made possible with the Pico.
While a full-fledged Raspberry Pi like the Zero is more powerful, there are many reasons why you’d want the Pico for certain projects. It boots quickly and doesn’t require a safe shutdown when powering off so you can just turn it on and go. It uses considerably less power than a Raspberry Pi and it has on-board analog-to-digital conversion, something all other Pis lack.
Where the Pico falls short is wireless connectivity. There is a complete lack of WiFi / Bluetooth with the Pico and this limits what can be achieved. Sure we can add wireless connectivity via an external component, but that would require a little more knowledge to get working. The ESP32 and ESP8266 run at a similar price point and they feature WiFi, so if we really need WiFi, perhaps they are still the boards to look to, for now.
Bottom Line
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The Raspberry Pi Pico is an interesting piece of kit. It is more Arduino than Raspberry Pi and so the lines are a little blurry. If you need a Raspberry Pi in a small space with Wi-Fi / Bluetooth, buy a Raspberry Pi Zero W. If you want to embed a control board into a project and have it work quickly and reliably then the Pico is for you.
For an official and well supported entry into Arm Cortex M0+ boards, the Raspberry Pi Pico is hard to beat.
If you want a Metroid Lego set, you have the power to bring the idea closer to reality. User L-DI-EGO has submitted a design on Lego’s Ideas website that brings the block treatment to Samus and her gunship, but the site requires votes to get this concept in front of Lego itself (via Nintendo Life).
Lego Ideas is an official site for users to submit their concepts and designs for the Lego company to consider, and where Lego fans can vote for their favorites. If a submission gets 10,000 votes, the Lego Group may turn it into a real product. Right now the Metroid concept has around 5,700 votes, so it’s just over halfway. If you like the concept, you can go to the website to put your thumb on the scale.
Image: L-DI-EGO on Lego Ideas
Image: L-DI-EGO on Lego Ideas
It’s worth noting, however, that many of the submissions that do get 10,000 votes don’t actually end up hitting store shelves. The program has been running since 2008, and only 33 sets have made it to production so far. Lego only guarantees that it’ll look at the idea, but usually fans will end up waiting to hear back from the company only to get a rejection.
That isn’t to say it’s impossible. Lego has a page listing some of the Ideas that you can buy today. The list includes the truly awesome 1969-piece Saturn V rocket, and we’ve written about a Doctor Who set that started out as an Idea. Space ideas really seem to speak to Lego, as nearly a quarter of the sets produced (if you count WALL-E and Doctor Who) have been space-themed. This includes a Women of NASA kit and a recreation of the International Space Station. Maybe that’s a good sign, since Metroid is set in space?
You wouldn’t see anything like this on Earth.Image: L-DI-EGO on Lego Ideas
What would the official version of this look like? Still cool, I bet.Image: L-DI-EGO on Lego Ideas
Despite the space examples, the program doesn’t operate at warp speed. It can often take over a year from an idea getting reviewed to it being something you can buy: that Doctor Who kit got to 10,000 votes on April 7, 2014, and hit store shelves in December of 2015.
And even if the Metroid idea does end up being produced by Lego, there are no promises it’ll look the same as it does now. Lego will often make changes to the Ideas designs. You can see this by comparing the Back to the Future set from 2011. On the top is the Ideas version, and on the bottom is the retail packaging.
Image by m.togami on Lego Ideas
The hoverboard and Doc’s fit are clear downgrades.Image: Lego
While Lego deciding to make this Metroid set may be unlikely, it already has a relationship with Nintendo from the work the companies have done on a couple of Super Mario sets and a version of the NES that’s just as endearingly blocky as the system’s graphics.
If Metroid isn’t your preferred Nintendo franchise, there’s an Animal Crossing set that’s just under the 10,000 vote line. It’s got over 9,000 votes, so it just needs a small push to make it to Lego’s desk. And, if you want to spend an evening dreaming about Lego sets that aren’t likely to ever come out, I suggest you take a look at the Ideas sets that are currently pending review — there’s some great ones in there, including Tom Nook’s infamous shop.
You can design your island however you want in this set inspired by a game where you design your island however you want.TiagoCatarino on Lego Ideas
Nvidia’s Turing architecture isn’t throwing in the towel just yet, according to a new report from French hardware site
Overclocking.com
. According to the site’s unnamed sources, Nvidia is currently prepping its OEMs to re-release the RTX 2060 and RTX 2060 Super lines of GPUs. This comes about a month ahead of the regular GeForce RTX 3060 release (the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is already out), and points to either new budget GPU options or serious Ampere stock problems going forward.
“Manufacturers have received a stock of GPUs from Nvidia in order to re-manufacture RTX 2060 cards,” Overclocking.com writes (via Google Translate). “The GPUs delivered by Nvidia would make it possible to produce the 2060 and 2060S.”
In our review for the RTX 3060 Ti, we said that it beats the RTX 2080 Super while coming in at a much more approachable $399 price point. But that still leaves the $200 graphics card space uncontested, with the base RTX 3060 set to release for $329. We’d love to see a new RTX 2060 release for about $250, but with Ampere supply and demand still out of sync, we’re hard-pressed to see that happening.
