AMD’s Socket AM4 Platform – Living On

AMD’s AM4 platform has profited both AMD and the company’s client base over the last five years. Yesterday evening, or this morning or afternoon, depending on your timezone, the company revealed the new AM5 platform and the company’s roadmap for the following number of years. However, what will happen to the popular AMD AM4 technology, such as the currently released Ryzen 7 5800X3D processor? Will the company offer further support? Dr. Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, has given hope to those satisfied with their AM4 processors and may have given a glimmer of hope for new designs to continue manufacturing.

Read more @ Wccftech

MSI MEG Z690 ACE – TweakTown

With the MEG Godlike, a limited-edition motherboard that requires a personal invite from MSI, the Z690 Ace has become the “hot and ready” platform for consumers wanting a top-end motherboard from MSI. The MEG Z690 Ace doesn’t disappoint with its hardware or aesthetics. Like last year’s Z590 platform, this year’s Ace continues with the black and gold theme devoid of any onboard RGB, perfect for consumers who like minimalist builds.

Read more @ TweakTown

MSI Announces X670E/X670 Socket AM5 Motherboards

[Taipei, Taiwan] MSI announced today that the new MEG X670E GODLIKE, MEG X670E ACE, MPG X670E CARBON WIFI and PRO X670-P WIFI to the brand-new AMD X670 Motherboard product lineup. These new X670 motherboards come with support for the upcoming AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series processors. We always make sure our goal is to bring every new product as exciting as possible, especially with the new AMD processors and platform. As a world-leading motherboard brand, MSI wants to offer nothing but excitement. Integrated with the newest technologies and packed full of features, MSI is ready to move into the next generation. Let us introduce you to our brand new X670 motherboards.

AMD Ryzen 7000 Series processors are the first to use the 5nm FinFET process from TSMC as well as introducing a brand-new platform and socket from AMD. AMD Ryzen 7000 Series processors bring new features like PCIe 5.0, DDR5 Memory support and much more! The X670 chipset is divided into two segments – X670 Extreme and X670. X670E supports PCIe 5.0 through both the PCIe slot and M.2 slot whereas X670 motherboards support PCIe 5.0 through the M.2 slot exclusively. In addition to PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 support, all MSI X670E & X670 motherboards specification have been upgraded including rear USB Type-C will now support up to Display Port 2.0 output1. Even more, MEG motherboards’ front USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C will support 60W Power Delivery. The VRM design has also been upgraded with up to 24+2 Power Phases with 105A Smart Power Stage.
Adopted the brand-new ID concept, both Gaming and PRO series motherboards represent its identity. To synchronize the aesthetic look and perfectly match with the different product lines, especially with DIY components, the Product Identity is ready on the X670 motherboard. X670E Gaming motherboard comes with neat feature designs that further ease your way to enhance your motherboard. MSI have the exclusive M-Vision Dashboard that allows amazing customization with a touch of a finger to see more detail visual aspect of your motherboard status. A few new features that come along with our X670E Motherboards are screw-less M.2 Shield Frozr as well as MSI’s patent pending M.2 Shield Frozr with magnetic design to help upgrade or installing M.2 SSD with ease2. As well as a smart button in the rear I/O panel for even more customization from entering safe boot, turn on/off all RGB LEDs or activate Turbo Fan. All MSI X670 motherboards will support ARGB Gen2 devices, RGB fanatics will have more options to make their brand-new PC shine even brighter.

The Revelation of Legend – MEG Series

AMD Socket AM5

Our MEG Series have more features than ever on our MEG X670E GODLIKE and MEG X670E ACE motherboards. The MEG Series adopt E-ATX PCB size and have up to 24+2 VRM phases with 105A Smart Power Stage. They are cooled by a Stacked fin array design heatsink as a well as a heat-pipe to dissipate heat effectively while maintaining at peak performance. There is also a MOSFET baseplate for more heat dissipation for the VRM while the Metal backplate is there to help protect the PCB as well as keeping the rigidity of the board. The MEG Series motherboards are equipped with up to 4 onboard M.2 slots including 1 M.2 PCIe 5.0 x4 slot and a M.2 XPANDER-Z GEN5 DUAL add-on card inside the box for 2 additional PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slots for ultimate experience.

