I started with the 12th generation Core processor early on, but the Z690 motherboard never got in. Mainly because it has two versions of DDR5 and DDR4, and neither version can be fully compatible, and only one of the two can be selected. The advantage of the DDR5 version is that it looks beautiful and has a face on its face. Many netizens, that is, the so-called face of the figure, only entered the DDR5 version.
After all, it supports DDR5 memory modules, and two or three years later, DDR5 is popular, and it seems that it cannot be eliminated. But the disadvantages are also obvious, that is, the DDR5 memory module is now too expensive, and the price of the better memory module is far more than the motherboard price. And what is more troublesome is that now the DDR5 memory module can only be regarded as a semi-finished product, the technology is not mature, whether it is the frequency, the performance is very general, and it is impossible to effectively open the distance with the DDR4 memory. If you buy it, you become a guinea pig. After a few years, DDR5 technology becomes familiar, do you want to change the better DDR5 memory module, or do you not change it? Moreover, after a few years, the Z690 motherboard was also eliminated, and the motherboard had to be replaced, which was extremely uneconomical for ordinary users.
Next, let's talk about the DDR4 version of the Z690 motherboard, its advantage is that the existing DDR4 memory module can still be used, and the DDR4 memory module is cheap, the performance is strong, not worse than the current DDR5 memory module. In addition to getting some do not understand anything, will only chase the new, buy your netizens spit evaluation. For example, they will say that they all use the Z690 motherboard, even the DDR5 is not used, there will be no computer at all, etc. In addition to this kind of nutrition, you have no loss, and you can save a lot of money.
Based on the above analysis, I resolutely started the DDR4 version of the Z690 motherboard, because I did not want to spend a high price, pay for the semi-finished DDR5 memory module, and will not enter it because of face problems. As long as you can save money, enough is enough. More importantly, the current semi-finished DDR5 memory module, in terms of performance, there is a problem of high latency, and even some DDR4 memory modules can not beat. According to the latest online sales statistics, the sales of the Z690 motherboard of the DDR4 version are much higher than the DDR5 version of the Z690 motherboard, what does this mean?
I started with the MSI MPG Z690 EDGE TI WIFI DDR4 blade titanium motherboard, the value of this motherboard can be said to be very high. On the back of the box, a feature introduction of the product is printed. This motherboard has a wealth of features, such as 16+1+1 direct-connection power supply design, using 75A intelligent power supply. Supports LIGHTNING GEN 5 with up to 128GB/s bandwidth and is compatible with PCI-E 4.0 devices. Support LIGHTENING USB 20G interface, USB3.2 Gen2X2, peak bandwidth 20Gbps. Supports 2.5G wired networks, which is 2.5 times the bandwidth of standard Gigabit networks. Wi-Fi6 and Bluetooth 5.2 are supported with 5th generation gaming sound components. Support MYSTIC LIGHT glare system, support one-button light effect switch.
This motherboard comes with a wealth of accessories, such as drive USB sticks, small brushes, cross and slotted screwdrivers, as well as different data cables, adapter cables, some of which are related to ARGB interfaces. As for paper attachments, there are more.
The motherboard is powered by a 16-phase 75A CPU direct connection, using a third-generation titanium power supply, 6-layer PCB 2 ounces of copper enhanced design. There are four PCIE slots, the first of which is 5.0 16X, which is enough for the next generation of graphics products.
The motherboard has four 4.0 M.2 connectors, all of which come with heat sinks, of which the M.2 interface near the CPU is PCI-E4.0 22110, and the other three are PCI-E4.0 2280. This motherboard has done a lot of settings in terms of heat dissipation, such as this M.2 heatsink, which MSI officially calls M.2 Frost Armor. Extended heat sinks and thermal tubes are used, with additional inductive thermal gaskets and high-efficiency thermal gaskets.
The motherboard uses a dual 8P interface power supply, although the connection of one interface can also be used, but it is recommended that you still connect both. Now the mainstream power supply has two CPU interface power lines.