For instance, Nvidia’s own CFO Collette Kress admitted at last week’s 19th Annual J.P. Morgan Tech/Auto Forum Conference that “[RTX 30-series] supply does remain tight at this time” and will continue to not hit demand until at least May.
Which means that, rather than being new budget GPU options, the RTX 2060 and 2060 Super re-releases might simply be meant to hold the line until new Ampere stock comes in. In this case, we can’t give a definitive comment on pricing. But given that the RTX 2060 originally launched for $350 and the 2060 Super for $399, it would be very awkward for Nvidia to sell them again at those prices alongside the RTX 3060 and RTX 3060 Ti models. We might not see a $250 2060 yet, but with aftermarket prices currently hitting $285, it’s possible we’ll see these new cards target similar prices instead.
Another possibility is that these new OEM RTX 2060 shipments aren’t meant for gamers but rather crypto miners. It’s unlikely, given how much more efficient the RTX 30-series is for mining — AMD was the more popular choice among miners during Turing’s lifespan — but late 2020 EEC registrations from MSI do point to potential RTX 2060 and RTX 2060 Super mining-focused cards.
At this point, a Turing re-release is still just a rumor, and we don’t yet know if other Turing cards will join their siblings or if this will be restricted to just RTX 2060 models. But as exciting as it is to see old tech continue to prove useful, it also raises concerns about Ampere to see it continuing to receive support after being made obsolete.
Last year, AMD released the Ryzen 5000 series desktop processors in one of the most monumental hardware launches of the modern era. This final step completed the Red brand’s ascent back into the forefront of the desktop processor market that began with the launch of the first generation of Ryzen CPUs.
With the Ryzen 3000 launch came the AMD X570 chipset. Featuring PCIe 4.0 support, X570 was an impressive leap from generations past. It was also hot, which had motherboards often include chipset cooling fans. With Ryzen 5000 around the corner, as well as AMD’s RDNA2 GPU launch, there is more interest than ever in Team Red.
The TUF Gaming Alliance is a collaboration spearheaded by ASUS to produce a family of hardware with a common visual theme and exceptional quality and durability. The TUF Gaming aesthetic is typified with neutral blacks and grays with yellow accents for flavor, offering peace of mind to those looking for compatibility and stability along with a perfectly matched theme. ASUS TUF Gaming motherboards focus on balancing a rich feature set with a reasonable price tag.
The ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Pro (WiFi) has been outfitted with sixteen high-end power stages from Vishay Semiconductor, along with a formidable VRM heatsink to deliver cool and reliable performance even on the latest and greatest Ryzen 9 CPUs. Alongside the VRM, the ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Pro (WiFi) features 2.5 Gb/s LAN and a solid compliment of storage options including eight SATA ports. With a storied reputation to live up to, let’s see if the ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Pro (WiFi) is tough enough!
Specifications
Specifications
CPU Support:
AMD Ryzen™ 5000/3000/2000 Series desktop processors
8x SATA 6 Gb/s port 2x M.2 port (SATA3/PCIe 4.0 x4)
Networking:
1x Intel I225-V 2.5 Gb Intel WiFi 6 AX200
Rear Ports:
1x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port 1x DisplayPort 1x HDMI 1x LAN (RJ45) port 1x Optical S/PDIF out 5x Audio jacks 1x BIOS FlashBack™ Button 1x ASUS Wi-Fi Module 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gbps) ports 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (up to 10Gbps) ports
Audio:
Realtek ALC S1200A
Fan Headers:
6x 4-pin
Form Factor:
ATX Form Factor: 12.0 x 9.6 in.; 30.5 x 24.4 cm
Exclusive Features:
5-Way Optimization tuning: TPU Insight, EPU Guidance, DIGI+ VRM, Fan Expert 4, and Turbo App
Beginning Power Delivery Cable Charger Qi charger Conclusion Comments by Matthias / / 20. 01. 2021 18: 07 Clock
If you want to charge your iPhone and iPad quickly, you need the right combination of power adapter and cable. We show good and cheap alternatives to expensive Apple accessories.
Whoever one of the iPhone – 12 – models, must also invest in a power supply or use an old one. For the first time Apple does not include a charger, allegedly for environmental reasons. However, many suspect that Apple is simply interested in maximizing profits. In order to achieve the maximum loading speed, there are a few points to consider. There are also alternatives to the original Apple accessories, which are technically very good, more compact and even cheaper.
By “fast charging” Apple understands that, for example, an empty iPhone battery in 30 minutes on 50% is charged. To switch to fast charge mode, the iPhone needs – 12 – Row a power supply unit with at least 20 Watt. Older iPhones from iPhone 8 onwards require a power supply unit with at least 18 Watt. The following iPad models charge with a charger with at least 18 Watt fast:
iPad Pro 12, 9 ″ (1st generation and newer) iPad Pro 11″(1. Generation and newer) iPad Pro (10, 5 ″) iPad Air (3rd generation) iPad mini (5th generation) 20 Watts may be a lot in the Apple cosmos. Users of some Android devices can only smile mildly here. For example, from 500 euros available Oppo Reno 4 Pro (review), Oppo Find X2 Pro (review) and Realme X 50 Pro 5G (test report) with up to 65 Watt.
