In 2021, the long-awaited Intel 12th-generation Core Alder Lake processor was finally released, which is Intel's first desktop processor with a 10nm process process.
The 12th generation Core processors feature the new LGA1700 interface, and the motherboard chipset has been upgraded to the 600 series. At present, only the Z690 motherboard is listed, but the arms race of major motherboard manufacturers has also begun.
Flagship Performance Award: ROG MAXIMUS Z690 EXTREME GLACIAL
The power of this motherboard is hard to describe in words, as the flagship of the ROG Player Nation series, it uses the strongest configuration available on the market.
In terms of power supply, it is equipped with a 24+1 power supply module design, and the single phase supports a maximum of 105A current. Thanks to OptImEmIII memory optimization and AEMP memory enhancement, coupled with optimized trace layout, signal integrity can be improved and interfering signals can be reduced, so memory can be easily overclocked to the limit frequency.
Of course, Raiden 4 interface, 10Gbps wired network card, Wi-Fi 6E wireless network card are also not absent.
What sets this motherboard apart is that it is covered with an integrated water-cooled cooling ice armor that suppresses the temperature of the power supply circuit within a controllable range even in the extreme overclocking state.
Since MSI has not yet launched the MEG Z690 GODLIKE Super Godboard, this MEG Z690 UNIFY-X Shadow Board is currently the best Z690 motherboard under MSI.
This is a motherboard for overclocking, with a 19+2 phase digital power supply circuit design, each phase core power supply using the RAA220105 DrMos chip from Renesas, supporting 105A current output, providing power support in excess of kilowatts.
The MSI MEG Z690 Unify-X motherboard features a dual DIMM design designed for memory overclocking. In the previous overclocking competition, the Kingston Fury Beast DDR5 was equipped with a frequency that overclocked directly from 4800MHz to 8670MHz, breaking the world record for overclocking DDR5 memory.
Flagship Performance Award: GIGABYTE Super Eagle Z690 AORUS MASTER
Gigabyte Super Eagle Z690 AORUS MASTER motherboard is also extremely versatile in the stack, 19+1+2 phase power supply circuit, each phase supports a maximum of 105A current
This motherboard uses the largest VRM heatsink we have seen, the heatsink weighs nearly 300g, and it is also in the form of a heat dissipation fin. Don't say that the power supply to the motherboard to dissipate heat, adding a fan can even be stronger than many CPU air-cooled radiators.
In terms of audio, it is equipped with a separate ESS ES9118 decoder, which supports the decoding of 32-bit 384kHz PCM and DSD256 digital audio. The internal headphone amplifier supports a maximum output of 1.1Vrms for ideal noise cancellation.
There are also 5 M.2 SSD interfaces that support PCIe 4.0, an AQC113C 10GbE network card, and an intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210 wireless card.
Most Watched Award: ASUS TUF GAMING B560M-PLUS Heavy Gunner
In the mainstream market, the B560 chipset is Intel's most conscientious motherboard chip in recent years, and it is the first mid-range motherboard chip to support memory overclocking.
TuF GAMING B560M-PLUS heavy gunner motherboard is equipped with 8+1 power phase circuit, each phase is equipped with a 50A support ON Semiconductor DrMOS, the capacitors and inductors used on the motherboard are TIF military regulation certification, high temperature resistance and life are guaranteed, can be called one of the best cars of the 11th generation i5.
In terms of expansion capabilities, there are 2 M.2 slots (one of which supports PCIe 4.0), a 2.5Gbps wired network card, and a Thunderbolt 4 pin.
For a motherboard that costs less than 800 yuan, such a specification is definitely worth the price.
For a long time, the MORTAR mortar series has been called a god board by players. MAG B550M MORTAR WIFI mortar adopts 8+2+1 channel 60A power supply, with the third generation titanium inductor, on-board 2.5G wired network card and WiFi6 wireless network card, with LIGHTNING GEN 4 high-speed interface. 2 oz thickened copper reinforced PCB design, covered with M.2 frost armor and expanded heat sink.
In terms of design, the MAG B550M MORTAR WIFI mortar is a model of a cost-effective motherboard, its price is only 849 yuan, the best partner is the Zen3 architecture of the Ryzen 5600X processor, of course, can also be matched with the upcoming Zen 3D processor.
Best Value for Money Award: ASUS TUF GAMING B550M-PLUS WIFI II Heavy Gunner
This motherboard adopts 8+2 phase power supply circuit, each phase power supply inductance using R47B inductor, and followed by a SIC636 MOS tube, the capacitor and inductance used on the motherboard have passed the TIF military certification, high temperature resistance and life are guaranteed.
The network uses a combination of a 2.5Gbps wired network card + Wi-Fi 6 wireless card, and there are 2 M.2 slots (one of which supports PCIe 4.0).
The ASUS TOF GAMING B550M-PLUS WIFI II heavy gunner currently only sells 799 yuan, but in many ways can compete with the more high-end X570 motherboard.
Best Value for Money: Rainbow CVN B550M GAMING FROZEN V14
At the price of six hundred yuan, the Rainbow CVN B550M GAMING FROZEN is probably the best-built B550 motherboard, with 10-phase digital power supply circuit, including an integrated L.R.T octa-pin MOS tube and a 10K black gold solid capacitor.
