Although this year far not all mobile devices will get USB 3.1 type-C ports, next year a lot will change, according to Taiwan-based designers of controllers. Thanks to reversible form-factor, improved performance, higher durability and other benefits of USB 3.1 interface and type-C ports, many laptops and smartphones will adopt …
Read More »MSI unveils ultimate Z170A Xpower Gaming Titanium mainboard
MicroStar International on Wednesday released the first details about its upcoming Z170A Xpower Gaming Titanium Edition mainboard for the upcoming Intel “Skylake” microprocessors. The new motherboard sports ultimate overclocking capabilities, unique silver coating and even all-new solid-state chokes that should improve durability and overclockability. One of the key features of the …
Read More »Asus to install LGA1151 O.C. socket on new Intel Z170 mainboards
In a bid to enhance overclocking potential of Intel Corp.’s upcoming Core i7-6700K and Core i5-6600K “Skylake-S” central processing units, Asustek Computer plans to install modified LGA1151 sockets on its Intel Z170-based mainboards. Intel’s default LGA1151 socket features exactly 1151 pins, but Asustek will use a different socket with higher …
Read More »Asus unveils ultimate micro-ATX Intel X99 mainboard for workstations
Asustek Computer has quietly unveiled what could be the world’s most advanced micro-ATX motherboard. The mainboard features Intel X99 core-logic and supports multi-GPU technologies, M.2 solid-state drives, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.1 and so on. The platform is designed for workstations. The Asus X99-M WS mainboard supports processors in LGA2011-3 form-factor, …
Read More »MSI unveils its Intel Z170 Gaming platforms for Intel ‘Skylake’ CPUs
MicroStar International on Tuesday gave a sneak peek on its new mainboards based on Intel Z170 core-logic set designed for gamers. The MSI Z170A Gaming family of mainboards provides ultimate performance and innovative features, but are aimed at different segments of the market. The upcoming MSI Z170A Gaming mainboards designed …
Read More »Asustek and Gigabyte remain world’s top mainboard makers as market shrinks
Asustek Computer and Gigabyte Technology remained the top mainboard makers in the first half of this year, according to a media report. Each company shipped about eight million motherboards globally, which was below their initial plans. In fact, the market of mainboards shrunk pretty significantly in 1H 2015. Gigabyte managed …
Read More »Asmedia and Intel cut prices of USB 3.1 chips, speed up adoption
Asmedia and Intel Corp. have started to reduce prices of their USB 3.1 controllers in a bid to gain market share. Intel Corp.’s “Alpine Ridge” chip offers Thunderbolt 3 in addition to USB 3.1, but Asmedia’s controller is significantly cheaper to make and can be sold a very low price. …
Read More »Asustek preps add-in-card with Thunderbolt 3/USB type-C ports
Asustek Computer is working on an add-in-card that will add Thunderbolt 3 support to its mainboards. The platform will be based on Intel Corp.’s “Alpine Ridge” controller and will significantly expand input/output capabilities of modern personal computers. The add-in-board from Asus featuring Intel “Alpine Ridge” chip will come with one …
Read More »MSI unveils Krait Z170: Intel’s ‘Skylake’ platform goes white
MicroStar International this week introduced its new premium mainboard based on the Intel Z170 core-logic. The platform represents the best that the new Intel 100-series “Skylake” platform offers, including input/output capabilities. To make it more appealing for PC modders, MSI equipped its product with white heat-spreaders. The MSI Z170 Krait …
Read More »MSI’s flagship X99A Godlike Gaming motherboard is now available
MSI has officially released its new flagship motherboard based on the X99 chipset. The X99A Godlike Gaming motherboard takes on the familiar red and black colour scheme we are used to seeing on MSI's gaming products while also packing in plenty of features for enthusiasts to make use of. Key …
Read More »Biostar preps Intel ‘Skylake’ mainboards with DDR3 and DDR4 memory slots
Even though the vast majority of enthusiast-class mainboards for Intel Corp.’s upcoming code-named “Skylake” processors will rely mostly on DDR4 memory, lower-end solutions may support DDR3L as well. Moreover, for maximum flexibility, Biostar is readying two LGA1151 motherboards with both DDR3L and DDR4 memory slots. Biostar plans to release two …
Read More »ECS: We will not quit branded motherboard market
Elitegroup Computer Systems has once again denied plans to stop making own-brand mainboards for the DIY [do-it-yourself] market. This is the second time this year when the company makes such denial. “We [ECS] feel regret to learn the untrue report from DigiTimes,” said Sunny Yang, the president of ECS, in …
Read More »ECS is mulling to quit own-brand mainboards business – report
Elitegroup Computer Systems has reportedly announced that it will not actively promote its own-brand mainboards aimed at the DIY [do-it-yourself] market going forward. The company will continue to produce motherboards for its clients, but will eventually quit the market of platforms for enthusiasts. ECS used to be one of the …
Read More »Gigabyte Worldwide VP Henry Kao exclusive interview
It's tempting for senior officials at every company to regurgitate the ‘About Us' section of their web site. Henry Kao is different. Prior to the cameras being switched on, Henry assured us that we could ask ‘Anything we want'. And so we did. Henry gave us his full, frank opinion …
Read More »MSI X99A XPOWER AC Motherboard Review
When it comes to performance processors for the consumer market, Intel's Haswell-E chips are the fastest around. With such great performance potential are enthusiasts who want to squeeze every last bit of juice out of their system in order to break world records. That's where MSI's X99A XPOWER AC motherboard …
Read More »MSI Z97A Gaming 6 Motherboard Review
