Monthly Archives: November 2017

ECS Elitegroup Intel Motherboard Intel Z77 ATX

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This is a review on ECS Intel motherboard Z77 ATX. This motherboard is mainly used for gaming PC’s and can be found on New-egg for $350. It may be an older motherboard but it can play some of the games you play today.

Elitegroup Computer Systems Co. It is the fifth largest PC motherboard manufacturer in the world (after Asus, Gigabyte Technology, ASRock, and MSI), with production reaching 24 million units in 2002(the no longer sell motherboards by their name/ECS, but make motherboards for Asus, Giga, ASRock, and MSI. (ECS Wikipedia)

The ECS Elitegroup Intel Z77 ATX is one of their best motherboard you can probably buy from them. The motherboard has only has DDR3 on it, but works well. Testing this motherboard on games today it doesn’t stand a chance to the new motherboards. It’s not a bad looking motherboard so it would look cool if you have an open case.
 
Specs:

  • ATX
  • 0″ x 9.6″
  • 24 Pin
  • LGA 115
  • Intel Z77
  • DDR3
  • PCI Express 3.0 x1
  • PCI Express x1
  • 2 x PCI Express x1
  • 2 x PCI Slots
  • 1 x Mini PCIe

 
 

This Motherboard good for normal gaming nothing for high end extreme quality. I would recommend getting this mother board only if you just want to play the game on lower quality. Quality at the minimum would probably be medium on everything thing in the game and shadows low. (Video on Motherboard)

Note:  This review is part of a classroom project.]]>

MSI X399 SLI PLUS sTR4 AMD Review

<![CDATA[I recently review the MSI x399 SLI PLUS sTR4 AMD. This motherboard is going to run about $340.  It does come with a mystic light sync setup which allows you to change the lights to fit your wants. Visually, it does look really cool, and looks like a monster with the Max Memory being 128 GB’s.  I am not quite sure why you would need 128 GB of RAM, but if you do, then this mother board is for you. I think this mother board would be pretty good for gaming, especially if you have a clear case, it mainly depends on what your looking for. It does have a sTR4 Socket on it, so its not gonna be a cheap mother board by any means. This would not be for you if you are on a budget gaming pc build, but would fit your needs on a costly pc build for sure, but keep in mind you might be able to find some other mother boards that give more for their money. Overall is a great motherboard and would recommend to anyone without a budget looking for a gaming motherboard with a sTR4 socket.
Motherboard From MSI Website
Specs:

  • CPU Socket Type: sTR4
  • Compatible CPU’s: Ryzen Threadripper Series
  • 8 x SATA 6Gb/s
  • 4x PCI Express 3.0 x16
  • 2x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots
  • Memory Standard: DDR4
  • Maximum Memory: 128GB
  • Channel Supported: Quad Channel
  • Max Bus Speed: 2400
  • Integrated Audio: Realtek ALC1220
  • Audio Channels: 7.1 Channel High Definition Audio
  • Lan Chipset: Intel I211
  • Max Lan Speed: 10/100/1000Mbps

 
*Note this is for a class project
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ASUS Prime A320M-K Home Motherboard Review

<![CDATA[ASUS Prime A320M-K is a home motherboard and I would not recommend this motherboard for gaming or business.  This will be a review of the motherboard and a comparison to other low end home motherboards.
AsusTek Computer Inc. (stylised as ASUSTeK or ΛSUS) is a Taiwanese multinational computer and phone hardware and electronics company headquartered in Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan. Its products include desktops, laptops, netbooks, mobile phones, networking equipment, monitors, WIFI routers, projectors, motherboards, graphics cards, optical storage, multimedia products, peripherals, wearables, servers, workstations, and tablet PCs. The company is also an original equipment manufacturer (OEM). (AsusWiki)

The Prime A320M-K is one of ASUS’s older models that they still sell on the market. It comes fully equipped with the support needed on a home computer. The motherboard form factor is Micro ATX and measures quite small at 8.7″ x 8.9″.  Pertaining to the CPU and Memory aspects:

  • CPU: AM4 CPU socket; compatible to Ryzen, Athlon, and A-Series processors
  • Memory: 2×288pin memory slots, 32GB of supported memory, memory standard: DDR4 3200(O.C.)/ 2933(O.C.)/ 2666/ 2400/ 2133