Power Delivery Buyers should definitely pay attention to the free charging standard Power Delivery with their new charger. It is absolutely necessary for Apple devices to switch to fast charging mode. But not only iOS, but also many Android devices support the Power Delivery fast charging standard. Apple itself refers to the fast charging standard simply as “fast charging for iPhone”. Manufacturers of devices with Android operating systems often use the term USB-PD.
Still It gets more complicated with the names of the charger manufacturers. For example, Anker writes about its current PowerIQ 3.0 power supplies. They support the fast charging protocols from Power Delivery, Qualcomm and a few more.
With USB -PD negotiate the power supply unit and the end device the combination of voltage and current. The power pack usually offers various combinations from which the end device picks the right one. This is done via the Control Channel (CC) of the USB-C connector. This is another reason why it is important to choose the right cable. If the chip in the cable does not work correctly, it transmits a maximum of three amps.
USB Power Delivery 3.0 is the first standard, Qualcomms Quick Charge and Apple Lightning can replace. With USB-PD 3.0, the previous power profiles with the fixed assignment of voltage and maximum current are being replaced by flexible power rules. The higher the nominal power, the more combinations are possible.
Whoever is lower wants to get into the matter, we recommend the article on USB-PD: USB Power Delivery.
The correct cable Another requirement for fast charging on the iPhone and iPad is a USB-C to Lightning cable. If you use the cable supplied by Apple, there should be no problems with the energy transfer. However, if you buy a cable, you have to be careful. Because, as we already did in our USB-C cable purchase advice: Not everyone can determine everything, there can be large differences between what are apparently the same. To be on the safe side, we recommend that you have an MFi certification. This is always on ” Made for iPhone / iPad / iPod” – or ” Made for iPhone ” – Imprint on the packaging recognizable.
A problem that apparently mainly Apple users have: The cables break in heavily used areas, for example directly behind the Lightning or USB-C connector, and then no longer work reliably. That is with a cable, which individually already by the 20 euros, especially annoying. We recommend using other brands, especially when it comes to cables. We have had good experiences with anchors in the past. For a long time this has been Anker Powerline II USB-C to Lightning cable in use with us and shows hardly any signs of use.
The Anker Powerline III Flow has a very soft coating and hardly gets tangled. Anker advertises that it is particularly stable. But also with Spigen , Ugreen and Amazon Basic there were few problems in the past.
Charger The original power supply from Apple with a performance of 20 Watt costs about 20 Euro. This is an extremely reasonable price for Apple. Nevertheless, it is worth thinking outside the box. For example, the Anker Powerport III Nano also 20 Euro, sometimes only 17 Euro. It offers 20 Watt with Power Delivery, but also supports other fast charging standards for fast charging of other compatible end devices. It is also significantly more compact than the original Apple charger.
Another corner cheaper and even more powerful is the charger Spigen Steadyboost 27 W PD . However, it is a bit bigger. 27 costs Euro the PD power supply from Aukey and offers two USB-C ports with a total of 30 Watt.
Qi charger Starting with the iPhone 8, Apple smartphones also charge wirelessly using the Qi charging standard. Apple even specifies a maximum charging current of 7.5 watts. As our comparison test: The best Qi chargers shows, with some Qi chargers even a little more is possible. Also the current iPhone – 12 – series supports Qi up to 7.5 watts. However, this also offers the option of connecting the in-house Magsafe adapter. It holds magnetically on the back and then offers a charging current of up to 15 watts, as Apple clarifies. But not the iPhone 12 Mini, that only works 12 Watt. The Magsafe must also be connected to a Power Delivery capable power supply unit with at best 20 watts hang in order to be able to transmit its full power. Who wants the fast wireless charging on the iPhone 11, you currently have to use the original Apple accessories. There are currently no real alternatives from third-party manufacturers. Alternatively, we recommend our large comparison test: The best Qi chargers.
Conclusion If you want to charge your iPhone or iPad quickly, you have to with exception of the wireless Magsafe adapter do not necessarily have to use expensive Apple accessories. Sometimes the third-party power supply and cable are not only cheaper, but also better. We recommend the very compact yet fast power supply Anker Powerport III Nano in combination with the durable and chic Anker Powerline III Flex .
Who is currently buying an iPhone 12 we recommend our posts iPhone 12: This is how quickly the new models become cheaper and cheaper than the iPhone 12: Contract vs financing vs purchase.
Permalink: https://techstage.de/-5031061
Tags
Apple iOS iPad iPhone Charging AC adapter Smartphone Tablet
A big thank you to ASRock for providing the review sample and Kingston for providing the system memory and SSD.
