Question solid mobos that don't try to look all "cool" (not OCing)

[Turbonium]

Are there any mobo manufacturers that make a solid product (stability above all else, followed closely by performance) without also trying to make their mobos look "cool"? Keep in mind I am not planning on OCing. Seems like almost all mobos nowadays are all "fancy".

I'm a bit of a purist, so I like my computer parts to look like computer parts, as opposed to having chrome accents, cheesy labels, and "cool" lights on everything.

Purely from a visual/aesthetics POV:
more like this, or this
less like this

(Again, those examples are just the looks I'm talking about... not specs in any way.)

EDIT:

Likely going with an Intel Raptor Lake/DDR5 combo, if it helps.

 

[Shmee]

I am not sure if there is a version of it for Z790, but the MSI Meg Unify series look a pretty standared black with no RGB, and they are very solid and feature rich boards.

 

[Khanan]

In my experience “Creator” variants from various companies are more serious

“Asus Prime” mainboards are fine as well, rgb is as always able to be deactivated or ignored. It seems after a certain price point there will be no mainboards without rgb unless you go really high which then gets into professional use and no rgb again and yes they mostly look a bit more serious as well.

edited for more info

 

[igor_kavinski]

I like this: https://www.asus.com/motherboards-components/motherboards/tuf-gaming/tuf-gaming-h770-pro-wifi/

Unfortunately, no B760 TUF mobo with DDR5 so far. Asus thinks people not wanting to pay up for their Z790 mobos are too poor to afford DDR5

 

[Khanan]

I like this: https://www.asus.com/motherboards-components/motherboards/tuf-gaming/tuf-gaming-h770-pro-wifi/

Unfortunately, no B760 TUF mobo with DDR5 so far. Asus thinks people not wanting to pay up for their Z790 mobos are too poor to afford DDR5

Is the question if that’s “uncool” enough for him, it still has “gamer look” and rgb. But the no DDR5 is a small issue for sure

 

[zir_blazer]

Look at Workstation, Server and Industrial lines.

 

[Turbonium]

Is the question if that’s “uncool” enough for him, it still has “gamer look” and rgb. But the no DDR5 is a small issue for sure

It's still too "cool", to be honest.

Look at Workstation, Server and Industrial lines.

Yeah, I've been trying to look at these types of mobos, but the ones I found so far either don't come with DDR5, or if they do, they're mATX, and I figure I need ATX for proper clearances and such.

The Asus one you linked is close to what I'm looking for, but still too fancy.

Supermicro, I didn't know was a thing. More what I'm looking for, though these are older chipsets. Maybe they'll make updated boards soon? I won't be building my new rig for another few months anyway.

The ASRock one is nice as well; they don't even have these on their main website, which is why I didn't find them myself. Thnx.

 

[Khanan]

It's still too "cool", to be honest.


Yeah, I've been trying to look at these types of mobos, but the ones I found so far either don't come with DDR5, or if they do, they're mATX, and I figure I need ATX for proper clearances and such.

Nice find though. ASRock doesn't even have these on their main website, which is why I didn't find them.

Are you building in a case with window? If not it doesn’t matter at all which mainboard you’re using. In any case, I would take one which looks halfway classy and then deactivate the rgb if that’s the issue

 

[Turbonium]

Are you building in a case with window? If not it doesn’t matter at all which mainboard you’re using. In any case, I would take one which looks halfway classy and then deactivate the rgb if that’s the issue

I'm actually not, but it's more a philosophy for me. And knowing I have something like this inside my rig is just, bleh.

 

[Khanan]

I'm actually not, but it's more a philosophy for me. And knowing I have something like this inside my rig is just, bleh.

Yea I get it. I think the Asus Prime is “manageable” TUF is okayish as well. If you don’t wanna get one of the expensive creator boards you’ll probably have to make cuts somewhere, gamery look and rgb is nearly everywhere

 

[Turbonium]

Will any of those industrial/workstation boards ever feature 700 series/Raptor Lake chipsets, you think (even if later on)? All I'm seeing are 600 series/Alder Lake.

I won't be building a new rig for a while, so waiting isn't an issue.

EDIT:

Found an AT article here: https://www.anandtech.com/show/17308/the-intel-w680-chipset-overview-ecc-for-alder-lake-workstations

So based on this, I would expect equivalent 700 series chipsets to be released in the coming months?

 

[igor_kavinski]

Honestly, aren't you just restricting your choices with this requirement that you can just choose to ignore if you tried? The GPU you buy may also feature LEDs.

 

[Turbonium]

Honestly, aren't you just restricting your choices with this requirement that you can just choose to ignore if you tried? The GPU you buy may also feature LEDs.

I can ignore it if I wanted to. That's not the point.

Also: I'm fairly weird.

 

[Khanan]

I can ignore it if I wanted to. That's not the point.

Also: I'm fairly weird.

You can also buy 600 series and do a bios update.

 

[Tech Junky]

ASRock

I've been using them exclusively for the past 3 boards in the past ~5 years and they perform well and don't bling out but just work. My current is the Steel Legend but, I've used other lines within ASR as well.