Other onboard components:

  • Integrated AMD Radeon R Series Graphics in the 7th Generation A-Series APU
  • Realtek ALC887, 8 Channels
  • LAN Chipset: Realtek RTL8111H, Max LAN Speed:10/100/1000Mbps
  • 4 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray
  • 4 x USB 3.0
  • 2 x USB 2.0
  • 1 x D-Sub Video Port
  • 1 x PS/2 keyboard ,1 x PS/2 mouse
  • 3 Audio Ports
  • Expansion Slots:
    • 2 x PCIe 2.0 x1
    • AMD Ryzen Processors: 1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 mode)
    • AMD 7th Gen A-series / Athlon Processors: 1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x8 mode)

I found this motherboard while searching through NewEgg for a new home motherboard at a low price. I stumbled across this motherboard and with a 3 star review decided to give it a chance. However, after using this motherboard for a few weeks I have to say that 3 stars was far to generous. After reading through more reviews, I realized other people had experienced the same problems I had. Reviewer Gregory R. put it perfectly when he stated,”Writing on board is hard to read. Says on Asus Website ” delivers outstanding overclocking capabilities for the latest AMD® AM4-socket Ryzen™ processors” but there is no option to overclock in BIOS.” This specific site holds the price at $59.99 but I regret paying even that little amount. I would not recommend this motherboard 2/10.
Note:  This review is part of a classroom project.
 
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GIGABYTE GA-AB350-GAMING 3 Review: Good Gaming Motherboard?

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I would like to introduce you to the Gigabyte GA-AB350-Gaming 3 that is used for high end gaming. The GA-AB350 is made for most AMD CPU’s with an AM4 socket that is compatible with Ryzen and 7th Generation A-Series/Athlon processors. This motherboard costs $109.99 On newegg (Prices change) and is overall a good price for the performance and architecture of the board. Its sleek yet simple design could fool anybody in believing  its quality and cost effectiveness. The low failure rate make it the perfect motherboard for all around Gamers.
The GA-AB350 comes in an ATX form factor and is 30.5cm x 23.0cm allowing it to fit in most medium sized cases. Its produced by the Taiwanese company Gigabyte who are located in Taipei Taiwan and are known for their high quality motherboards with over 30 Million motherboards sold and having a failure rate of only 2.5% versus ASUS who has a 3.1% fail rate. Gigabyte is worth more than 1.7 billion dollars since it was found in 1986 and has made many other performance worthy motherboards for home desktops and gaming rigs.

 
Specifications:

  • Chipset AMD B350
  • Form factor ATX
  • Motherboard Speed: 2933MHz
  • CPU support AMD Socket AM4 (Ryzen)
  • Memory support Dual-channel, 4 x 288 Pin, DDR4max 64GB
  • Sound 8-channel Realtek ALC1220 Codec
  • Networking Realtek Gigabit Ethernet
  • Ports 1 x M.2 PCI-E 3.0 x4 32Gbps/SATA 6Gbps (up to 22110), 6 x SATA 6Gbps, 2 x USB 3.1 Type-A, 6 x USB 3.0), 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x LAN, audio out, line in, mic, HDMI 1.4, DVI-D
  • Dimensions (cm) 30.5 x 23
  • Extras: RGB LED extension cable, isolated audio circuitry, steel-plated PCI-E slots
  • PCI Slots: 2 x PCI Express x1 slots, 1 x PCI Express 16x 3.0 Slot, 1 x PCI Express 16x 2.0 Slot, 1 x PCIe4x Slot

 
Gigabyte AB350-Gaming 3 Review
The GA-AB350 has a ranking of 4 eggs on newegg and has almost over 160 reviews. Many other hardware websites like bit-tech and even earning a 9/10 on Kit-Guru. Its one of the first chipsets in its class and has been proven to handle stability issues with the new Ryzen CPU’s since its release. There has been many chipset updates since then that can further improve the GA-AB350 and it its been built with high quality components that it will last.  (Bit-tech) The only real con of the motherboard is the M.2 slot is somewhat close to the PCI slots so plan ahead when inserting a graphics card.
The GA-AB350 is overall a good motherboard between its high performance, quality stability with AMD CPU’s and best of all its price for all of these features. It’s RGB and dual BIOS offer anybody great custom ability and its a good motherboard. It doesn’t come without its cons but there a very few that outweigh the many good things about this motherboard.
Note: This review is part of a classroom project.
https://www.bit-tech.net/reviews/tech/gigabyte-ab350-gaming-3-review/1/
http://www.gigabyte.us/Motherboard/GA-AB350-Gaming-3-rev-10#kf
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128991
https://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/gigabyte_ga_ab350_gaming_3_review,2.html]]>