ASRock has become a significant provider of motherboards and graphics cards since its formation in 2002. The company has stuck to their 3C design concept of “Creativity, Consideration, Cost-effectiveness,” which has taken them from humble beginnings to enthusiast favorite. Over time, their product portfolio has also expanded from simple motherboards to high-end offerings, alongside graphics cards, routers, components, mini-PCs, and industrial systems.
Today, I look at the ASRock NUC BOX-1165G7 barebones system with an Intel i7-1165G7 at its core. The processor is an Intel 10 nm 4-core, 8-thread Tiger Lake offering with the company’s Iris Xe Graphics, which has 96 execution units. Overall, the CPU has a maximum turbo frequency of 4.7 GHz with a base clock of 2.8 GHz. Meanwhile, it can support up to 64 GB of DDR4-3200. To test the system, Kingston provided both 16 GB (2x 8 GB) and 32 GB (2x 16 GB) kits of DDR4 3200 MHz memory, which retail for $80 and $160 respectively as I am writing this, along with a 500 GB KC2500 M.2 NVMe SSD, which retails for $107. To be thorough, I have tested both sets of memory to see if going big has any tangible benefits.
Solar modules and wind parks can now be found on roofs and meadows across the country. The alarm calls sound correspondingly loud every time the federal government changes the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). One of the biggest points of contention this time around is the future of solar and wind power pioneers. The wind industry sees the effects of the corona pandemic endanger the continued operation of wind farms that are no longer subsidized because the demand for electricity and thus prices on the stock exchange have collapsed. For 18000 photovoltaic systems also end at the turn of the year the payments made in the first EEG from the year 2000 have been decided. Consumer advocates warn that some old modules are now becoming unprofitable because the Ministry of Economic Affairs wants to oblige even simple row house owners to install expensive measurement technology.
Future of private solar energy At the end of September the cabinet passed its draft of the new EEG. It illustrates the concern of the Ministry of Economic Affairs: the fear of uncontrolled feeding. The background lies in the rules of the electricity market. For every kilowatt hour that flows into or out of the grid, the so-called balancing group managers have to find a balance every quarter of an hour – otherwise the grid could collapse.
So far, electricity traders and grid operators have done this job. When the subsidy expires, the commercial acceptance of renewable electricity and thus the allocation to a balancing group ends. Because self-consumption is not recorded by measurement technology, the balancers estimate the amount of electricity of all private customers. However, you cannot predict when households will use how much of their own weather-dependent electricity for washing or vacuuming. So they supply these customers with electricity even when the sun is shining and the solar system owner actually has enough. This has three disadvantageous effects: Too much electricity in the grid endangers grid stability. The CO2 emissions increase because the additional electricity supplied comes to a large extent from fossil energy sources. And the costs also increase unnecessarily.
Access to all contents of heise + exclusive tests, advice & background: independent, critically sound c’t, iX, Technology Review, Mac & i, Make, c’t Read photography directly in the browser register once – on all devices read – can be canceled monthly first month free, then monthly 9 , 95 € Weekly newsletter with personal reading recommendations from the editor-in-chief Start FREE month Start the FREE month now heise + already subscribed?
Register and read Register now and read the article immediately More information about heise +
(Pocket-lint) – Panasonic has announced its first new TV for 2021 – the Panasonic JZ2000 OLED TV.
However, it won’t be available until early summer, so you might want to snap up a bargain on 2020’s models instead. They are still available and often at a discount.
Here then are the Panasonic TV highlights for 2021, including some of the excellent sets already available through numerous retailers.
One thing to note on model numbering if you’re browsing Panasonic TVs: J equals 2021, H equals 2020, G equals 2019 and so on – something to watch out for when you come to buy. Also, model numbers can change depending on region, the TV tends to be the same but the number might be slightly different, so that’s also something to take into account.
The flagship OLED TV for 2021 was announced during the all-digital CES 2021, so we haven’t managed to get our hands on one yet.
However, it is confirmed to come with the same top-end Master HDR OLED Professional Edition panel as 2020’s HZ2000 (below), yet with HDR10+ Adaptive added for good measure.
Like Dolby Vision IQ, this is a HDR technology that not only changes the colour signature depending on each scene, it takes into account your ambient lighting to present colours and contrast in exactly the format the director intended.
The JZ2000 also embraces gaming with more vigour than ever before, with 4K 120Hz support over HDMI 2.1 and variable refresh rate (VRR) technology on board.
Until the JZ2000 becomes available this summer, the HZ2000 is the flagship OLED TV in Panasonic’s range.
Like the latest model, the 2020 stunner supports Filmmaker Mode to present movies as their directors intended, and Dolby Vision IQ, which adjusts the HDR picture settings automatically, depending on the viewing conditions.
The set is also built around Panasonic’s Master HDR OLED Professional Edition panel. That effectively means it is capable of high peak brightness, while retaining the deep black levels OLED tech is well known for.
Audio also gets a big boost at this end of the range, with 360-degree Soundscape Pro surround built into the set itself. This includes five speaker units with two upfiring speakers at the top to give you the extra height channels for Dolby Atmos soundtracks.
