AMD AM4 Motherboards Selection Guide for Video Editors

Vitaliy_Kiselev

List of all X370 and X470, only ATX sized motherboards

I do not include Biostar here.

Red - something not good or missing feature.
Blue means - ok or average.
Teal - above average.
Green - really good for us.

Boards go from worst to best in the list for each brand and same chipset.

AsRock

X370 Pro4
- 3x doubled elements phases CPU VCC, ISL95712 PWM controller, 2xSM4337 (or 2xPZ0903BK) and 2xSM4336 (or 2xPK618BA) MOSFETS per phase
- Two average alu heatsinks without heatpipe, all phases covered.
- 2 PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16/x16+x4), 4 PCIe 2.0 x1
- Second PCIe 3.0 x16 uses same as 1st M.2 lines!
- 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4), ), located above GPU slot
- 1 M.2 (PCIe Gen2 x2 & SATA3)
- Realtek ALC892 Audio
- Realtek RTL8111H LAN
- No USB 3.1 Gen2 ports
- No USB 3.1 Gen2 internal connector
- Unsure about "voltage offset" option
- No BCLK Overclock
- 128Mb BIOS Chip
X370 Killer SLI and WiFi ac version
- 4x doubled elements phases CPU VCC, IR35201 PWM controller, 2xSM4337 (or 2xPZ0903BK) and 2xSM4336 (or 2xPK618BA) MOSFETS per phase
- Two designer made alu heatsinks without heatpipe, all phases covered.
- 2 PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16/x8+x8), 4 PCIe 2.0 x1
- 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4), ), located above GPU slot
- 1 M.2 (PCIe Gen2 x2 & SATA3)
- Realtek ALC892 Audio
- Intel Gigabit LAN
- No USB 3.1 Gen2 ports
- No USB 3.1 Gen2 internal connector
- Unsure about "voltage offset" option
- No BCLK Overclock
- 128Mb BIOS Chip
Fatal1ty X370 Gaming X
- 4x doubled elements phases CPU VCC, ISL95712 PWM controller, 2xSM4337 (or 2xPZ0903BK) and 2xSM4336 (or 2xPK618BA) MOSFETS per phase
- Two designer made alu heatsinks without heatpipe, all phases covered.
- 2 PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16/x8+x8), 4 PCIe 2.0 x1
- 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4), ), located above GPU slot
- 1 M.2 (PCIe Gen2 x2 & SATA3)
- Realtek ALC1220 Audio
- Intel Gigabit LAN
- No USB 3.1 Gen2 ports
- No USB 3.1 Gen2 internal connector
- Has "voltage offset" option, but has some issues
- No BCLK Overclock
- 128Mb BIOS Chip
Fatal1ty X370 Gaming K4
- 4x doubled elements phases CPU VCC, IR35201 PWM controller, 2xSM4337 (or 2xPZ0903BK) and 2xSM4336 (or 2xPK618BA) MOSFETS per phase
- Two designer made alu heatsinks without heatpipe, all phases covered.
- 2 PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16/x8+x8), 4 PCIe 2.0 x1
- 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4), ), located above GPU slot
- 1 M.2 (PCIe Gen2 x2 & SATA3)
- Realtek ALC1220 Audio
- Intel Gigabit LAN
- Two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, A and C type, using X370 controller
- No USB 3.1 Gen2 internal connector
- Unsure about "voltage offset" option
- No BCLK Overclock
- 128Mb BIOS Chip
X370 Taichi
- 6x phases via real IR3598 doublers CPU VCC making it total 12x, IR35201 PWM controller, CSD 87350 Buck NexFET Power Blocks for each phase - total 12x
- Two bad designer made alu heatsinks with heatpipe being in the middle of heatsinks, all phases covered.
- 2 PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16/x8+x8), 1 PCIe 2.0 x16 (x4), 2 PCIe 2.0 x1
- 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4), ), located above GPU slot
- 1 M.2 (PCIe Gen2 x4 & SATA3)
- Realtek ALC1220 Audio+Amplifier for Front Panel
- Intel Gigabit LAN
- Two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, A and C type, using X370 controller
- No USB 3.1 Gen2 internal connector
- Must have "voltage offset" option
- Has BCLK Overclock
Fatal1ty X370 Professional Gaming
- 6x phases via real IR3598 doublers CPU VCC making it total 12x, IR35201 PWM controller, CSD 87350 Buck NexFET Power Blocks for each phase - total 12x
- Two bad designer made alu heatsinks with heatpipe being in the middle of heatsinks, all phases covered.
- 2 PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16/x8+x8), 1 PCIe 2.0 x16 (x4), 2 PCIe 2.0 x1
- 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4), ), located above GPU slot
- 1 M.2 (PCIe Gen2 x4 & SATA3)
- Realtek ALC1220 Audio+Amplifier for Front Panel
- AQUANTIA AQC108 5G LAN, speed here is limited by PCIe lines
- Intel Gigabit LAN
- Two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, A and C type, using X370 controller
- No USB 3.1 Gen2 internal connector
- Must have "voltage offset" option
- Has BCLK Overclock
------ NEXT ARE X470 BOARDS ---------
X470 Master SLI and WiFi version
- 4x doubled elements phases CPU VCC, ISL95712 PWM controller, 2xSM4337 (or 2xPZ0903BK) and 2xSM4336 (or 2xPK618BA) MOSFETS per phase
- Two designer made alu heatsinks without heatpipe, all phases covered.
- 2 PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16/x8+x8), 4 PCIe 2.0 x1
- 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4), ), located above GPU slot
- 1 M.2 (PCIe Gen2 x2 & SATA3)
- Realtek ALC892 Audio
- Intel Gigabit LAN
- Two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, A and C type, using X470 controller
- No USB 3.1 Gen2 internal connector
- Unsure about "voltage offset" option
- No BCLK Overclock
- 256Mb BIOS Chip
X470 Fatal1ty Gaming K4
- 4x doubled elements phases CPU VCC, ISL95712 PWM controller, 2xSM4337 (or 2xPZ0903BK) and 2xSM4336 (or 2xPK618BA) MOSFETS per phase
- Two designer made alu heatsinks without heatpipe, all phases covered.
- 2 PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16/x8+x8), 4 PCIe 2.0 x1
- 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4), ), located above GPU slot
- 1 M.2 (PCIe Gen2 x2 & SATA3)
- Realtek ALC1220 Audio
- Intel Gigabit LAN
- Two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, A and C type, using X470 controller
- No USB 3.1 Gen2 internal connector
- Unsure about "voltage offset" option
- No BCLK Overclock
- 256Mb BIOS Chip
X470 Taichi
- 6x phases via real IR3598 doublers CPU VCC making it total 12x, IR35201 PWM controller, CSD 87350 Buck NexFET Power Blocks for each phase - total 12x
- Two bad designer made alu heatsinks with heatpipe being in the middle of heatsinks, all phases covered.
- 2 PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16/x8+x8), 1 PCIe 2.0 x16 (x4), 2 PCIe 2.0 x1
- 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4), ), located above GPU slot
- 1 M.2 (PCIe Gen2 x4 & SATA3)
- Realtek ALC1220 Audio+Amplifier for Front Panel
- Intel Gigabit LAN
- Two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, A and C type, using X470 controller
- No USB 3.1 Gen2 internal connector
- Must have "voltage offset" option
- Has BCLK Overclock
- 256Mb BIOS Chip
X470 Taichi Ultimate
- 6x phases via real IR3598 doublers CPU VCC making it total 12x, IR35201 PWM controller, CSD 87350 Buck NexFET Power Blocks for each phase - total 12x
- Two bad designer made alu heatsinks with heatpipe being in the middle of heatsinks, all phases covered.
- 2 PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16/x8+x8), 1 PCIe 2.0 x16 (x4), 2 PCIe 2.0 x1
- 1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4), ), located above GPU slot
- 1 M.2 (PCIe Gen2 x4 & SATA3)
- Realtek ALC1220 Audio+Amplifier for Front Panel
- 10G LAN adapter AQUANTIA AQC10
- 2nd Intel Gigabit LAN
- Two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, A and C type, using X470 controller
- USB 3.1 Gen2 front panel connector via ASMedia ASM3142
- Must have "voltage offset" option
- Has BCLK Overclock
- 256Mb BIOS Chip