ASUS ROG ZENITH EXTREME – Review

<![CDATA[Hello, my name is Ellie. I am here to tell you all about my favorite motherboard for gaming! ASUS ROG ZENITH EXTREME is the gaming motherboard I am here to present. It is through ASUS, has an AMD chipset, and a form factor of extended ATX. It is a bit pricey There are so many great features about this specific motherboard. It runs very fast at a whopping speed of 2666 Mhz or O.C at 3600+ Mhz. It has DDR4 memory and allows 128 GB of RAM. It has many expansion slots in which is very good for the whole gaming concept. As you can see in the photo below the rear panel slots and more include many great gaming features.
Many features include:
Basic Integrated Components
Audio – ROG Supreme FX High Def. CODEC S1220 and it supports 8 channels
LAN – Intel Ethernet Controller Chipset, Support Bluetooth 4.1, 10Gbps+ at 10/100/1000
Video – None! Add own
Memory
2×288 pins, DDR4 – 3600+ (O.C) and 2666, Max memory is 128 GB, Quad Channel
CPU
CPU Socket Type – sTR4
CPU Type – Ryzen Threadripper Series
Expansion & Storage
4 x PCIe 3.0 x 16
1 x PCIe 2.0 x 4
1 x PCIe 2.0 x 1
6 SATA III
2 x M.2
Rear Panel
1 x RJ45
8 x  USB 3.1 GEN1
1 x Optical

5 x Audio Jack (LED Illuminated)

NOTE: This review is for a class project

 
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BIOstar Gaming PC Motherboard Review For: X370GT7 Version 5.x

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BIOstar is a Taiwanese company that manufactures everything from motherboards to thermal grease. This review is of BIOstar motherboard, specifically made for high-ending gaming on your PC. You can purchase this motherboard on Newegg, for just $179.99! Overall, this motherboard is the best for you and your gaming PC. This certain motherboard was the latest entry in the second generation of the RACING series by BIOstar, supporting AMD Ryzen CPUs. The RACING series, specifically for high-end gaming, includes FLY.NET and DRAGON LAN for the best gaming experience you could have! (BIOstar) This motherboard is by far the best you could pick to put in your PC for gaming, at it’s low price and incredible features it has just from BIOstar manufacturers.
It has an AMD AM4 Socket, with an ATX form factor. Compatible CPUs include:

  • AMD A-series APU
  • Ryzen CPU
  • NPU

This motherboard is also great for expansions cards, seeing as how this motherboard has 6 PCI-E Slots:

  • 2 PCI-E x16 3.0 Slots
  • 1 PCI-E x16 2.0 Slots (x4)
  • 3 PCI-E x1 2.0 Slots

It also has 6 SATA III connectors, and supports SATA RAID, and it also has all the integrated components you need to enjoy your gaming! These components include:

  • Lan- Supports Super Surge LAN protection!
    • Realtek RTL8118AS
  • Video
    • Supports DX12
    • Supports HDCP
  • Codec
    • Realtek ALC1220 8-Channel Blu-Ray Audio
    • Biostar Hi-Fi

As well as all the rear-panel connectors you could ever need:

  • 1 USB 3.1 Generation 2 Type-C
  • 1 USB 3.1 Generation 2
  • 4 USB 3.1 Generation 1
  • DVI-D
  • HDMI
  • S/PDIF
  • Display Port
  • RJ-45
  • 5 Audio Ports
  • PS/2 Port

The X370GT7 has 4 DDR4 DIMM Memory Slots and supports up to 64 GB! This motherboard’s fastest bus speed is also 2667 MHz, but can overclock at 3200 MHz, which is perfect for overclocking gamers who put the Ryzen CPU into this board. Other cool accessories you get with this motherboard are as follows:

  • M.2 Cooling Protection
  • Lightning Charger- charge your phone to 75% in just a half hour!
  • VIVID LED Armor
  • Dual BIOS
  • Super Surge LAN Protection- an extra special BIOstar motherboard feature!
  • Digital Power+ Technology

Overall, this is a great gaming motherboard, with all of the expansion slots you can ask for to stick all your gaming graphic cards in, all the audio, and the fastest overclock times for your intense gaming. I would recommend this motherboard to anyone and everyone who is looking for the best.

