It isn't terrible for $200 but the little things like skimping on the audio codec (that couldn't have saved more than a dollar or two, right?) really sour an ITX board when you consider there is no way to upgrade it outside of a USB DAC (which is fine for most applications, but another expense.)
I purchased an Asrock Z97 ITX board a few years ago for $115 bucks at Microcenter. This is the modern day equivalent for almost double the price. To add insult to injury, the Asrock board DID have an ALC1150 codec AND 802.11ac included.
Why are motherboards getting so expensive when the chipsets and component costs are becoming simpler and less expensive?
Was going to say the same thing. I have 3 Z97 itx motherboards. All purchased brand new for $120. What is going on? Inflation hasn't been THAT crazy to nearly double costs. Tariffs perhaps?
It could actually be tariffs...this is a new trend that started after the 100 series chipsets. Even AMD boards cost a small fortune now, even more ridiculous since the chipset is almost entirely in the CPU. The board is little more than voltage regulation, tracing and connectors...
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Racing motherboard used to build a battleship. Terrible combination of disconnected marketing and silly terminology used to articulate computer technology.
Over years of buying PC hardware, I've grown to totally disregard the marketing on motherboard and GPU packaging (they are mostly made by the same companies). It's always meaningless and silly-sounding. Doesn't seem to affect sales though. I dont't think that many people buy computer hardware based on the text on the box.
Product names are irrelevant. As long as the specs are good, and the RGB can be turned off they can call it whatever they want - and even use a confusing eagle with what appears to be biceps..
I've generally had the best luck with board specs and lineups used for OEM's (i.e. MSI PC Mate series, Asus Pro/CSM or Prime series, etc) because these boards are presumably designed to guarantee a trouble-free lifespan for an OEM through an extended warranty interval (like HP 4 year ESP w/ ADP) and customers who purchase those warranties are often the harshest on their components (24/7 use, no climate control environment, hygiene)
But that's just me. Hasn't steered me wrong though. Basically every high-end product MSI makes is crap while their entry level boards are all solid. Go figure.
Absolutely it will be fine. The vast majority of reasonably designed motherboards need no active cooling anywhere. The few that add them do so because of PCIe 4.0 (currently only an AMD side thing) or fans are slapped onto VRMs to hide poor design decision under the guise of "overclocker friendly voltage regulator cooling enhancements" so people throw more money at supposedly higher margin parts while feeling like they are somehow obtaining greater value that justifies the expenditure. Classic marketing is still alive and well because, despite generations of exposure to it, we haven't gotten much smarter about identifying and coping with it.
Thanks Gavin and Ian! Fully agree - way overpriced for what it has and can do. One suggestion, especially for boards that are likely to be used in an HTPC: please include the exact HDMI version supported (with specs) as well as any information on display port and Thunderbolt capabilities, including, of course, complete absence of such features. Thanks!
As for the current state of affairs with Intel in the HTPC space: they are lucky that AMD has not made Renoir chips available for socketed mini-desktops, or they could kiss that market goodbye.
AM4 seems pretty big for ITX based on the ASRock board I have. This board might be bad but Intel should still have an upper hand, unless Comet Lake is bigger than past socket + chipset pairings?
Unless I overlooked it, a review of AM4 mini ITX Boards would be interesting, if just for comparison. There are even a couple of x570 boards with PCIe 4.0 for about the price of this board here available, and they include Thunderbolt and WiFi connectivity, and a much better audio. However, my own preference would be for a cheaper B450 or 550 board for about half the price; that's enough for an HTPC setup.
How would a smaller socket+chipset give them the upper hand for HTPCs when Renoir offers better CPU performance for a given TDP and markedly superior graphics?
AM4 might be "big for ITX", but that's irrelevant if you can still build an ITX system around it.
Speaking of which if you are going to cover the VRM section of a board you need to go into more detail than simply stating the VRM configuration. 6+2 is almost meaningless when the quality of MOSFETS and drivers is what really determines how much power a board is capable of delivering and how efficient it will be. With the specs of the components involved and the layout along with some simple math is pretty easy to ballpark what a board is capable of.
Yeah nope. The asrock x570 micro arc has a 8+2 vrm. Said vrm uses absurdly crap mosfets and as a result some users have issues running stock 2700x or 3900x CPU’s.
