Z390- ASUS- Gene PCB breakdown

orbitalwalsh · 6 Sep 2018 at 10:02

https://videocardz.com/newz/asus-rog-strix-z390-i-and-prime-z390-a-motherboards-leaked

is it me or are ITX boards getting nicer and nicer

orbitalwalsh · 27 Sep 2018 at 12:57

https://videocardz.com/newz/asus-z390-maximus-xi-extreme-and-gene-leaked

https://videocardz.com/78256/asus-z390-rog-maximus-xi-strix-prime-and-tuf-motherboards-leaked

orbitalwalsh · 27 Sep 2018 at 13:13

@LePhuronn still standard matx format, just the dual DIMM and DIMM.2 makes it look longer

orbitalwalsh · 27 Sep 2018 at 14:08

IT Troll said:
The Gene has been discussed a bit in the mATX thread. With no SLI, 2 DIMMs and reduced SATA it is specced more like an oversized ITX.
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/motherboard-upgrade-which-m-atx-8700k-9900k.18829417/

If you are looking for a pure CPU overclocking board wouldn't you just go ITX?

vrm set up is an animal on the gene

orbitalwalsh · 27 Sep 2018 at 16:44

LePhuronn said:
But give me bifurcation so I can get the 2nd PCI-E 16x slot back

Think it's only gigabyte and asrock that have done it in the past

This board would be scrwamibg for it though

orbitalwalsh · 9 Oct 2018 at 12:59

hope this helps

https://www.anandtech.com/show/13407/intel-z390-motherboard-overview-every-motherboard-analyzed/2

orbitalwalsh · 17 Oct 2018 at 09:35

heads up, VRMs , if you can afford to grab the watercooled ROG then do so, specially if your running AVX!
Treading carefully here, all vendors VRMs run hot - taking away the cooling aspects etc .
Watercooled versions have AVX and non AVX temps closer together but non water boards, there's a good difference.
can see why vendors have stepped up VRM counts- running 5.1/5.2ghz overclock and your VRMs are pushed hard! even at 1.35v

look out for reviews that use heatguns ! and dont just rely on sensors as some boards have them closer to the hottest part of the Mosfet (aorus)

if you can, what ever board you get, change the heatpads

think asus pads are rated at W/mK 1-2, Thermal Grizzly's are like 8 w/mks

asus also have one of the strongest QVL for 2 sticks 4000hz+ but weaker with 4 sticks compared to aorus

orbitalwalsh · 17 Oct 2018 at 12:34

Robert896r1 said:
The Auros z390 pro with the latest bios won’t boot to 4000mhz on 8pak’s tested ram when using xmp profile or manual timings just FYI. Using slots 2 and 4 (heatsink blocking 1/3) I can run 3600mhz at c16 though but ram performance seems off.

Aorus, only has 4 sticks working g on QVL list, not 2 . They test 4 across the board, have weaker 2 sticks support . Also on the Master/ITX, not so sure on the Pro/Elite

Asus has lot of G.Skill support it seems for higher ram speeds. Hope TG gets more added.

orbitalwalsh · 17 Oct 2018 at 13:56

shamus21 said:
Yes Asus have never been good with 4 sticks they struggle on the quad channel boards.

hit or miss with all vendors i guess. Wonder is ASrock have changed design so all 4 dimms can run faster then default speed?

orbitalwalsh · 17 Oct 2018 at 14:20

VincentHanna said:
I don't understand why they don't make more 2 dimm boards to be honest, as the z390 doesn't actually support proper Quad channel.

if you look at build/upgrade requests here over last 4 years, comes from owners of 1st-3rd gen intel i5/7's which up until now ran everygame just fine, they just had 2x 4gb sticks of ram as at the time, thats all they needed or were on the market, now 16GB is the main stream so they slap in another 2 sticks and maybe a gpu upgrade and fine for another 3+ years etc .

many of us now currently slap in 2x 8gb sticks in as its the normal, might find in 6 years time were 8700k/ryzen 1700 still perform just fine but more memory is needed might slap in another 2 sticks .

peoples use also change and the fact workloads for non gaming application are increasing - memory size goes in hand with it etc

why there has been a push for Dual Stack RAM

orbitalwalsh · 18 Oct 2018 at 08:00

@Robert896r1

When I've done benches I only have those programs installed and nothing else , so minimumal programs in background. Also Windows power plan set to max ?

orbitalwalsh · 19 Oct 2018 at 14:54

reviews via OC3D

https://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/asus_rog_z390_maximus_xi_formula_review/1

https://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/asus_rog_z390_maximus_xi_extreme_review/1

https://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/asus_rog_z390-i_strix_itx_review/1

https://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/intel_core_i9-9900k_and_asus_z390_strix-e_review/1

seems their chip hasnt managed above 5.0ghz - know these boards can hit over them - no VRM temps with above reviews -

find any other reviews on Asus range, please feel free to post up

orbitalwalsh · 19 Oct 2018 at 15:10

Robert896r1 said:
@orbitalwalsh what is the Asus equivalent of MSI Pro Carbon with wifi or Asrock Taichi?

