One of the key aspects of AMD’s offering in the consumer desktop space is the longevity of its socket and platform. Throughout the years, AMD has leveraged a single socket for multiple generations, providing users the ability to keep the same motherboard year in and year out, while the competition changes the socket every couple of generations at best. To keep that mantra, AMD has stated that its next-generation platform coming later this year, AM5, will also be a multi-generational platform.

Going back in AMD’s history we can see just how long various platforms have lasted, from first processor launch to last processor launch:

• Socket 939 from 2004 to 2006
• AM2/2+ socket from 2006 to 2009
• AM3/3+ socket from 2009 to 2013
• FM2/2+ socket from 2012 to 2015
• AM4 socket from 2016 to 2021
• AM5 socket from 2021 to …

Within that time there have been chipset updates to allow for better IO, however usually the socket change has happened because of DDR version changes, interconnect, and PCIe. In this instance, the move from AM4 to AM5 comes with a change from DDR4 to DDR5 and PCIe 4.0 to PCIe 5.0.

In a roundtable with Dr. Lisa Su, the question was asked about how long AM5 would be around – now that AMD has a sustainable position again in the desktop, and by many measures a leading position, would AMD continue its tradition of longer-lived desktop platforms. Dr. Su stated that AM4 ‘has been good for the community and … it’s been good for us as well’. She confirmed that a change was required with the new standards, but on strategy it was put that ‘I don’t have an exact number of years but I would say that you should expect that AM5 will be a long-lived platform as AM4 has been’. Dr. Su also stated that even with the introduction of AM5, the company expects AM4 to stay in the marketplace for some years, with overlap between the two depending on the market.

For users wondering how far AM5 can go before it needs to change again, it’s worth looking at roadmaps for the two usual elements that cause socket updates: memory and PCIe. We’re only just on the transition to DDR5, and DDR6 is a long way away – in a recent Samsung presentation, for example, it listed DDR6 as a 2028 technology. Similarly with PCIe 5.0, the same presentation puts PCIe 6.0 as a 2026 technology, and PCIe 7.0 as a 2029 technology. So unless AMD wants to increase the pin count on the CPUs for more memory channels or more PCIe lanes, the PCIe 5.0+DDR5 combination looks set until at least 2026.

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: AMD’s Next-Gen AM5 Platform to Have Long Term Support

During CES 2022, GIGABYTE unveiled many B660 and H610 motherboards designed for Intel’s latest Alder Lake processors. Perhaps the most interesting and ‘premium’ of these is the GIGABYTE B660 Aorus Master and B660 Aorus Master DDR4 models, which include identical feature sets. The only difference is that one supports the latest DDR5 memory and the other DDR4. Other features include three M.2 slots, four SATA ports, 2.5 GbE networking, as well as a typical Aorus inspired gaming aesthetic.

As part of GIGABYTE’s Aorus themed gaming series, the GIGABYTE B660 Aorus Master and the DDR4 version feature the same fundamental specifications and design. This includes a standard ATX-sized PCB, with a large black rear panel cover, with silver heatsinks covering the M.2 slots and chipset, as well as two zones of integrated RGB LED lighting. 

The DDR5 version supports DDR5-5333 memory, while the DDR4 version boasts support for up to DDR4-6000 memory. Both models can accommodate up to 128 GB of their respective memory types across four memory slots.

Looking at the features of both GIGABYTE B660 Aorus Master models, they include one full-length PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, with two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots operating at x4/x1. Regarding storage, there is a total of three M.2 slots, including two with support for PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 drives and one with support for PCIe 3.0 x4 drives. There are also four SATA ports supporting RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays.

On the rear panel of both B660 Aorus Master motherboards is one USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. Also on the rear panel are five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output controlled by a Realtek ALC1220-VB HD audio codec. Looking at networking, an Intel I225-V 2.5 GbE controller is powering one Ethernet port, with an Intel Wi-Fi 6 CNVi that includes support for BT 5.2 devices.

GIGABYTE hasn’t shared the expected pricing of its B660 Aorus Master motherboards, nor do we know when they might hit retail shelves.

Gallery: CES 2022: GIGABYTE Announces B660 Aorus Master Motherboards

Source: GIGABYTE

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: GIGABYTE Announces B660 Aorus Master Motherboards

One of the key elements to how processor portfolios will evolve moving forward involves mixing and matching current generation and previous generation parts using the benefits of (supposedly) cheaper older processors taking advantage of economies of scale. It’s been no secret, for example, that below $300, AMD recommends its previous generation hardware on the desktop. On the Notebook however, along with the launch this week of next-generation hardware, AMD also launched updates to the previous generation under the heading of ‘Barcelo’.

These new 2022 Barcelo APUs are minor updates to the 2021 Cezanne APUs. They use the same Zen 3 cores, are built on the same TSMC 7nm process, have the same PCIe 3 and DDR4/LP4X support, and use the same socket. These are just refined for voltage, frequency, and power based on customer requests.

For example, the new Ryzen 7 5825U is +100 MHz on base and turbo frequencies, but loses 200 MHz on graphics. Pretty much every processor is slightly increased on CPU, slightly regressed on GPU, and it looks like this is what AMD’s customers want.

The first laptop with a Barcelo processor that came across our inboxes is the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED. This is updated from the 2021 version, using the Ryzen 7 5825U with 16 GB of LPDDR4X-4266, 1 TB of PCIe 3.0 SSD, a 14-inch 2880×1800 display with 90 Hz and 100% DCI-P3, and HDR500 certification. It also comes with two USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C ports, a Type-A port, an audio combo jack, an HDMI 2.0 output, and microSD. The touchpad doubles as a number pad as well, and it comes with a 180º hinge and a 75 Wh battery. The Zenbook 14 OLED (UM3402) is due on market in Q2.

Gallery: AMD’s Barcelo: Zen 3 APU Refresh for 2022

Source: AnandTech – AMD’s Barcelo: Zen 3 APU Refresh for 2022

At CES 2022, ASRock has announced two premium and limited edition Z690 motherboards. The ASRock Z690 Aqua and Z690 Aqua OC motherboards both boast impressive specifications, including a custom monoblock cooling both the processor and power delivery, 10 GbE, 2 GbE, and Wi-Fi 6E networking, as well as dual Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports, eight SATA ports, and three PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots.