Note:  This review is part of a classroom project.

References 
http://www.biostar-usa.com/app/en-us/mb/introduction.php?S_ID=874
http://www.biostar-usa.com/app/en-us/index.php
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138447]]>

Micro ATX ECS AMD Supported A55F2P-M2 Motherboard Review

<![CDATA[The ECS A55F2P-M2 (V1.0) is built with high-quality components, and provides the industry’s highest level of features and technologies. It’s an absolute top choice for any DIY users.

  • ECS announced the A55F2P-M2, an entry-level socket FM2+ motherboard, that’s ready for AMD’s A-Series.
  • The narrow micro-ATX motherboard draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and 4-pin CPU power connectors.
  • The socket is wired to two DDR3 DIMM slots, supporting up to 32 GB of dual-channel DDR3 memory, a PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot, and a PCI-Express 2.0 x1 slot. A legacy PCI slot makes for the rest of the expansion area.
  • Storage connectivity includes four SATA 3 Gb/s ports.
  • Display outputs include DVI and D-Sub. Two USB 3.0 ports, 6-channel HD audio, gigabit Ethernet, and PS/2 connectors make for the rest of the connectivity (New-egg).This Micro ATX ECS AMD Supported A55F2P-M2 Motherboard is a great product for the price. ECS meets the current and future demands of high performance, power embedded computing, making it ideal for communications, transaction terminal, interactive client, industrial automation applications as well as for standard home use
"Note this is a classroom project"
References:
ECS - Motherboard, Notebook, Tablet PC, System, IPC, LIVA Mini PC, www.ecs.com.tw/ecswebsite/index.aspx?MenuID=0&LanID=0.“ECS A55F2P-M2 (V1.0) FM2+ / FM2 AMD A55 (Hudson D2) Micro ATX AMD Motherboard.”
Newegg.com- Computer Parts, Laptops, Electronics, HDTVs, Digital Cameras and More!, www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135378.
“NewEgg.com.” Overclock.net, www.overclock.net/products/ecs-a55f2p-m2-micro-atx-amd-motherboard.

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GIGABYTE GA-B250M-D3H INTEL – Budget Gaming Motherboard!?

<![CDATA[The GIGABYTE GA-B250M-D3H is a great everyday computer that can do all the everyday tasks. It can also be a budget decent gaming motherboard as it features a advanced BIOS and supports VR and 2 way crossfire graphics. Most people use this motherboard because it  has all the basic needs and it is reliable.
The motherboard is made by a very well known company for reliable motherboards, Gigabyte. Gigabyte is a motherboard vendor, with shipments of 4.8 million motherboards in Q1 2015, while ASUS shipped around 4.5 million motherboards in the same quarter Wikipedia

Specs:
CPU

  • Socket:  LGA 1151
  • Compatible CPUs:  Core i7 / i5 / i3 /Pentium /Celeron (LGA1151)

Memory

  • Number of Memory Slots: x4
  • Memory Standard: DDR4 DIMM sockets
  • Maximum Memory Supported: 64GB
  • Speed DDR4 2400* / 2133 MHz

The GIGABYTE GA-B250M-D3H is a great all around Motherboard. It is a great base model for a good PC or even a gaming PC. In this video a guy uses this motherboard to make a silent gaming PC. With my use, it preforms very well even with crossfire graphics and other add-ons. I can maintain it well with the advanced BIOS and the Smart Fan feature to monitor the hardware and keep it cool. All around you cant go wrong with this motherboard weather you’re making a good business PC or a pretty decent gaming PC because of the multiple compatible components. With 5 eggs on Newegg.com, it is a steal for $85.
Note:  This review is part of a classroom project.]]>

