ASRock 990FX Fatal1ty Top ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Killer AM3+ Motherboard Review

ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Killer AM3+ Motherboard Review

The AMD 990FX Chipset has been around for a while now, but it has recently come back into the spotlight with the release of a few new CPUs from AMD’s FX series. With that release we were pleased to receive a 990FX motherboard that we hadn’t previously looked at. In this article, Benchmark Reviews takes a look at the ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Killer motherboard; a 990FX motherboard focused on gaming performance. Motherboards manufacturers are all about differentiating themselves by including features that make them stand out. The ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Killer motherboard is definitely a motherboard that stands apart.

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ASRock X99 Extreme11 Motherboard Debuts

Though there are plentiful Haswell-E X99 platforms out there, sometimes we are simply incapable of being satisfied with what we already have. Faithfully believing that the grass is always greener on the other side, then end up pursuing extremities compulsively. Well, being insatiable is just human. And also the motive to drive ASRock to produce the world’s most powerful X99 motherboard – ASRock X99 Extreme11! Storage Galore: 18 SATA3 (8 SAS-3 12 Gb/s) + 2 Ultra M.2 One thing that you can’t possibly miss on this monstrous motherboard is storage connectors! ASRock X99 Extreme11 boasts a total of 18 SATA3 connectors on the side of the motherboard, including 10 SATA3 6.0 Gb/s connectors from Intel®X99 and 8 additional SAS-3 12.0 […]

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MSI Z97S SLI Krait Edition Motherboard Introduced

Dare to be different MSI, world leader in motherboard technology, is proud to announce its latest motherboard, the Z97S SLI Krait Edition. Inspired by and developed in cooperation with the world’s elite case modders, the new Z97S SLI Krait Edition is equipped with an arsenal of new features, improvements like NVIDIA® SLI™ certified for enthusiasts looking to pair up multiple graphics cards. On-board M.2 and SATA Express provides the latest storage technology with transfer speeds up to 10 Gb/s, with flexible solutions for using preferred devices. Military Class 4 provide all the stability you need through carefully selected and thoroughly tested components and materials. The Z97S SLI Krait Edition motherboard caters to those looking for a feature rich motherboard with […]

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ASUS X99-DELUXE Motherboard Performance Review

ASUS X99-DELUXE Motherboard Performance Review

Since Intel no longer manufacturers desktop motherboards, it works closely with its partners to ensure products are ready when new CPUs and chipsets are introduced. The X99 Express chipset, part of the LGA2011-V3 system that replaces the aging X79/LGA2011 system, is Intel’s newest foray into very high end desktop systems, and today Benchmark Reviews looks at the bundled software, features, utilities, and performance of the ASUS X99-DELUXE motherboard.

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GA Z87NWifi 34 Gigabyte GA-Z87N-WIFI Mini-ITX Motherboard Review

Gigabyte GA-Z87N-WIFI Mini-ITX Motherboard Review

The mini-ITX form factor has taken off in a big way. Packing a lot of power in a small space, these 17 x 17 centimeter squares have enabled new concentrations of computing power. Generally, you have to pay quite a bit for the privilege of shrinking everything down, but Gigabyte has a model in their Ultra Durable line of motherboards that brings a “Z” chipset to the ~$130 price point. With high-efficiency MOSFETs and on-board WIFI/Bluetooth, USB 3.0 and two gigabit LAN controllers (Intel and Atheros), the Gigabyte GA-Z87N-WIFI is a reasonably priced entry into the overclocking-capable Z87 chipset. Is it worth it? Follow along as Benchmark Reviews takes a closer look.

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EVGA X99 Motherboards Announced

The EVGA X99 lineup has arrived. EVGA has rebuilt its motherboard lineup for the next generation Intel® platform, offering a stunning set of new features and overclocking support. These motherboards also feature EVGA’s new GUI BIOS that focuses on the best overclocking support, functionality, and are straight and to the point, the way a modern BIOS should be. The Intel® X99 platform unlocks incredible performance: · Supports up to 16 CPU threads (8-core) · First desktop platform to support DDR4 memory · Up to 40 PCI-E 3.0 lanes · Native SATA 6.0Gb/s & USB 3.0 · Up to 20MB CPU Cache on 8 Core CPU Intel® Core™ i7-5960X vs. Intel® Core™ i7 4960X · Game Physics and AI up to […]

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ASUS X99-DELUXE Motherboard Preview

ASUS X99-DELUXE Motherboard Preview

Intel’s LGA2011 and its aging X79 chipset have soldiered along for that segment of the market that prized core count and memory bandwidth above all. But now there’s a new LGA2011 in town: LGA2011-V3, complete with the new X99 chipset, and Benchmark Reviews has ASUS’ latest X99-based motherboard to test. Replete with features like 5-way optimization, Crystal Sound audio, on-board 802.11ac wireless, m.2 SSD support, extensive overclocking options, and unique additions like a fan extension card and multiple ways to mount m.2 SSDs, the ASUS X99-DELUXE is aimed squarely at the enthusiast for whom only the very best will do.