In 2019, ASRock debuted its highly premium yet expensive Aqua series through the ASRock X570 Aqua, which we reviewed. We also reviewed the ASRock Z490 Aqua, and our overall thoughts were that the Aqua was extremely ‘cool’ in both performance and aesthetics. Fast forward to 2022, and ASRock has launched two new Aqua series motherboards for Intel’s Alder Lake, one for conventional users and one designed for extreme overclockers looking to maximize both compute and memory performance under sub-zero cooling.

The ASRock Z690 Aqua E-ATX motherboard

The ASRock Z690 Aqua has a ‘wave’ of features, including a large custom monoblock designed to cool both the processor and large advertised 19+1 phase power delivery using the latest premium 105 A power stages. It also includes stainless steel plating across the 12-layer E-ATX sized PCB, with plenty of integrated RGB lighting for users to host their own epic water-cooled discotheque. The ASRock Z690 Aqua also includes an OLED display, which can display many different forms of information from voltages, frequency and can be configured within the BIOS.

Dominating the lower portion of the board are two full-length PCIe 5.0 slots that can operate at x16 or x8/x8, one full-length PCIe 4.0 x4, and one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot, with three PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots that all include M.2 heatsink coverage. For SATA, there are eight ports in total, with four coming from the chipset with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays, while an ASMedia ASM1061 SATA controller powers the other four. As does most premium Z690 motherboards, the Z690 Aqua can support up to DDR5-6400 memory, with a combined capacity of 128 GB across four slots.

The ASRock Z690 Aqua OC E-ATX motherboard with two DDR5 memory slots and overclockers toolkit

The ASRock Z690 Aqua OC shares the same core feature set but has two memory slots with support for DDR5 memory. As many ‘OC’ branded boards do, this is to enhance memory performance when overclocking. ASRock also states that it includes an external clock generator to boost OC potential, as well as the exact premium 19+1 phase power delivery as the ‘regular’ Z690 Aqua. It also includes an overclocker’s toolkit next to the memory slots for on-the-fly overclocking. However, both models have a power and rest button, with a two-digit LED debugger.

The ASRock Z690 Aqua rear panel (the Z690 Aqua OC drops two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A ports for a PS/2 port)

On the rear panel, the ASRock Z690 Aqua includes two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C with two DisplayPort 1.4 video inputs, two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, and four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports. The ASRock Z690 Aqua OC has the same layout, except it drops two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports for a PS/2 keyboard and mouse combo port. Both models feature a Marvel Aquantial AQC113CS 10 GbE and Killer E3100 2.5 GbE controller pairing, as well as a Killer AX1675 Wi-Fi 6E CNVi. For users planning to use integrated graphics, there’s a single HDMI 2.1 video output, as well as five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output powered by a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec and ESS Sabre 9128 DAC. Finishing off the rear panel is a clear CMOS and BIOS Flashback button pairing.

Both the ASRock Z690 Aqua and Z690 Aqua OC will be limited to just 500 units each with its own unique production number. ASRock hasn’t informed us of the expected availability or pricing, but we expect it to come with an eye-watering price tag.

Gallery: CES 2022: ASRock Z690 Aqua Motherboards

Source: ASRock

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: ASRock Unveils Z690 Aqua and Z690 Aqua OC Motherboards

Intel’s Alder Lake 12th generation desktop processors support DDR5 and DDR4 memory types. While users have the option to use either, Intel’s 600 series motherboards can support one or the other, not both at the same time. Well, MSI is giving users a choice with its latest MAG series B660M Mortar motherboards, which are available with support for either DDR5 or DDR4 memory and with or without a Wi-Fi 6 CNVi. 

The MSI B660M Mortar motherboards are available in two different configurations, with or without Wi-Fi capabilities and support for DDR5 or DDR4 memory. This includes two different color schemes to allow users to distinguish between each model. The variations with an Intel Wi-Fi 6 CNVi feature silver heatsinks on a black PCB, while the non-Wi-Fi enabled models come with an all-black theme.

The MSI MAG B660M Mortar WIFI with support for DDR5 memory

Outside of memory support and whether it comes with Wi-Fi or not, all four of the MSI MAG B660 Mortar motherboards are all micro-ATX in size and feature the same controller set, input and output, and expansion slot support. This includes one full-length PCIe 4.0 x16, one full-length PCIe 3.0 x4, and one smaller PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. For storage, there’s two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots, as well as six SATA ports in total. Four SATA ports are powered by the chipset with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays, while an ASMedia ASM1061 SATA controller drives the other two.

Focusing on memory support, MSI MAG B660M Mortar WIFI and B660M Mortar include support for DDR5-6200 memory, with a maximum combined capacity of up to 128 GB across four slots. In comparison, the two DDR4 compatible versions can support up to 128 GB of DDR4-4800 memory.

The MSI MAG B660M Mortar WIFI DDR4 rear panel

The MSI MAG B660M Mortar WIFI and B660M Mortar WIFI DDR4 feature an Intel Wi-Fi 6 CNVi, while the others come with an empty Key M.2 slot should users wish to add their own at a later date. Everything else across the four B660M Mortar models is the same, including one USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C, three USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, and four USB 2.0 ports, with a single Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5 GbE controller providing a decent level of networking capabilities. Also featured on the rear panel are five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output powered by a Realtek ALC1200 HD audio codec, as well as a DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 video output pairing.

At the time of writing, we haven’t found any of the MSI MAG B660M Mortar models available at US retailers, although they are in stock and currently available to purchase at UK retailers. The Wi-Fi models are likely to cost between $10-20 more depending on the retailer of choice, but MSI hasn’t provided us with any MSRP pricing at this time. At UK retailer Ebuyer, the MSI MAG B660M Mortar DDR5 model now costs £200, with the MSI MAG B660M Mortar DDR4 model costing £190.

