One would hope you can turn the lighting off if you want.
And sometimes windowless cases can be hard to find. Last time I bought a case I really liked the NZXT s340, but there is no option for a solid side panel. There are hundred different colors, but not solid side panels. Get off my lawn!
There's a screenshot of the LED controls in the article and it looks like there's a software switch you can use to shut the lighting down entirely.
The windowless cases I've seen available recently are very much on the low budget end of the price (and quality) spectrum so yeah, I don't think solid panels are easily found once you step up to a mid-range tier product.
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Its getting harder every day to find PC hardware that's not about bling. F bling IMO! Manufactures need to have two lines of products. Adult line and 3 year old line.
The windowless cases I've seen available recently are very much on the low budget end of the price (and quality) spectrum so yeah, I don't think solid panels are easily found once you step up to a mid-range tier product. <a href="https://www.errorcodeexpert.com/how-to-fix-minecra... Minecraft error code 5</a>
right.. And sometimes windowless cases can be hard to find. Last time I bought a case I really liked the NZXT s340, but there is no option for a solid side panel. There are hundred different colors, but not solid side panels. Get off my lawn! https://www.errorcodeexpert.com/how-to-fix-minecra...
And for this version of the motherboard it appears that it supports 3.1 for the Front Panel connectors, so if connected to a case the front plugs could be good! https://us.msi.com/Motherboard/B350-TOMAHAWK
The MSI B350 KRAIT GAMING motherboards supports TWO USB 3.1 Gen2 ports (one Type-A, one Type-C), but does it via an "ASMedia® ASM2142 Chipset". It shows the ASM 2142 both in the features and block diagram section of the motherboard manual. The block diagram shows the ASM2142 connected between the USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports and the B350 (PCI express lanes)
So what gives with no USB 3.1 Gen2 from the B350 itself?
yeah: this has been driving me nuts. Many B350 motherboards do not list the full complement of TWO (2) USB 3.1 Gen ports that AMD states the chipset/FCH/whatever provides. Are there additional components that have to be added to the B350 to get the Gen2 speed to work?
My MSI 970a-g43 (AM3+) hits the Windows login screen in about 5 seconds. I wonder what's happened between then and now, design-wise? Especially since mine's not a "gaming" board and I got it for about $30-40.
The change to DDR 4 ram hurt motherboard post times a fair bit. And the am4 boards, particularly with early bioses, might put you into a slow ram setup retry loop.
That said, with the latest (1.C) bios on my tomahawk, and with Windows whql mode enabled (turns off legacy boot), I have nothing to complain about with post speed.
I think you may be on to something here. I've been poking around, and found out that the BIOS of my GTX 660 doesn't support UEFI fast boot. I emailed EVGA for an updated version that supports it.
Dollars to donuts, the UEFI bios is looking for signed devices and takes a long time to do it if it comes across ones that aren't.
Why the long post times for all of these modern motherboards? I thought my Ryzen motherboard was just poorly optimized (about 20 seconds to post; Also 20 seconds to wake from sleep). But it looks like this is one area where desktop motherboards have *not* improved performance-wise in the past 8 years.
My 2010-era AMD system posts faster than my new Ryzen build. And it wakes from sleep in about 4-5 seconds instead of ~20 seconds. That is after all efforts to streamline the post times. My ~1 second improvement in post time mirrors the difference between "stripped" and "default" in this article, so I'm guessing that there's not a lot of improvement to be had, short of optimizations from the motherboard manufacturer themselves (ASUS in my case).
My Gigabyte GA-AB350 Gaming 3 has three Fast BIOS speed settings - Disabled, Enabled and Ultra Fast. The latter doesn't even show the BIOS before you get the Windows 10 logo, not a massive issue if you're happy with the APP Center within Windows instead of being able to go the BIOS directly.
Yep, 9 seconds from on to Windows 10 logo, and another 5 to login screen. About 5 seconds from sleep (though some of that is the display turning back on). I should also explain that I have a Samsung 850 Evo 250GB as my boot drive, and that I'm running a Ryzen 5 1600 with 16GB DDR4 3000 CL16.
the RGB-LED header on the regular tomahawk is a reduced functionality version that only gives you those 7 color choices - not 16.7 million like it should
In the "board explorer" in the BIOS on my tomahawk it clearly identifies two of the rear usb ports as USB 3.1 Gen2. I have never tested the speeds so I do not know if they actually run at that. Also, I have read TERRIBLE things about the latest BIOS such as RAM refusing to run below 1.5v, vcore not going below 1.3, and fan curves not being adjustable anymore. I have not updated, still on 1.9 or whatever the one from a few months ago was.