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Little hidden secret - aka front USB 3.1 Gen2 connector and USB speed

If you like to have USB-C Gen2 or USB-A Gen2 connectors you need board with such internal connector.
Otherwise will need to make some custom good elongation cables and it is easy to mess stuff at 10Gbps.

Asus for now is best among companies who support such connectors. Usually it is also top and last boards that have it.

None of board mentioned above has such connector.

Also around 99% of cases lack build in ports with such connector, so you will need to get separate one.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/40cm-USB-3-1-Front-Panel-Header-to-USB-C-Type-C-Female-Extension-Cable-with/32827652345.html

or for type A

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/50cm-USB-3-1-type-c-Front-Panel-male-to-USB-3-0-Type-A-Female/32858440937.html

Note that some or all ports can be also implemented using ASMedia ASM1143/AMS1142 chips

They can't reach USB 3.1 Gen2 speed limit due to bus constrain.

for comparison ASM2142 is better and AMS3142 is best

On some Asus boards you have rear ports using slower ASMedia controller and front header using internal AMD chipset lines.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Best affordable board - MSI X470 Gaming Plus

It is really affordable board and changes made compared to x370 are very good.

Two USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports are present and it uses ASMedia ASM1143 x2 PCIe 2.0 controller.

So, we now need to find place for GPU, pair of NVMe SSDs and 10Gbit controller (as on board we have only 1Gbit Realtek).

First SSD goes to top M.2 slot - location of this slot is good and it won't be hot as on older board where it is directly under hot GPU.

Second SSD can put into x8 split PCIe second slot and keeps full x4 speed.

Third PCIe 2.0 x4 slot is good for 10Gbit network adapter.

