CPU [SFF Network] AMD’s AM4 on the M-ITX Platform – Round-up and VRM Temperature Investigation

[confusis]

So, over the past month, we have covered 4 of the 5 M-ITX AM4 offerings, with only BIOSTAR’s B350 variant un-tested. However, due to the fact that the X370 and B350 variants share the same PCB and expansion offerings, we decided that we had sufficient information to create a roundup review to make it easy to pick a board for your next build.

Read more here.

 

[Phuncz]

Very interesting read !

According to this German site, Asus is preparing two ITX AM4 boards for release next month, but next to the names (X370-I Gaming, B350-I Gaming) nothing is known. I'd be interested if they could include dual PCIe M.2 ports. I'm not very confident it will be as well-equiped as the Z270 Strix board, but I'm hoping it is.

 

[confusis]

I had confirmation at TechXpo, in early August, from the ASUS rep that that they had incoming AM4 ITX https://smallformfactor.net/news/sffn-techxpo-new-zealand

 

[TheHig]

Thanks for the round up! Nowhere else can we get all the juice on these boards all in one place.

Edit: Quck thought. I feel that the Gigabyte board may really stand out when Raven ridge arrives. Great connectivity and with the Ram clocks to feed the iGPU. Looking to see what you can do with that @confusis when they release.

Asus is a welcome addition. 2 m.2 ports would really be a nice way to offer something over the competition certainly. I really wouldn't mind downsizing my Taichi build but that board OCs my 1700 with less voltage and more clocks than any I have tried including the Fatality x370 itx. So... Asus has a tough sell here other than form factor.

Buuut. A secondary build with say an r5 1600 seems very tempting indeed if these have the goods.

 

[Phuncz]

I ordered the ASRock AB350 Gaming-ITX/ac, soon I'll be able to move back to an mITX case and can re-apply for my SFF badge and gun.

 

[stree]

have to congratulate you on your choice of MB, mainly because that is the one I chose too!

 

[confusis]

I personally am going with the Gigabyte board, but that's due to the fact that my build is currently set up for my F2A88XN-Wifi, so the wiring will be easy :-)

 

[cj360]

I'm more surprised the other MB's are lacking usb3 compared to biostar's offering. I wonder if Asus' will also have both usb2 and 3 on theirs whenever it's released.

 

[Ionrent]

 

 

[confusis]

• Typos fixed
• I was going for real world results - nobody Prime95's as their day to day workload
• It does provide direct airflow, albeit in a minimal fashion. No other airflow was given to the test system - even an AIO would flow air through a chassis
• 30 minutes for thermal equilibrium, however, I was out to test stability at those temps, as well as temperatures
• Valid point
• If only I had time! This isn't my day job.. yet

 

[maktama]

And Asrock Motherboard have NO Usb3.1 Gen2 support, only have Gen1 support. This has been mentioned earlier on other topic(and you corrected in there).

 

[Ionrent]

 

 

[confusis]

And Asrock Motherboard have NO Usb3.1 Gen2 support, only have Gen1 support. This has been mentioned earlier on other topic(and you corrected in there).

Fixed, was missed in editing. The person who checked my work has now been thrown into a pit for the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal to consume.

@confusis
In that case, I would recommend looping x264. It's a great real world stress test (think Plex) that uses AVX and draws more power than CPU-Z.

I also don't have time (or three motherboards), that's why I live vicariously through others.

Noted, will do so in the future

 

[JamesCross]

Excellent article. I'm planning to pick up one of these boards for my upcoming ITX Ryzen build.

Would you be able to confirm that the Intel 3168 WiFi module on the ASRock Fatal1ty AB350 Gaming-ITX/ac is replaceable like in the other boards? It seems to be shielded better, but is it still possible to remove and replace it?

Swappable WiFi was only listed as one of Gigabyte's Pros, which left me wondering. I was hoping to replace Asrock's with an Intel 8265 WiFi Module down the road, but if it's not possible to swap it, I'd have to pick up Gigabyte's.

 

[confusis]

It is indeed replaceable!

 

[Soul_Est]

While I like the rear port selection on the GigaByte (why don't more OEMs include DisplayPort++?), the ASRock AB350 gets my choice for now. It will be interesting to see what ASUS comes out with.

 

[jtd871]

In the summary table, 2 DVI connections on the AsRock X370 needs corrected, I think.

 

[confusis]

Fixed. Seems the table had all kind of glitches happen! Thanks Wordpress -_-

 

[maktama]

Fixed, was missed in editing. The person who checked my work has now been thrown into a pit for the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal to consume.
...

Nope, not fixed.
"The ASRock boards’ offering includes dual HDMI for video output for APUs. The USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports are split between 1x Type-A and 1x Type-C connectors. ...."
Still there(on this new article).

 

[confusis]

Ah, I thought the only mention of that was in the spec table.. fixed. again!

TBH, I blame the USB consortium for this, for making USB3 a goddamned nightmare.