ASUS Prime X299-Deluxe Motherboard Review

<![CDATA[This review will be about the ASUS X299-Deluxe motherboard. This motherboard is a great high-end motherboard option. On Newegg, you can purchase this gaming option for $479.99. The motherboard is designed for 7th generation LGA2066 socket Intel Core X-Series processors to maximize connectivity and speed (ASUS). The ASUS Prime X299- Deluxe has an ATX form factor.
The ASUS Prime X299-Deluxe motherboard is made by the number one motherboard brand in the world. ASUS was founded in 1989 and has since has made over 500 million motherboards, and been named the best motherboard brand for 6 consecutive years (Wikipedia). Because the motherboard is coming from a high-end company, you can assure that it is reliable and working to the best of your needs.

Specifications:

  • Native motherboard speed of 2666 MHz
  • Video (Supported only by CPU with integrated graphic)
  • Integrated Audio (Realtek ALC S1220A, 8 channels)
  • Integrated LAN (Intel I219-V)/ Second LAN (Intel I211-AT)
  • 3 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16, x16/x16, x16/x16/x8)
  • 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (max at x4 mode) *1
  • 3 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 ( x16, x16/x8, x16/x8/x4)
  • 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (max at x4 mode) *1
  • 3 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16, x8/x8, x8/x8/x1)
  • 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (max at x4 mode) *1
  • DDR4 memory that supports up to 128GB

The ASUS Prime X299-deluxe motherboard is not only a great option for a high-end gaming system, but it could also work as a business motherboard if you needed it to. I recommend this option not because of the price but because of all of the high-end components this motherboard has to offer. The ASUS Prime X299-Deluxe has metal framing for a stronger and more reliable structure. It also has the industry leading audio and video (Newegg). ASUS has led me to believe that this motherboard has no cons. Although the price of this motherboard is pretty steep, it is hard to find one that does and has as much as the ASUS Prime X299-Deluxe for cheaper. If you want a high-end gaming motherboard, then the ASUS Prime X299-Deluxe is the motherboard for you!
Note:  This review is part of a classroom project.
Wikipedia <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asus                                                                                 ASUS <https://www.asus.com/About_ASUS/Company-Introduction                                  Newegg <https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=n82e16813132990&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleKWLess&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleKWLess-_-DSAFeed-All-Products-_-motherboards-intel-_-NA&ignorebbr&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI09ydkrCr1wIVXLjACh0XDgDXEAAYASAAEgLYNvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
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Gigabyte Motherboard Review

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Gigabyte is an international manufacturer and distributed of computer hardware parts.  What Gigabyte is most famous for is their wide varieties of motherboards. This manufacture is one of the largest motherboard manufacturers in the world producing about 400,000 motherboards per month. If I had to choose, the type of motherboard that I would choose is a Gigabyte motherboard.

I would not choose any ordinary motherboard though. The gigabyte motherboard that I would choose is the Gigabyte Aorus GA-Z270X-Gaming K7 motherboard.

  • ATX Form Factor
  • Highest speed O.C: 4133(O.C.)
  • Highest Speed: 2400 MHz
  • Onboard Audio: Channels: 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel
  • Onboard Video: Integrated Graphics Processor-Intel HD Graphics support
  •  Onboard LAN: Max LAN Speed is Dual 10/100/1000Mbps
  • 3 x PCI Express x16 slot
  • 3 x PCI Express x1 slots
  • 6 x SATA 6Gb/s
  • 3 x SATA Express connectors

I would choose this motherboard because it is a good high end gaming motherboard and it is also a decently cheap one as well. This motherboard speed ranges from 2666 O.C to 4133 O.C which is a very good range of speeds for a gaming PC.
Another reason why I would choose this motherboard is because of all of the expansion slots. There are a total of six different PCIe expansion slots. These slots will allow the user to add additional hardware parts to make your PC run even faster or other things.
The Gigabyte Aorus GA-Z270X-Gaming K7 motherboard is the one motherboard that I would choose for my PC if I was building my own PC. All because of how well it will perform with such a low price.

Note:  This review is part of a classroom project.
http://www.gigabyte.us/?utm_expid=.r8QB2tk4Re-xLtA1CApXdQ.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128964
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