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.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I've built systems with mATX boards. I tend to lean toward more features, more slots, more of everything you can fit on an ATX board. In the final decisions about how to use the board and what is connected to it, I then have more choices later on.

I don't much care about the color of the PCB. I suppose I like brown PCBs. I want the little diagnostic LED lights. I don't need contact pads for using a multimeter. And again, like features in general, I like more than enough 4-Pin-PWM/3-Pin fan ports, even though -- in the end -- I might use about four of them.

 

[wasabiman123]

I ordered an Asus Z790-H for this reason, it's slightly more than the TUF, but I think it's better and it's not too unnecessarily flashy or LED laden. Also doing raptor lake, i5, ddr5.

 

[mikeymikec]

I just buy whatever board I want and switch off the LED effects in the BIOS.

 

[bigboxes]

I just buy whatever board I want and switch off the LED effects in the BIOS.

Or just buy a case with no windows. I never look at the inside of my PC except to troubleshoot/maintenance it.

 

[kschendel]

Or just buy a case with no windows. ...

I approve of this method. It's also IMO the best way to do cable management.

 

[A///]

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.

This you cannot go wrong with msi.

 

[sdifox]

Just get a board with the feature you want and put it in a case without side window. Only need to see it when you are putting it together.

 

[Turbonium]

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...

Yeah, I ended up getting a mATX Asus board (this). I get that it's a bit less room for expansion/add-in cards and smaller dimensions, but the whole "mATX" label just makes me feel like I'm getting the lesser version of something, which probably doesn't make sense, especially given I've never really used all the expansions slots on any of my previous ATX mobos/builds; so, it probably makes more sense to get a mATX board, given my history.

I probably would have gotten an ATX board, but Asus just doesn't seem to offer a "boring" looking mobo at ATX spec, and the other makes either don't looking "boring" enough, or lack certain features/newer chipsets.

If you think I've made a mistake in my mobo choice however, let me know. I haven't built the rig yet, and can still change parts up.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Pair that up with JEDEC DDR5-5600 RAM like this: https://www.newegg.com/team-32gb/p/N82E16820331962

Now you don't need to worry about stability ever. Everything boring enough to want an enthusiast to kill himself

 

[Turbonium]

Pair that up with JEDEC DDR5-5600 RAM like this: https://www.newegg.com/team-32gb/p/N82E16820331962

Now you don't need to worry about stability ever. Everything boring enough to want an enthusiast to kill himself

Lol.

By the way, I already got 2x32GB 6200 DDR5 for it with very tight timings.

(I hope I didn't buy something that's pointless for the mobo; it's totally possible that I did, lol).

 

[igor_kavinski]

By the way, I already got 2x32GB 6200 DDR5 for it with very tight timings.

(I hope I didn't buy something that's pointless for the mobo; it's totally possible that I did, lol).

You cheated! You said that you were not gonna overclock but using that RAM at 6200 is OCing!

 

[Turbonium]

You cheated! You said that you were not gonna overclock but using that RAM at 6200 is OCing!

Honestly, I had no idea. I kinda just looked at the motherboard's support RAM speeds and went for the highest listed supported memory speed. Although, I think part of me sorta knew, given it says "OC" next to all the faster speeds (everything above 4800).

I'm kinda nervous about this now. I've never really OCed before.

By the way, why did you recommend 5600 RAM when it's also an OC?

 

[igor_kavinski]

By the way, why did you recommend 5600 RAM when it's also an OC?

5600 is base speed for Raptor Lake, overclocked for Alder Lake (base 4800).

Don't turn XMP on and manually run the RAM at 5600 with tight supported timings and it won't be an OC if your CPU is 13th gen. Like CL28 5600 would be great.

 

[Turbonium]

5600 is base speed for Raptor Lake, overclocked for Alder Lake (base 4800).

Don't turn XMP on and manually run the RAM at 5600 with tight supported timings and it won't be an OC if your CPU is 13th gen. Like CL28 5600 would be great.

So would running at 5600 be JEDEC, or XMP?

EDIT: nm you said it's not XMP.

 

[Turbonium]

5600 is base speed for Raptor Lake, overclocked for Alder Lake (base 4800).

Don't turn XMP on and manually run the RAM at 5600 with tight supported timings and it won't be an OC if your CPU is 13th gen. Like CL28 5600 would be great.

I mean, why not just do XMP? Based on my reading, it's the easiest, most user-friendly way to overclock anything, since it's all preset. As long as it doesn't affect stability in any way (which it shouldn't, right?).

 

[igor_kavinski]

I mean, why not just do XMP? Based on my reading, it's the easiest, most user-friendly way to overclock anything, since it's all preset. As long as it doesn't affect stability in any way (which it shouldn't, right?).

Some mobos (especially ASUS!) like to overvolt the IMC (integrated memory controller) of the CPU when XMP is turned on. With a K series CPU, it shouldn't matter but if you are using a non-K, either it may not work or you will be voiding your CPU warranty (XMP is overclocking according to Intel and some mobo specs webpages recommend K series CPUs for best XMP operation, like MSI).