Be Ahead, Pop Your Style – MPG Series

AMD Socket AM5

The MPG Series enjoys extraordinary upgrades for the new AMD platform. With the use of carbon black color scheme, MPG X670E CARBON WIFI is steadier than before. This motherboard features 2 PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and 4 M.2 slots that are split into 2 M.2 PCIe 5.0 x4 and 2 PCIe 5.0 x4. It comes with 18+2 VRM power phases with 90A and cooled by Extended heatsink design. Featured the latest specifications, you will definitely be satisfied with a unique aesthetic finish from the Chipset Heatsink to the VRM Heatsink on the MPG X670E CARBON WIFI.

Business Elegance – PRO Series

AMD Socket AM5

The PRO Series might be the best in popularity for enterprises and creators. With the 14+2 Phases Duet Rail Power System and dual 8-pin CPU power connectors, the PRO X670-P WIFI will tackle any task with ease. The PRO Series does come equipped with 1 M.2 PCIe 5.0 x4 slot, 2.5G LAN and Wi-Fi 6E solution, which can speed through your work with breeze. The linear design matches your office or studio in every possible way for a more unified look.

Read more @ MSI

ASUS Intros the ROG CROSSHAIR X670E EXTREME

Get ready for the new look of high-end. AMD’s long-anticipated AM5 platform is breaking cover, and we’re ready to share some details on our flagship motherboard in the series: the ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme. Boasting next-gen PCIe 5.0 connectivity, DDR5 RAM, and a massive power delivery subsystem primed for overclocking, this next-gen board offers those who dare an unrivalled platform for their next build. ASUS Q-Design features simplify and streamline the build process, and a robust suite of tools empowers enthusiasts to maximize system performance. At a later date, we’ll have more information to share about other upcoming X670 motherboards from our ROG, ROG Strix, TUF Gaming, ProArt, and ASUS Prime families, but for now, one thing is certain: the ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme is destined to become one of the most coveted boards of this generation.

Next-gen memory, solid-state drives, and graphics cards all have one thing in common: the number five. DDR5 RAM is here, and components that leverage PCI Express 5.0 (PCIe) connectivity have landed or are looming on the horizon.

The ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme lets you reap the advantages of the massive bandwidth, sizzling new speeds, and exceptional power efficiency offered by next-generation DDR5 RAM. With data rates 50% faster than previous-generation DDR4 memory, DDR5 unleashes a new tier of performance, and this motherboard has a host of hardware and firmware optimizations that enable users to overclock capable kits to the absolute limit.

PCIe 5.0 connectivity empowers you today with a comprehensive selection of high-speed ports, and it’ll give you access to the fastest next-gen SSDs and GPUs as they hit the market. With double the link speeds of PCIe 4.0, the new standard provides us with the bandwidth to deck out the ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme with USB4® and USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports. Since so many gamers use their PC’s front panel USB ports to recharge devices, the ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme offers a front panel USB 3.2 Gen 2 2×2 connector with support for Quick Charge 4+. Make sure to pair this motherboard with a case featuring a front-panel USB Type-C port so that you can have convenient access to 60W charging.*

Two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots stand ready for the cutting-edge graphics cards of today and tomorrow. Between its two onboard slots and the three additional slots made available through the ROG PCIe 5.0 M.2 card and the ROG GEN-Z.2 card, the ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme offers five total M.2 slots. Four support PCIe 5.0 x4 mode. Heatsinks for all the slots, including those on the add-in cards, ensure that you get the full performance of your drives without throttling. Six SATA 6Gbps ports let you establish an even larger storage array so you never have to ration your game library.

Gaming superiority personified

With its angular lines, vivid RGB LED accents, and moody black tones, the ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme motherboard loves taking center stage. For unmatched personalization options, this board features the AniMe Matrix™ display, an array of LEDs that can show off custom retro-style animations. Vibrant underglow lighting streams from the right edge of the board. An AURA RGB header, an addressable Gen 2 header, and a six-pin ARGB Gen 2 header which supports two additional ARGB Gen 2 headers let you connect RGB LED strips for your case— and easily synchronize it all with your compatible Aura Sync gear.