Gallery: CES 2022: MSI Announces Four MAG B660M Mortar Motherboards

Source: MSI

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: MSI Releases Four MAG B660M Mortar Motherboards

During CES 2022, ASUS unveiled its Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition notebook. Built around the Zenbook 14 OLED series of compact yet high-performance laptops, the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition takes things to the next level. Some of its features include a 3.5″ OLED ZenVision screen on the top panel, support for up to an Intel Alder Lake Core i9-12900H processor, Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, as well as a 2800 x 1800 OLED HDR display.

Designed and built around the premise that it’s usable in orbit, the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition is US Space Systems Command certified (SMC-S-016A), as well as US Department of Defence (MIL-STD 810H) certified. ASUS states that this includes rigorous testing, including low and high-temperature testing, and at Attitude, high humidity, and drop testing; we don’t advise users to try doing any of these for obvious reasons.

The chassis comes in a unique Zero-G titanium finish, a slimline 15.9 mm depth, and weighs around 2.87 lbs. In terms of battery life, the Space Edition comes with a 63 Wh lithium polymer battery, while the screen is a 14″ OLED touchscreen display with a 2880 x 1800 resolution, with a 90 Hz refresh rate, and includes a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. The panel is also Pantone validated, with HDR 500 validation, and up to 550 nits of brightness. Integrated into the lid is an ASUS ZenVision 3.5″ OLED display which supports 256 x 64 resolution with 150 nits of brightness.

Looking at the finer specifications, the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition supports up to an Intel Core i9-12900H (Alder Lake Mobile) processor, with Intel’s Iris Xe integrated graphics. The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition can also support up to 1 TB of PCIe 4.0 x4 storage, with up to 32 GB of LPDDR5 memory, and comes with Wi-Fi 6E connectivity included as standard. Along the top bezel of the screen is an integrated webcam, while the precision trackpad also doubles up as a Numpad.

Touching on some of the advertised features, ASUS uses its dual-fan IceCool thermal technology with two fans featuring 87 fan blades, four heat pipes (two 6 mm and two 8 mm), and support for up to 45 W TDP when in performance mode. On the IO, ASUS includes a MicroSD card reader, an HDMI 2.0 video output, two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports, a single 3.5 mm audio combo jack, and a single USB 3.2 G2 Type-A port.

ASUS has informed us that the Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition will be available sometime in Q2 2022.

Source: ASUS

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: ASUS Announces Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition

GIGABYTE has unveiled its latest 17-inch gaming laptop, the Aorus 17 YE5. Updated for 2022 with the latest Intel 12th generation mobile processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series graphics, the Aorus 17 YE5 boasts a new 360 Hz 1080p display, with support for the latest DDR5 memory, as well as incorporating thinner bezels for a sleeker yet powerful gaming solution for gamers on the go.

With Intel announcing its latest Alder Lake-H series of mobile processors, many vendors have announced its latest gaming laptop ranges during CES 2022. One of these is the GIGABYTE Aorus 17 YE5, with an Intel Core i7-12700H 12-core (6P + 8E cores) processor, as well as boasting NVIDIA’s latest GeForce RTX 3080 Ti mobile graphics with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, a boost clock of up 1395 MHz, and a maximum graphics power output of 130 W. GIGABYTE also lists space for two DDR5-4800 16 GB memory sticks and room for two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots, but the full configuration is likely to be region-specific.

Updated for 2022 with a host of new design characteristics and features, the GIGABYTE Aorus 17 YE5 includes a 17.3-inch IPS display with an anti-glare coating, 72% NTSC color gamut, and a blisteringly fast 360 Hz refresh rate at 1920 x 1080p resolutions. Due to thinner bezels around the screen, GIGABYTE claims a 90% screen-to-body ratio, with a 13% smaller footprint over last year’s model, and also manages to fit an HD webcam on the top bezel. The Aorus 17 YE5 has dimensions of 398 x 254 x 270 mm (WxDxH) with a weight of 2.7 KG and includes a 99 Wh lithium polymer battery and 240 W adapter for charging. GIGABYTE also claims that this is the world’s first Microsoft Azure AI notebook.

Looking at IO support, GIGABYTE includes a single Thunderbolt 4 Type-C and two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A ports. There is a mini-DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 video output pairing for external displays, with an unspecified Ethernet port and a single 3.5 mm audio jack. The Aorus 17 YE5 also includes an Intel AX211 Wi-Fi 6E interface that features support for BT 5.2 devices.

At the time of writing, GIGABYTE hasn’t specified when the Aorus 17 YE5 will be available to purchase or how much it might cost.

Gallery: CES 2022: GIGABYTE Revamps Aorus 17 Gaming Laptop For 2022, 12th Gen Intel & RTX 30 Series

Source: GIGABYTE

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: GIGABYTE Revamps Aorus 17 Gaming Laptop With 12th Gen Intel & RTX 30 Series

ZOTAC, one of the major players in the SFF PC market, has two different mini-PC families equipped with discrete GPUs. The larger (~5L) one is equipped with desktop-class GPUs, while the compact version (sub-3L) comes with laptop-class GPUs. At the 2022 CES, the company is updating the latter lineup with Tiger Lake and Ampere.

The new barebones system comes in ZOTAC’s regular 2.65-liter ZBOX MAGNUS EN chassis, which is just 62.2 mm (2.45 inches) tall. The ZBOX MAGNUS EN173080C barebones is based on Intel’s octa-core Core i7-11800H processor (8C/16T, 2.30 GHz – 4.60 GHz, 45 W) accompanied by NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3080 notebook GPU with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and a rated operating power of 150W. The system can be equipped with up to 64 GB of DDR4-3200 memory, and comes with two M.2 slots (one of which supports both PCIe and SATA SSDs). A slot is also available for a 2.5″ SATA drive. The CPU and GPU are not user-upgradeable.

On the connectivity front, the system includes a Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5 WLAN card complemented by a dual external antennae, two RJ-45 ports (2.5G + 1G), five USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports (four in the rear, one in front), a Thunderbolt 4 port in the front, a SD card reader in the front, separate audio jacks for speakers and microphones in the front, and four display outputs in the rear (two HDMI and two DisplayPort).

In addition to the barebones version, ZOTAC is also planning to release EN173080C-W4B with Windows 11 Home pre-installed. This model comes with a 512GB M.2 SSD, a 1TB 2.5″ SATA HDD, and a single 16GB DDR4 SO-DIMM stick.