The i5-12600K in my hand is 10 cores and 16 threads, turbo frequency up to 4.9GHz, PCIe 5.0, up to 16 channels, support DDR5 and DDR4 memory modules. 20MB L3 and 9.5MB L2 cache. Support KIller WIFI6/6E, Thunderbolt 4 interface, support 40Gbps high bandwidth. I have to say that the size of the 12th generation Core is really large, much larger than the 11th generation of Core processors. And the CPU slot on the motherboard has also been completely redesigned. When installing, we must look at the direction, pay attention to the position of the anti-dumb notch, and do not vigorously marvel, otherwise it is easy to lose the CPU interface of the motherboard.
This motherboard also has a wide range of interfaces, with four USB3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps (Type-A), a USB3.2 Gen 2x2 20Gbps (Type-C) interface, and two traditional USB2.0 interfaces, wireless network support Wi-Fi 6, wired network support 1225-V 2.5G.
In terms of memory, you can use the previous DDR4 memory directly, and you don't have to buy it again. I am using the Gloway 16GB (8Gx2) set DDR4 3200 YiPro series - domestic particle RGB light bar. Although the frequency of this memory module is 3200MHz, compared with DDR5, there is a gap of 1600MHz, but in fact the impact is not large.
MSI's M.2 interface of this motherboard all comes with M.2 Frost open frame, that is, heatsink, which can effectively reduce the M.2 M-key interface and support the temperature of NVMe protocol SSD.
I'm using an Asgart AN3.0 SSD here, which uses DRAM-Less without independent cache, the analog cache capacity is about 80GB, and the speed is about 500M/s to 1.3G/s after slowing out. It adopts M.2 M-key interface, supports NVMe1.4 protocol, and supports HMB (HostMemoryBuffer, host memory buffer).
The main control is Lianyun MAP1202A, 22nm process, with low power consumption, low heat, high performance characteristics, after a long period of running score test, the measured maximum temperature is about 44 degrees.
The identity is the Yangtze River xtacking2.0 TLC 128-layer flash memory particles, by Jiahe Jinwei self-packaged flash memory (using Yangtze River storage 3D TLCNAND wafer, the chip has the YMTC Xtaking logo).
I have to say that the performance of this domestic SSD is very strong, the read and write speed is more than 3200MB/s, and the heat generation is also very low. Domestic memory, domestic SSD are good, and now I am looking forward to domestic graphics cards and domestic CPUs.
MSI (MSI) MPG Z690 EDGE TI WIFI DDR4 blade titanium motherboard wireless antenna, can be installed in this way, but it seems to affect other interfaces, it feels like the kind of WiFi wireless antenna with a base is more practical.
MSI MPG Z690 EDGE TI WIFI DDR4 Blade Titanium Motherboard BIOS interface, more classic design.
The detailed configuration is as follows:
Processor: Intel I5-12600K (boxed)
Heat sink: Overclocking three (PCCOOLER) Tokai R4000 ARGB CPU heatsink
Motherboard: MSI MPG Z690 EDGE TI WIFI DDR4 Blade Titanium Motherboard
HDD: Asgard 1TB SSD M.2 interface (NVMe protocol) AN3.0
Memory sticks: Gloway 16GB (8Gx2) set DDR4 3200 Yi Pro series - domestic particle RGB light bar
Graphics: Nuclear
Chassis: None
Power supply: ADATA XPG rated 850W high-end gaming computer power supply
Display: MSI MAG274QRF-QD 27-inch gaming monitor
Master Lu's comprehensive performance score shows that the processor performance has improved significantly, and the performance of the core display is not weak, and there is no problem when the bright card machine is not at all. Of course, the score of the entertainment master, everyone looks at it, and will be tested later with professional-grade software.
Through a few days of experience, I have to say that the 12th generation core is indeed very powerful. Choosing the Z690 motherboard with DDR4 did not disappoint me, because the DDR4 memory module is enough for me at present. When DDR5 is really popular, I plan to directly change the Z890, Z990 motherboard. So don't worry, I can't experience DDR5 memory sticks. Although it is to buy new and not to buy old, but also can not blindly taste the early, after all, the size of each oil pocket is different, and it is right to install the capacity.