In terms of memory overclocking, in addition to designing the memory circuit to supply 2 phases separately, the memory overclocking settings are specially optimized in the BIOS. In "Easy Mode" preset a large number of frequency and timing combinations, players can choose the appropriate frequency and timing according to the constitution of their memory, so that memory overclocking becomes very simple, do not need to do too many settings, novice players can also easily overclock memory.
For RGB, ordinary M-ATX motherboards generally only have one interface in 5V RGB or 12V RGB, while Rainbow CVN B550M GAMING FROZEN V14 motherboards have two RGB interfaces each, and there will be no restrictions if you want to play with lights.
Best Value for Money: GIGABYTE Snow Sculpture B550M AORUS PRO AX
Gigabyte Snow Sculpture B550M AORUS PRO AX motherboard adopts a 10+3 power phase design, each phase is equipped with a 50A DrMOS, theoretically can provide 400W of output power, supporting the Ryzen™ 9 5900X without any problems.
The motherboard has a total of 2 full-size PCIe x16 slots, one of which supports PCIe 4.0 x16, the other has 2 M.2 interfaces, and there is also a pcIe 4.0 x4 support.
In terms of networking, it is a combination of 2.5Gbps wired network card + Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless network card.
As a motherboard that only sells for 799 yuan, the above configurations have proved the sincerity of the motherboard.
Technology Innovation Award: ROG MAXIMUS Z690 FORMULA
As a top-of-the-line Z690 motherboard, the ROG MAXIMUS Z690 FORMULA breaks the norm in design, using a rare moonlight white color for the first time, which is different from the previous ROG motherboard in this regard.
This motherboard is equipped with 20+1 power supply module, each phase is equipped with a model of RAA22010540 DrMOS, single-phase current output 105A, the total core power supply reached 2100A, equipped with EKCrossChill EKIII hybrid heat dissipation module, can be both air-cooled and water-cooled mixed heat dissipation, as far as possible to reduce the MosFET temperature.
The ROG MAXIMUS Z690 FORMULA motherboard offers a total of 5 M.2 slots, 3 of which are on the motherboard and 2 of which are supplied by the ROG M.2 expansion card.
There is a Live Dash OLED system status display on the motherboard, which can display CPU temperature, frequency, fan speed, fault diagnosis information, etc., and even support the display of personalized graphic information.
Technology Innovation Award: ROG CROSSHAIR VIII EXTREME
If you use one sentence to describe this motherboard - the strongest A board in history!
This motherboard uses a 20-phase digital power supply circuit that can output 90A per phase. Equipped with 2 Thunderbolt 4 connectors, it is unique in this AMD motherboard. Equipped with an ESS 9281 USB custom sound card, it can easily push high-impedance headphones and improve the user's listening experience.
In addition, he is also equipped with the strongest M.2 heat sink at present, which can control the full load temperature of PCIe 4.0 SSD at about 40 degrees.
In terms of network and expansion, it is a combination of AQC113CS 10 Gigabit NETWORK CARD + Intel i225 2.5G network card, plus 5 M.2 interfaces, and 5 M.2 all support PCIe 4.0.
Editor's Choice Award: ROG STRIX Z690-A GAMING WIFI D4 Blowing Snow
At present, the price of DDR5 memory has completely run out of control, want to experience the 12th generation Core, DDR4 memory is a more reasonable choice, and the high-frequency low-latency DDR4 memory performance is not much weaker than DDR5 memory. For now, the best-made Z690 DDR4 motherboard should be the ROG STRIX Z690-A GAMING WIFI D4 snow blowing.
ROG STRIX Z690-A GAMING WIFI D4 Snow Blowing features a 16+1 power phase design with an 80A DrMOS per phase. The motherboard has 4 memory slots and supports up to 128GB of DDR4 memory with a frequency of 5333MHz+.
This motherboard also has a good expansion ability, three PCIe slots, of which the one near the CPU supports PCIe 5.0 x16. There are also 4 M.2 interfaces, all of which support PCIe 4.0 x4.
This 6-layer PCB board with a 2-ounce copper reinforced design, PCI-E uses a new SMT soldering process, 4 M.2 interfaces support PCIe 4.0 technology, and all are equipped with M.2 Frost armor.
In addition, the motherboard provides a PCIe 5.0 graphics card slot, and the network is a combination of a 2.5Gbps wired network card + Wi-Fi 6 wireless card.
Editor's Choice Award: Rainbow CNV Z690 GAMING PRO V20 DDR4
The Rainbow CVN Z690 GAMING PRO V20 DDR4 uses a 15+1 phase digital power supply circuit, each phase is equipped with a 55A integrated MOSFET, which far exceeds the 300W power required for the i9-12900K.
The motherboard has also made significant progress in terms of BIOS, and the Gear 1 memory mode, Resizable BAR technology, the fan's temperature profile settings, as well as various voltage regulations and overclocking power wall settings can be used normally. Basically, it can be regarded as the most complete motherboard in the mainland BIOS.
This motherboard is currently only sold for 1499 yuan, which is easier for consumers to accept than the price of 3000 yuan for the three major motherboard manufacturers.