Yeah, I don't really know. The tomahawk arctic which is the same but white says that it has g2 so who knows. My BIOS says it's g2... It wouldn't be the first time that something reports that it's something other than what it is.
This could be a function of the B350 FCH supporting USB 3.1 Gen2 per AMD's claims, but the higher speed not actually working reliably in the real world. That might be the reason that MB manufacturers have to add the Asmedia USB 3.1 Gen2 chip for their motherboards that actually claim Gen 2 ports. I'm somewhat surprised that I haven't seen any articles that detail this AMD Gen 2 wrinkle. Maybe that AMD reddit guy might respond...
Update: The latest BIOS 7A34v1F does not have any of these problems, although I had never personally experienced them with the earlier BIOS, only read about them. For me this board has lasted a year without any issues, running a 1700 at 3.75 at 1.264v. I have read about issues with it on forums and newegg (A lot of DOAs it seems) but never experienced any. I must be lucky. Also, the board explorer still says there are two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports on the back. At least one USB port from the header IDs as USB 3.1 Gen2 as well.
I bought a B350 Tomahawk at launch and mine was terrible. I had two problems. The first was corruption on an m2 ssd. The second was that it wouldn't work properly with any sound card other than the the onboard. I tried usb and pcie sound cards, all very high end, and they had glitches. Tjis was true under both Windows 10 and Windows 7.
In summary, might be an ok board, but the one I owned wasn't. I replaced mine with an Asus B350 Prime Plus, which resolved all issues.
I currently have Ryzen 5 1660, MSI B350 Tomahawk and a 16GB kit of PNY Anarchy DDR4-2400 RAM (2x8). These three pieces I got for $480 with tax about a month ago. I wasn't expecting much but it out of the box was way faster then my antiquated Asus P5Q-E, Core 2 Quad Q9650 and 8GB DDR2,
Anyways I am very impressed with all of these pieces as a whole. The memory runs at DDR4-3066 speeds on this motherboard. The CPU is solid as a rock at 4GHz on this motherboard. In fact on this motherboard pushing the clock speed to 4.05GHz for benching (using the stock cooler that came with the processor no less) my Ryzen 5 1600 on the B350 Tomahawk beat my Core i7 5930K on a MSI X99A SLI Plus in the CPU department. This blows me away because these three components cost me on par for what I purchased my 5930K new at Microcenter for.
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46 Comments
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PeachNCream - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
Minor typo at the end of the first paragraph in the conclusion section: "...with a slight not..." should probably read "...with a slight nod..."With the modest red LED lighting, this might be a nice board to have inside a windowless case.
timecop1818 - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
> comes with a one-clock OC buttonpretty sure you mean one-click
Flunk - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
One would hope you can turn the lighting off if you want.And sometimes windowless cases can be hard to find. Last time I bought a case I really liked the NZXT s340, but there is no option for a solid side panel. There are hundred different colors, but not solid side panels. Get off my lawn!
PeachNCream - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
There's a screenshot of the LED controls in the article and it looks like there's a software switch you can use to shut the lighting down entirely.The windowless cases I've seen available recently are very much on the low budget end of the price (and quality) spectrum so yeah, I don't think solid panels are easily found once you step up to a mid-range tier product.
errorfree - Wednesday, March 21, 2018 - link
Want a suggestion or guidance? realated to MS paint then i will suggest you that the given blog is very helpful in that because i faced to so many issues with MS Paint and i just contacted a website which help me solve all the problem related to MS Paint.https://babasupport.org/microsoft/paint-customer-s...dubyadubya - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
Its getting harder every day to find PC hardware that's not about bling. F bling IMO! Manufactures need to have two lines of products. Adult line and 3 year old line.Errorcodeexpert - Tuesday, February 19, 2019 - link
The windowless cases I've seen available recently are very much on the low budget end of the price (and quality) spectrum so yeah, I don't think solid panels are easily found once you step up to a mid-range tier product. <a href="https://www.errorcodeexpert.com/how-to-fix-minecra... Minecraft error code 5</a>Errorcodeexpert - Tuesday, February 19, 2019 - link
right.. And sometimes windowless cases can be hard to find. Last time I bought a case I really liked the NZXT s340, but there is no option for a solid side panel. There are hundred different colors, but not solid side panels. Get off my lawn!https://www.errorcodeexpert.com/how-to-fix-minecra...