One step down from the HZ2000 and you still get highly impressive specs in this 2020 set, including Filmmaker Mode, Dolby Vision IQ and the proprietary HCX Pro Intelligent processor.
The panel is slightly different – the Master HDR OLED rather than Pro Edition – and the audio is a little less bombastic. However, you still get upward firing speakers built into the top of the TV for Dolby Atmos height channels, plus front-firing speakers and a central subwoofer at viewer height for some incredible, immersive sound.
In all other respects, this is as near to the flagship model as you like. With Alexa and Google Assistant support thrown in for good measure.
Panasonic HZ1500 4K OLED TV review: Serious about sound
The HZ1000 retains the Master HDR OLED panel of the HZ1500 but drops the audio to a regular sound system.
You still get the Filmmaker Mode with a dedicated button on the remote that will put your screen into industry-selected picture settings that best suit movie content, while Dolby Vision IQ choose the best images depending on the ambience and light in your viewing room.
The base also features a swivel design, so you can move it to be face-on to multiple viewing positions. But, as its OLED it’ll also have super wide viewing angles anyway.
Panasonic LED TVs
Pocket-lint
Panasonic HX940
Available now
Screen sizes: 75in, 65in, 43in
LED, 3840 x 2160 pixels, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos
squirrel_widget_307141
The current top-end LED TV in Panasonic’s lineup is the HX940 – at least until the J-series sets are announced later this year. It comes with a 100Hz panel and HCX Pro Intelligent processing.
In addition, it supports both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, plus HLG for TV broadcasts in HDR when available, and can pass through Dolby Atmos when connected to a capable sound system.
The HX940 comes with Local Dimming Pro Intelligent tech that allows for better black levels in dark scenes, thanks to multi-zoned control over the backlight. While the Home Screen 5.0 smart TV platform gives you all the latest streaming apps and customisation options for you to put the ones you use the most front and centre.
Panasonic HX940 4K TV review: Elevated imagery
Pocket-lint
Panasonic HX800/820
Available now
Screen sizes: 65in, 58in, 50in, 40in
LED, 3840 x 2160 pixels, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos
squirrel_widget_273368
The Panasonic HX820 and HX800 are effectively the same LED TV, except the 820 is available exclusively through John Lewis in the UK. You might find it has a different stand or bezel colour.
It drops the picture processor down to the HCX (not Pro) but you won’t notice much in practice, we feel. You also get the HDR Bright Panel Plus technology and Local Dimming technologies from Panasonic, rather than advanced versions found in the 940.
4K HDR standards are all still supported at this level, with HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG Photo – which was introduced with the 2019 range below.
Dolby Atmos is also supported, although you will need a decent, compatible sound system to get the most from it.
Panasonic HX800 4K TV review: Hitting that cinematic sweet spot
Best Beats wireless headphones Buying Guide: welcome to What Hi-Fi?’s round-up of the best Beats wireless headphones you can buy in 2021.
Beats had already established itself as the headphone make of choice for youngsters, athletes and hip-hop artists alike, but since it was bought by Apple in 2014 the brand’s profile has gone stratospheric.
Beats has a reputation of putting bass before quality, and although we felt this was the case with a few of its earlier models, there are now some excellent Beats wireless headphones around.
We’ve rounded up the best Beat wireless headphones we’ve tested, from in-ears to on-ears, including a true wireless option. Hopefully, there’ll be a pair of Beats wireless headphones sate your audio appetite.
(Image credit: Beats)
1. Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless
Eminently practical and great-sounding and arguably the best wireless Beats headphones around.
SPECIFICATIONS
Connector: n/a | Cable length: 1.3m | In-line remote and mic: Yes | OS support: Android/iOS | Bluetooth: Yes | Noise-cancelling: No
Reasons to Buy
Great fit
Long-lasting battery
A fun listen
Reasons to Avoid
Overbearing bass
Could be clearer
Now Beats is owned by Apple, its headphones are seamlessly compatible with iOS devices thanks to the inclusion of Apple’s W1 chip. The Powerbeats 3s are only noise isolating, not noise cancelling (i.e. the earbud seals off your earhole from outside noise), but at this price, that’s to be expected. And the snug fit means they’re not going anywhere. The battery lasts a healthy 12 hours, while just five minutes of plug time will get you an hour’s use. Handy if you’re about to dash out the door.
The bass can be a little overwhelming at times but can be a benefit in noisy environments. And they’re a lively, fun listen.
Read the full Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless review
(Image credit: Beats)
2. Beats Solo Pro
Awesome noise-cancelling meets an even-handed and balanced wireless Beats sound.
SPECIFICATIONS
Connector: 3.5mm | Cable length: N/A | In-line remote and mic: No | OS support: Android/iOS | Bluetooth: Yes | Noise-cancelling: Yes
Reasons to Buy
Clear, impactful sound
Great noise-cancelling
Well built
Reasons to Avoid
Could time better
A bit snug
If you’re looking for Beats wireless headphones, the Solo Pro should be right up there on your list. They feel sturdy and well built, but classy with it, like a premium SUV rather than a tank. The battery life also impresses, standing at 22 hours, or 40 with noise-cancelling disabled.
