News motherboards
Alder Lake at more affordable prices through entry / mid-range chipsets.
If uncertainty hangs around the holding of CES 2022 in Las Vegas, this should not have any impact on Intel’s plans, which is still targeting the release of new chipsets in parallel with the show. Asus and MSI provide further proof of this.
Three motherboards signed MSI
The first leaks concerned cards from the manufacturer MSI, which will undoubtedly have many more at the exit of the chipsets, in particular on the side of the H610 chipset.
© Videocardz
For now, three motherboards based on the B660 chipset have been unveiled. Three models which, from the outset, underline an orientation for the manufacturers: the support of the only DDR4. Between shortages and additional costs, the adoption of DDR5 is actually not the best idea for these models which must make Alder Lake more accessible.
The MAG B660 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4, MAG B660M Bazooka DDR4 and MAG B660M Mortar WiFi DDR4 also have in common to offer a 12-phase power stage, a 2.5 GbE Ethernet controller and a clip for simplified M.2 fixing. However, they differ on the format and several accessories such as the number of M.2 ports precisely.
Mix of H610 and B660 at Asus
Asus side, there are already four cards that are presented. Our colleagues from Videocardz have here photos a little more detailed with shots of the map as much as of theI / O shield.
© Videocardz
In addition, while the leaks on the MSI side are limited to the only B660, here we have the first pictures of H610 motherboards, in this case the PRIME H610M-A D4 and PRIME H610M-E D4.
© Videocardz
Seemingly very similar, the two models are in Micro-ATX format, but Asus will likely have ATX and Mini-ITX. The ‘E’ model is a little more richly endowed with USB, but we especially notice that the two cards are limited to two DIMM ports for DDR4 and two M.2 ports without any cooling system.
© Videocardz
In ATX format, the ProArt B660 Creator D4 looks like it needs to be a bit more ambitious. The ProArt series and the B660 chipset ensure the presence of a greater number of features although, again for cost reasons, DDR4 still takes precedence over DDR5. Four DIMM slots are there, as well as three M.2 equipped with simplified mounts and heatsinks for two of them. Finally, the power stage is more muscular with imposing heatsinks.
© Videocardz
The last card of this first batch of H610 / B660, the STRIX B660-I WiFi is undoubtedly the most advanced, the most complete. This is a model from the Republic of Gamers range, which explains that. Asus offers it in Micro-ATX format which explains the “only” two DIMM ports… but DDR5 was chosen.
WiFi 6 is on the menu, as is the 2.5 GbE Ethernet controller. Format requires, only one M.2 seems to be in the game – unless another is on the back of the card – supported by a visibly worked heatsink. PCI Express 5.0 is also part of the game, for a motherboard that will undoubtedly be much more expensive than the previous ones.
Source: Videocardz
0