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ASRock X99 Extreme4 Motherboard Introduced

World’s First Windows 8.1-Certified Intel X99 Chipset Based Motherboard Even though nothing much about ASRock’s next generation Intel® X99 series motherboards can be revealed yet, we simply can’t restrain ourselves from spilling out the good news that ASRock’s X99 Extreme4 is the world’s first Intel® X99 chipset based motherboard to pass Windows® 8.1 hardware certification. So, yeah, users may be ensured that ASRock’s X99 Extreme4 will support the latest operating system from Microsoft® without any problems, and bear in mind that it’s coming to you real soon! Kudos to ASRock again! Not only focusing on developing the most advanced hardware technology, ASRock also keen on bringing the latest software applications to PC users. ASRock pioneers in Windows® 8.1 logo submission, […]

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BIOSTAR Hi-Fi B85S2G Motherboard Announced

Intel Platform Board for Multiple Uses The newest motherboard based on the Intel B85 single chip architecture by BIOSTAR is ready work, play or to even literally make you money. The Hi-Fi B85S2G supports Intel’s 4th generation Core i7 and Core i5 processors in the 1150 package. The Hi-Fi B85S2G includes many features that are useful for IT departments in larger companies as well as small firms. Hi-Fi B85S2G boards deliver a business-rich option at a value price compared to the others. The Hi-Fi B85S2G is also a good choice for virtual currency mining with plentiful PCI-E slots for users who wish to create a dedicated mining machine. With the Hi-Fi B85S2G’s PCI-E slots you get a value oriented motherboard […]

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MSI ECO Series Motherboards Introduced

Groundbreaking power saving without compromising on performance MSI, world leader in motherboard technology, is proud to announce its groundbreaking new Intel based ECO Series motherboards. MSI ECO Series motherboards are the pinnacle of technical ingenuity through revolutionary PCB and software design, resulting in less use of power than a light bulb! Introducing 3 new models with the MSI H97M ECO, B85M ECO and H81M ECO motherboard. The new MSI ECO Series motherboards offer an unmatched efficiency with power saving up top 40% while delivering 100% performance and 100% compatibility with all 4th generation Intel CPUs and high speed DDR3 memory. With reliable and fast Gigabit LAN from Intel®, SATA 6Gb/s and USB 3.0 providing fast storage options and much more, […]

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ASRock FM2A88X Extreme6+ Motherboard Review

ASRock FM2A88X Extreme6+ Motherboard Review

FM2+ Motherboards sporting the A88X chipset started appearing in October 2013, but the improved functionality over the latest FM2 motherboards only became truly apparent with the release of the Kaveri line of APUs in January 2014. Add to that the recent release of AMD drivers supporting the Mantle API, and the FM2+ motherboards start to make sense. Benchmark Reviews has the AMD A10-7850K APU and a couple of FM2+ motherboards on hand. This article is dedicated to reviewing the ASRock FM2A88X Extreme6+ Motherboard to discover what sets it apart from the rest of the FM2+ crowd.

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BIOSTAR TB85 Motherboard Announced

The newest motherboard based on the Intel B85 chipset by BIOSTAR is ready for work, play or to even literally make you money. The TB85 supports the Intel’s 4th generation Core i7 and Core i5 processors in the 1150 package using the Intel B85 single chip architecture. The TB85 includes many features that are useful for IT departments in larger companies as well as small firms. BIOSTAR’s TB85 boards deliver a business-rich option at a value price compared to the other companies. The TB85 also offers a perfect choice for “Bitcoin Mining” with six PCI-E slots for users who wish to create a dedicated mining machine. With the TB85’s PCI-E slots you get a value oriented motherboard that can be […]

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MSI Z97 GAMING 9 AC Motherboard Released