MSI's mid-range Z97 motherboard is the first to market with on-board USB 3.1 in the connection's Type-C form. With the port providing transfer rates of up to 10Gbps and support for new reversible USB Type-C devices, can MSI's Z97A Gaming 6 prove itself as a good option for users wanting …
Read More »ASRock USB 3.1: A Quick Hands-on Test
We had a chance to take a look at ASRock's USB 3.1 implementation with the company's excellent X99E-ITX/ac motherboard and a custom USB 3.1 RAID testing card. How does ASRock's 10Gbps USB 3.1 solution fare? USB 3.1 has been a huge talking point for the past few months. We have …
Read More »Gigabyte X99-Gaming 5P Motherboard Review
Retrofitted with Gigabytes new pin-enhanced socket, the X99-Gaming 5P is targeting enthusiast gamers with an eye for multi-GPU configurations and an ear for high-quality audio hardware. Can the red and black-themed design appeal to gamers shopping for a mid-priced X99 motherboard? Branded as part of the G1 Gaming series, Gigabyte's …
Read More »ASRock X99E-ITX/ac Mini-ITX Motherboard Review
The push for small yet powerful computers has been evident over the past few years. Many enthusiasts are no longer happy with an ATX motherboard and full tower chassis to house their single graphics card and pair of storage drives. Instead, budding aficionados are challenging themselves to create smaller and …
Read More »AMD to offer USB 3.1 controller under its own brand
At present, only MicroStar International offers platforms for AMD processors with USB 3.1 type-A connectors. By contrast, virtually all leading makers of motherboards now sell mainboards for current-generation Intel processors with the new bus. Apparently, Advanced Micro Devices wants to change that. In a bid to catch up with Intel …
Read More »EVGA readies Z170 Classified mainboard for extreme overclockers
EVGA Corp. is working on two new mainboards based on Intel Corp.’s Z170 chipset for the upcoming Core-series “Skylake” processors. One of the mainboards is designed for gamers with overclocking ambitions and will not be too expensive. The other one is aimed at hardcore enthusiasts, who demand to have a …
Read More »Gigabyte details premium Z170 platforms: DDR4, 32Gb/s M.2, 16Gb/s SATAe, Thunderbolt 3
Gigabyte Technology at Computex revealed details about its upcoming premium mainboards based on the Intel Z170 core-logic designed for the Intel’s “Skylake” microprocessors. As expected, the new motherboards will provide rather extreme capabilities when it comes to overclocking, multi-GPU and high-performance storage. Gigabyte’s premium Intel Z170-based motherboards for LGA1151 microprocessors …
Read More »Asrock demos Z170 platforms: DDR4-3400+, USB type-C, Ultra M.2, SATAe
Several months ahead of commercial release, Asrock demonstrated its upcoming mainboards for Intel Corp.’s “Skylake-S” processors at Computex this week. The initial lineup of motherboards with socket LGA1151 from Asrock will be aimed at enthusiasts, will be powered by the Intel Z170 core-logic and will support numerous premium features and …
Read More »Gigabyte’s mainboards for ‘Skylake’ to integrate Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1 type-C
Gigabyte Technology has announced that some of its upcoming mainboards for Intel Corp.’s code-named “Skylake” processors will support the Thunderbolt 3 technology as well as USB 3.1 type-C ports. Gigabyte is one of the largest makers of mainboards in the world and its support of the new standard is hard …
Read More »Intel unveils Thunderbolt 3: USB type-C connector and 40Gb/s bandwidth
Intel Corp.’s Thunderbolt interconnection introduced in 2011 has been the champion in terms of performance and usability, but its limited adoption by PC makers, high price and other peculiarities have made it an outsider in the market. This week Intel introduced its third-gen Thunderbolt, which uses industry-standard USB type-C receptacle …
Read More »Extreme overclockers break records with new MSI X99 motherboard
At Computex yesterday, MSI revealed its latest X99 motherboard, the ‘X99A Godlike Gaming' and it is already off to a great start as overclockers have already managed to break records with the board. Renowned overclockers, Benchbros, Wizerty, Vivi and Zzolio, broke seven top global scores and hardware records in total …
Read More »Asus demos Z170 Pro: Digital VRM for CPU and RAM, USB 3.1, 802.11ac
Asustek Computer this week demonstrated one of its upcoming LGA1151 mainboards for Intel Corp.’s “Skylake” microprocessors at Computex 2015. The Asus Z170-Pro motherboard is a high-end, but not the flagship, platform powered by the Intel Z170 core logic from the company. While the new mainboard in many ways resembles last …
Read More »Biostar demonstrates Intel Z170 mainboard for ‘Skylake’ processors
Biostar has published the first image of its Intel Z170-based mainboard for Intel Corp.’s upcoming processors code-named “Skylake”. The motherboard will be hit the market later this year and will be demonstrated at Computex trade-show next month. Biostar’s Gaming Z170X4 mainboard for LGA1151 processors is equipped with 12-phase voltage regulation …
Read More »Intel bids adieu to DDR3: Majority of ‘Skylake-S’ mainboards to use DDR4
Intel Corp.’s upcoming code-named “Skylake-S” microprocessor will promote the new DDR4 memory standard considerably more aggressively than it was initially believed. Although integrated memory controller of “Skylake” supports different types of DRAM, the processors will not officially support DDR3, but will only be compatible with a low-power version of the …
Read More »Asustek readies 21 mainboards for Intel’s ‘Skylake-S’ processors
Being the world’s largest maker of mainboards, Asustek Computer traditionally offers the broadest lineup of motherboards for all new microprocessors. This fall Asus plans to introduce 21 new platforms designed for Intel Corp.’s upcoming code-named “Skylake-S”central processing units. Intel’s “Skylake-S” processors will be supported by the company’s new 100-series core-logic sets, …
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