Hero I believe , or slightly less cash, Strix

seems so many reviews have landed 5ghz chips supplied by vendors =/ know they all have hit 5.3ghz on most of their boards to cherry picked chips at least and they all didn't blow up (all vendors- so z390 is a step up from z370)

ODE
My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x MSI Z390 MPG GAMING PRO CARBON AC (Socket 1151) DDR4 ATX Motherboard= £219.98
1 x ASRock Z390 Taichi Intel Z390 (Socket 1151) DDR4 ATX Motherboard= £229.99
1 x Asus ROG Strix Z390-E Intel Z390 (Socket 1151) DDR4 ATX Motherboard= £227.99

Total: £689.66 (includes shipping: £11.70)

have to see reviews into vrm heat - think both are 8 or 10 phase design - if your going to run 9900k then a lot of heat will be produced from VRMs , 8th gen should be fine

orbitalwalsh · 19 Oct 2018 at 15:24

Robert896r1 said:
I'm going to stick to my 8086k for now since I can keep it on air at 5ghz all core where as water is a must for the 9900k on air. I don't want to go AIO.

Main goal for me is something solid and better than my z390 gigabyte pro. I'll check out the Strix-E and Hero as they're new to me. I shy'd away as they had so many sku for Asus boards...

if by better at ram speed, then asus should edge past, for vrm couldn't comment will thermals are posted of both.

Asus have few issues with Vdroop but seems they are onto it

https://www.gamersnexus.net/hwrevie...der-vs-paste-delid-gaming-benchmarks-vs-2700x

orbitalwalsh · 19 Oct 2018 at 16:56

Distracted said:
Are you able to link to the source for the heat dissapation figures of the stock asus pads please? Trying to find it.

Been a while, will check my emails. But yeah, all stock ones are naff. Even Aorus new z390 Xtreme uses 5 w/mk LAIRDTech Pads (never heard of them )and pushing heavy on the PR , when you can go buy thermal grizzly pads for £8 which are 8 w/mk

orbitalwalsh · 23 Oct 2018 at 13:16

Better review up of the Hero

https://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/asus_rog_maximum_xi_hero_review,20.html

orbitalwalsh · 25 Oct 2018 at 09:34

Distracted said:
I've been reading those threads as well. All good info. I've had the formula and a 9900k since release and it is a non issue. I'm just following along now because I'm curious to know what the specs are and to see if Asus provide a response.

Aside from that it would be interesting to know how one VRM implementation compares to the next in terms of efficiency.

Interesting to see how your single 8 pin does vs dual 8/ 8+4 pin since in theory voltage is split more evenly etc

Every board vendor, recommending changing thermal pads , still need to track down Asus pad details but I know they all should be 2 w/km and under (super cheap stuff)

orbitalwalsh · 25 Oct 2018 at 09:51

Distracted said:
Formula has 8 + 4.

apologies, ,misread that as having the older z370 and using 9900k .

current z390 seem to be doing well with heat at both software and thermal cam level

orbitalwalsh · 25 Oct 2018 at 10:03

Distracted said:
Ah that makes sense. I was going to get the z370 series but I survived the wait and went with z390.
I'm glad i did. I love the way it looks.

just a shame z370 came to be and was a rush by intel . z390 was already on the board to replace z370 but 8 core came as a blessing , though now z390 adds to the 14nm production nightmare

orbitalwalsh · 30 Oct 2018 at 16:50

Distracted said:
I swapped the pads on my formula. It was fine before the swap but i wasn't oc a 9900k then. I should have done before and after tests.

I have thermals images of z390 ones, trust me in saying pad swap would help with board sensors getting lower temps. Though heatsink will get hot. Wouldn't run AVX on the 9900k, so far after 2 hours only Aorus Master, Meg and Xtreme , Foemula under water doesn't fail after 2 hours