Items tagged with z390
Today we are going to take a look at Gigabyte’s Z390 Designare motherboard, one of the company's more recent Socket 1151-based boards for Intel's 8th and 9th Generation Coffee Lake-based processors. This board has a lean and mean look about it, even menacing in a way, with its mostly black aesthetic with silver highlights scattered about. Its VRM heatsink even carries a yin-yang motif, with the black sink at the top and silver to the left of the CPU socket. This color palette provides a clean, sharp look with its M.2 slot sharing the same light and dark offset and the PCH sink providing a final accent. The board carries a bevy of features targeted at creative professionals....
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We have seen a flurry of product launches over the past few months from Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA. While we get to reap the rewards of technology’s ever steady march of progress, their partners have been hard at work ensuring their offerings can withstand the ever increasing demands of bleeding-end hardware, and appeal to consumers at the same time. In this spirit, Gigabyte recently invited us to a launch event in Miami for its newest Aorus branded motherboards, graphics cards, and peripherals. Technically, everything Gigabyte showed us had already been announced, but the presentations did offer a glimpse into many of the engineering and marketing decisions the company has made in an...
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Gigabyte continues to flesh out its line of Z390 motherboards designed around Intel's latest chipset. The total number of Z390 motherboards in Gigabyte's stable now stands at a dozen, with the addition of the Z390 Designare and Z390 Aorus Xtreme. Both are high-end motherboards with dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, but they're aimed at different audiences. Let's start with the Z390 Aorus Xtreme. This one stands as Gigabyte's top-shelf Z390 motherboard and has a price tag to match—$549.99 MSRP (ouch!). That price will put it out of reach of the typical mainstream shopper, and certainly those looking for a bang-for-buck solution, with Gigabyte seemingly targeting enthusiasts and overclockers who...
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Intel officially launched its 9th generation Core processors this morning, which include the Core i5-9600K, Core i7-9700K and Core i9-9900K. As you might expect, there are a slew of Intel Z390 motherboards being announced that support the new processors, with the latest being from EVGA and Gigabyte. EVGA has announced two Z390 motherboards: the Z390 Dark and the Z390 FTW. Starting off with the former, EVGA says that the Z390 Dark is designed for "ultra-enthusiasts" and includes a 17 Phase VRM design, two right-angle 8-pin high current connectors, Optane Memory support, dual SMT DIMMs and a 10-layer PCB. There are dual LED displays, Creative Audio + EVGA Nu Audio, dual...
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When it comes to graphics cards and motherboards, ASUS is incredibly thorough with its product lines, covering a wide range of price points with features to match. That is most definitely the case with the company's approach to Intel Z390-based motherboards, which are designed for use with Intel's new 9th generation Core processors-- it is releasing a total of 20 motherboards for enthusiasts. ASUS ROG Maximus XI Extreme There are obviously too many motherboards to go over in exhaustive detail in just one article, but we'll try to hit a few of the highlights. For example, there's the ROG Maximus XI Extreme which supports up to 64GB DDR4 memory (4400MHz OC), and up to four M.2...
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We are getting oh-so-close to the launch of Intel's 9th generation Core processors, and as that date approaches, motherboard makers appear to be bursting at the seams with excitement. ASRock has come out and formally introduced its Z390 lineup, while ASUS, EVGA, and MSI have all taken to social media to tease their upcoming motherboards. "The leading global motherboard manufacturer, ASRock, is pleased to announce the launch of the new Intel Z390 motherboard series, and also the Phantom Gaming Motherboards, the latest addition to the company's popular Phantom Gaming line up. These versatile new motherboards support the latest 9th Generation Intel Core™ processors with socket 1151," ASRock...
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We're starting to go cross-eyed looking at the all the Z390 motherboards that have leaked out before officially launching. Our affliction won't stop more leaks from happening, though, a fact that is underscored by a fresh batch of press renderings showing several of Gigabyte's upcoming Aorus-brand Z390 motherboards. The focus this time around is on the Z390 Aorus Master, Z390 Aorus Ultra, Z390 Aorus Pro, and Z390 Aorus Elite. As we have mentioned in the past, Gigabyte is changing up its naming scheme this time around, replacing its Gaming designations with the new terms. It can be a little confusing if you're used to the old naming scheme. Here's a chart that might help... The new naming scheme...