I won't be building a new rig for a while, so waiting isn't an issue.

Time is a double edged sword... more of it means lower cost for current-ish gen CPU but, on the other side it means something newer is coming sooner.

ADL / RPL are for the most part the same and MTL has been pushed beyond 2023 in favor of a RPL refresh instead but, I'm getting the sense that Intel might just skip MTL on the desktop side w/ the RPL Refresh and go directly to ARL since MTL is a lot like the 11th den stand in before ADL/RPL when it comes to the leap to a hybrid core setup. ARL and beyond will use tiles / chiplets instead of monolithic. Right now it feels like / projected to release this sort of CPU in 2024.

Back to the whole MOBO thing though. If you put it inside a solid case why does it matter? just don't think about it and go for performance. On my current ASR board I can see 1 LED on the mobo and 1 on the case and that's it. Skipped all of the stupid rainbow farts with RGB as it's pointless and distracting when the PC is center stage.

DDR5 though is a gimmick IMO when it comes to the performance it's on par with DDR4 and still a 50% premium in price and doesn't really matter unless you want to spend more for the same performance you could save ~$200 or more on the board / RAM.

The true question is what are you going to use it for?

I run mine 24/7 as a router and some other functions but, the most benefit I see with it is processing video files quickly on the iGPU from Plex. On my laptop I also use a 12700x CPU and it has a different iGPU UHD vs Iris and the Iris series makes a big difference compared to the older UHD Intel made.

 

[Turbonium]

Back to the whole MOBO thing though. If you put it inside a solid case why does it matter? just don't think about it and go for performance. On my current ASR board I can see 1 LED on the mobo and 1 on the case and that's it. Skipped all of the stupid rainbow farts with RGB as it's pointless and distracting when the PC is center stage.

DDR5 though is a gimmick IMO when it comes to the performance it's on par with DDR4 and still a 50% premium in price and doesn't really matter unless you want to spend more for the same performance you could save ~$200 or more on the board / RAM.

It doesn't matter from a certain standpoint. At all. I'm just weird and I have my quirks.

As for waiting: I'm definitely going to be going for Raptor Lake if I go Intel. I'm just waiting a bit to see how the 4060 Ti and such shape up (I don't play newer games). The timing actually works out for me; I'm just doing my research well ahead of time is all.

 

[In2Photos]

Buy a pre-built. Plenty of classic looking parts in a conventional desktop model.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Buy a pre-built. Plenty of classic looking parts in a conventional desktop model.

Yeah that's the best advice for anyone looking for a boring but dependable PC. Dell or HP. Even Lenovo too, though their Thinkstation line is kind of superb: https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkStation-P620-30E000MKUS-Workstation/dp/B0B619GCSR/

 

[BoomerD]

MSI Pro series.
Gigabyte UD series.
Go to Newegg, choose "socket 1700," then under chipset, choose everything EXCEPT Z790 or Z690. Lots of decent non-overclockable boards.

 

[bigboxes]

In my experience “Creator” variants from various companies are more serious

“Asus Prime” mainboards are fine as well, rgb is as always able to be deactivated or ignored. It seems after a certain price point there will be no mainboards without rgb unless you go really high which then gets into professional use and no rgb again and yes they mostly look a bit more serious as well.

edited for more info

Plus, if you don't have a window in your case you'll never see it under your desk.

 

[lopri]

I'm bored of black PCBs and heatsinks. Kinda missing green PCBs.

https://dlcdnwebimgs.asus.com/gain/19c20810-82e0-4666-adf9-440648174677/

 

[No_Huckleberry_1514]

"CSM" corporate stable models, from Asus..

Example:

Pro Q670M-C-CSM｜Motherboards｜ASUS USA

The ASUS Corporate Stable Model (CSM) program is designed to provide stable motherboards to any scale of businesses with up to 36-month supply, EOL notice & ECN control, and IT management software – ASUS Control Center Express.

www.asus.com

Definitely not for the cool kids

 

[Turbonium]

"CSM" corporate stable models, from Asus..

Example:

Pro Q670M-C-CSM｜Motherboards｜ASUS USA

The ASUS Corporate Stable Model (CSM) program is designed to provide stable motherboards to any scale of businesses with up to 36-month supply, EOL notice & ECN control, and IT management software – ASUS Control Center Express.

www.asus.com

Definitely not for the cool kids

Afaik the Asus boards are only mATX, not ATX, which I don't think would work. Or would it? Idk.

I just feel I need as much space/clearance as possible for things like the video card and any possible additions in the future.

EDIT:

Seems like a video card (evena large 2-slot one) would fit on mATX, with the case and such being the only question. Is this accurate?

 

[igor_kavinski]

Seems like a video card (evena large 2-slot one) would fit on mATX, with the case and such being the only question. Is this accurate?

Yes, correct. Extra long GPU will even fit a mini ITX mobo, as long as you use a case that allows such a GPU to be accommodated.

 

[No_Huckleberry_1514]

To add: m-atx boards are not much different than full atx boards... just a couple inches less in physical dimensions and a slot or two less for PCIe slots... maybe 4 sata ports versus 6..etc..
All depends on brand, chipset, model...