The system is already listed on ZOTAC’s website, so it is reasonable to expect it to become available shortly. As for pricing, while Zotac has not announced anything at this time.

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: ZOTAC Unveils ZBOX MAGNUS EN173080C mini-PC with Tiger Lake and Ampere

MSI, along with other vendors has unveiled new motherboards for Intel’s latest Alder Lake processors based on the more affordable H670, B660, and H610 chipsets. One of the most interesting MSI is the MAG B660 Tomahawk WIFI, which supports DDR4 memory, includes 2.5 GbE and Wi-Fi 6 networking, and provides plenty of USB 3.2 G2 connectivity on the rear panel.

Hailing from one of its most popular series of motherboards over the last couple of years, the Tomahawk typically offers users a decent feature set but at a more modest price point. The MAG B660 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4 is the latest in its ‘arsenal’ of MAG branded boards, with an all-black color scheme and an advertised 12+1+1-phase ‘duet rail’ power delivery. Providing power is a pair of 8-pin 12 V ATX CPU power inputs.

Focusing on memory, the MSI MAG B660 Tomahawk WIFI supports up to 128 GB of DDR4-4800 memory across four slots. For storage, it has a total of three M.2 slots, including one with support for PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2, one offering PCIe 4.0 x4 and SATA support, with a third slot supporting both PCIe 4.0 x2 and SATA based drives. Moving down to the lower portion of the board is the PCIe slots, with one full-length PCIe 4.0 x16, one full-length PCIe 3.0 x4, and one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. Regarding SATA, there’s a total of six ports, four powered by the chipset with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays, and two powered by an ASMedia ASM1061 SATA controller.

For a B660 motherboard, the Tomahawk WIFI DDR4 offers a decent amount of rear panel connectivity, including one USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C, four USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, and four USB 2.0 ports. Powering five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output is a Realtek ALC1220P HD audio codec, while MSI also provides a solid networking configuration consisting of a Realtek RTL8125B-CG 2.5 GbE controller and Intel-based Wi-FI 6 CNVi. Finishing off the rear panel is a pair of video outputs consisting of one HDMI 2.1 and one DisplayPort 1.4. 

At the time of writing, the MSI MAG B660 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4 motherboard should start filtering into retail channels immediately, although US pricing is unknown at this point. However, we found it available to purchase at UK retailer CCL Computers at a reasonable price of £210. 

Gallery: CES 2022: MSI Unveils MAG B660 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4 Motherboard

Source: MSI

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: MSI Unveils the MAG B660 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4 Motherboard

At CES 2022, ASRock unveiled a total of nine Value Series models based on Intel’s latest 600 series chipsets, including one H670, three B660, and five H610 models. The ASRock Value Series offers entry-level features and options for users looking to harness the power of Alder Lake on a tight budget, with seven featuring support for DDR4 memory and two with support for the latest DDR5 memory.

One of the things that frustrated users at the initial launch of the Intel Z690 chipset was the lack of value. The Z690 models seem to be and are inherently more expensive than the previous generation. While there have been many theories and explanations floating around various online mediums such as Reddit, it’s hard to deny that motherboards have been skyrocketing in price over the last couple of years. The other obvious pitfall is the current availability and pricing of DDR5 memory.

Enter the Intel H670, B660, and H610 chipsets that do have ‘less’ in terms of features compared to the performance and premium Z690 chipset, nor do they include over-engineered power deliveries impressive OLED panels like some of the flagships include. One of the things that the new 600 series chipsets do have is value. The ASRock Value Series offers users a lower cost and modest entry point to benefit from the improvements that Intel’s 12th generation brings to the table, but without breaking the bank.

ASRock H670 Value Series Motherboards

ASRock has announced just one ‘Value Series’ motherboard on the H670 chipset, the mini-ITX sized H670M-ITX/ax. It follows a basic silver and black color theme throughout, and ASRock is advertising an 8-phase Dr.MOS power delivery, with support for up to 64 GB of DDR4-5000 memory across two slots. 

The ASRock H670M-ITX/ac mini-ITX motherboard

Some of the most notable features of the ASRock H670M-ITX/ax is an integrated Wi-Fi 6E CNVi, with a Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5 GbE controller, as well as support for two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 drives, four SATA ports, and a single full-length PCIe 5.0 x16 slot. It includes one USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C, two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, four USB 2.0 ports on the rear panel, and one USB 3.2 G1 Type-C front panel header. It also benefits from a budget Realtek ALC897 HD audio codec that powers three 3.5 mm audio jacks.

ASRock B660 Value Series Motherboards

There are three ASRock B660 Value Series motherboards, including two micro-ATX options. The first of these is the ASRock B660M-HDVP/D5, which supports 64 GB of DDR5 memory across two slots and one full-length PCIe 4.0 x16, two PCIe 3.0 x1, and one legacy PCI slot. It also includes one PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot, four SATA ports, a Realtek RTL8111H Gigabit controller, and uses a Realtek ALC897 HD audio codec. However, the B660M-HDVP/D5 doesn’t have any USB 3.2 G2 support.

The ASRock B660M-HDVP/D5 micro-ATX motherboard with support for DDR5 memory

The ASRock B660M-HDV has a slightly different layout and feature set to the B660M-HDVP/D5, with two memory slots capable of supporting up to 64 GB of DDR4-5066 memory. Also included is one PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2, one PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2, four SATA ports, an Intel I219-V Gigabit Ethernet controller, but it lists both a Realtek ALC897 and 887 HD audio codec, which is confusing. Like the B660M-HDVP/D5, the B660M-HDV doesn’t include any form of USB 3.2 G2 connectivity.

ASRock also has the B660M-ITX/ac, which is its only mini-ITX model based on the B660 chipset. It includes one full-length PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, supporting one PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2, and four SATA ports. There are two memory slots with support for up to 64 GB of DDR4-5000, with onboard audio capabilities consisting of a Realtek ALC897 HD audio codec, networking handled by an Intel I219-V Gigabit Ethernet controller, and like the other B660 Value Series models, it doesn’t feature any USB 3.2 G2 connectivity.