Number of phases is meaningless without knowing what parts are used to make said VRM.
8xx realtec sound and no Wifi module on an ITX board at 200? WAY over priced. People buy these things for HTPC and such. At least include the WiFi AC module as most people dont yet have WiFi6 routers but the 1200 series sound should have been used for this board for sure.
I just did a newegg search (the site doesnt yet have a socket 1200 search but you can search using the right chipset). Even the ITX ASRock board @ $160 WITH the Z series chipset has at least the base ALC1200 (not the more updated 1220) and it has 2 M2 slots and AC wifi. This board is a fail, get this instead https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813157925?Item=N82E...
> and because these boards end up in the lower-cost systems
Seriously? Have you seen the price of proper SFF cases these days? DAN A4, Louge Ghost, Ncase M1 etc etc, they cost more than this overpriced motherboard does.
SFF is a niche but expensive way to build a PC right now, one that after 20+ years of hulking great ATX cases is still eclipsed by the mainstream.
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YB1064 - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
$200 for this board is ridiculous.boredsysadmin - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
100%. Since when $200 is a "budget" price point for a motherboard????shabby - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
The itx crowd will pay don't worry.HardwareDufus - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
no we won't pay for it.1 m.2 port, no wifi, no dp, no optical audio... sorry... expensive and incomplete.
shabby - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
Oh you'll pay and you'll like it! 😂Samus - Saturday, June 6, 2020 - link
It isn't terrible for $200 but the little things like skimping on the audio codec (that couldn't have saved more than a dollar or two, right?) really sour an ITX board when you consider there is no way to upgrade it outside of a USB DAC (which is fine for most applications, but another expense.)I purchased an Asrock Z97 ITX board a few years ago for $115 bucks at Microcenter. This is the modern day equivalent for almost double the price. To add insult to injury, the Asrock board DID have an ALC1150 codec AND 802.11ac included.
Why are motherboards getting so expensive when the chipsets and component costs are becoming simpler and less expensive?
Ej24 - Sunday, June 7, 2020 - link
Was going to say the same thing. I have 3 Z97 itx motherboards. All purchased brand new for $120. What is going on? Inflation hasn't been THAT crazy to nearly double costs. Tariffs perhaps?Samus - Monday, June 8, 2020 - link
It could actually be tariffs...this is a new trend that started after the 100 series chipsets. Even AMD boards cost a small fortune now, even more ridiculous since the chipset is almost entirely in the CPU. The board is little more than voltage regulation, tracing and connectors...alicebcao75 - Monday, June 8, 2020 - link
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hopearhodes30 - Thursday, June 11, 2020 - link
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RamIt - Monday, June 15, 2020 - link
I will never pay $200 for a board with these features.PeachNCream - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
Racing motherboard used to build a battleship. Terrible combination of disconnected marketing and silly terminology used to articulate computer technology.Flunk - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
Over years of buying PC hardware, I've grown to totally disregard the marketing on motherboard and GPU packaging (they are mostly made by the same companies). It's always meaningless and silly-sounding. Doesn't seem to affect sales though. I dont't think that many people buy computer hardware based on the text on the box.Deicidium369 - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
Product names are irrelevant. As long as the specs are good, and the RGB can be turned off they can call it whatever they want - and even use a confusing eagle with what appears to be biceps..Samus - Sunday, June 7, 2020 - link
I've generally had the best luck with board specs and lineups used for OEM's (i.e. MSI PC Mate series, Asus Pro/CSM or Prime series, etc) because these boards are presumably designed to guarantee a trouble-free lifespan for an OEM through an extended warranty interval (like HP 4 year ESP w/ ADP) and customers who purchase those warranties are often the harshest on their components (24/7 use, no climate control environment, hygiene)But that's just me. Hasn't steered me wrong though. Basically every high-end product MSI makes is crap while their entry level boards are all solid. Go figure.
UltraWide - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
Is the chipset ok without active cooling?Irata - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
What would the chipset need cooling for ?What seems to be actively cooled on many Z490 boards is the VRM / power circuitry.