Time and again, the striking visual elements of the ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme serve your desire for unbridled performance. Large heatsinks atop the VRM circuitry, chipset, and onboard M.2 slots offer substantial cooling power and symmetrical beauty. Multilayer graphics grace the surface of the wide heatsink cover for the primary M.2 slot. And the integrated aluminum I/O cover assists in cooling circuitry, simplifies your build process, and looks sharp in the process.

Serious cooling, serious performance

A robust power solution gives the ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme nearly unbounded potential for taking your next-gen AMD Ryzen CPU to the next level. With its 20+2 teamed power stages rated for 110A, this EATX motherboard stands ready to deliver copious amounts of stable to power to your CPU. ProCool II power connectors offer better contact with PSU plugs, improved heat dissipation, and better reliability over common hardware. MicroFine alloy chokes and premium 10K black metallic capacitors provide the smoothest possible power delivery to the processor, even under the highest loads.

Today’s processors take advantage of available power and thermal headroom to offer you the best performance at any moment, so cooling isn’t just a matter of comfort—comprehensive cooling makes sure that you get the sustained performance that you demand. The ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme gives you a full suite of options for setting up your dream cooling solution. Six headers for chassis and radiator fans let you establish and control system airflow. Planning to deploy a custom liquid-cooling solution? A wealth of headers for pumps and flow rates give you total command over the coolant coursing through your build.

Innovative Q-Design features streamline your build process

Building and customizing a high-end gaming PC has never been so easy. To make sure that your build process is as hassle-free as possible, the ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme features our exclusive ASUS Q-Design innovations, including the PCIe Q-Release button. Today’s cutting-edge graphics cards often have beefy cooling solutions and sturdy backplates. That’s great for performance—but they can get in the way of popping the PCIe release latch free. Our PCIe Slot Q-Release button lets you release your graphics card from the slot with one press, no fumbling or tiny fingers required.

Similarly, traditional DIMM slot designs require you to lock in both sides of the memory stick, and it wasn’t always easy for those of us with larger fingers to unlock the latch closest to the graphics card. That’s why we’ve implemented our new single-sided Q-DIMM latching design. With this arrangement, you won’t have to worry about a latch that may be too close to your graphics card. A single latch on the easier-to-access side of the DIMM slot is all it takes to hold your memory stick firmly in place. Installing your RAM with the ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme motherboard—and upgrading it down the road—is that much easier.

We’ve even simplified the process of installing an M.2 drive. Our M.2 Q-Latch gives you the peace of mind that you’ll never have to handle another tiny, easily lost M.2 screw ever again. Now, you can secure or loosen an M.2 drive with just your fingertips.

Even with all these features that simplify PC building, problems can still arise during the build process. The ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme gives you peace of mind with features that make it easy to diagnose the situation. Our ASUS Q-LED diagnostic array gives you a quick and easy reference if your system encounters a critical error during its power-on self test. Four LEDs on the motherboard, clearly marked for the CPU, RAM, graphics card, or boot device, will light up to tell you exactly which component has encountered an error. Additionally, the Q-Code LED display provides you with a 2-digit code that indicates the most likely cause of an error as a starting point for troubleshooting.

Unhindered networking

Many gamers today just don’t trust their wireless network to reliably lead them to victory. The 5.0GHz and 2.4GHz bands that most of our devices use to connect to the internet are only getting more congested with smartphones, laptops, and smart home devices competing for signal, especially in locations like condos and apartments where multiple home networks might be overlapping. Thankfully, there’s a solution in sight in select regions: Wi-Fi 6E.

This new standard takes advantage of the 6GHz band, a slice of spectrum only recently made available in specific countries. Connected to a Wi-Fi 6E router, the ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme will let you rise above the fray and enjoy the new frontier of wireless connections.

