Which x470?

ToonarmY87 · 9 Oct 2018 at 18:41

I will be upgrading my pc this or next month and finally decided the 2700x will be the way to go.

I am quit overwhelmed by the number of x470 motherboard options available.

Can anyone reccommend a good board or help to narrow the options down.

This pc will primarily be used for gaming, i will likely let the cpu go to its boost clock settings. I might well upgrade the CPU to the next Zen generation due next year also.

No preference on aesthetics. I don't intend on staring at it or putting it on display.

Robert896r1 · 9 Oct 2018 at 18:52

After research this came out the winner for me:

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/X470-GAMING-PRO-CARBON

Zig13 · 10 Oct 2018 at 13:42

I have been using this awesome sortable AM4 Motherboard database to narrow things down.
Things to look for/filter by are how many fan headers you need and what the ethernet chip is (Intel is best).

ToonarmY87 · 11 Oct 2018 at 08:39

Thanks.

I think I have narrowed it down to these:

MSI X470 Pro Carbon
ASUS rog strix X470 F-Gaming
ASUS X470 Prime

Zig13 · 11 Oct 2018 at 09:31

The two Asus boards are quite similar spec-wise. Only difference I can see is the Strix has a higher amperage MOSFET and debug LEDs.
The biggest difference is probably aesthetics. You can get high res images of each board from the manurfacturer's website.

In my research, people have generally been favouring the MSI boards over Asus. Apparently Asus make a good board and then don't support it very well.
A good idea is to compare the Asus and Msi BIOS in reviews and checkout how recently the BIOS and drivers have been updated on the manurfactuter's support website.

EsaT · 11 Oct 2018 at 10:12

ToonarmY87 said:
Thanks.

I think I have narrowed it down to these:

MSI X470 Pro Carbon
ASUS rog strix X470 F-Gaming
ASUS X470 Prime

X470 Prime Pro and Strix X470-F are mostly quite similar.
Besides aesthetics Strix F adds POST debug leds and improves CPU VRM, for example having 50% higher output current/power capacity, putting it step below strongest VRMs.

MSI should have VRM power output between them, but instead of modern combined powerstages it uses older design with separate MOSFETs, so efficiency will be lower.
And Buildzoid has zero clue about identity of used capacitors, so those are likely cheaper maker ones.

If you consider having USB 3.1 Gen2 pin header important for front I/O of case that's missing in MSI, in exchange for two USB 3.1 Gen1 (USB3) pin headers.
Though MSI has that USB type-C connector in rear.

Would assume BIOS/software features at least aren't better than in X470 Gaming M7.
So unlike in Asus there likely won't be any BIOS controls to disable RGB bling bling. (same in B450 Gaming Pro Carbon)
And even MSI's Windows shovelware might be unable to disable all of them.
BIOS fan controls lack ability to use keyboard for setting values.
And lack of voltage offsets seems theme in MSI's AMD boards.

Buildzoid also mentions lack of BIOS recovery, if update or something corrupts BIOS.
(Asus has low level "emergency protocol" for automatic reflashing BIOS)

Mercutio · 14 Oct 2018 at 14:20

EsaT said:
X470 Prime Pro and Strix X470-F are mostly quite similar.
Besides aesthetics Strix F adds POST debug leds and improves CPU VRM, for example having 50% higher output current/power capacity, putting it step below strongest VRMs.

I'm 2/3 days from adding a (fairly beastly - 720mm of hwlab gtx) custom loop. Is the Prime Pro generally considered a decent platform for PBO lvl 3 or should I be looking at the strix/another board with better VRM's.
PSU is an x-series 1250W so I can probably battle vdroop/etc manually if needed.