A web-site has published specifications of Intel Corp.’s 100-series core-logic sets designed for the code-named “Skylake” microprocessors due in the third quarter of the year. The new platforms will receive a significant upgrade of PCI Express lanes, which will improve their storage and multi-GPU capabilities. The family of “Skylake”-supporting Intel …
Read More »AMD to unify platforms for high-end FX chips, mainstream APUs
At present Advanced Micro Devices, just like Intel Corp., has two desktop platforms: socket FM2+ for mainstream accelerated processing units and socket AM3+ for high-end FX central processing units. When AMD introduces its new chips in 2016, the company will unify the two platforms, a media report claims. AMD’s forthcoming …
Read More »MSI brings support for NVM Express storage to all X99/Z97/H97 motherboards
MSI has managed to become the world's first motherboard maker to fully support NVM Express storage on all motherboards sporting the Intel 9 series chipset, including X99, Z97 and H97. BIOS updates are now available for users to download via the MSI website. For those who don't know, NVM Express …
Read More »Gigabyte X99M-Gaming 5 mATX Motherboard Review
If you want to reduce the space taken up by your computer, without significant reduction in performance or functionality, opting for a micro ATX system has long been the most effective way of doing so. Can the performance of ATX parts be matched when the Gigabyte X99M-Gaming 5 motherboard's LGA 2011-3 …
Read More »ECS denies plans to exit branded mainboards business
Elitegroup Computer Systems, one of the largest suppliers of mainboards in the world, has denied information that it plans to exit own-brand motherboard business. While the company faces major challenges on the market of DIY [do it yourself] mainboards, it plans to continue offering motherboards under its own trademark. ECS …
Read More »Asus remains top mainboard supplier with 22 million units shipped in 2014
Asustek Computer has announced results of its operations in Q4 2014. The company remained the world’s No. 1 supplier of PC motherboards and also significantly increased sales of other branded products. But the company will likely face a number of challenges in 2015. Asustek sold 22 million branded mainboards for …
Read More »Gigabyte unveils X99 SOC Champion with redesigned LGA2011 socket
Gigabyte Technology has introduced a new Intel X99-based mainboard that is specifically designed for overclockers. The motherboard is not the most feature-rich X99 platform available, but when it comes to overclocking potential, the X99 SOC Champion could offer numerous breakthroughs thanks to redesigned LGA2011 socket with additional pins as well …
Read More »Asustek sells its 500 millionth mainboard, announces global giveaway
Asustek Computer, the world’s largest maker of mainboards, has announced that it had sold its 500 millionth motherboard since its establishment in 1989. To celebrate the milestone, the company announced a global giveaway. “I want to thank all of our customers for their support throughout the past 25 years. We …
Read More »Asus Maximus VII Impact (Z97) mITX Motherboard Review
In the computing world, bigger is usually better. But that doesn't stop us trying to squeeze the same performance out of something that is physically smaller in size. ‘Why?' you ask. Well, perhaps desk space is at a premium or maybe you simply never plan to use multiple graphics cards …
Read More »Biostar to protect mainboards from lightning strikes, electrical surges
Biostar, a well-known maker of mainboards, said this week that its mainboards will be equipped with a technology that helps to protect personal computers against power surges in Ethernet networks as well as against electrostatics. It is not a secret that PC components can be damaged or even destroyed by …
Read More »Asus X99-A Motherboard Review
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises about Intel's most recent iteration of the High-End Desktop (HEDT) platform has been its relative affordability from the perspective of an enthusiast's budget. OK, DDR4 isn't cheap, and nor are processors starting at £300. But when you consider the additional cost over an LGA …
Read More »MSI unveils mini-ITX Z97 mainboard with 802.11ac Killer Wi-Fi, M.2, enhanced cooling
MicroStar International has unveiled its all-new Z97 Gaming ACK mini-ITX mainboard that offers a very good balance between performance, technologies and price. The platform is designed for gamers, who want to have a very small form-factor (SFF) high performance system that does not cost too much. The MSI Z97I Gaming …
Read More »MSI X99S MPower Motherboard Review
Forming the more competitively-priced option in MSI's LGA 2011-3 OC Series motherboard range, the X99S MPower aims to balance the requirements of overclockers, gamers, and enthusiasts at a sub-£190 price tag. Can the features, overclocking functionality, and likeable yellow and black colour scheme attract overclocking users to MSI's aggressively-priced X99S …
Read More »Asus A88X-Gamer Motherboard Review
Sharp eyed readers will see a strong similarity between this Asus A88X-Gamer motherboard and the MSI A88X-G45 Gaming that we recently reviewed. Fair point. Both motherboards use an AMD A88X chipset to support Socket FM2+ and there is a distinct theme of red and black in the styling. Asus tells …
Read More »Razer loves DinoPC – who loves Gigabyte – and here’s why
Around 80% of the population have no idea what a true, high-end gaming PC looks like. KitGuru readers do of course, and so do the folks at Razer. To prove that point, we managed to get a tour around the Razer Battle Bus recently and while there, asked why the mobile marvel has …
Read More »Overclockers UK slashes £300 from a £1000+ PC DIY bundle