ASRock H610 Value Series Motherboards

For the most value-focused of Intel’s 600 series chipsets, ASRock has five H610 motherboards available, four micro-ATX, and one mini-ITX model. The first of the micro-ATX models is the ASRock H610M-HDVP/D5, which has support for DDR5 memory, as well as an advertised 5-phase power delivery, a Realtek RTL8111H Gigabit Ethernet port, and a Realtek ALC897 HD audio codec. In terms of PCIe, there’s a full-length PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots, a legacy PCI slot, as well as one PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot and four SATA ports. It also has a Serial COM port on the rear panel, with four video outputs, including one HDMI, one DisplayPort 1.4m, one DVI-D, and one D-Sub.

The ASRock H610M-HDV/M.2 micro-ATX motherboard with added Key E M.2 slot for Wi-Fi

The ASRock H610M-HDV/M.2 has a black and grey PCB, supporting up to 64 GB of DDR4-3200 memory across two slots. There are one full-length PCIe 4.0 x16 and two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots, one PCIe 3.0 x4 and four SATA ports for conventional storage, and an Intel I219-V Gigabit Ethernet controller, with ASRock advertising both a Realtek ALC897 and 887 HD audio codec. The main feature of the H610M-HDV/M.2 is that it has a Key E M.2 slot for users looking at their own Wi-Fi CNVi.

ASRock also has the H610M-HDV and H610M-HDV models, which have no M.2 slots onboard. Both models feature one full-length PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot, four SATA ports, and a Realtek RTL8111 Gigabit controller instead of the Intel variant. Both of these models use a Realtek RTL8111H Gigabit Ethernet controller, a Realtek ALC897 HD audio codec, with the only difference between the two being that the H610-HDV has a DisplayPort 1.4 video output. Both do, however, include a D-sub and HDMI video output pairing.

The ASRock H610M-ITX/ac mini-ITX motherboard with a Wi-Fi 5 CNVi

The only ASRock Value Series for mini-ITX is the H610M-ITX/ac, with one full-length PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, one PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot, and four SATA ports. ASRock is advertising a 6-phase power delivery, with other features including an Intel I219-V Gigabit Ethernet controller and Wi-Fi 5 CNVi for networking, with a Realtek ALC897 HD audio codec taking care of the board’s audio functionality. Like all of ASRock’s other H610 models, none of these features any type of USB 3.2 G2 connectivity, nor do they include any level of support for USB Type-C.

ASRock hasn’t specified when its H670, B660, and H610 Value Series motherboards will hit retail channels, nor have they provided any pricing.

Gallery: CES 2022: ASRock Value Series Motherboards, Intel H670, B660, and H610 Announced

Source: ASRock

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: ASRock Reveals its H670, B660, and H610 Value Series Motherboards

With a wide variety of laptops, notebooks, and gaming-focused solutions expected to be announced during CES 2022, ASUS has unveiled that it has updated its Zenbook 14 OLED series for 2022. The AMD version (UM3402) has various features, including AMD’s latest 5000U series ‘Barcelo’ APU, with up to 16 GB of LPDDR4X memory, Wi-Fi 6E, 1 TB of PCIe 3.0 x4 storage, and a 14-inch 90 Hz OLED display.

The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UM3402) is designed around the core design of the previous series but has been invigorated for 2022 with updates to the core specifications. ASUS includes a 14-inch 16:10 OLED touchscreen display with a 2880 x 1800 resolution and a 90% screen-to-body ratio. The panel itself has a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut which is Pantone validated, is VESA HDR 500 certified, and has a fast 90 Hz refresh rate. Along the top bezel is a webcam, but ASUS hasn’t provided specifications of it at this time. 

Some of the finer specifications include AMD’s latest Ryzen 7 5825U APU with 8-cores and 16-threads and support for up to 16 GB of LPDDR4X 4266 MT/s memory, with a 1 TB PCIe 3.0 SSD and Wi-Fi 6E/BT 5.2 connectivity. One of the main design aspects of the Zenbook 14 OLED is a 180° ErgoLift hinge, which allows it to be laid out flat while providing power is a 75 Wh lithium-polymer battery.

The dimensions measure 313.6 x 220.6 x 16.9 mm (WxHxD) and weighs around 2.87 lb, making it a lightweight and slimline option for users on the go.

While ASUS offers multiple designs of its Zenbook 14 OLED, the AMD variant (UM3402) is only available in Jade Black. In terms of IO, the Zenbook 14 OLED includes two USB 3.2 G2 Type-C and one USB 3.2 G2 Type-A port, with one 3.5 mm audio combo jack, one HDMI 2.0 video output, and a microSD card reader. ASUS also includes a full-size ErgoSense keyboard with an integrated ErgoSense touchpad, which doubles up as a Numpad.

The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UM3402) will be available in Q2 2022, but ASUS hasn’t provided us with pricing at this time.

Gallery: CES 2022: ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED With Latest AMD Barcelo APU

Source: ASUS

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED With Latest AMD Barcelo APU

Over the last couple of years since the emergence of AMD’s Ryzen mobile and Radeon offerings, along with a significant uptick in performance over previous generations, some vendors have implemented complete AMD offerings to satisfy user demand. During CES 2022, ASUS unveiled its ROG Zephyrus G14 for 2022, which has the power of AMD’s latest Ryzen 6000 series mobile processors and its Radeon RX 6000 series mobile graphics. It also comes with many other impressive design characteristics and features, making it one of the most attractive gaming laptops coming to market this year.

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 series of gaming laptops have been revamped for 2022 with new features such as a 720p webcam with support for Windows Hello and ASUS’s latest Nebula 14-inch display. Focusing on the IPS panel, it features support for 2560 x 1600 resolutions with a 16:10 aspect ratio, a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, an anti-glare display, a 120 Hz refresh rate, with a 3 ms response time. It’s also Pantone validated, features a MUX switch for bypassing the integrated graphics for better overall performance, and supports Dolby Vision.