Unlike some on-ears, the bass doesn’t overwhelm, and they make for a nicely balanced listen. They’re a little snug (though it might depend on the size of your bonce) and you’ll find better timing elsewhere, but they’re still a class act all the way.
Read the full Beats Solo Pro review
(Image credit: Beats)
3. Beats Powerbeats Pro
Sporty types will lap them up. Audiophiles, not so much…
SPECIFICATIONS
Connector: N/A | Cable length: N/A | In-line remote and mic: No | OS support: Android/iOS | Bluetooth: Yes | Noise-cancelling: No
Reasons to Buy
Very consistent
Comfy
Marathon battery
Reasons to Avoid
Limited dynamic range
Need more bass
Audio lacks vim
Sporty types in the market for the best Beats wireless headphones should look no further. The Powerbeats Pro are truly wireless, so you won’t get tangled in any cables while you work out. They fit well and are extremely comfortable to wear, so they won’t hinder you as you exercise. And they perform superbly thanks to Apple’s H1 Bluetooth chip which ensures a stable wireless connection.
The 9-hour battery life is more a marathon than a sprint, and you get a further two charges from the supplied carry case. The audio lacks a little energy, which is a shame given they’re meant to power you through your runs, but they’re still a good choice to get hot and sweaty with.
Read the full Beats Powerbeats Pro review
(Image credit: Beats)
4. Beats X
These Beats wireless headphones pack a seriously punchy sound.
SPECIFICATIONS
Connector: N/A | Cable length: N/A | In-line remote and mic: Yes | OS support: Android/iOS | Bluetooth: Yes | Noise-cancelling: No
Reasons to Buy
Excellent wireless connection
Simple yet stylish
Sound packs energy
Reasons to Avoid
Need more detail
Midrange lacks refinement
These Beats wireless headphones have a cable connecting the two earbuds – it means you won’t lose either one. They’re lightweight, and the cable not too obtrusive. They stick together with magnets when not in use too, making them easy to store.
Wireless performance is typically excellent, and the eight-hour battery life should be long enough for most people. The audio packs plenty of punch, though it could do with a tad more detail to bring out the finer elements.
Read the full Beats X review
(Image credit: Beats)
5. Beats Flex
Fun and fuss-free wireless Beats headphones.
SPECIFICATIONS
Connector: N/A | Cable length: N/A | In-line remote and mic: Yes | OS support: Android/iOS | Bluetooth: Yes | Noise-cancelling: No
Reasons to Buy
Punchy lows
Durable build
Extra features for iOS users
Reasons to Avoid
Treble is rounded off
Fit may be an issue
The Beats Flex are a step up from Apple’s bog-standard Lightning wired buds. They’re available in some fresh hues (including the Yuzu yellow sample before you), they charge via USB-C, have a 12-hour battery life, and courtesy of one-tap audio share you can split sounds with nearby Beats or AirPod headphones (provided you have an iPhone 8 or later running iOS 14). And they’re very affordable, too.
Four ear tip options gives a good chance of finding a decent fit, and the cable is flat, like a strand of tagliatelle. Magnets keep the earbuds together when not in use.
Pairing is a doddle (even more so using an Apple device). They don’t support some iOS 14 features, including automatic switching to another device or hands-free Siri support. And there’s no noise-cancelling either, but with the correct seal you’ll still enjoy good levels of passive noise isolation.
Audio quality is good, but not great. There’s just not the same impact that the best at this price manage to pull off. Still, the Flex offer a considered, smooth sound profile that’s preferable to one that is harsh or bright through the upper frequencies. A solid Beats bet at this end of the market.
Read the full Beats Flex review
(Image credit: Beats by Dre)
6. Beats Solo 3 Wireless
Great wireless tech makes these wireless Beats headphones an excellent choice.
SPECIFICATIONS
Connector: 3.5mm | Cable length: 1.5m | In-line remote and mic: Yes | OS support: Android/iOS | Bluetooth: Yes | Noise-cancelling: No
Reasons to Buy
Strong audio
Clear midrange
Healthy battery life
Reasons to Avoid
Lack detail
Tight fit
No Lightning connection
The Beats Solo 3 Wireless are long-lasters: a whopping 40 hours of battery life should see you through most of a week’s use, and if you do run out of juice, just plug them into your device using the supplied cable. The wireless connection is rock solid, making them some of the most reliable Beats wireless headphones we’ve tested.
They deliver a full-bodied sound with bags of energy, but you can get greater subtlety and refinement elsewhere. Not a bad shout for cutting through the hustle and bustle of your local gym, though.