Hxx - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
the chipset should not go over 60C or so, or at least it doesnt on my asus z490 mini itx board albeit with an m.2 on top of it.DanNeely - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
The only chipset on the market that needs active cooling is the AMD 570, because PCIe 4.0 is a power hog.PeachNCream - Sunday, June 7, 2020 - link
Absolutely it will be fine. The vast majority of reasonably designed motherboards need no active cooling anywhere. The few that add them do so because of PCIe 4.0 (currently only an AMD side thing) or fans are slapped onto VRMs to hide poor design decision under the guise of "overclocker friendly voltage regulator cooling enhancements" so people throw more money at supposedly higher margin parts while feeling like they are somehow obtaining greater value that justifies the expenditure. Classic marketing is still alive and well because, despite generations of exposure to it, we haven't gotten much smarter about identifying and coping with it.eastcoast_pete - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
Thanks Gavin and Ian! Fully agree - way overpriced for what it has and can do.One suggestion, especially for boards that are likely to be used in an HTPC: please include the exact HDMI version supported (with specs) as well as any information on display port and Thunderbolt
capabilities, including, of course, complete absence of such features. Thanks!
As for the current state of affairs with Intel in the HTPC space: they are lucky that AMD has not made Renoir chips available for socketed mini-desktops, or they could kiss that market goodbye.
Slash3 - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
Socketed Renoir is on the way.lmcd - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
AM4 seems pretty big for ITX based on the ASRock board I have. This board might be bad but Intel should still have an upper hand, unless Comet Lake is bigger than past socket + chipset pairings?Deicidium369 - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
has the same HSF hole spacing - so about the same size - it's only 49 additional pinslmcd - Saturday, June 6, 2020 - link
I meant the chipset.eastcoast_pete - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
Unless I overlooked it, a review of AM4 mini ITX Boards would be interesting, if just for comparison. There are even a couple of x570 boards with PCIe 4.0 for about the price of this board here available, and they include Thunderbolt and WiFi connectivity, and a much better audio. However, my own preference would be for a cheaper B450 or 550 board for about half the price; that's enough for an HTPC setup.Spunjji - Monday, June 8, 2020 - link
How would a smaller socket+chipset give them the upper hand for HTPCs when Renoir offers better CPU performance for a given TDP and markedly superior graphics?AM4 might be "big for ITX", but that's irrelevant if you can still build an ITX system around it.
Operandi - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
Looks like a pretty weak / inefficient VRM.Speaking of which if you are going to cover the VRM section of a board you need to go into more detail than simply stating the VRM configuration. 6+2 is almost meaningless when the quality of MOSFETS and drivers is what really determines how much power a board is capable of delivering and how efficient it will be. With the specs of the components involved and the layout along with some simple math is pretty easy to ballpark what a board is capable of.
Deicidium369 - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
it's not a board designed for over clocking - 6+2 will be fine.TheinsanegamerN - Monday, June 8, 2020 - link
Yeah nope. The asrock x570 micro arc has a 8+2 vrm. Said vrm uses absurdly crap mosfets and as a result some users have issues running stock 2700x or 3900x CPU’s.Number of phases is meaningless without knowing what parts are used to make said VRM.
HideOut - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
8xx realtec sound and no Wifi module on an ITX board at 200? WAY over priced. People buy these things for HTPC and such. At least include the WiFi AC module as most people dont yet have WiFi6 routers but the 1200 series sound should have been used for this board for sure.HideOut - Friday, June 5, 2020 - link
I just did a newegg search (the site doesnt yet have a socket 1200 search but you can search using the right chipset). Even the ITX ASRock board @ $160 WITH the Z series chipset has at least the base ALC1200 (not the more updated 1220) and it has 2 M2 slots and AC wifi. This board is a fail, get this instead https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813157925?Item=N82E...MadAd - Sunday, June 7, 2020 - link
> and because these boards end up in the lower-cost systemsSeriously? Have you seen the price of proper SFF cases these days? DAN A4, Louge Ghost, Ncase M1 etc etc, they cost more than this overpriced motherboard does.
SFF is a niche but expensive way to build a PC right now, one that after 20+ years of hulking great ATX cases is still eclipsed by the mainstream.
androidapps - Monday, June 8, 2020 - link
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xotic.aqua - Monday, March 21, 2022 - link
is this board good for 105 usd?xotic.aqua - Monday, March 21, 2022 - link
is this build https://nz.pcpartpicker.com/list/9z9K4s worth it?