While developments are rare in the world of motherboardComputex 2024 is an opportunity for some big changes… well, if the innovations catch on with the public of course.
For several months – even several years – motherboard manufacturers have been discussing new ways of designing their products with, for example, the passage of cables on the back of the PCB.
On the occasion of Computex 2024, these manufacturers obviously presented some of their creations with new trends that are sometimes more subtle, but with implications at least as profound.
Bye bye USB Type-A
Thus, on the ASRock stand, there was particular talk of a first motherboard based on the Z890 chipset, which will accompany the release of Intel’s Arrow Lake processors in the fall.
Coming from the Taichi Aqua range, the card in question is a high-end model which therefore does not represent the “all-comers” of Arrow Lake products. However, one choice from ASRock in particular raises questions: on the I/O panel at the back of the card, we no longer find the USB Type-A port, there are only Type-C. The transition from USB-A to USB-C is underway and the replacement is inevitable, but perhaps a little rapid, no?
Of course, it should be borne in mind that the motherboard still has internal ports, which can be connected to the connectors on the front of the case to provide USB-A, but ASRock’s maneuver still seems a bit rushed.
DIMM, SODIMM, CAMM, CUDIMM…
Also hastened the desire to replace DIMM connectors noticed among several manufacturers? Whether DDR4 or DDR5, we currently use 288-pin DIMMs on desktop PCs and 262-pin SODIMM models on laptops.
For the latter, several replacement solutions have been imagined with, for example, CAMM modules more suitable for these cramped spaces. Surprise at Computex 2024, desktop motherboards with CAMM support – in this case CAMM2 – were highlighted, by MSI in particular.
Not sure that the CAMM2 is the answer expected by users, especially since its horizontal positioning is less in line with desktop uses, but the desire to replace the DIMM seems clear. Indeed, alongside the CAMM2, Computex was the opportunity to discover the Mini-CUDIMM, still from MSI.
The objective here would be to be able to bring the socket locations closer together to benefit from less interference and, therefore, better performance. These new formats raise many questions, particularly because for the moment they seem to mainly concern Intel platforms and niche segments rather than the general public. To monitor…
Source : Hardware&Co, VideoCardz
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