Read the full Beats Solo 3 Wireless review
MORE:
These are the best wireless headphones for running and the gym
Server: Lenovo ThinkSystem SR 665 with two AMD EPYC 7H 12 in the test Cover open: The interior of the SR 665 CPU performance in comparison UEFI settings as a hurdle I / O surprise SAS versus NVMe Conclusion Read article in iX 2 / 2021 Under the name ThinkSystem SR 665 Lenovo does not offer a computer, but a construction kit. It is what you make of it – from the backup server with an eight-core AMD EPYC 7251 in addition to 320 TByte mass storage up to the supercomputer with two 7H 12 and 128 cores as well as three large or eight small GPUs. The only constants are the double high sheet metal frame, a motherboard with two sockets for AMD’s EPYC processors and the XCC management controller.
AMD makes it easy for Lenovo. The second EPYC generation can handle eight DDR4 channels with up to 3200 MHz and 101 Carry out PCIe 4.0 lanes, regardless of how many cores the chip has. This is made possible by the modular architecture with up to nine semiconductor dies on a carrier that is socket-compatible with the previous CPU.
The node is formed by an I / O die in 13 – nm production, so to speak the control center between the memory , the periphery and up to eight 7 nm core / cache dies (CCD), consisting of two Core CompleX (CCX) with four cores each and their own L1 to L3 cache hierarchy. Four cores share 16 MiB L3 cache. Each Zen 2 core with its two threads are 512 KiB L2- Upstream cache.
Access to all contents of heise + exclusive tests, advice & background: independent , critically founded c’t, iX, Technology Review, Mac & i, Make, c’t read photography directly in the browser register once – read on all devices – can be canceled monthly first month free, then monthly 9 , 95 € Weekly newsletter with personal reading recommendations from the editor-in-chief Start FREE month Start your FREE month now heise + already subscribed?
Sign in and read Register now and read the article immediately More information about heise +
The Asus TUF Gaming X570-Pro Wi-Fi is an inexpensive yet capable motherboard. With power delivery capable of handling an overclocked Ryzen 9 5950X, integrated 2.5 GbE and Wi-Fi 6 capabilities, plusand eight SATA ports, the $220 board is a good option to get into the X570 platform.
For
Capable 12-Phase 50A Power Delivery
Intel 2.5 GbE / Wi-Fi 6
Eight SATA ports
Reasonable price for X570
Against
Only seven rear USB ports
Appearance may not be for everyone
Features and Specifications
The Asus’ TUF Gaming X570-Pro WiFi we have for review is one of the cheaper X570 options available. At $219.99, the boardPro WiFi includes a capable VRM that handled our power-hungry AMD Ryzen 9 5950XAMD Ryzen 9 5950X at stock speeds and while overclocked. In our testing suite, the board performed OK, on average running slightly slower than the other boards, though there were few significant outliers on either side of average.
At the time of publishing, the matured Asus X570 lineup includes options from the TUF, Prime, Strix, WS (Workstation), and ROG lines, a total of 14 boards. Since we last checked, Asus added a Mini-ITX option, which was the only form-factor missing upon release. Today, the product stack consists of a wide variety of motherboards in varying sizes, feature sets, and price points. There is likely something for everyone in the company’s X570 lineup.
Digging down into the performance results, we saw slightly below average scores/times in long-running CPU heavy multi-threaded tests such as Cinebench, Handbrake, POV-Ray and Corona. The PCMark 10 suite was on the opposite side of things, generally running as fast or faster than most other boards we’ve tested. The TUF Gaming X570 Pro WiFi showed promising results in synthetic tests and actual games. Overall, performance isn’t a concern, though if you plan on getting a Ryzen 9 5950X and beating on all cores and threads, there are better performing (but higher-priced) options out of the box.
Outside of performance, the board sports dual PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 sockets, eight SATA ports, 2.5 GbE and integrated WiFi 6, premium Realtek audio, TUF components, and more. The board’s styling is pretty simple, with all- black PCB and parts, outside of some TUF highlighting. Some may enjoy the look, others not so much. You’ll find RGB LED lighting onboard, but only a small portion to the right of the chipset heatsink. Read on for more details about the X570-Pro WiFi, including more features and elements on performance testing.
Inside the retail packaging, you’ll find several accessories including SATA cables, a support DVD, and more. The included accessory stack isn’t big, but has most of what you need to get started. Below is a complete list of all the extras inside the box.
● I/O shield
● (2) SATA cables
● M.2 screw package
● Support DVD
● Asus dual-band WiFI Antennas
● TUF Gaming sticker
● TUF certification card(s)
● M.2 rubber package(s)
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Asus)
Image 2 of 3
(Image credit: Asus)
Image 3 of 3
(Image credit: Asus)
After removing the TUF Gaming X570-Pro WiFi fromout of the box, you’ll see a black/dark grey motherboard with a few yellow highlights noting the TUF branding. A stenciled pattern starts around the chipset heatsink and ending around the VRM area. All sockets and slots are also black and grey. Overall, the styling is simple and will fit in with most builds. However, it doesn’t jump out at you like a classic good- looking board, so some may not like its rugged appearance.
On the RGB side of things, Asus has a small strip to the chipset heatsink’s right that matches the grey stenciled pattern. The RGB colors are saturated, but the small strip isn’t terribly bright. If the integrated lighting isn’t enough, there are three headers for expansion. The Asus Aura application handles lighting control.