As reported, Overclockers UK has decided to follow its colleagues from the U.S. with special discounts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Unlike “traditional” price slashes many of which look rather symbolic, deals on the special days usually result in rather dramatic savings. For example, OcUK will offer a bundle …
Read More »Mainboard makers to cease cutting prices, to focus on gross margins next year
In a bid to maintain market shares and unit shipments this year leading manufacturers of mainboards had to cut prices and initiate various campaigns to boost sales. Such tactics lead to price-cuts as well as erosion of gross-margins, something that threats the future of the companies. However, next year motherboard …
Read More »AMD and Asmedia sign chipset development outsourcing deal – report
Advanced Micro Devices and Asmedia have reportedly signed a pact under which the latter will develop core-logic sets for the former. The move will help AMD to reduce its expenses and use internal engineering resources to develop leading-edge microprocessors and graphics processing units. Earlier this year AMD licensed SATA Express-related …
Read More »Chaintech returns to market with enthusiast-class Intel Z97 mainboard
Chaintech Technology and Colorful Technology this week teamed up again to bring back Chaintech-branded mainboards to the market. The first new Chaintech motherboard in years – the iGame Z97 – will sport massive water-block on its sophisticated 16-phase VRM and core-logic components and will be one of a few E-ATX …
Read More »Gigabyte reveals world’s first mATX Intel X99 mainboard for Core i7 ‘Haswell-E’ chips
Gigabyte Technology has unveiled the world’s first mATX mainboard based on the Intel X99 core-logic that is designed for Intel Core i7-5800/5900-series “Haswell-E” high-end desktop central processing units. The mainboard features premium capabilities and can enable compact form-factor systems with extreme levels of performance. The Gigabyte X99M-Gaming 5 motherboard is …
Read More »Intel and MSI to return up to £110/€140 to owners of latest mainboards and CPUs
MicroStar International and Intel Corp. on Monday announced a new cashback promotion that will help owners of certain Intel and MSI products to get some cash back. The promotion will work in multiple European countries, including the U.K. From the 16th of November until the 27th of December, 2014, MSI …
Read More »ASRock X99 Extreme11 Motherboard Review
With the highest possible compute performance that consumers can purchase, Intel's Haswell-E processors and the X99 chipset make a viable combination for users with demanding workloads. If the price, features, and performance are right, there's nothing stopping a semi-professional buying a consumer-grade motherboard to house their LGA2011-3 CPU and DDR4 memory. Bearing that in mind, …
Read More »Gigabyte X99-UD4 Motherboard Review
While the Haswell-E CPUs and X99-based motherboards of Intel's newest HEDT platform put a considerable dent in the pocket of any enthusiast, there are ways to lighten the cost burden. We recently reviewed the six-core 5820K and found it to be an excellent choice for users who value compute performance …
Read More »Inside the OC Lab at MSI HQ in Taipei: KitGuru TV
At a recent gaming event, Beat IT 2014, KitGuru was able to get an exclusive look inside the MSI OC Lab for a quick interview with main man Manny Chang. Look out for the horrific attack with LN2 at the end! For mainboard manufacturers, the world of overclocking is like …
Read More »Asus reveals new Z97-Pro Gamer motherboard
Asus is set to launch a new Z97 motherboard in Europe, the Z97-Pro Gamer, built with all of the gaming necessities at a fairly affordable price point. The motherboard will come with a handful of ROG series features such as the Asus Sonic Radar II overlay and Supreme FX audio. …
Read More »Intel Skylake-S CPUs to support new LGA 1151 socket
Intel's upcoming Skylake-S 14nm CPUs are set to replace Intel's Haswell refresh line some time next year, bringing with it a new socket, chipset and motherboards. The new socket is called LGA 1151 and has just one pin more than Haswell, Intel's current generation architecture. The new CPU will support …
Read More »MSI X99 Gaming 9 ACK revealed to KitGuru at Beat IT 2014
The array of mainboard options facing enthusiasts toward the back end of 2014 is nothing short of astonishing. With four mainstream manufacturers vying for position and several chipsets available, everyone is looking for any advantage they can get. KitGuru spies the latest step forward in this competition. For the most …
Read More »MSI X99S MPower: Intel ‘Haswell-E’ platform gets more affordable
MicroStar International this week rolled-out its fifth mainboard based on the Intel X99 core-logic set that is designed for Intel Corp.’s latest high-end desktop (HEDT) Core i7 “Haswel-E” central processing units. The new motherboard features premium components, overclocking capabilities and all the advantages the X99 has to offer. However, it …
Read More »New chief exec of AMD to visit China, Taiwan to discuss future plans
Lisa Su, the recently appointed chief executive officer of Advanced Micro Devices, plans to visit China and Taiwan to discuss future plans with the company’s partners. It is highly likely that Ms. Su will update the company’s allies in the southeast Asia regarding her vision of the company’s future and possible …
Read More »Release of Intel’s ‘Skylake-S’ may disrupt motherboard market
Although the release of the code-named “Skylake-S” microprocessors in the second quarter of 2015 could please some users and generate additional demand for personal computers, for makers of mainboards as well as some other computer components it will create a rather huge mess. As reported earlier, Intel Corp.’s “Skylake-S” microprocessors …
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