Geranium - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
No USB 3.1(G2) on a platform which have native USB 3.1(G2) on it!!??Hurr Durr - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
It`s only fair: the missile is anacronistic, and so is this MB.unlockproject - Monday, August 1, 2022 - link
so is this MB.https://unlock85201.ac-page.com/startup
Myrandex - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
I despise this too :( although based on the other comment below I'm hoping it actually is 3.1!unlockproject - Monday, August 1, 2022 - link
I'm hoping it actually is 3.1https://unlock85201.ac-page.com/startup
Myrandex - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
The Krait website for this board says the C is a 3.1 port: https://us.msi.com/Motherboard/B350-KRAIT-GAMINGAnd for this version of the motherboard it appears that it supports 3.1 for the Front Panel connectors, so if connected to a case the front plugs could be good! https://us.msi.com/Motherboard/B350-TOMAHAWK
Geranium - Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - link
Those are USB 3.0 AKA USB 3.1 G1, not real USB 3.1 AKA 3.1 G2 which B350 chipset supports.unlockproject - Monday, August 1, 2022 - link
good Those are USB 3.0 AKA USB 3.1 G1, not real USB 3.1 AKA 3.1 G2 which B350https://linktr.ee/unlock.coach
unlockproject - Monday, August 1, 2022 - link
So what gives with no USB 3.1 Gen2 from the B350 itself?https://unlockproject01.jimdofree.com/
unlockproject - Monday, August 1, 2022 - link
new more getting newshttps://www.creativelive.com/student/unlock-projec...
vkristof - Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - link
The MSI B350 KRAIT GAMING motherboards supports TWO USB 3.1 Gen2 ports (one Type-A, one Type-C), but does it via an "ASMedia® ASM2142 Chipset". It shows the ASM 2142 both in the features and block diagram section of the motherboard manual. The block diagram shows the ASM2142 connected between the USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports and the B350 (PCI express lanes)So what gives with no USB 3.1 Gen2 from the B350 itself?
attractionsandplaces - Monday, March 26, 2018 - link
Really very good presentation of the topic.These type of relevant topics are the target of the viewers.http://readyshore.com/top-tourist-attractions-and-...
vkristof - Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - link
yeah: this has been driving me nuts.Many B350 motherboards do not list the full complement of TWO (2) USB 3.1 Gen ports that AMD states the chipset/FCH/whatever provides. Are there additional components that have to be added to the B350 to get the Gen2 speed to work?
unlockproject - Monday, August 1, 2022 - link
sometimes windowless chttp://sharepoint.bath.k12.va.us/tech/forum/Lists/...
Tsavo - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
I have the Krait version of this. It takes forever (15s) to POST. Latest BIOS doesn't fix it, either.Other than that massive clanger, it's an ok board, but I'd certainly not recommend any AMD based MSI board based upon the long POST time.
artifex - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
My MSI 970a-g43 (AM3+) hits the Windows login screen in about 5 seconds.I wonder what's happened between then and now, design-wise? Especially since mine's not a "gaming" board and I got it for about $30-40.
kepstin - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
The change to DDR 4 ram hurt motherboard post times a fair bit. And the am4 boards, particularly with early bioses, might put you into a slow ram setup retry loop.That said, with the latest (1.C) bios on my tomahawk, and with Windows whql mode enabled (turns off legacy boot), I have nothing to complain about with post speed.
Tsavo - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
I think you may be on to something here. I've been poking around, and found out that the BIOS of my GTX 660 doesn't support UEFI fast boot. I emailed EVGA for an updated version that supports it.Dollars to donuts, the UEFI bios is looking for signed devices and takes a long time to do it if it comes across ones that aren't.
artifex - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
Yikes. Guess I should be looking for an update to that situation when the 450/470-based boards come out, before deciding to upgrade.TrackSmart - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
Why the long post times for all of these modern motherboards? I thought my Ryzen motherboard was just poorly optimized (about 20 seconds to post; Also 20 seconds to wake from sleep). But it looks like this is one area where desktop motherboards have *not* improved performance-wise in the past 8 years.My 2010-era AMD system posts faster than my new Ryzen build. And it wakes from sleep in about 4-5 seconds instead of ~20 seconds. That is after all efforts to streamline the post times. My ~1 second improvement in post time mirrors the difference between "stripped" and "default" in this article, so I'm guessing that there's not a lot of improvement to be had, short of optimizations from the motherboard manufacturer themselves (ASUS in my case).