MSI, world leading in motherboard technology, is pleased to announce its unleashing of the Z97 GAMING 9 AC motherboard to the public. The Z97 GAMING 9 AC from MSI is a custom designed motherboard, decorated with luscious new heat-sinks and unique Dragon Armor that highlight an arsenal of new features found on the board. It’s masterpiece being Xtreme Audio DAC, a premium dedicated onboard sound card with specially selected high quality audio components, set up and tuned by professionals delivering 120dB Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR) 192kHz / 32-Bit of purest sound quality for studio-grade Hi-Fi solutions and gaming headgear. The MSI Z97 GAMING 9 AC also comes with an Intel® Wi-Fi AC module with Bluetooth 4.0 and Intel® WiDi support. Go to […]

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asus z97 sabertooth rot3 ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 Motherboard Review

ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 Motherboard Review

ASUS tries to cover all the bases in the enthusiast market, and their TUF series motherboards are aimed at those who prize toughness and stability. Built with military-spec capacitors, chokes, and MOSFETs, and features such as extra ESD (electrostatic discharge) resistance, the Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 motherboard also includes ASUS’ unique Thermal Armor system and a custom processor to monitor the board’s voltages and temperatures, which is part of the Thermal Radar 2 system. Of course it also includes features common to their other motherboards such as the Digi+ fully digital power system and their best-in-class UEFI BIOS to control it all. A five-year warranty tops it all off.

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GIGABYTE 9 Series Z97 and H97 Motherboards Launched

4 New Series Including G1™ Gaming, Overclocking Series, Black Edition and Ultra Durable™ GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards today launched their new 9 series motherboards based on the Intel® Z97/H97 chipsets with support for 4th and 5th generation Intel® Core™ processors. “GIGABYTE is excited to launch 4 new series of motherboards for the Intel 9 series chipset, each offering a host of new and unique GIGABYTE features matched with GIGABYTE signature quality and durability,” commented Henry Kao, Vice President of GIGABYTE Motherboard Business Unit. “Our 9 series motherboards also offer a future proof platform to our customers by supporting the latest 4th generation Intel Core processors including the soon to launch refresh and […]

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ASRock Intel 9 Series Super Alloy Motherboards Announced

ASRock Inc., the global leading motherboard manufacturer, unveils the brand new Intel® 9 series motherboards with ASRock Super Alloy technology! Packing the Intel® Z97 / H97 chipsets, ASRock 9 series Super Alloy motherboards provide great compatibility and fully support the 5th, New 4th and 4th Generation Intel® Core™ Processors in Socket 1150. The product lines include the Extreme series for high-end PC, the Fatal1ty Killer Gaming series for elite gamers, and the OC Formula series for OC enthusiasts. Derived from the “built for stable and reliable” designing concept, ASRock does not compromise on any details. The 9 series motherboard are specially designed with ASRock Super Alloy technology, including 12K Platinum Capacitors with the longest lifespan in the industry, the next-gen […]

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ASUS P97 DELUXE NFC WLC Corner ASUS Z97-DELUXE NFC & WLC Motherboard Review

ASUS Z97-DELUXE NFC & WLC Motherboard Review

ASUS really pulls away from their competition with digital power control for memory and processor, utilizing up to 16 power phases to ensure absolute precision stability. All hardware points are controlled by Dual Intelligent Processors 5, which consists of DIGI+ Power Control, TPU, EPU, Turbo App, and Fan Xpert. ASUS Z97-DELUXE and Z97-PRO models feature dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac (a/b/g/n/ac) and BlueTooth 4.0 wireless functionality. In this article Benchmark Reviews showcases the ASUS Z97-DELUXE (NFC & WLC) motherboard, and reveals the many hardware features packed onto this mainstream channel desktop board while showing off overclocking performance.

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ASUS 9 Series Motherboards Introduced

One Click, Total System Optimization ASUS motherboards are often copied, but never perfected by competitors. Established as the industry leader in motherboard technology, our motherboards are always the most award-winning and best-selling in the world. The all-new ASUS 9 Series represents the new pinnacle of motherboard innovation, combining state-of-the-art automation with intuitive controls to satisfy the entire range of users, from novice to expert. On top of improved control, ASUS 9 Series also features superior on-board audio, optimized networking, and a full array of upgraded connectivity. All-New Aesthetics With the new technical design, comes with a new ID: The ASUS 9 Series features a muted approach to board aesthetics, resulting in a look and feel that blends high tech with […]