You can also use second M.2 slot for SSD - it is x4 PCIe 2.0 one, not fastest but if your drive is slow it can save you little money on PCIe-M.2 card. Note - second M.2 slot use same lines as lowest of cards slots (PCIe 2.0 x4 one).

Finally - RT8894A based 4 x 2 phase design, 4 real phases with double of elements in each one, average coolers. Typical for mainstream x370/x470 boards.

And all this for real cheap $129 retail non sales price.

https://www.amazon.com/MSI-X470GPLUS-Performance-Graphics-Motherboard/dp/B07CF31C1Q/

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Example of almost good affordable board - MSI X370 Gaming Plus / Pro

It is really affordable board and mostly suit our needs.

Two USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports are present and it uses good ASMedia ASM2142 x2 PCIe 3.0 controller.

So, we now need to find place for GPU, pair of NVMe SSDs and 10Gbit controller (as on board we have only 1Gbit Realtek).

First SSD goes to M.2 slot - and location of this slot is biggest shortcoming of this board, as it is directly under hot GPU. You need either good heatsink for SSD or can use solutions that use M.2 cable and mount in 2.5" place like some Intel Optane drives.

Second SSD can put into x8 split PCIe second slot and keeps full x4 speed.

Third PCIe 2.0 x4 slot is good for 10Gbit network adapter.

Finally - RT8894A based 4 x 2 phase design, 4 real phases with double of elements in each one, average coolers. Typical for mainstream x370/x470 boards.

And all this for real cheap (price during sales for this is ala $100).

https://www.amazon.com/MSI-Gaming-Ryzen-X370-Motherboard/dp/B06XQ5V3R4

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Example of really bad AMD x370 board - AsRock Fatal1ty X370 Gaming X

Lacks USB 3.1 Gen 2 still.

Big difference is that now if you took up top M.2 slot with SSD you can split x16 slot and into two x8 ones.

If you do not work with raw 6K/8K it won't be noticeable, otherwise it'll hit performance some.

Now we go into humble low M.2 slot and it's PCIe 2.0 x2 mode.

PCIe 2.0 per-lane throughput is 5GT/s or 500MB/s of actual data transfer per lane. So, it is capped at 1Gb/sec recording/reading.

For comparison - top slot uses four v3.0 lines. Single PCIe 3.0 lane at 8GT/s, can send 985MB/s. It is 4 times more maximum possible speed for SSD, good SSD's are close to this numbers in sequential reading speeds.

For this board you have to kill a lot of wishes. Can have one high speed NVMe SSD, but forced to use second low speed NVMe SSD, can add 10Gbit network adapter, but forced to use USB 3.1 Gen2 port on your NAS/server.

Locations of both M.2 slots are good from thermal point of view.

Has Intel network adapter, it is little better with lower CPU load and drivers.

Finally - VRM, AB350 Pro4 ISL95712 based 4 x 2 phase design, 4 real phases with double of elements in each one, below average coolers. Not so good, typical for mainstream x370/x470 boards.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Temperatures

Lot of X370 and X370 boards can run hot if you use overclocking on 8 core CPUs or 12-16 new Ryzen 2 CPUs.

Main reason for this is simpler and cheaper VRM and also bad heatsinks being just slab of aluminium made be designer without any fine fins.

Heatsink designs

In present day it is usually designers who make heatsinks even for expensive motherboards.
They are made for looks, and not to be efficient in their real function.

Bad small one (ASUS TUF x470-Plus)

Better one (ASRock Pro4 boards)

Almost good (Asrock X470 Taichi Ultimate)

Really nice (Gigabyte Aorus X470 Gaming 7 WiFi)

Nice construction features to look for

Armored PCIe x16 slots

Nice feature, as it makes it impossible to accidently damage slot pulling big card and forgetting the slot lock.

Armored memory slots

Not so important, but makes slots much more reliable and prevent damage during some accident during big cooler mounting. Or if you try to pull stick in small full case.

AMD B350 Chipset Issues on AsRock B350 Pro 4 motherboard sample

This motherboards is affordable and frequently recommended by people, so let's see that is main issue.

You installed good powerful GPU with good cooling, it takes x16 slot and also makes really unusable one PCIe x1 slot.

You also like fast NVMe SSD for your system drive. So, top M.2 Slot will be filled with it.

But due to this second x16 looking slot having same PCIe 3.0 lines will be disabled.

Won't be able to install second GPU, or 10Gbit adapter, or second M.2 adapter.

Second M.2 is ... SATA only (same on all their B350 boards, they made it better on B450).

Locations of both M.2 slots are good from thermal point of view.

Board lacks USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, and you also won't have free slot to put suitable adapter if you use NVME SSD.

Realtek 1Gbit is not at all bad, but Intel is little better with lower CPU load and drivers.

Finally - VRM, AB350 Pro4 ISL95712 based 3 x 2 phase design, 3 real phases with double of elements in each one, average coolers. Not bad for cheap MB, but not top solution by far.

Overall - nice cheap board for gamers, but really bad for any editing guys.

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

Tags in Topic

Top Posters