 

[Turbonium]

Some mobos (especially ASUS!) like to overvolt the IMC (integrated memory controller) of the CPU when XMP is turned on. With a K series CPU, it shouldn't matter but if you are using a non-K, either it may not work or you will be voiding your CPU warranty (XMP is overclocking according to Intel and some mobo specs webpages recommend K series CPUs for best XMP operation, like MSI).

So given I have a K (KF) series CPU, you're saying XMP should work fine, but I will void the warranty of the CPU by enabling it?

 

[igor_kavinski]

2020 reply from Intel:

Hello Wargen,

Thank you for posting on the Intel* Community.

Yes, Intel* XMP is considering overclocking, altering clock frequency or voltage may damage or reduce the useful life of the processor and other system components and may reduce system stability and performance. Product warranties may not apply if the processor is operated beyond its specifications.

You can check this information in our warranty terms and conditions "any Product which has been modified or operated outside of Intel’s publicly available specifications, including where clock frequencies or voltages have been altered, or where the original identification markings have been removed, altered or obliterated. Intel assumes no responsibility that the Product, including if used with altered clock frequencies or voltages, will be fit for any particular purpose and will not cause any damage or injury. "

The Intel® Core™ i5-9600K Processor works with DDR4-2666MHz and that's the speed we recommend you to use.

You may find useful the Tunning Protection Plan, The Performance Tuning Protection Plan (PTPP) is an additional plan to cover processor failures caused by operating the eligible processor outside of Intel’s published specifications. You can check for more details in our FAQ's

If at any time you have issues with the processor since you were not aware that XMP* was considering overclocking, the best would be to contact the Intel* Live Support. https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/contact-support.html#@2

Best regards,
Maria R.
Intel Customer Support Technician

 

[Turbonium]

2020 reply from Intel:

Do you have Maria R.'s e-mail address? I'd like to file a complaint with her.

Seriously though, I might just stick to 5600 JEDEC settings. Are they what the sticks will default to on first boot-up (even if they're rated at 6200)?

They're Corsair Vengeance 2x32GB 6200 sticks by the way.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Are they what the sticks will default to on first boot-up (even if they're rated at 6200)?

My DDR5 experience is limited to just one Z790 mobo from ASROCK and it defaulted my EXPO kit to DDR5-3600. From there, I manually raised it to DDR5-4600 with tight timings. There is no XMP profile so despite not wanting to, I guess I'm running sans RAM overclock.

 

[igor_kavinski]

They're Corsair Vengeance 2x32GB 6200 sticks by the way.

This one? https://www.corsair.com/us/en/Categ...y---Black/p/CMK64GX5M2B6200C32#tab-tech-specs

Default for you should be DDR5-4800 40-40-40-77. In case of Raptor Lake, I'm not sure if the mobo will try to run it at 5600 during the memory training process. It does say that it is compatible with 700 series chipsets and Raptor Lake so 4800 might be the default one.

 

[Turbonium]

This one? https://www.corsair.com/us/en/Categ...y---Black/p/CMK64GX5M2B6200C32#tab-tech-specs

Default for you should be DDR5-4800 40-40-40-77. In case of Raptor Lake, I'm not sure if the mobo will try to run it at 5600 during the memory training process. It does say that it is compatible with 700 series chipsets and Raptor Lake so 4800 might be the default one.

Yes, those sticks.

So it will likely default to 4800. Then, I go into BIOS and set it manually to a preset JEDEC setting of 5600 (with the best timings it gives me), and I'm within spec for the CPU and everything?

I'm assuming the JEDEC setting of 5600 is not going to be called an XMP profile in the BIOS, as that is reserved for things "out of spec"?

Also: how would Intel ever know if I ran things beyond 5600? Does the CPU take note of the highest ever recorded voltage/RAM speed it has been run with somewhere?

 

[igor_kavinski]

Yes, those sticks.

So it will likely default to 4800. Then, I go into BIOS and set it manually to a preset JEDEC setting of 5600 (with the best timings it gives me), and I'm within spec for the CPU and everything?

Also: how would Intel ever know if I ran things beyond 5600?

In the ASROCK BIOS, it shows only an EXPO profile which fails to work with my Alder Lake. In the DIMM info screen, it shows three JEDEC profiles (4800,5200 and 5600, presumably baked into the kit) but no way to select them. I had to manually choose 4800 which failed to boot. So had to settle for 4600.

From what I've heard, ASUS BIOS is pretty confusing. Be careful! Don't inadvertently turn on XMP (I think it's called DOCP in ASUS parlance?)

Look for manual option and then choose 5600 (if ASUS engineers are not complete idiots).

Intel can't know for sure what speed you ran at. But if you blurt out that you used XMP, bye bye warranty. So be honorable and lose warranty or...your choice