Focusing on the core specifications, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 features the latest AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS processor, which has an 8-core and 16-thread design, with a TDP of 35 W and a turbo frequency of 4.70 GHz. For graphics, it’s available with either an AMD Radeon RX 6800S or RX 6700S, with AMD’s SmartShift technology providing up to 105 W of GPU power and ASUS’s Vapor Chamber cooling cools both the CPU and GPU with Thermal Grizzly liquid metal TIM. configurations

Other hardware includes up to 32 GB of DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM memory, with a single 1 TB PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 storage drive with the Windows 11 Home operating system preinstalled.

Looking at the design, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 2022 (GA402RK/GA402RJ) is available in either Moonlight White or Eclipse Gray. Design improvements include a slimmer 18.5 mm thickness, with a weight of up to 1.72 KG depending on whether it has an AniME Matrix display or not. Some configurations feature ASUS’s upgraded AniME Matrix panel integrated into the lid, which now has more perforations and more and brighter LEDs than previous generations.

In terms of I/O, the ROG Zephyrus G14 has two USB 3.2 G2 Type-C both with DisplayPort functionality, and one featuring power delivery support, as well as two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, one HDMI 2.0b video output, a microSD card reader, and a single 3.5 mm combined audio jack. Providing power is a 76 Wh 4-cell battery, with a 240 W AC adapter and 100 W Type-C charging support. ASUS also provides a ROG Sleeve in the accessories bundle and a ROG Chakram Core gaming mouse.

ASUS hasn’t informed us on how much the ROG Zephyrus G14 will retail for, nor when it is expected to hit retail shelves.

Gallery: CES 2022: The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 For 2022, Powered By AMD

Source: ASUS

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 For 2022, Ryzen 6000 Mobile with Radeon Graphics

During its CES 2022 ROG Launch Event, ASUS unveiled its latest gaming device, the ROG Flow Z13. Upon first look, it may resemble a gaming-themed version of Microsoft’s Surface Pro, but with a mighty kicker. The ROG Flow Z13 features Intel’s latest Alder Lake mobile processor, with up to and including NVIDIA’s latest GeForce RTX 3050 Ti mobile graphics, as well as up to 32 GB of DDR5-5200 memory. It’s also compatible with the ASUS ROG XG Mobile external graphics dock with high-level mobile graphics performance.

Perhaps one of the more exciting announcements from ASUS during CES 2022 is the ROG Flow Z13. It is essentially a powerful 13.4-inch gaming tablet with plenty of functionality and power underneath its hood. The 13.4-inch screen is available either with 1920 x 1080 (FHD) at 120 Hz or 3840 x 2160 (UHD) at 60 Hz with an aspect ratio of 16:10 across both. Some of the ASUS ROG Flow Z13’s key specifications include support for up to an Intel Core i9-12900H processor, with a choice of either an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 or RTX 3050 Ti mobile graphics card.

Other specifications of the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 include support for up to 32 GB of LPDDR5-5200 memory, although these are soldered in and cannot be upgraded. Storage options consist of a single PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD, with up to 1 TB of capacities supported. The ROG Flow Z13 has a 56 Wh battery installed with Type-C sharing, a bigger battery than Microsoft’s Surface Pro X offers. It also weighs in at just 1.1 KG and is 12 mm thick, and features a complete CNC aluminum chassis. 

Acting as both a tablet and a laptop, the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 comes with an inclusive kickstand and comes with a detachable keyboard for users looking to use it as a regular laptop. It includes plenty of connectivity, including a Wi-Fi 6E CNVI for wireless and BT 5.2 support, as well as a Thunderbolt 4 Type-C port, a USB 2.0 port, one HDMI 2.1 video output, a single 3.5 mm headphone jack, and a microSD card reader.

The ASUS ROG XG Mobile eGPU from CES 2021

Much like the ASUS ROG Flow X13 convertible gaming notebook that we covered during CES 2021, the ROG Flow Z13 is also compatible with the ROG XG Mobile external graphics dock. Updated for 2022, the latest ASUS ROG XG Mobile can now support either an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 or AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT over a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface which users more choice. Providing power to the graphics and charging functionality to the Flow Z13 is a built-in 330 W power supply. It also offers an additional four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports, a DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 video output pairing, as well as one 2.5 GbE port.

At the time of writing, ASUS hasn’t informed us when the ROG Flow Z13 will be available to purchase or how much it might cost.

Source: ASUS

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: The ASUS ROG Flow Z13, A Gaming Tablet That’s So Much More

At CES 2020, Intel showcased its Tiger Lake hardware with an interesting ‘Horseshoe Bend’ 17-inch foldable laptop. Fast forward two years and ASUS has taken the concept and run with it to create what it says is the “World’s first 17.3″ foldable OLED laptop. The ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED has a variety of features, including Intel’s ‘latest’ processor, up to 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory, and a 17.3” foldable OLED touchscreen display capable of supporting resolutions of up to 2560 x 1920 across two panels.

Although the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED isn’t the first foldable laptop on the market, it’s undoubtedly the largest of the bunch. This includes either as a laptop, a tablet, or book and extend, with a seamless foldable 180° hinge in the middle that splits the large 17.3″ 4:3 2.5k pixel touchscreen panel into two 12.5″ 3:2 1080p screens. The bottom panel also includes an on-screen keyboard meaning it can be used without the ErgoSense Bluetooth keyboard and touchpad. It offers a variety of different and usable modes.

The ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED in ‘Book’ mode

Powering the 17 Fold OLED is a 75 Wh lithium-polymer battery. Focusing more on the screen, the 17.3″ OLED panel has a full touchscreen display, a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut with Pantone verification, and an HD IR 5 Megapixel webcam built-in. IO is on the light side, with just one Thunderbolt 4 Type-C port that supports external displays and one 3.5 audio combo jack.

The rear panel of the ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED

When folded, it has a footprint of 287.6 x 189.3 x 17.4 mm (HxWxD), while unfolded, it is even more slimline, with dimensions of 378.5 x 287.6 x 8.7 mm (HxWxD). The ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED weighs just 3.75 lb without the ErgoSense keyboard and 4.39 lb when using it.

Looking at the specifications, ASUS hasn’t stated which Intel Alder Lake mobile chip it will use, but it indicated that it’d be a Core i7 U-Series processor. The ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED will include Wi-FI 6E and BT 5.2 connectivity, with four Harman Kardon certified speakers supported by Dolby Atmos for a more immersive audio experience. For storage, there’s 1TB of PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2, while there’s support for up to 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory.