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Intel might as well go ahead and release its 9th generation Core processor lineup right now, because unless it has something up its sleeve that has not already been leaked, there will not be any surprises. This applies to the crop of Z390 motherboards waiting in the wings, too. In the latest batch of leaked images, we see more than half a dozen Z390 motherboard models from MSI, including its MEG Z390 Godlike board. There is no doubt that the Meg Z390 Godlike is a beastly motherboard. While we don't have detailed specs to share, we can see in the press render that it has four reinforced PCI Express x16 slots with three M.2 slots sandwiched in between them. Most users probably don't plan on running...
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Intel will be rolling out its 9th generation Core processor family in October, though we can't say for sure exactly when—we've heard both October 1 and October 8 thrown around. Either way, Intel's hardware partners are ready with a whole bunch of new motherboards based on the company's accompanying Z390 Express chipset. Many of the upcoming boards have already been leaked, including a wide range of Z390 motherboards from ASUS. Based on the latest leak, ASUS will have no less than 11 new Z390 motherboards on tap for Intel's 9th generation Core processors. According to fresh batch of leaked fresh renders, four of them will be Republic of Gamers (ROG) Maximus XI models and three will fall...
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If you know where to look, there is much more to find on the Internet than the latest development in the ongoing Machine Gun Kelly versus Eminem dispute. Really, there is. For example, followers of Gigabyte's AORUS Twitter account will have spotted a teaser clip that appears to show off an upcoming motherboard, presumably based on Intel's Z390 chipset. AORUS, as you might already know, is Gigabyte's "premium gaming" brand, just as ASUS maintains a Republic of Gamers (ROG) division for its enthusiast products. Based on some of the leaks we have seen so far, Gigabyte will market and sell Z390 motherboards under both its main brand and its AORUS division. What we have here is an AORUS motherboard,...
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Is it October yet? No? Well that stinks! It's not that we're trying to speed up time and hasten our brief (in the cosmic sense) stay on this rock, we're just looking forward to Intel finally launching its 9th generation Core processor line, if for no other reason than to stop being flooded with related leaks. Many of them have been in relation to upcoming motherboards based on Intel's Z390 Express chipset. As we head into the homestretch, it would appear that ASRock's entire lineup of Z390 boards has leaked to the web. Just last week, an official-looking press render of ASRock's Z390 Phantom Gaming 9 motherboard started making the rounds. Speculation is that it will be ASRock's flagship Z390...
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If the rumors and leaks have been accurate, then we're now just weeks away from Intel rolling out its 9th generation Core processor family, otherwise known as Coffee Lake Refresh. The new round of processors is expected to debut in October. There will be new Z390-chipset motherboards as well, several of which have leaked to the web already. Here's a look at yet another one. This time around, it's two of MSI's upcoming MAG and MPG models (one each). Like Gigabyte recently did, MSI is using the Z390 launch as an opportunity to introduce a new naming scheme. At the top of the stack, MSI's MEG models will take aim at enthusiasts and overclockers who want all of the bells and whistles, while the MAG...
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Intel’s 9th generation Core “Coffee Lake Refresh” processors are just around the corner, and we’ve already seen benchmark leaks for a few of the new SKUs that will be available at launch. In the past week, we’ve seen leaked benchmarks for both the flagship Core i9-9900K and the Core i7-9700K. These new processors will be supported by Intel’s new Z390 chipset, and ASRock is the latest to have one of its enthusiast motherboards leaked. In this case, it’s the Z390 Phantom Gaming 9, which will serve as its flagship product for the new 9th generation Core processors. What we can tell from the leaked retail box shot along with pictures of the...
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There may not be many surprises when Intel finally gets around to rolling out its 9th generation Core processor lineup. Numerous leaks and rumors have provided us with plenty of details to analyze, and while we always have to take those sort of things with a grain of salt, the pre-release information floating around the web has been fairly consistent. The latest leak provides some more benchmarking results for the Core i7-9700K and reinforces the rumor that Hyper Threading may not be a part of this particular SKU. In case you haven't been following the rumor trail, the Core i7-9700K is one of a handful of 9th generation Core processors that Intel is readying. These new chips are built on a 14...
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Sometime in the what we believe to be the near future, Intel will finally roll out its 9th generation Core processor family, which is rumored to include two 8-core CPU models. We'll have to wait and see about that. Until then, Intel's hardware partners are gearing up for the launch with supporting hardware. Specifically, Gigabyte is waiting in the wings with multiple new motherboards based on Intel's upcoming Z390 Express chipset. Gigabyte has not announced anything yet, of course, but there are multiple leaked press renders of the company's upcoming motherboards. The newest one depicts a Gigabyte Z390 Gaming SLI motherboard. This one looks to be sold and marketed under Gigabyte's own brand,...
