Anyone disappointed with AM5 X870 boards?

[aaronyuri]

X870 boards became available a few days ago and all I can think is "meh". X670E boards are clearly the better buy and cheaper. 7000 is far more appealing than 9000. The ever increasing prices and lessening performance uplifts with each generation are starting to feel eerily familiar. It's almost like we're on the verge of the post-Conroe era all over again. The past ~7 years have been a competitive landscape but I fear that we are returning to another innovation crawl; especially should Intel's upcoming CPUs also be datacentre-focused with a mediocre performance increase for consumers and gamers.

What's everyone's thoughts?

 

[aaronyuri]

The more USB4 you add the more lanes are consumed, leaving less for M2/PCIE expansion, it's all a balance.

I also went for the TUF X670E and don't regret it at all.

I also took advantage of the X670E pricing and picked up a board a few weeks ago after the X870 rumours. Getting a formerly £500 board for £340 is a pretty good deal at this point. The past few days have confirmed my suspicions that it would be much better than any price equivalent X870 board on offer.

I have zero requirements for USB3.x (never mind USB4) and I suspect this is true for most.

For me, I can't see the play with X870. Entry prices to AM5 are already too high and this isn't going to improve it. AMD upping the pricing and model tiers (X870 as the more costly successor of B650E, for example) further muddies the waters.

Compound this with the 9000 series lacklustre increase forcing the parashoot of X3D earlier than planned. It's logical to conclude AMD have made some bad plays this generation.

 

[aaronyuri]

I’m already seeing it being discounted so you’re probably right.

The early adopter tax is still in play. The real pricing will appear in another week or two. Possibly even faster if the uptake of X870 is weak like 9000.

 

[aaronyuri]

X870/E was never meant to be a big upgrade over X670/E, It's basically the same chipset minus an upgrade to more USB4.

Well, yes. That combined with the increased cost is why I was expressing my disappointment. X870 is B650E with USB4. It's disappointing... is it not?

 

[aaronyuri]

It used to be the standard on motherboards but it was removed and replaced with marketing stuff like RGB.

I had an MSI Z77 Mpower which was great and had the debug code LED. I even had an Asrock ITX Z77 motherboard with one on it.

Bring back LED code readouts and bring back the DFi LanParty series with its UV reactive PCI-e lanes is all I can say.

I know it became extremely popular, but **** me, I really hate RGB. I wish that fad would die.

My last board didn't have a debug LED and my current one does. I had forgotten how useful it is, especially when tinkering and being able to spot memory training at a glance!

DFI boards were so good back in the day. They always had the best and most whacky colour schemes, too.

 

[aaronyuri]

Oh stop complaining. I think motherboard makers should start introducing monthly subscription systems, if you want to use the CPU socket that's £10 a month, per nvme socket another £10 each, and for every other socket £10 a month, ie memory, sata, etc. You want to use the power switch? Another £10 amonth, and a fee every time it's switched on. Overclocking? That's another DLC to pay for.

Then pop up adverts that are unskippable at random times, ie when playing a online MMOPG.


A good idea, huh?


What I find stupid the number of boards per chipset, and then E versions, so basically 15+ boards from one brand alone (ie ATX) It's stupid.

Gigabyte has an option in their BIOS enabled by default that creates an annoying notification after logon that encourages me to download their crappy GCC software. It has already begun.

 

[aaronyuri]

I ponied up the princely sum of £408 for the Asus X870 STRIX-I mini itx board. As the only X870 mini itx board on offer I guess they can charge what they like as there is no competition.
It does feel like quality, it is heavy for its size not that it makes my wallet feel any better

Here's something to help with your situation:

 

[aaronyuri]

That's not it predecessor though, one is a b series and the other an x series. X870 predecessor would be an x670 surely

Logically, you would be safe to assume that. But not on this occasion. X870 is B650E's successor.

Not sure why they are pulling this crap, but alas.

 

[aaronyuri]

Well I ordered, installed and updated the asrock 870 steel legend. It lasted 3 days then just died….. no sign of life at all, no known reason for the death. I’ve checked the psu, power socket and peripherals all is working except the motherboard (can’t check cpu or ram as this was a new build). Now I’m just waiting for OC to come back to my faulty request

That's a shame but it does happen sometimes. You can get something DOA, or you can get a headless chicken that will still run around for a day or two. OC will sort you out.

 

[aaronyuri]

Yeah, I do think it's to create more segmentation and therefore more expensive board tiers.

Motherboards and graphics cards have really started to become like cars. There is an incrementally better part at an incrementally higher price point, with the increments getting larger near the top whilst the betterment of the part diminishes proportionally to how much more expensive it is. Besides the mega premium for the flagship, of course.