ASUS has said that the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED will be available sometime in Q2 2022, although it didn’t provide any pricing information.

Gallery: CES 2022: ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, 17 Inch Foldable With Thunderbolt 4

Source: ASUS

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, 17 Inch Foldable With Thunderbolt 4

As part of its desire to upgrade its existing laptop and notebook ranges with the latest and greatest hardware available, ASUS has announced during CES 2022 that it has refreshed and updated its Zenbook range for the upcoming year. This includes both Intel and AMD variants of its Zenbook 14 OLED series. The Intel version (UX3402) comes equipped with the latest 12th generation Alder Lake mobile processor, as well as a 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, dual Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports, and a 14″ 2880 x 1800 OLED touchscreen display.

As is customary when Intel and AMD launch a new generation of mobile processors, all the laptop and notebook manufacturers follow suit with a flood of new models and refreshes. Whether it’s an entirely new design or just an update with the latest hardware, ASUS looks to modernize its range for 2022 with a mixture of both. This includes the ASUS Intelligent Performance Technology (AIPT) in tandem with Intel’s latest Alder Lake 12th generation mobile processors, as well as a new monogram design on the lid with a variety of color options available.

The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UM3402) follows a similar layout to the Intel Version.

While we don’t have official images at the time of writing of the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3402), we know that it will be available in either Aqua Celadon or Ponder Blue, with a unique Japanese Kintsugi inspired design on the lid. Other notable features of the UX3402 include a webcam on the top bezel with upgraded MyASUS webcam filters and functionality. Keeping things powered up on the move is a 75 Wh lithium-polymer battery.

The main specifications include support for and up to an Intel Core i7-1260P processor, with up to 16 GB of LPDDR5 5200 MT/s memory and up to 1 TB of PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe storage. There’s a 14-inch 16:10 OLED touchscreen panel that supports 2880 x 1800 resolution with a quick 90 Hz refresh rate and has a 90% screen-to-body ratio. The panel itself has a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut which is Pantone validated, is VESA HDR 500 certified.

The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED UX3402 has a thickness of 16.9 mm and weighs just 1.39 KG, making it an ultra-portable option, and it also conforms to Intel’s Evo laptop platform. In regards to IO, it includes two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 Type-A port with one 3.5 mm audio combo jack, one HDMI 2.0 video output, and a microSD card reader. ASUS also includes a full-size ErgoSense keyboard with an integrated ErgoSense touchpad, which doubles up as a Numpad.

The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED UX3402 with Alder Lake will be available sometime in Q2 2022, but ASUS hasn’t provided us with pricing at this time.

Source: ASUS

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: ASUS Unveils Zenbook 14 OLED, Intel Evo Laptop with Alder Lake

During CES 2022, Corsair has unveiled its latest compact gaming PC, the Corsair One i300. Equipped with the latest components available, it includes an Intel Core i9-12900K processor, Corsair Vengeance DDR5 memory, Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5 GbE networking, as well as up to and including a liquid-cooled NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti for a premium gaming experience.

Weighing in at just over 7 KG, the Corsair One i300 gaming PC is designed around the premise that not all high-performance gaming PCs need to be super-sized. The chassis itself measures at 15 x 6.8 x 7.9 inches (HxWxD), with a volume of just 12 liters making it the ideal small form factor-sized gaming PC for any user struggling with space. Each Corsair One i300 system comes equipped with an unspecified mini-ITX motherboard, while the system is powered by a Corsair 750 W 80-Plus Platinum SFX power supply.

The Corsair One i300 gaming PC is customizable and is the first system in its range to feature the latest DDR5 memory. It also includes Intel’s flagship Core i9-12900K processor and gives users the option to have either 64 GB (2×32) of Corsair Vengeance DDR5-4400 or 32 GB (2×16) of Vengeance DDR5-4800 memory. Other customizable options with this model include a choice between two graphics cards, either an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 or RTX 3080 Ti, both of which come water-cooled with this system. There’s a 2 TB M.2 NVMe SSD for storage, while the latest Windows 11 Pro operating system comes preinstalled on it, although Corsair doesn’t provide information on what cooler it is using for the CPU.

In terms of input and output, the Corsair One i300 has two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C, two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, and four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports on the rear, with an additional USB Type-C and two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports on the front panel. For networking, there’s a single 2.5 GbE port and Wi-Fi 6E, while audio options consist of five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output. There’s also one HDMI and three DisplayPort video outputs for the graphics card.

Corsair states that the One i300 Gaming PC comes with a two-year warranty and is available to purchase as of now from authorized retailers and distributors.

Gallery: CES 2022: Corsair Launches One i300 Gaming PC with Alder Lake and DDR5

Source: Corsair

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: Corsair Launches One i300 Gaming PC with Intel Core i9-12900K and DDR5

One of the companies that comes to CES with no shortage of new product announcements is ASUS, who has fingers in many pies across a large spectrum of the different kinds of PC hardware and peripherals. To that end, ASUS has unveiled two new ROG gaming monitors for those looking for large screens, the 48″ ROG Swift OLED PG48UQ and the 42″ ROG Swift OLED PG42UQ. Both models feature impressive specifications, including 3840 x 2160 (4K) resolutions, 120 Hz refresh rates, and ultra-fast 0.1 ms GTG response times.

There are many different monitors on the market ranging from budget to the most expensive and feature-rich. There isn’t that much choice in terms of OLED gaming monitors. Although the OLED varieties have advantages over their conventional counterparts, including better contrast ratios, they typically come with hefty price tags. ASUS has two new options for users looking for a sizeable OLED gaming monitor, the 48″ ROG Swift OLED PG48UQ, and the smaller 42″ ROG Swift OLED PG42UQ, which ASUS claims is the world’s first 42-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor.

The ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG48UQ 4K Gaming Monitor

Both the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG48UQ and PG42UQ feature identical specifications other than the overall size of the screen. These include an OLED panel with an anti-glare and micro-texture coating and a 16:9 aspect ratio with supported resolutions of up to 3840 x 2160. Looking at the finer specifications, ASUS lists a response time of 0.1 ms GTG (gray to gray), with a fast 120 Hz refresh rate. Other specifications include true 10-bit color depth with 98% DCI-P3 calibrated from the factory. ASUS also advertises a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 and has both VRR technology and ALLM modes for console gamers.