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If you build it, they will come. We learned that lesson in Field of Dreams, and it applies to the technology sector too, not just baseball fields out in the middle of nowhere. So what exactly is being built? Intel has put together a new Z390 chipset for its upcoming 9th generation processor launch, and Gigabyte appears ready to roll with at least one Z390 motherboard (more likely several) from its Aorus division. Otherwise known as Coffee Lake Refresh, the upcoming 9th generation Core processor launch is rumored to include up to 8-core CPU options, bringing parity (in core and thread counts) with AMD's Ryzen processors to the mainstream market. Some of the SKUs (up to 6 cores) have already been...
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Late last week, we came across an ASRock motherboard box shot that alleged Intel's H310 Express chipset will have support for upcoming 9th generation Core Coffee Lake Refresh processors. Today, MSI is providing evidence that the Intel Z370 chipset will also support the new CPUs. Confirmation of the support came courtesy of a news update posted to MSI's website that states, "MSI, the world leading gaming motherboard manufacturer, is pleased to announce new BIOS updates for MSI Z370 motherboards to support Intel 9000 processors. The new BIOS updates are all fully optimized for Intel 9000 processors." The full list of supported MSI Z370 motherboards is seen below: This...
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If past leaks are any indication, Intel is getting ready to launch a handful of 9th generation Core processors, essentially a refresh of Coffee Lake, including one or two 8-core CPUs. To go along with the new chips, Intel is also prepping a Z390 Express chipset. When will it all come out? A newly leaked roadmap points to October as the target. The time frame is outlined in what is purportedly an official Intel slide, posted to a Chinese-language website (HKEPC). We can not say for sure if it is real. Supposing it is legitimate, Intel's 6-core and 8-Core Coffee Lake-S Refresh CPUs and Z390 chipset will launch alongside each other at the start of the fourth quarter, but that is not all. In addition...
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It looks as though motherboards based on Intel's current generation Z370 chipset will support the chipmaker's upcoming 9th generation Core processor family by way of a BIOS update. We say this because at least two motherboard makers have already added BIOS updates for existing Z370 motherboards, with release notes suggesting they're intended for the next round of CPUs. If you head over to MSI's website, for example, there are recent BIOS updates for its Z370 motherboards. One of them is for the Z370 Tomahawk—MSI uploaded an updated BIOS file (7B47v151) in beta form on July 13 that lists "Support New Generation CPU!" as the only change. Here's a screen grab, in case it disappears for some...
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It looks as though we're starting to get some clarity regarding Intel's upcoming high-end, mainstream Core processors. We've seen plenty of evidence that a new octa-core Coffee Lake-S processor is on its way, and now a new report suggests that the processor will adopt Core i9 branding. According to the new report, there will be processors representing Core i5, Core i7 and Core i9 product families. There will apparently be three processors represented, at least initially: Core i9-9900K with 8 cores and 16 threads Core i7-9700K with 6 cores and 12 threads Core i5-9600K with 6 cores and 6 threads The Core i9 name had previously been reserved for the Core-X HEDT processors, but has...
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Nobody outside of Intel truly knows that is going on behind closed doors in Santa Clara. Nevertheless, the web is never short on rumors or speculation, and right now the unsubstantiated chatter is centered on Intel's upcoming Z390 chipset for Coffee Lake. While initially intended as a new chipset with a few additional features not found on Z370, there is evidence to suggest that Intel might turn it into a rebranding effort instead. The question is, would Intel really rebrand its Z370 as Z390? This goes back to what we just said, that nobody outside of Intel truly knows what the chip maker is thinking or planning. However, it wouldn't be a stretch if Intel went that route, as Z390 and Z370 have...
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We've seen plenty of leaks and references to the upcoming Z390 chipset from Intel. However, the chip giant went public this weekend with a full product brief on the chipset, which is available to download via its website [PDF]. Looking the specs for Z390, its features are similar to that of the 300-series chipsets that launched earlier this year, but it ups the ante with even higher-end features. The chipset of course supports all of Intel's 8th generation Core processors along with Optane memory. But Intel has beefed up its connectivity options to include not only 802.11ac (courtesy of an integrated Intel Wireless-AC 9560 MAC), but also Bluetooth 5.0. Other features include...
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