The video reviews AMD’s new X870 flagship motherboards, highlighting their features, performance, and differences compared to the older X670 chipsets. It showcases models from MSI, Asus, ASRock, and Gigabyte, noting their thermal performance and connectivity options while questioning the necessity of the upgrades over the previous generation.
The video discusses the launch of AMD’s new 800 series chipsets and their accompanying motherboards, specifically the flagship X870 models. The presenter highlights the similarities and differences between the new X870 and the older X670 chipsets, noting that the X870 series requires USB 4 support and mandates a PCIe 5.0 compliant primary PCI slot. While the X870 offers a maximum of 44 PCI lanes and 24 PCIe 5.0 lanes, it operates with a single chipset, making it a downgrade in terms of PCI lanes compared to the X670. The video serves as a preview of the X870 motherboards from various manufacturers, focusing on models from MSI, Asus, ASRock, and Gigabyte.
The first motherboard examined is the MSI MPG X870 Carbon Wi-Fi, which comes with an MSRP of $500. The presenter appreciates its design and features, such as tool-free access to M.2 slots and a robust VRM setup with 18 110 amp power stages. The board also includes advanced connectivity options like Wi-Fi 7 and USB 4. The next model, the Asus ROG Crosshair X870 Hero, is praised for its aesthetics and extensive feature set, including multiple M.2 slots, a well-equipped I/O panel, and substantial cooling solutions. The presenter notes that the Crosshair Hero has a powerful VRM capable of supporting high-end processors.
The ASRock X870 Taichi is positioned as a more affordable flagship option, priced at $400. Despite its lower cost, it still boasts impressive features, including a solid power delivery system and multiple M.2 slots. The video also mentions the Taichi Light version, which offers a more subdued design for a slightly lower price. Lastly, the Gigabyte X870 Aorus Master is reviewed, showcasing its refined design and decent I/O options, although it falls short in USB support compared to its competitors.
In terms of performance, all four motherboards tested were found to maintain low temperatures under stress, and the ASRock model performed the best thermally. The presenter highlights that all boards passed stress tests without overheating, indicating that thermal performance is not a concern for these high-end models. However, the Gigabyte board achieved the highest score in performance benchmarks, although the differences were minimal across all boards.
The video concludes with a discussion on memory support, boot times, and USB performance. While the boards generally performed well in these areas, the presenter notes that the MSI board struggled with ECC memory support. Boot times varied, with Gigabyte achieving the fastest boot at 17 seconds. Overall, the video serves as an informative overview of the new X870 motherboards, emphasizing their features and performance while questioning the necessity of the upgrades over the previous generation. The presenter encourages viewer engagement and feedback regarding the new motherboards.