Focusing on the I/O, both monitors include two HDMI 2.1, two HDMI 2.0, and one DisplayPort 1.4 video input, as well as a USB hub and two 3.5 mm audio jacks consisting of a line out and earphone jack. Regarding the USB hub, ASUS hasn’t specified what port type, the generations how many USB ports there are at this time.

At the time of writing, ASUS hasn’t specified when the ROG Swift OLED PG48UQ or PG42UQ will hit retail or how much they might cost.

Source: ASUS

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: ASUS Announce ROG Swift OLED PG48UQ & PG42UQ Gaming Monitors

Plugable is introducing two new products at the 2022 CES – the UD-6950PDZ docking station, and the USB4-HUB3A USB4 hub. The docking station is technically the more interesting one, enabling three different 4K display outputs with a choice of either a HDMI connection or DisplayPort one on each.

The docking station has a Type-C port for uplink, providing up to 60W for host charging. It is bundled with a 110W power brick. On the downstream side, the UD-6950PDZ has 6 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports (four in the rear, and two in front), a combo audio jack in front, and a gigabit Ethernet port. The key differentiating aspect of the product is that the docking station supports multiple display outputs even if the host system supports only one on the uplink Type-C port (The Apple M1-based systems are examples). The product uses a DisplayLink chipset (likely to the be the DL6950) internally along with the Alternate Mode stream to enable a total of three simultaneous display outputs. The docking station is priced at $249 and will be available for purchase later this quarter.

The USB4-HUB3A is a Goshen Ridge product following up on the footsteps of the TBT4-HUB3C introduced last year. It translates a single USB4 / Thunderbolt 4 port on the host system into three additional USB4 / Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 10 Gbps Type-A port.

The new USB4-HUB3A carries over all the features and add-ons of the TBT4-HUB3C including the USBC-HDMI adapter cable and the 60W host charging feature. The sole difference is the addition of the USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port in the front. The hub is priced at $189 and is available for purchase today.

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: Plugable Introduces UD-6950PDZ Triple 4K HDMI / DisplayPort Docking Station

Akasa is introducing four new products at the 2022 CES – two fan models under the OTTO series, a 185W TDP CPU cooler, and a fanless case for the NVIDIA Jetson Nano.

The OTTO series consists of IP68-rated fans – imagine applications involving rugged embedded systems requiring active cooling operating in harsh environments. The 120mm fans are ergonomically designed with emphasis on avoiding vibrations. The SC12 model has sickle flow blades for centralized pressure, making it a fit for heavy-duty heatsink and radiator applications. The SF12 model has a S-Flow blade design meant to optimize overall airflow, making it a fit for computing system enclosures.

The Alucia H4 premium CPU cooler is Akasa’s solution for the 185W TDP Intel Core i9 and AMD Ryzen 9 processors. The fans are colored blue to complement any RGB lighting scheme used in the rest of the system. Akasa claims that the black fins and their dense packing helps achieve high cooling efficiency. Akasa is also bundling their high-performance AK-T656-5G thermal paste with the fan.

The heatsink also has a slanted design to allow for wider motherboard compatibility with respect to RAM placement.

On the fanless chassis front, Akasa is introducing an aluminum case for the NVIDIA Jetson Nano under the ‘Machina’ tag. The ‘Machina N’ is the first product in this series. The TDP handling requirements and the size of the board have allowed Akasa to adopt a minimalist-styled finned design. The rear I/O cutouts allow full access to all the I/O features of the Jetson Nano board.

The chassis of the Machina N appears to be based on the Newton lineup of fanless cases marketed by Akasa for the Intel NUCs. With the case already having proven its rated TDP-handling credentials over multiple NUC generations, the Machina N is likely to be a credible passive cooling solution for the NVIDIA Jetson Nano.

Gallery: CES 2022: Akasa Introduces Thermal Solutions for PCs and Industrial Applications

Source: AnandTech – CES 2022: Akasa Introduces Thermal Solutions for PCs and Industrial Applications

OWC is introducing a number of CFexpress products as part of their 2022 CES announcements today. The new Atlas Pro and Atlas Pro Ultra CFexpress cards join the Atlas FXR Thunderbolt / USB card reader to expand OWC’s offerings in the media storage / card reader space. These products are CFexpress Type-B ones, and are backwards compatible with XQD.

The OWC Atlas series of media cards was augmented with the Atlas S Pro UHS-II V90 SDXC model recently. The differentiating aspect about these cards is that OWC advertises the use of pseudo-SLC (pSLC) flash with claims of 10x the endurance of other cards in the market. The claimed real-world speeds are also slightly higher than other V90 UHS-II cards – read/write rates of up to 290/276 MBps. Today’s introductions expand the Atlas series into the CFexpress space.

The Atlas Pro cards come in capacities ranging from 256GB to 2TB. Peak read/write speeds are around 1700/1400 MBps, allowing them to be used for RAW footage capture. The Atlas Pro Ultra is available in two capacities – 320GB and 640GB. The key difference between the two families is the guaranteed sustained write rate of 1224 MBps for the latter, with peaks of 1500 MBps writes and 1700 MBps reads. This write rate allows for the usage of the card for 8K capture and high frame rate bust mode photo captures.

The Atlas FXR CFexpress Type-B card reader is a bus-powered pocket-sized device operating at speeds of up to 1500 MBps when used with Thunderbolt 3 / Thunderbolt 4 ports and up to 900 MBps with USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports. The plug-and-play reader is bundled with a Thunderbolt cable along with an attached USB-A adapter for compatibility with a wide range of systems.

OWC expects the CFexpress offerings to be available for purchase in early Q2 2022. Pricing for the new products was not officially specified, though some distributor documents from late 2021 indicate the planned pricing of the Atlas Pro 256GB to be at $159 and the Atlas Pro Ultra 320GB at $349.

Source: AnandTech – OWC Expands Atlas Series with CFexpress Offerings