(Image credit: Asus)
Looking at the top half of the motherboard, one of the first things that jumps out to me is the large heatsinks that cover the VRM. The black heatsinks reach out to cover part of the rear IO area and other undesirable bits on the motherboard. An 8-pin EPS connector (required) and a 4-pin EPS connector (optional) deliver power to the CPU. The area around the socket is relatively busy with many capacitors close to the mounts, but this is nothing to worry about. Just to the right of the socket are four DRAM slots that support up to 128GB of DDR4 RAM with speeds listed up to a smoking- fast 5100+ MHz +(OC).
Above the DRAM slots are the first two (of six) fan/pump headers. All six of these headers support a maximum of 1A/12W. All headers except for the AIO_PUMP are Q-Fan controlled and adjustable. The CPU_FAN and CPU_OPT headers in this area automatically detect if the connected fan is DC or PWM controlled. The rest of the headers will need to be manually selected. No matter what price point, I would like to see all fan headers automatically adjust to the right control method. Additionally, there are two more fan headers on the top half of the board. These chassis fan connectors are located just below the left VRM heatsink above the top PCIe slot.
Immediately to the right of the fan headers up top is the first RGB header. In this case, it’s a 4pin RGB with the 3-pin ARGB header located to the right of the socket area. Located just above the 3-pin RGB header is the Asus Q-LED area. Q-LED consists of four LEDs on board that light up during the POST process. If the board hangs on the DRAM, CPU, VGA, or boot devices, the corresponding LED remains lit, telling you at a high -level why the board won’t POST. Without a two2-character debug LED, the Q-LED is a valuable tool for troubleshooting POST issues.
Just below the Q-LEDs and 3-pin RGB header is the 24-pin ATX connector for sending power to the motherboard and the front panel USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C front panel header.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The Asus webpage for the TUF Gaming X570 Pro lists a 12+2 configuration for the Vcore and SOC, which at a high level, bodes well for handling our Ryzen 9 5950X. Managing power sent to the MOSFETs is the Asus Digi+ chip (ASP1106GGQW at X+Y = 6). The six-channel controller works in a 4+1 ‘teamed’ setup. This VRM configuration from Asus does away with phase doublers, sending the power to three 50A Vishay SIC639 Dr. MOS MOSFETs each. The 600A available for Vcore is plenty for our CPU at stock and ambient overclocking.
(Image credit: Asus)
Sliding down to the bottom half of the board, we’ll start with the audio section on the left side. At first look, you should see a Faraday cage with the TUF symbol on it, covering the Realtek ALC S1200A codec. Just below the codec are five premium black and yellow Nichicon audio caps. We won’t find the flagship codec or op-amps on lower- priced X570 boards, but the high-end audio codec should be sufficient for most users.
In the middle of the board you’ll find two full-length PCIe slots and two x1 size slots. The primary GPU slot (top slot) is reinforced with the Asus Safeslot said to provide additional retention and shearing resistance while the bottom is not. The top slot is fed from the CPU and offers PCIe 4.0 x16 bandwidth, with the second full-length slot fed from the chipset with four PCIe 4.0 lanes. The two short x1 size slots get their lanes from the chipset, each running at PCIe 4.0 x1 speeds.
Just above the primary video card slot is the first M.2 socket. The second socket is located towards the bottom of the board and has a heatsink. Both M.2 sockets support PCIe 4.0 x4- and SATA- based modules , offering more flexibility than some boards that only run PCIe based modules only in the second/third slot. Worth noting: is only the bottom slot includes a simple heatsink. If you’re running a PCIe 4.0 NVMe- based drive, you’ll likely want to use that socket unless your module comes with a heatsink.
Finally, to the right of the PCIe/M.2 area is the chipset heatsink and fan. The chipset fan was virtually inaudible at default settings, so there is nothing to worry about there. On the right edge, we spy four of the eight SATA ports. The SATA ports support RAID0, 1 and 10 modes.
Across the board’s bottom are several headers and even a few SATA ports. You won’t find any buttons here. Below is the full list, from left to right:
● Front panel audio
● COM port
● COM debug
● CLR CMOS
● 4-pin chassis fan header
● (2) USB 2.0 ports
● USB 3.2 Gen1 port
● 4-pin chassis fan header
● (4) SATA ports
● RGB header
● Front panel header
(Image credit: Asus)
Swinging around back to the rear IO, the TUF Gaming X570 Plus WiFi doesn’t include an integrated IO plate, so you’ll have to install it. There are seven USB ports out back, including one USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and two USB 3.2 Gen1 ports. I’d like to see a couple more USB ports out back here, as some users could struggle with seven. Outside of that is a clear CMOS button, a legacy PS/2 port, and DisplayPort/HDMI outputs for the integrated video. Last are the WiFi antenna connections and a 5-plug audio stack with SPDIF.
MORE: Best Motherboards
MORE: How To Choose A Motherboard
MORE: All Motherboard Content
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
