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This week, the roster of Mini-ITX motherboards for Ryzen is expanding, as Gigabyte has launched the AB350N-Gaming WiFi. Based on AMD's B350 chipset, this motherboard includes a bunch of features, including Gigabyte's Smart-Fan 5, server class components and an optimised layout to support AMD's Wraith Max cooler, which comes included with some Ryzen processors.
As Gigabyte's motherboard VP, Henry Kao puts it, this particular Mini-ITX board is the result of great efforts in R&D: “GIGABYTE’s R&D put great efforts on re-arranging the components on the board in order to make mini motherboards achieve optimal compatibility for larger thermal cooling solutions”. For those who are unaware, with Ryzen, AMD began packing in the Wraith Max CPU cooler with some models. This is a much larger, higher performance version of the traditional stock cooler but due to its increased size, Mini-ITX motherboard makers have had to rethink their layout slightly.
With the Gigabyte AB350N-Gaming WiFi, the motherboard includes an enlarged zone between the CPU socket and RAM slots. This means larger CPU coolers can fit without interfering with RAM too much. As you can see in the image above ven DIMMs with tall heatspreaders will fit with a Wraith Max cooler installed.
Beyond that, this motherboard is built using a server-class digital power design, including 4th gen PWM controllers, 3rd gen PowlRstage controllers and new IR power controllers. This means the board will be delivering the correct amount of power to all of the board's essential components, which should help with things like overclocking. Other major Gigabyte technologies also make an appearance, including Smart-Fan 5, Hybrid fan-pin headers and RGB Fusion support. There is an onboard 802.11ac WiFi module, Bluetooth 4.2 support and a GbE LAN port.
The final thing worth noting is that the AB350N-Gaming WiFi uses a one piece stainless steel shielding to help reinforce the PCIe connectors, so the motherboard will support even heavier graphics cards with beefy coolers. This motherboard should be available within in the next few weeks.
KitGuru Says: It's great to see more Mini-ITX options coming to market for Ryzen. Are any of you planning on putting together a small form factor build this year?