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BIOSTAR J1900NH2 Motherboard Introduced

BIOSTAR has announced the J1900NH2 motherboard with the on-board Intel Dual-Core Celeron J1900 processor in a mini ITX form factor for flexible use. The J1900NH2 boards come with the Intel Celeron J1900 Dual-Core processor already installed and it supports two DDR3L 1333/1066MHz memory slots for a maximum of 16GB of memory. It features an integrated graphics chip with enough performance for most home and office applications. The J1900NH2 board is ready for building a universal multimedia system due to its HDMI and analog VGA-out, and high definition audio with the Realtek ALC662 5.1 Channel HD Audio chip. LAN networking is covered by the Realtek RTL8111G – 10/100/1000 controller and being a BIOSTAR board it has the Smart Speed LAN feature. […]

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ASUS P97 DELUXE NFC WLC Corner ASUS Z97-DELUXE Motherboard Hardware Review

ASUS Z97-DELUXE Motherboard Hardware Review

Where ASUS really pulls away from their competition is with digital power control for memory and processor, utilizing up to 16 power phases to ensure absolute precision stability. All hardware points are controlled by Dual Intelligent Processors 5, which consists of DIGI+ Power Control, TPU, EPU, Turbo App, and Fan Xpert. ASUS Z97-DELUXE and Z97-PRO models feature dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac (a/b/g/n/ac) and BlueTooth 4.0 wireless functionality. In this article Benchmark Reviews showcases the ASUS Z97-DELUXE (NFC & WLC) motherboard, and reveals the many hardware features packed onto this mainstream channel desktop board.

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BIOSTAR A68N-5000 Motherboard Launched

BIOSTAR, manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, industrial computing systems and peripherals, has officially launched the latest edition to the CPU On-Board motherboard lineup, the “A68N-5000”. This newest micro-ATX form factor motherboard is a cost effective solution that comes with the CPU and graphics already installed and offers native support for dual-channel DDR3 memory. The A68N-5000 uses the AMD A4-5000 which is a 4 core CPU with a clock speed of 1.5 GHz with an integrated Radeon HD 8330 GPU that supports DX11.1 and HDMI, a single channel DDR3(L)-1600 memory controller as well as the Southbridge with various I/O- ports. The system runs cool and quiet with heat sinks instead of fans, this reduces noise and also dust buildup as well […]

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Intel Z87 Chipset Diagram

What’s New: Intel Z97 Motherboards

Back in 2007 Intel established a Tick-Tock model that predicted that following a micro-architectural process technology die shrink (tick) that a new micro-architecture would be introduced (tock). They’ve kept to this processor model for seven years, but no such model exists for their board chipset architecture. Instead, every tick update and new tock architecture receives a fresh LGA (land grid array) CPU socket: Nehalem brought LGA 1366 and later LGA 1156, Sandy Bridge introduced LGA 1155 followed by LGA 2011, and Haswell delivered LGA 1150. But what’s new in 2014 with Intel Z97 Express?

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GIGABYTE GA-AM1M-S2P and GA-AM1M-S2H Motherboards Announced

Supporting the Latest AMD Athlon and Sempron ‘Kabini’ SOC APUs GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, today announced official support for next generation AMD Athlon™ and Sempron APUs based on the highly anticipated ‘Kabini’ SOC architecture. GIGABYTE ‘Kabini’ support includes the all new GA-AM1M-S2P and GA-AM1M-S2H motherboards based on the AM1 motherboard platform. GIGABYTE AM1 Series Motherboards GIGABYTE AM1 Series motherboards showcase a number of features and technologies that separate them from the competition, including GIGABYTE RTC Clock IC and Ultra Durable™ 4 Plus. GIGABYTE RTC Clock IC The all new ‘Kabini’ APU’s CMOS functions have been integrated into the APU; this means that when the user removes the APU, all CMOS settings revert […]

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ASUS A88X Pro Angle3 ASUS A88X-Pro AMD Motherboard Review

ASUS A88X-Pro AMD Motherboard Review

With the new Kaveri APUs out in full force, the Mantle API being used for high-profile games like Battlefield 4, and HSA finally coming into its own, FM2+ motherboards are all over the place. The A88X chipset paired with an FM2+ APU is a solid platform all by itself, but manufacturers have to spice things up in order to sell motherboards. In this article, Benchmark Reviews takes a look at the ASUS A88X-Pro FM2+ Motherboard.

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