silverblue - Wednesday, March 14, 2018 - link
My Gigabyte GA-AB350 Gaming 3 has three Fast BIOS speed settings - Disabled, Enabled and Ultra Fast. The latter doesn't even show the BIOS before you get the Windows 10 logo, not a massive issue if you're happy with the APP Center within Windows instead of being able to go the BIOS directly.silverblue - Wednesday, March 14, 2018 - link
Yep, 9 seconds from on to Windows 10 logo, and another 5 to login screen. About 5 seconds from sleep (though some of that is the display turning back on). I should also explain that I have a Samsung 850 Evo 250GB as my boot drive, and that I'm running a Ryzen 5 1600 with 16GB DDR4 3000 CL16.drexnx - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
the RGB-LED header on the regular tomahawk is a reduced functionality version that only gives you those 7 color choices - not 16.7 million like it shouldSaabensippen - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
In the "board explorer" in the BIOS on my tomahawk it clearly identifies two of the rear usb ports as USB 3.1 Gen2. I have never tested the speeds so I do not know if they actually run at that. Also, I have read TERRIBLE things about the latest BIOS such as RAM refusing to run below 1.5v, vcore not going below 1.3, and fan curves not being adjustable anymore. I have not updated, still on 1.9 or whatever the one from a few months ago was.Geranium - Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - link
The board explorer showing wrong information. Couldn't find mention of USB 3.1 AKA USB 3.1 G2 on specification page.https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/B350-TOMAHAWK/Spec...
Saabensippen - Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - link
Yeah, I don't really know. The tomahawk arctic which is the same but white says that it has g2 so who knows. My BIOS says it's g2... It wouldn't be the first time that something reports that it's something other than what it is.vkristof - Friday, March 16, 2018 - link
This could be a function of the B350 FCH supporting USB 3.1 Gen2 per AMD's claims, but the higher speed not actually working reliably in the real world. That might be the reason that MB manufacturers have to add the Asmedia USB 3.1 Gen2 chip for their motherboards that actually claim Gen 2 ports.I'm somewhat surprised that I haven't seen any articles that detail this AMD Gen 2 wrinkle. Maybe that AMD reddit guy might respond...
Saabensippen - Thursday, March 22, 2018 - link
I would be interested to find out. I don't run external hard drives or anything that would benefit from it though.Saabensippen - Thursday, March 22, 2018 - link
Update: The latest BIOS 7A34v1F does not have any of these problems, although I had never personally experienced them with the earlier BIOS, only read about them. For me this board has lasted a year without any issues, running a 1700 at 3.75 at 1.264v. I have read about issues with it on forums and newegg (A lot of DOAs it seems) but never experienced any. I must be lucky. Also, the board explorer still says there are two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports on the back. At least one USB port from the header IDs as USB 3.1 Gen2 as well.barleyguy - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
I bought a B350 Tomahawk at launch and mine was terrible. I had two problems. The first was corruption on an m2 ssd. The second was that it wouldn't work properly with any sound card other than the the onboard. I tried usb and pcie sound cards, all very high end, and they had glitches. Tjis was true under both Windows 10 and Windows 7.In summary, might be an ok board, but the one I owned wasn't. I replaced mine with an Asus B350 Prime Plus, which resolved all issues.
Myrandex - Monday, March 12, 2018 - link
FYI I bought mine at launch and have enjoyed it, but things did get better with bios updates too, especially with memory speed capabilities.Honed1967 - Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - link
All the way you rightKet_MANIAC - Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - link
Only 3 AM4 motherboard reviews in over a year?evancox10 - Wednesday, March 14, 2018 - link
s/compliment/complement/If something is free, it is complimentary. If two or more things combine together well, they are complementary.
Daisy81 - Saturday, August 11, 2018 - link
I currently have Ryzen 5 1660, MSI B350 Tomahawk and a 16GB kit of PNY Anarchy DDR4-2400 RAM (2x8). These three pieces I got for $480 with tax about a month ago. I wasn't expecting much but it out of the box was way faster then my antiquated Asus P5Q-E, Core 2 Quad Q9650 and 8GB DDR2,Anyways I am very impressed with all of these pieces as a whole. The memory runs at DDR4-3066 speeds on this motherboard. The CPU is solid as a rock at 4GHz on this motherboard. In fact on this motherboard pushing the clock speed to 4.05GHz for benching (using the stock cooler that came with the processor no less) my Ryzen 5 1600 on the B350 Tomahawk beat my Core i7 5930K on a MSI X99A SLI Plus in the CPU department. This blows me away because these three components cost me on par for what I purchased my 5930K new at Microcenter for.
A link for the 3D Mark Timespy results results
https://www.3dmark.com/compare/spy/4202900/spy/100...