The motherboard’s wired networking options have bragging rights of their own. An Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet port gives you a high-bandwidth hardline to your router, while a Marvell AQtion 10Gb Ethernet port preps your machine to easily handle multi-terabyte file transfers on fast networks.

Audiophiles, take notice

If visuals take the front seat when it comes to gaming, audio is riding shotgun. For immersive, pristine audio from your speaker system and your headset, the audio chips and associated circuitry on ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme has been scrupulously designed for crystal-clear sound processing and output.

It starts with a SupremeFX 7.1 Surround Sound audio solution with integrated amplifiers and op-amps. The audio circuit design uses premium capacitors, interference shielding, and discrete traces for the left and right channels. Auto impedance detection lets you use even high-impedance audiophile headphones and get crystal-clear, distortion-free output. An ESS ES9218PQ Quad DAC pumps top-notch audio to the front-panel output with an exceptional 130 dB signal-to-noise ratio, perfect for plugging in a high-end headset.

More X670 motherboard options on the way

With its overclocking-ready power delivery subsystem, exceptional cooling options, aggressive style, and peerless connectivity, the ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme takes gaming performance to a new tier—and it’s just the first of many. In the coming months, we’ll be able to share the rest of the high-end ROG Crosshair lineup and motherboards from our other product families, as well. Stay tuned for more information, and reach out to your local ROG representative for information on pricing and availability.

Read more @ ASUS

MSI MPG Z690 FORCE WIFI – Hardwareluxx

Just like the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming WiFi D4 (Hardwareluxx test) , the MPG Z690 FORCE WIFI was established on the market with high-contrast optics. The PCB comes in ATX dimensions and is black, while the heatsinks themselves are silver. From the iF International Forum Design GmbH – based in the state capital of Lower Saxony – the circuit board was able to claim  the Design Award 2022 alongside the MEG Z690 GODLIKE.

Read more @ Hardwareluxx (German)

MSI MPG Z690 CARBON WIFI – ChannelLife Australia

Whilst the Z690 Carbon WIFI sits in the middle of the Z690 board price range, the box is no flimsy cardboard affair. The motherboard is nicely presented in a box with textured plastic veneer that suggests that you’ve made a wise choice and that it holds something very special inside. 

Opening it up, the anti-static wrapped motherboard is straddled by a small box containing the Wi-Fi antenna. Under the board we have the manual, a quick installation guide, and a registration card. There are also the usual SATA cables, a couple of EZ M.2 fixings, and some RGB cables including one that integrates the board with Corsair’s LED lighting. 

Read more @ ChannelLife Australia

GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS ULTRA Recalled

Gigabyte has decided to issue a recall for its Z690I Aorus Ultra mini-ITX motherboard because it doesn’t work with a number of PCIe Gen 4.0 graphics cards.

As AnandTech reports, Gigabyte received multiple reports from customers that the motherboard was crashing when some graphics cards were inserted. The problem presented itself as a Windows Hardware Error Architecture (WHEA) PCIe error, and Gigabyte has since concluded the PCIe 4.0 slot isn’t working properly.

Read more @ PC Magazine

ASRock Z690 AQUA – Tom’s Hardware

At $1,149.99, the ASRock Z690 Aqua is the least expensive option for a flagship-class Z690 board with integrated custom water cooling. It has many features you’d expect on such an expensive motherboard, but it is missing a couple of things we would want (PCIe 5.0 M.2 storage and water flow/temperature sensors for the loop) that would make this unquestionably the liquid-cooled board to beat.

Read more @ Tom’s Hardware

More ASRock AMD X670E, Intel Z690 Boards Coming to COMPUTEX

ASRock is preparing to showcase several cutting-edge motherboards at Computex 2022 next week. The firm’s first AMD Socket AM5 motherboards for Ryzen 7000 Zen 4 processors will be revealed for all to see. An official ASRock Computex event video, spotted by Twitter’s Komachi, is queued up for May 26. The video page says that ASRock will share details of its X670E Taichi, X670E Taichi Carrara, and other motherboards.

There are four motherboards mentioned in the Computex video details. The two most interesting boards are the X670E Taichi and X670E Taichi Carrara.

Read more @ Tom’s Hardware